Theatre

Whether it’s contemporary theatre led by young people or traditional art deco interiors, Oxford Road is home to many of Manchester’s iconic theatre and performance spaces.

From Laurel and Hardy and Judy Garland in the early 1900’s to more recent notable performances such as the Book of Mormon and Les Miserables, The Palace Theatre is the city’s largest theatre space. 

A short distance away is The Dancehouse, which held the world’s first twin cinema. In 2015 HOME opened its doors to the public, merging the former Cornerhouse with the Library Theatre Company to provide performance, exhibition, cinema and education spaces, alongside digital facilities, a café bar, restaurant and bookshop. 

Contact brings game-changing theatre and multidisciplinary art to Oxford Road. Seeking to enable young people to change their lives through the arts, the venue presents a diverse and accessible artistic programme of exciting new shows for audiences of all ages. A leading national theatre and arts venue, Contact places young people at the heart of its mission. Company members aged 13-30 work alongside staff in deciding the artistic programme and making staff appointments, as well as acting as full Board members. The result is a unique and diverse programme of art that challenges and inspires, working to change the face of UK culture.

Grosvenor East Theatre at Manchester Metropolitan University is a fully equipped and flexible theatre space that seats 180 audience members in several configurations including thrust, flat floor and in the round. Manchester School of Theatre was originally established to provide acting lessons for opera singers at the Royal Northern College of Music but is now rightly recognised as one of the elite drama schools in the UK and one of only 20 classical conservatoire-style acting schools. It also sits among a community of artists, writers, filmmakers and other creatives within Manchester Metropolitan’s Arts and Humanities faculty.

Upcoming Shows

Othello

HOME Until 10 October 2026

Director Anthony Almeida’s new production looks afresh at Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy – as much about love as it is about hate.

The Hallé – Offenbach’s Barkouf

The Bridgewater Hall 4 October 2026

What happens when man’s best friend becomes head-of-state? Opera Rara and the Hallé team up once again to present Offenbach’s opera Barkouf, where a dog rules the day.

Music Drop

Contact 6 October 2026

Create, record and collaborate while building skills in music production and songwriting alongside other musicians in a welcoming session.

Part of The Cultural Welcome

Open Floor

Contact 8 October 2026

Live improvised music and dance collide as Company Chameleon, Dance @ Salford and Low Four Studios bring performance to life in the moment.

Part of The Cultural Welcome

Comedy at Contact

Contact 9 October 2026

Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy at Contact, featuring established and emerging North West comedians.

English National Ballet – Romeo & Juliet

Palace Theatre 21 – 25 October 2026

English National Ballet bring Romeo & Juliet to Manchester this Autumn, one of the greatest love stories ever told.

Kim Blythe: Puzzle

Contact 22 October 2026

Kim Blythe brings her new comedy show Puzzle to Manchester, following a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe 2025 run and two Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow nominations.

The Haunting of Hill House

Palace Theatre 27 – 31 October 2026

A tense new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House explores grief, desire and fear in a dark, unsettling story where nothing is as it seems.

August Wilson’s Fences

HOME 3 – 7 November 2026

August Wilson’s landmark play Fences comes to Manchester in a new production directed by Daniel Bailey, exploring family, ambition and changing times.

CATS

Palace Theatre 10 November – 21 December 2026

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS returns to Manchester in a new production, featuring iconic songs including Memory, for a limited run this November.

The Hallé: Christmas Oratorio

The Bridgewater Hall 14 November 2026

Sir Mark Elder conducts MacMillan’s Christmas Oratorio with Mary Bevan, Roderick Williams and the Hallé Choir in a powerful nativity story.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

HOME 27 November 2026 – 2 January 2027

Magical musical The Sorcerer’s Apprentice reimagines a classic tale with chaos, wonder and spellbinding adventure under the Northern Lights.

Billy Elliot the Musical

Palace Theatre 2 December 2026 – 9 January 2027

Billy Elliot the Musical returns to the UK, telling a powerful story of hope, dance and community, with iconic music by Elton John.

Home Alone in Concert

The Bridgewater Hall 2 – 3 December 2026

Home Alone in Concert brings John Williams’ iconic score to life with live orchestra and choir, for a joyful festive screening of the classic Christmas comedy.

The Hallé: Messiah

The Bridgewater Hall 5 December 2026

Matthew Hamilton conducts Handel’s Messiah with Sophie Bevan, Katie Bray, Anthony Gregory, James Platt and the Hallé Choir in a timeless Christmas tradition.

The Hallé: The Snowman and Friends

The Bridgewater Hall 6 December 2026

Watch The Snowman with live orchestral accompaniment from the Hallé, plus festive favourites from Frozen and The Polar Express.

Disney’s Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert

The Bridgewater Hall 7 – 17 December 2026

Experience The Muppet Christmas Carol on the big screen with its beloved score performed live by a full orchestra.

A Christmas Carol

HOME 9 – 12 December 2026

Marley was dead… to begin with. Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a supernatural journey into the past, present and yet-to-come.

Sleeping Beauty Pantomime

Contact 10 – 31 December 2026

The Big Tiny returns to Contact in 2026 with a playful pantomime of Sleeping Beauty, packed with magic, mischief and laughs.

The Hallé Orchestra: Christmas Family Concert: A Festive World Adventure

The Bridgewater Hall 13 December 2026

Abby Cook presents a magical family concert around the world in 80 minutes, filled with festive music, singing and seasonal fun for all ages.

The Hallé Orchestra: Christmas Cracker

The Bridgewater Hall 18 December 2026

Stephen Bell conducts festive favourites with the Hallé Orchestra, choirs and vocalists Sumudu Jayatilaka and Tom Solomon in a joyful Christmas celebration.

The Hallé: Carol Concert

The Bridgewater Hall 19 – 20 December 2026

Stephen Bell conducts Hallé Choirs in a Manchester Christmas tradition of carols, festive favourites and singalong joy.

Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins

The Bridgewater Hall 22 December 2026

Sir Karl Jenkins conducts festive carols and beloved classics, joined by Lucy Crowe and the Manchester Concert Orchestra.

Christmas Carol Singalong

The Bridgewater Hall 23 December 2026

Celebrate the season with a joyful Christmas Carol Singalong featuring festive favourites, classic carols and West End star Louise Dearman.

The Hallé: The Name’s Bond, James Bond

The Bridgewater Hall 29 December 2026

Celebrate the music of James Bond with the Hallé Orchestra, iconic theme songs, star vocalists and red-carpet glamour.

The Nutcracker

The Bridgewater Hall 2 January 2027

Step into a magical Nutcracker Christmas as snow falls, toys come alive, and Clara journeys through a fairy-tale world of wonder!!

Snow White

The Bridgewater Hall 3 January 2027

Step into a spellbinding ballet of Snow White, where jealousy, danger and true love unfold in a richly choreographed fairytale. Varna International Ballet & Orchestra return with a dazzling production for all ages.

Swan Lake

The Bridgewater Hall 3 January 2027

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake comes to life with Varna International Ballet & Orchestra in a spellbinding tale of love, tragedy and breathtaking classical dance.

The Hallé: Viennese New Year

The Bridgewater Hall 9 January 2027

Stephen Bell conducts Viennese New Year concert with Rebecca Bottone, featuring Strauss waltzes and sparkling orchestral favourites.

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