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ABBA-solutely brilliant – Mamma Mia! rocks Manchester’s Palace Theatre | Review

Infectious energy from start to finish.

Aimee Woodcock Aimee Woodcock - 5th March 2026

Watching Mamma Mia! at Manchester Palace Theatre proved once again why this ABBA-powered musical remains one of the most beloved shows in modern theatre. 

The audience arrived ready for a party, and the cast delivered an energetic, feel-good performance packed with humour, heart, and, of course, a catalogue of iconic pop songs.

At the centre of the story is Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be, determined to discover the identity of her father before her wedding day. Secretly, she invites three men from her mother Donna’s past to the island, creating chaos, comedy, and emotional revelations along the way.

The plot is famously light… but it provides the perfect framework for a soundtrack built entirely on hits by the iconic Swedish pop band ABBA.

Mamma Mia! brought infectious energy to Manchester’s Palace Theatre / Credit: Brinkhoff / Moegenburg (Supplied)

Jen Griffin leads the company as Donna Sheridan with warmth and a commanding stage presence. Her stand-out performance balances humour with vulnerability, culminating in a powerful rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’.

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As Sophie, Lydia Hunt brings youthful excitement and a clear, expressive vocal performance, making her character’s search for identity both believable and engaging.

Donna’s loyal friends provide much of the show’s comedy (and cheers from the crowd). Rosie Glossop plays Rosie with scene-stealing wit and excellent comic timing, particularly during ‘Take a Chance on Me’, while Sarah Earnshaw gives Tanya glamorous confidence and sharp humour. Together the trio create the emotional backbone of the show, portraying friendship that feels authentic and affectionate.

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The three possible fathers are played by Luke Jasztal as Sam, Richard Meek as Harry, and Mark Goldthorp as Bill. Each bringing their own unique character personality to the role, helping the storyline unfold with plenty of charm. Meanwhile, Joe Grundy plays Sky with relaxed confidence opposite Sophie.

Visually, the production captures the sunny escapism audiences expect, with bright Mediterranean colours, lively choreography, and a cleverly simple island set that transports the audience far from the streets of Manchester. Ouzo anyone? 

By the time the encore begins, with the cast returning in glittering costumes for a joyous ABBA medley including ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’, the audience is firmly on its feet.

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The show last night felt less like a typical theatre evening and more like a celebration. It may not be subtle, but Mamma Mia! remains addictively entertaining.

Featured Image – Brinkhoff / Moegenburg (Supplied)

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Manchester reveals FREE programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2026

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Women friends

Manchester is set to mark International Women’s Day this weekend with a packed programme of free events.

In case you didn’t know, this Sunday (8 March) is International Women’s Day, with cities worldwide will be marking the important day in a series of different ways – and Manchester is no different.

Just as it chose to last year, the city has once again decided not to host its popular and once-annual ‘Walk For Women’ event, that used to see hundreds parade through the city centre in the name of equality, and instead organise a programme of events that both honour the importance of the event globally and this year’s theme.

Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call-to-action for accelerating gender equality.

This year in Manchester, Manchester City Council is encouraging everyone to join for a community celebration co‑designed by local women, offering a space to appreciate women’s contributions, meet new people committed to lifting each other up, learn something new, get creative, and ultimately, find inspiration for the future.

Some of the events organised throughout the day – which will all take place at Manchester Central Library the day before IWD 2026 on Saturday 7 March – include a storytelling activity for women to share their personal stories, a special spoken word piece performed by a member of the IWD Co-design group, choirs and poetry performances, and even fireside ‘chats’ among other things.

There’ll also be a range of different events designed especially for mums and children, like the ‘Mums Matter’ wellbeing workshops, offering time to focus on your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and children’s drop-in sessions.

Libraries across Greater Manchester have been turned into warm spaces for winter. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester Central Library is hosting a wide range of IWD 2026 events this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group

You can also expect a selection of stalls by commissioned services and partner organisations promoting different services, and a period product donation point to tackle period poverty across Greater Manchester.

Everybody is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester, not just women, and even children are able to attend some of the events too, as people of all ages are welcome.

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Manchester’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations are taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 March, and you can find out more and book here.

Featured Image – Marko Milivojevic (via Pixnio)

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Trafford Centre announces HUGE summer festival with K-pop, West End, and country music stars

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Performances from K-pop, West End, and country music stars are on the lineup at the Trafford Centre this summer.

With the days getting lighter and the temperatures warming up, Trafford Centre has now announced that a whole new festival and events lineup is coming this summer, as Live@TC is set to transform the shopping centre’s outside space with a series of high-energy live shows and family-friendly entertainment.

Taking place in a supersized big top on the overflow car park (opposite John Lewis), Live@TC is aiming to offer ‘a fresh twist’ on traditional festival lineups – with acts including K-pop Superstars, performers from the West End, and country music stars.

The festival event – taking place across to weekends in June – promises a packed programme of amazing acts, fairground rides, face painting, a silent disco, character appearances, and so much more.

Let’s break down this lineup a little bit then – first up, K‑pop Superstars will bring the infectious energy of Korea’s biggest pop icons, paying tribute to global K‑pop heavyweights such as K‑pop Demon Hunters, BTS, and BLACKPINK.

Then, prepare to be dazzled by some of the biggest West End stars for a show‑stopping celebration of musical theatre, featuring unforgettable songs from Wicked, SIX, The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and many more iconic productions.

Finally, it’s time to dust off your boots and shine up those belt buckles, as the one-day country extravaganza promises unforgettable live music from the hottest acts – including Nathan Carter, Kezia Gill, Twinnie, Janet Devlin, Harleymoon Kemp, and more.

Away from musical performances, you can also expect star-studded lineup of children’s TV stars, like Bluey, Bingo, and more, to make appearances, and Jurassic Earth – the UK’s original and best live dinosaur show – will also be stopping by, so you can meet a spectacular cast of jaw-droppingly-realistic dinosaurs and learn a thing or two while you’re at it.

The Trafford Centre has announced a HUGE summer festival with K-pop, West End, and country music stars performing / Credit: Supplied | Gary Lake

And as always, there’ll also be plenty of delicious food and drink options to choose from across the two weekends too.

Live@TC will take place from 13-14 and 20-21 June, with two live shows on 13, 14, and 20 June, and one mega show on 21 June.

Tickets are free for under twos, and £40 (+ booking fee) per person for general entry.

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This includes live performances, fairground rides, face painting, character appearances, and much more to be announced. VIP tickets are also available for £80 (+ booking fee) per person and will include fast-track entry, private seating, waited service, and a private bar.

Find out more and get tickets here.

Featured Image – Trafford Centre

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