Theatre in the North
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorDynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our theatre guide.
Happening now, a brand new edition of JB Shorts returns to 53Two. Take the opportunity to see six new short plays (each no longer than 15 minutes), written and performed by some of Greater Manchester’s most established and skillful creatives. Expect nuggets of comedy gold and top-notch drama all-round. Meanwhile, over at Contact, some of the boldest voices in choreography will showcase their newest dance work at TURN 2025.
Over at Aviva Studios, Factory International have launched an electrifying season of performance. We’re championing Irish contemporary cabaret collective, THISISPOPBABY with a unique party-performance – celebrating life and connection – through a blend of wild acrobatics, circus, live music, traditional Irish dance and slam poetry; 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.
What else? Death of the English Pub, a site-specific, interactive show exploring the Great British pub, returns to The Talleyrand; Chopped Liver and Unions, a powerful one-woman show shining a light on the life of trade unionist Sara Wesker, plays at Manchester Jewish Museum to mark International Workers’ Day, and comic Abi Clarke makes the leap from Tik Tok sensation to sell-out stand-up with her acclaimed show, Role Model.
Read on for details of all of this and more.
