Theatre in the North

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

DaDaFest’s unapologetic 40th anniversary programme, contemporary reimaginings and outlandish fringe shows are among our picks in this month’s theatre guide.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, DaDaFest International returns to Liverpool this March. Champions of groundbreaking disability and Deaf arts, the theme for this year’s festival is ‘RAGE: A Quiet Riot’ and as always, the line-up (which is mostly free) includes some of the boldest and most unapologetic visual art, performance and film alongside talks and workshops.

Closer to home, over at Aviva Studios, Factory International launch an electrifying season of performance. Celebrated hip hop company Boy Blue return with their newest show, Cycles, this month. We’ve also got our eyes on party-performance, Wake, by Irish Contemporary cabaret collective, THISISPOPBABY; Hamlet Hail to the Thief, a thrilling amalgam of Shakespeare’s great tragedy and Radiohead’s seminal album, and the return of Benji Reid’s acclaimed MIF23 show, Find your Eyes.
Meanwhile, Headlong and Frantic Assembly join forces for The House Party at HOME; a contemporary adaptation of August Strindberg’s naturalistic classic, Miss Julie. Expect explosive physical theatre and ingenious staging in this bang-up-to-date show.

In contrast, lovers of experimental performance should check out the utterly terrifying Red Bastard at The Kings Arms; Georgia Tegou & Kristina Pulejkova’s Homecoming at Lowry, a dance show that blends cutting edge technology that can be appreciated as a live performance or as a VR experience, and theatrical wildcard, TOOM’s A Quiet Room at The White Hotel.

Read on for details of all of this and more.

Our top picks

Factory International Spring Season 2025

Factory International Spring Season 2025 at Aviva Studios, Manchester, Until 29 May 2025 - Book now

Playable art installations, Shakespearean adaptations, contemporary cabaret, hip hop and live photography, Factory International bring another electrifying Spring Season.

Cycles at Aviva Studios: Boy Blue in dynamic poses, wearing coordinated streetwear outfits, performing against a dark background.
Image courtesy of Camilla Greenwell.

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Everyman

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, Until 5 April 2025, from £11.00 - Book now

The run has been extended – so you’ve got more time to catch Willy Russell’s one-woman show at Liverpool Everyman. This production has been an absolute triumph for the theatre’s 60th birthday year.

Shirley Valentine at Liverpool Everyman
Image courtesy of Andrew AB Photography.

Manchester School of Theatre Spring Season

BA Acting Spring Season at Manchester Met at Manchester Metropolitan University Grosvenor East Building, Manchester, Until 3 May 2025, from £5.00 - Book now

Manchester School of Theatre (Manchester Metropolitan University) are back with a bumper spring season of performance.

Manchester School of Theatre Spring Season
Image courtesy of Manchester School of Theatre/Manchester Metropolitan University

Of Mice and Men at Octagon Theatre Bolton

Of Mice and Men at Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Until 12 April 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

This gut-punching tale – with themes of loyalty, migration and prejudice – still strikes a chord with a contemporary audience. Check out this new large-scale production of Steinbeck’s iconic story.

Of Mice and Men at Octagon Theatre Bolton
Image courtesy of Graeme Braidwood

JB Shorts at 53two

JB Shorts at 53two, 2–12 April 2025, from £13.00 - Book now

A brand new edition of JB Shorts returns to showcase some of the region’s most well-established and talented performers and scriptwriters.

JB Shorts at 53two
JB Shorts at 53two. Image courtesy of Pull Focus productions.

TURN 2025 at Contact

TURN 2025 at Contact Theatre, Manchester, 4 April 2025, Pay-What-You-Can - Book now

This dynamic evening of dance by North West-based artists offering a thrilling glimpse into the future of contemporary performance.

TURN 2025 at Contact
Image courtesy of Maisha Kungu Dance.

TOOM (Tales of Other Minds): A Quiet Room at The White Hotel

TOOM (Tales of Other Minds): A Quiet Room at The White Hotel, Salford, 8–9 April 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

Seeking bold, thought-provoking, and alternative performance? A Quiet Room by Tales of Other Minds (TOOM) should definitely be on your radar.

Tales of Other Minds (TOOM): A Quiet Room
Image courtesy of TOOM (Tales of Other Minds)

Death of the English Pub at The Talleyrand

Death of the English Pub at The Talleyrand, Levenshulme, Manchester, 9–11 April 2025, from £20.00 - Book now

A highly entertaining, site-specific show that blends comedy and storytelling, while offering a sharp critique of the changing face of Britain’s pubs. Grab a pint and get involved.

Death of the English Pub at The Talleyrand
Image courtesy of Shay Rowan.

Peter James’ Picture You Dead at Lowry

Peter James' Picture You Dead at Lowry, Manchester, 16–19 April 2025, from £29.50 - Book now

Calling all fans of detective dramas and psychological thrillers – the latest production in Peter James’ acclaimed Grace series unfolds live on stage this April.

Peter James' Picture You Dead at Lowry
Peter Ash and Jodie Steele. Image courtesy of Alastair Muir Photography.

Wake at Aviva Studios

Wake at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 17–21 April 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

Expect wild acrobatics, outrageous cabaret and electrifying variety when acclaimed Irish sensation THISISPOPBABY come to play at Aviva Studios.

Wake at Aviva Studios: Man dances in a mesh crop top and gold shorts with purple and white irridescent lights in front of an audience.
Wake

Hamlet Hail to the Thief at Aviva Studios

Hamlet Hail to the Thief at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 27 April–18 May 2025, from £10.00 - Book now

A thrilling adaptation blending Shakespeare’s great tragedy with Radiohead’s seminal album in an intoxicating blend of theatre, music, and movement.

Hamlet Hail to the Thief: The cover of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief – which is a collage of colourful text blocks stacked on top of each other. The text has been replaced by words from Hamlet.
Factory International

Chopped Liver and Unions at Manchester Jewish Museum

Synagogue Nights: Chopped Liver and Unions at Manchester Jewish Museum, Manchester, 1 May 2025, from £13.00 - Book now

Mark International Workers’ Day with J.J. Lepink’s powerful one-woman play, bringing a vital yet overlooked figure of British labour history to the stage.

Chopped Liver and Unions at Manchester Jewish Museum
Image courtesy of Carol Rosegg.

Abi Clarke: Role Model at The Wardrobe

Abi Clarke: Role Model at The Wardrobe, 13 May 2025, from £18.00 - Book now

From TikTok sensation to a sell-out star at Edinburgh Fringe, Abi Clarke brings her acclaimed stand-up show to Leeds.

Abi Clarke: Role Model at The Wardrobe
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired.

Dear England at The Lowry

Dear England at Lowry, Manchester, 29 May–29 June 2025 - Book now

Don’t miss James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning, big-hearted, ‘pitch-perfect’ celebration of football when it comes to Salford.

This is England at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Marc Brenner.

Come Fall in Love at Manchester Opera House

Come Fall in Love at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 29 May–21 June 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

A high-octane and vibrant new musical comedy dances into Manchester for its UK premiere later this year.

Come Fall in Love at Manchester Opera House
Image courtesy of Matt Crockett.

Manchester International Festival

Manchester International Festival 2025 at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 3–20 July 2025 - Book now

Manchester will once again become the world’s stage this summer, with Manchester International Festival taking over venues and spaces across the city and beyond.

A Single Man at Aviva Studios (Manchester International Festival)
Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man at Aviva Studios. Image courtesy of Rick Guest.

More theatre events

Free Activity at Aviva Studios
ComedyManchester
Free Activity at Aviva Studios

From comedy nights to drop-in family craft sessions, Factory International bring an accessible and inclusive programme of event this winter – the best thing, it’s all free.

free entry
JB Shorts at 53two
TheatreManchester
JB Shorts at 53two

A brand new edition of JB Shorts returns to showcase some of the region’s most well-established and talented performers and scriptwriters.

from £13.00
Wake at Aviva Studios: Man dances in a mesh crop top and gold shorts with purple and white irridescent lights in front of an audience.
DanceManchester
Wake at Aviva Studios

Expect wild acrobatics, outrageous cabaret and electrifying variety when acclaimed Irish sensation THISISPOPBABY come to play at Aviva Studios.

from £10.00
Crippled With Laughter
ComedyManchester
Crippled With Laughter at Aviva Studios

This disabled-led comedy night, offering a refreshing and enlightening alternative to mainstream comedy, is happening as part of Factory International’s free programme of events.

free entry
Ego Death
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Theatre in the North

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade West Kirby

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

A table with a view of Liverpool at the fine dining restaurant Panoramic 34
Liverpool
Restaurant
Panoramic 34

Panoramic 34 boasts ceiling to floor windows with a breathtaking 360 degree aspect, but there’s plenty more to get giddy about than just the views.

Culture Guides

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

David Lynch, International Women's Day and Manchester Film Festival are amongst our cinematic highlights this March.

the artist
Music in the North

The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.