The List

The Lowry

The Lowry is Salford's biggest art and theatre venue, opened in 2000. The building houses three theatre spaces: the 1,730-seat Lyric Theatre, the 466-seat Quays and the smaller Studio, as well as art galleries that contain a major collection of the work of the much-loved Lancashire painter LS Lowry, after whom the entire complex is named. Other galleries feature major touring exhibitions. The Lowry receives major touring theatre productions as well as stand-up comedy, opera, dance, cabaret and children's shows. At the Restaurant, head chef Oliver Thomas has been praised for an unfussy approach highlighting the best local ingredients. The centre is easily accessible by public transport, being ten minutes' drive from Manchester city centre and served by tram and bus links. Parking is available at the Lowry Outlet Mall car park, directly adjacent to the centre.

What's On @ The Lowry

The Lancashire Hotpots

The Lancashire Hotpots

25 Jul 2026 - 25 Jul 2026

Dubbed ‘the new Wurzels’ by Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2, The Lancashire Hotpots have become the go to band for those wanting a light-hearted, distinctly Northern view on life. The lads have entertained the nation with comedy songs about chippy teas, shop mobility scooters as well as how to smuggle your own sweets into the cinema. Their shows filled with raucous comedy songs, congas, puppets and pirates have made them cult favourites and famous for good time, sing-a-long fun.
The Night Sky Show

The Night Sky Show

17 May 2026 - 21 Feb 2027

The Night Sky Show will take you on an epic journey from our celestial back yard and across the cosmos. Comedy, astronomy and so much more. A show for anyone with a slight interest or more in the night sky. A night for those who want to laugh, learn and enjoy. The Night Sky Show will be a truly fun, entertaining and memorable evening. Helping you understand and enjoy the heavens above and universe beyond. Helpful for the next time you’re looking up at the night sky stargazing, or when you just look up and wonder. For one thing, we’ll skip the heavy going science and hard to follow explanations. The Universe and everything within will be presented in an entertaining and easily absorbed way. An amazing show for everyone! This won’t be a boring astronomy talk. The Night Sky Show is a theatrical performance anyone can enjoy! Learn about the constellations, stars, planets and the deeper cosmos. The sheer scale of the universe and the mythology and stories of the night sky. Presented by Adrian West - A passionate and experienced astronomer. Better known as VirtualAstro on twitter and Facebook. He has one of the largest independent astronomy and space accounts on social media. He’s passionate about the night sky and inspiring people to look up by being interesting, down-to-earth and fun! Adrian has written many astronomy and space related articles for various popular online science magazines. He has also written guides and articles for the BBC, Met office and National Trust to name a few. You can regularly find him pointing things out to people in the night sky. If you look up and wonder, The Night Sky Show is for you. So let's explore!
Matt Forde: Defying Calamity

Matt Forde: Defying Calamity

13 May 2026 - 16 Jul 2026

Host of hit political podcast The Political Party Matt Forde (Spitting Image, Have I Got News For You, The British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) explores the dark comedy horror that is British politics, ahead of the next election. Plus silly voices.
Beyond the Barricade

Beyond the Barricade

15 May 2026 - 19 Sept 2027

Beyond the Barricade has delighted audiences throughout the UK and mainland Europe for more than a decade, with its exciting concert portrayal of the greatest songs in musical theatre, all performed totally live! Recreating original West End/Broadway musical hit songs with amazing authenticity, this cast of past principal performers from Les Misérables, present a blockbusting two hour show, and is now established as the nation’s favourite musical theatre concert. Beyond the Barricade features songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Miss Saigon and many others, climaxing with a spectacular finale from, of course, Les Misérables! Don’t miss the return of ‘Beyond the Barricade’ to experience its nationwide reputation for quality and perfection in musical theatre and find out why this exciting show has received critical acclaim across the UK and abroad.
Scott Bennett: Stuff

Scott Bennett: Stuff

14 May 2026 - 6 Jun 2027

As a society we love stuff, it’s a statement about who we are and who we want to be. But apparently, this message is at odds with the looming environmental crisis. We’re now struggling to balance these worlds, to focus on the things that bring us real connections and nourish the soul. Award-winning comedian and award-winning droduct designer Scott Bennett is desperately trying to cleanse his life of stuff, but is this even possible anymore? Tour support for Mickey Flanagan, Rob Brydon, Jason Manford and John Bishop. Star of Live at the Apollo, The News Quiz, The Now Show, The Ultimate Choice and Chortle Best Club Comedian Nominee 2022.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

13 May 2026 - 12 Sept 2026

Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member, Mick Fleetwood, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups.  Channeling the spirit of Fleetwood Mac at their very best, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac offers a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover the songs and performances that have ensured Fleetwood Mac’s place as one of the most loved groups of all time.
Clinton Baptiste: Spectral Intercourse
Hot on the heels of his fourth sell-out UK tour, the nation’s favourite clairvoyant medium, from Peter Kay’s ‘Phoenix Nights’, Clinton Baptiste has extended his new live show for 2027 and beyond! In a rudderless world, mankind needs an envoy to gather solutions from the all-knowing, all-seeing Afterlife. But who should it be? Of course, there’s only one man for the job – Clinton Baptiste. Receiving the audiences’ queries and earthbound dilemmas, Clinton will then reach out to spirits for answers. Fear not. He will probe sensitively. Spiritual connection. Mystical congress…. ……Spectral Intercourse.
Two Mr P's in a Podcast Live

Two Mr P's in a Podcast Live

22 May 2026 - 20 Feb 2027

Mr P has been a primary school teacher for over twelve years. He still works part-time in school and leads training in schools all over the UK and beyond. From sharing ideas and funny insights into life in the classroom, he has now become one of the most followed teachers on social media in the UK. Three years ago, alongside his younger brother (who also works in a school) he started the award-winning podcast Two Mr Ps in a Podcast. In a year, it has been the number one education podcast and amassed over three million listens. Sharing funny stories from the front line of teaching, this live show will see the Two Mr Ps reminiscing on their own school days and looking at the wonderful and hilarious world of education. Anyone who went to school will enjoy and relate to this brilliant new show.
Bluey's Big Play

Bluey's Big Play

15 May 2026 - 16 Aug 2026

Back by popular demand – Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli are returning to Southampton in the Olivier award-nominated live stage show, Bluey’s Big Play. Featuring brilliantly created puppets, this theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series is packed with music, laughter, and fun for the whole family. When Dad feels like a little bit of afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. With an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. This is Bluey, For Real Life. Bluey’s Big Play is produced by Andrew Kay and Cuffe & Taylor with Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios.
Hannah East: Express Yourself

Hannah East: Express Yourself

23 Sept 2026 - 3 Dec 2026

Hannah East’s brand-new show is a hilarious deep dive into the highs and lows of parenting.  With millions of views across her viral comedy reels, she brilliantly captures the chaos, joy, and absurdity of mum life.  From pregnancy and labour to breastfeeding, postpartum struggles, and everyday parenting challenges, her sketches hit home with honesty and humour. Audiences love her for saying what mums are really thinking—but rarely say out loud. With her warm-hearted tone, relatable mum impressions, and fearless wit, Express Yourself is a must-watch.  Expect brand-new skits, more wigs, celebrity send-ups, and laugh-out-loud moments every parent will relate to.
Emma Doran: Emmaculate

Emma Doran: Emmaculate

16 May 2026 - 6 Mar 2027

Smash hit Irish comedian, best-selling author, podcast host and viral online star Emma Doran hits the road once again taking her brand-new stand-up show Emmaculate across the UK and Ireland in 2025/26. There's no such thing as a perfect family, but Emma wouldn't want one anyway... The many trials and tribulations of Emma's blended family are laid bare in this witty, rambunctious show from one of Ireland's most beloved stand-ups. Strap in for a night to remember, jam-packed with razor-sharp observations, riotous on-stage antics and conspiratorial gossipmongering. As seen and heard on No Worries If Not! (RTÉ 2), The Tommy Tiernan Show (RTÉ 1), LOL: Last One Laughing (Prime Video) hosted by Graham Norton, The Late Late Show (RTÉ), Celebrity Gogglebox (Virgin Media One), Modern Love (Prime Video) alongside Kit Harington, The Deirdre O'Kane Show (SKY), Bridget and Eamon (RTÉ), Callan Kicks (RTÉ), Republic Of Telly (RTÉ) and Irelands Fittest Family (RTÉ), while her podcast credits include: You're Grounded with daughter Ella, And Another Thing! with Muireann O' Connell and the four-part series Mischief Makers. Emma currently co-hosts the podcast Keep It Tight alongside fellow stand-up and LOL: Last One Laughing contestant Deirdre O'Kane. Emma is also author of best-selling book, Mad, Isn't It? (published in 2024).
Janine Harouni: This Is What You Waited For
Two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and ‘unstoppably entertaining' Janine Harouni hits the road with a brand-new hour of joyful, quick-witted stand-up. Fresh off a world tour - including an Off-Broadway run in New York and a performance at the Netflix is a Joke Festival in LA - the New York native returns with a razor-sharp new show about marriage, parenting, and all the other wonderful milestones that slowly degrade your sleep and sanity. With over 10 million views online, an Amazon Prime special, and rave reviews across the board, Harouni is one of the most electric comics working today. Harouni is a regular on UK TV (Live at the Apollo, The Last Leg, The Russell Howard Hour, The John Bishop Show), and has opened for comics like Michael Che and Adam Rowe. She has featured in films and TV shows like Bob's Burgers, The Franchise, Collette, Patrick Melrose, The People We Hate At The Wedding and The Batman.
Northern Ballet - Gentleman Jack

Northern Ballet - Gentleman Jack

4 Jun 2026 - 6 Jun 2026

Masters of storytelling Northern Ballet bring to the stage the extraordinary story of Anne Lister - better known as Gentleman Jack. A powerful Yorkshire woman, it was only after her death when her secret diaries were decoded that a truly exceptional life was uncovered. Anne lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19th century society expected her to. With her words dancing across the page, she vividly chronicled her adventures, heartbreaks and triumphs. Inspiring biographies, novels, a hit TV series and now a ballet, this thrilling production choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is performed to new live music by Claire Cowan. A co-production with Finnish National Ballet  Choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa  Composer Claire Cowan  Dramaturg Clare Croft  Lighting and Set Designer Christopher Ash  Costume Designer Louise Flanagan  Creative Consultant Sally Wainwright
Tom Stade

Tom Stade

15 May 2026 - 29 Apr 2027

Direct from the Edinburgh festival, and his last smash-hit nationwide tour, the legendary Canadian stand-up star is back on the road with a brand-new show. Join Tom as he playfully dishes out more of his insightful observations. An irrepressible tour-de-force with an hour of first class, mischievous and uncompromising comedy. As seen/heard on Have a Word Pod, Ch4's Comedy Gala, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, The John Bishop Show, Live at the Apollo (so good, he's done it twice) and much more!
Judi Love: All About the Love

Judi Love: All About the Love

16 May 2026 - 19 Jun 2026

Bringing her fresh, unapologetic and charismatic real talk to theatres across the country, The One Like Judi Love hits theatres on her first official tour! Expect unrelenting and hilarious anecdotes from Judi's life! Expect unrelenting and hilarious anecdotes from Judi's life! Regular panellist on Loose Women and as seen on Taskmaster, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Graham Norton Show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Royal Variety Performance.
Tom Davis: Spudgun

Tom Davis: Spudgun

22 May 2026 - 13 Feb 2027

Tom Davis is back on the road, firing out his freshly cooked observations on life's hot topics. Co-host of the mega-hit podcast Wolf and Owl with Romesh Ranganathan, star of BAFTA and Royal Television Society award-winning comedy series Murder in Successville and BBC One smash-hit comedy King Gary, Tom also has his own special Underdog available to watch on Sky and NOW TV.
Jarlath Regan

Jarlath Regan

22 May 2026 - 3 Oct 2026

We are all going to need a laugh this year and Jarlath is here to deliver it. In this world of unending negativity, bleakness and cynicism there’s never been a better time to come and escape from it all for a night of quality laughs courtesy of the jewel in Ireland’s comedy crown. If you like your comedy smart, sharp, warm and searingly funny, then this is the show for you.
Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf

Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf

16 May 2026 - 7 Nov 2026

Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up?
Omid Djalili: Namaste

Omid Djalili: Namaste

10 Nov 2026 - 20 Jan 2027

The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show NAMASTE where Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol upon the current state of this dangerously messed up planet. No government gets a green card. No tyrant avoids a take down. No audience member leaves the theatre with an ounce of laughter left in them... You have been warned.
Troy Hawke

Troy Hawke

15 May 2026 - 4 Jun 2027

Fresh from finding and proving decisive links between IKEA, the CIA and the Nazi’s, 1930’s throwback homeschooled investigator Troy Hawke battle a new enemy on behalf of all people everywhere…the saboteur that lurks in our own minds…
Lowry Youth Dance Project

Lowry Youth Dance Project

14 May 2026 - 9 Jul 2026

Calling young people aged 8-15 who love to move! We are offering you the opportunity to upskill in new movement techniques and unleash your artistic, physical creativity with Lowry Youth Dance Project. All genders and abilities welcome! In this project you will receive... • Tuition from industry professionals whilst making friends and learning new ways to move • Bespoke movement workshops in choreography, technique and improvisation • A performance opportunity
Shoot From The Hip

Shoot From The Hip

31 May 2026 - 31 May 2026

Shoot From The Hip bring their award-winning, TikTok-viral improvised comedy to The Lowry! Featuring chaotic games, epic scenes, and ever-so-slightly unhinged performances, their Metro, Evening Standard, and Time Out-recommended shows are completely unscripted, unpredictable - and unforgettable.
Six

Six

1 Aug 2026 - 7 Nov 2026

The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End and beyond, the international smash hit musical SIX makes its royal return to Salford following its previous sold out run! Winner of over 35 international awards including the Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score' and ‘Best Costume Design', double winner of the Whatsonstage Award for ‘Best West End Show' and a Gold-Disk winning album, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message' (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment' (New York Times).  From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. Think you know the rhyme, think again... Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!
Gyles Brandreth – Can’t Stop Talking
He’s back – and unstoppable. Gyles Brandreth can’t stop talking. The jumper-loving This Morning and Just a Minute star, who pops up on Pointless, QI, Would I Lie To You?, Sunday Brunch, and Celebrity Gogglebox, has been babbling since he was a baby, and in his hilarious new one-man show the award-winning raconteur is trying to work out why.
High School Musical

High School Musical

22 Aug 2026 - 19 Sept 2026

Based on the hit Disney Channel Original Movie - join Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High as they navigate the highs and lows of first love, friendships, and self-discovery — all while juggling classes, basketball games, auditions and the expectations of their peers. This fresh and exciting new production will transform Lowry's Lyric Theatre into an immersive East High experience, with extended staging and on-stage seating that puts the audience right in the middle of the game. Co-directed by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, this is High School Musical like you've never seen it before. Featuring all the hit songs from the original film, including Breaking Free, We're All In This Together, Stick to the Status Quo, Get'cha Head in the Game and many more.
Ania Magliano: Peach Fuzz

Ania Magliano: Peach Fuzz

17 May 2026 - 15 Nov 2026

You know when you're trying to wee on a night out, and you're interrupted by a random girl who insists on telling you all her secrets even though you've never met? Imagine that, but she has a microphone. Ania Magliano is back!
Phil Ellis

Phil Ellis

3 Aug 2026 - 15 Jan 2027

Star of Taskmaster and award-winning comedian, Phil Ellis, has entertained audiences of all ages with his amalgamation of off-beat observational material and physical comedy. Phil’s 2025 Edinburgh Fringe show, Soppy Stern, won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Act That Should Make a Million Quid, and was a joint-winner for Best Show for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Ellis also brought back his award-winning hit kids show, Funz and Gamez, for a two week run entitled Funz and Gamez Rebootz. It won Best Fringe Kids Show at The List Festival Awards and is a previous winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Panel Prize. He has also starred and co-wrote three series of his own BBC Radio 4 sitcom Phil Ellis is Trying, co-starring Johnny Vegas, Lolly Adefope, Amy Gledhill, Alexei Sayle, Sindhu Vee, Jack Dee, Lee Mack, Mark Lamarr and Sean Lock. The series was nominated for a BBC Audio Award in 2019. If you want to see an act matching the madcap anarchy of the original alternative comedy boom, matched to John Cleese's physicality and Johnny Vegas' hilarious pathos, then Phil Ellis is your man
Paul McCaffrey: What a Time to Be Alive
A new show from one of the funniest comics working in the UK today. Modern life is annoying but was it really much better before? McCaffrey asks in this warm, charming hour of comedy. Star of Live At The Apollo, BBC Three’s Impractical Jokers and Russell Howard’s Good News.
John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills

John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills

13 May 2026 - 6 Nov 2026

Tilting at Windmills is the brand-new stand-up show from Taskmaster alumni and double Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, John Kearns. A fragmented, digressing portrayal of a 38-year-old man’s life, alluding to books he hasn't read, touching on the modern condition. Plus VAT! More allusive and bleak as ever, it is unreal the comedian you become. And for who? Decent craic with the right crowd. A show for those who have read about but not committed to the Guinness Nitrosurge.
The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo

3 Jul 2026 - 5 Jul 2026

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories' magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - celebrating 25 years on stage in 2026. Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo - is there? Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that's toured Britain and the world!
Daliso Chaponda: Topical Storm

Daliso Chaponda: Topical Storm

16 May 2026 - 29 Jul 2026

Daliso shot to fame on Britain's Got Talent and has gone on to amass over 100 million YouTube views, write and star in his critically acclaimed Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere, and appear on QI, The Apprentice: You're Fired, News Quiz and The Now Show. In his hilarious, daring new show, Daliso looks at disgraced, blacklisted celebrities and historical figures we're ashamed we once admired. There's also the small matter of family member arrests, exploding buildings in his home country and the enterprising Malawian who tried to blackmail him.
Laura Smyth: Born Aggy

Laura Smyth: Born Aggy

24 Sept 2026 - 26 Nov 2026

What if all your dreams come true and you’ve still got the hump? Laura Smyth has had a meteoric rise in comedy! Her debut tour ‘Living My Best Life’ sold out up and down the country; she has supported Jack Whitehall, Michelle de Swarte, Alan Davies, and Jason Manford and appeared on multiple panel shows. She’s even beaten cancer; she’s done all the alternative healing shit you could shake a stick at – and she still thinks everyone’s a dkhead. It can’t just be her, can it?
Bank of Dave The Musical

Bank of Dave The Musical

13 May 2026 - 16 May 2026

"If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's this: everybody hates bankers." Bank of Dave: The Musical is a home-grown, brand-new British musical - bursting with northern grit, laugh-out-loud humour and what Dave himself calls "the best songs in any musical ever." This feel-good show tells the true-ish story of Dave Fishwick: Burnley born and bred, and no ordinary man. A self-made millionaire, Dave spent years helping local people and small businesses when hard-nosed banks turned them away. Frustrated by the system, he has an idea.set up his own bank and put the profits straight back into his community. With posh but principled lawyer Hugh at his side, Dave swaps Burnley for London to take on the banking bigwigs and fight for a fairer deal. But will the fat cats of the City make way for Dave's dreams? From Sunday Times bestseller to Netflix's #1 UK film, Dave's inspiring underdog story now bursts onto the stage as a laugh-out-loud British musical packed with heart, humour and cracking new music.
Sindhu Vee

Sindhu Vee

5 Sept 2026 - 25 Nov 2026

Sindhu Vee is an award-winning comedian, writer and actor. Since swapping a career in investment banking for one in comedy, Sindhu has fast become one of the most exciting and sought-after talents on the UK circuit.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals
The BBC One's award-winning TV Show Strictly Come Dancing has spawned a glamourous live tour, following the phenomenal success of the dazzling 2019 UK tour, the pros will once again be quick-stepping their way around the UK in a glittering new tour. A huge hit with critics that regularly received standing ovations from audiences, there's no better atmosphere to enjoy the smooth moves and electrifying dance routines from these award-winning professionals. As always, the incredible talent of these world-class dancers is complemented with sensational live music, eye-popping costumes and the incredible Strictly production values. Directed by Strictly's Creative Director of Choreography Jason Gilkison, the show will feature a stunning line-up of pro dancers ready to race back to the dancefloor. The Pro dancer line-up for this tour includes Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk & Kai Widdrington.
The Spy Who Came in from The Cold

The Spy Who Came in from The Cold

13 May 2026 - 25 Jul 2026

The Spy Novel That Changed Everything. Now Live On Stage. For the first time ever, a novel by John le Carré — the undisputed master of the modern spy genre whose works include Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager — is brought to life in a thrilling stage adaptation. Based on the worldwide bestseller and named in TIME Magazine's All-Time Greatest 100 Novels, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a riveting journey through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage, deception, and moral compromise. Disillusioned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is ready to come in from the cold — until veteran agent George Smiley persuades him to take one final mission against the East German Secret Service. Deep undercover, he finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart. Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre and a hit West End premiere, this gripping new play written by David Eldridge (Beginning, Middle) and directed by Jeremy Herrin (A Mirror, People, Places & Things) comes to Lowry for 1 week only.
Party Season

Party Season

13 May 2026 - 16 May 2026

Three parties. One weekend. The invitations have been sent and there's no going back. it's Party Season! Xander is back in town, and this weekend he's on parenting duty. The kids are in the ball pit; the Entertainer is blowing bubbles; the adults gobble Perelló olives and pretend to like each other. As ancient grudges rear their heads, the tension rises like a helium balloon. Caught between who he was and who he's supposed to be, Xander must decide whether he's going to grow up or just pass the parcel. From the multi-award-winning creators of Education, Education, Education and The Last of the Pelican Daughters comes a sugar-fuelled, bobbin-winding fever dream where class identities collide, social niceties unravel, and underslept parents do their best to hold it all together. Party Season is a razor-sharp new comedy about privilege, party rings and the pressures of being a parent. RSVP! A Wardrobe Ensemble, Royal & Derngate, Northampton & Lowry Co-Production
Harriet: Trying To Get The Feeling Again
Trying To Get The Feeling Again sees Harriet perform new interpretations of her favourite sounds of the '70s with her live band following the release of her new album of the same name. Including hits by The Carpenters, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Carole King, Barry Manilow, Christopher Cross and more, interlaced with her nostalgic original material. This series of shows follows Harriet's recent 30 date sold out 2025 UK tour and the release of her single, ‘Mountain', co-written with John Bettis, who wrote numerous hits with Richard Carpenter for The Carpenters, including ‘Top Of The World', ‘Goodbye To Love' and ‘Yesterday Once More'. This nostalgic show transports audiences back to the 1970s where they are able to connect with each other through a mutual love of this wonderful music while experiencing all the feelings that this coveted era evokes in us. It is a unique opportunity to hear Harriet perform songs from the era that inspires her most with her full band and share the stories behind her connection to the music. An evening not to be missed!
Mike Bubbins

Mike Bubbins

20 Sept 2026 - 17 Apr 2027

Mike Bubbins, star of hit podcast The Socially Distant Sports Bar, and of BBC television comedies Mammoth, Tourist Trap and The Unexplainers, unleashes Throwback, his first ever solo UK stand-up tour. And things may never be the same again. Throwback is a powerful, thought-provoking, visceral hour of stand-up comedy, that pushes boundaries, defies neat descriptions and challenges the audience... As if it is! It’s actually an hour and a half of really funny stories, pretty impressive characterisations, possibly a song (he said he’ll see how that goes), a bit of nostalgia about the good old days, a bit of optimism about the good new days, and Mike generally having a laugh about life and not taking himself, or anything else, too seriously. Having said that, he may, at some point in the show, get very annoyed at berks, whether in the past, the present, or the future. Very annoyed. So basically Throwback is a comedy show about Bubbins sharing, and bringing to life, the stuff that he finds funny. As comedy concepts go, it’s a pretty straightforward one, really.
Maisie Adam: Whatsherface

Maisie Adam: Whatsherface

17 Sept 2026 - 20 Mar 2027

Straight off the back of Taskmaster, A League Of Their Own, and Last One Laughing, Maisie Adam is back with her brand new show Whatsherface. Join the "tall, chaotic one with the weird hair" as she returns with her trademark wit, firecracker gags, and probably a few angry outbursts along the way. A genuine description given by her best friend's Mum at a wedding this year.
Daniel Foxx: How Lovely

Daniel Foxx: How Lovely

28 May 2026 - 26 Feb 2027

Daniel was determined to handle his Big Breakup with the grace of Julia Roberts. He didn’t. Join him as he navigates dating in your 30s, Le Creuset addiction and 12-step skincare routines, all while trying very hard to emanate love and light. Described by Rolling Stone as ‘utterly hilarious and effortlessly charismatic’, award-winning stand-up Daniel is best known for his viral comedy videos, which are enjoyed by millions of women and gays online. His critically-acclaimed debut show Villain toured internationally, including a sell-out run at New York’s SoHo Playhouse and London’s legendary Clapham Grand. He co-hosts the podcast Welcome To Hell with fellow comic Dane Buckley, which debuted in Apple and Spotify’s Top 10 comedy charts, and he is the author of the hit book Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children.
Barry From Watford: Shooting From The (New) Hip
Demagogue? Iconoclast? Dilettante? Virtuoso? Ok, these words have nothing to do with the show, but they do make it sound clever and that's what it's all about. Shooting from the (new) hip, still alive and kicking, the nation's favourite nonogenarian returns with his stand-up show armed with fierce one-liners, biting satire plus some effing and that sort of thing for the teens. A rip-roaring, fast-paced hilarious show.
Sylvia

Sylvia

19 Oct 2026 - 24 Oct 2026

Sylvia Pankhurst - fearless, flawed, and unforgettable. The untold story of the rebellious middle child of Emmeline Pankhurst takes centre stage in this irresistible hip hop, funk and soul musical that moves your feet and fires your spirit. Whilst her mother and sister battled for women's suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her beliefs, Sylvia risked it all to bring change to millions. With an electrifying score by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, renowned choreographer and storyteller Kate Prince (ZooNation - Message in a Bottle, Some Like it Hip Hop, Into the Hoods, The Mad Hatter's Tea Party) delivers her Olivier-nominated vision in this theatrical treat that audiences can't get enough of. Starring powerhouse talent Beverley Knight, (Sister Act, The Drifters Girl, Memphis the Musical) in a show stopping performance as Emmeline Pankhurst, this is your chance see her in a career defining turn that won her the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Sharon Rose (Hamilton, Motown, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical) returns as Sylvia, whose performance brings depth, heart, and fire to the stage. Direct from London's Old Vic theatre where it played to sold out houses and instant standing ovations, SYLVIA is more than a musical - it's a manifesto set to music, a revolution you can dance to, a story that roars and shakes the rafters. Book now. You don't want to miss this. Olivier Award Win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Olivier Nominated for Best New Musical and Best Theatre Choreographer. Winner of Best New Musical at the Black British Theatre Award
This is Rambert

This is Rambert

16 Jun 2026 - 9 Jul 2026

We're 100 — and just getting started. This is Rambert; now, as we've always been; living and breathing dance DNA; committed to putting the spotlight on voices, visions and ideas shaping our world today. Dance that's alive with urgency, energy and relevance. For our centenary, we bring together handpicked, bite-size, high-impact works from artists with something urgent to say — including work from (LA)HORDE, Emma Evelein, and a brand-new commission. Works that speak of the now, amplify untold stories, thrive on difference and match the speed and intensity of modern life. This programme captures what matters right now — a glimpse of the future from the company that has always led the way. This is Rambert. Rambert's collaboration with (LA)HORDE is made possible with support from Cockayne-Grants for the Arts and funds raised by Vogue World London. Join us on Tuesday 7 July to celebrate Rambert's Centenary with a Centenary Golden Ticket. This special evening will feature a VIP interval reception and an after-show party with the company, along with exclusive glimpses into Rambert's next century. It's an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate with Rambert's artists and friends in true Rambert-style. We have 200 Golden Tickets on sale now until 1st May 2026. By joining us, you'll be helping to develop dancers and dance audiences for the next 100 years.
Waitress

Waitress

8 Jun 2026 - 31 Oct 2026

"Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie" (The Times) as the hit musical comedy WAITRESS comes to Salford. Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.  Brought to life by a ground-breaking, female-led creative team, this ‘warm, witty, wise and hilarious' (EXPRESS) hit features ‘one of the best scores in years' (THE STAGE) by the Grammy award-winning Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony® Award-winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland). Having received standing ovations night after night in London's West End and on Broadway, Waitress is ‘the real deal' (INDEPENDENT) musical comedy ‘made from the finest ingredients' (TIME OUT).  Book now and get your tickets to this ‘joyously life-affirming celebration of love and friendship' (EXPRESS).  Please note: Waitress deals with some adult content and themes so discretion is advised for parents bringing children under age 13. The producers may make alterations to the published cast for any reason, at any time, and therefore cannot guarantee the appearance of any named artist.
Gary Delaney: Gary on Laughing

Gary Delaney: Gary on Laughing

14 May 2026 - 28 May 2027

Gary Delaney's last UK tour ran for two and a half years across 378 dates. People laughed a lot and kept coming back. His videos have hundreds of millions of views. So now he's doing it all again with a brand new show. All new jokes and utterly splendid filth.  Come along. It'll be fun. Don't bring the kids or people who like to get their knickers in a twist. Do wear a TENA pad or dark trousers. 
Amy & Carlos: Reborn

Amy & Carlos: Reborn

29 May 2026 - 21 Jun 2026

Having made a stunning return to the Strictly dancefloor, Amy Dowden MBE, accompanied by fellow sensational Strictly Come Dancing star Carlos Gu, truly feels Reborn. Back on stage following a triumphant and acclaimed debut season, Amy and Carlos share an intimate portrait of their lives and journeys, in which the inspirational and transformative power of dance shines through. Featuring a dazzling cast of world-class dancers, amazing live vocalists, and a soundtrack of iconic anthems from across the decades, the show will take audiences on an emotional and uplifting journey through show-stopping routines. Amy & Carlos: Reborn is a genuine testament to the joy of dancing.
The Ballad of Johnny and June

The Ballad of Johnny and June

2 Jun 2026 - 1 Aug 2026

He was a small-town musician and storyteller with a voice that stirred the soul. She was the comedienne of the first family of country music. The Ballad of Johnny & June takes you inside the soaring highs and shattering lows of a love story that defined an era. From the stage to the road, through triumphs, heartbreak, and redemption this brand-new musical, created with the support of their family and told through the eyes of their son, John Carter Cash, shows why Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash remain one of the most infamous couples of the 20th Century. Packed with legendary hits from I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Hey Porter, Jackson, I’ve Been Everywhere and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy, and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) don’t miss your chance to join music royalty for The Ballad of Johnny & June .
Hamza Yassin

Hamza Yassin

13 May 2026 - 30 May 2026

Nigel McIntyre and Gareth Watson presents Hamza Yassin: My Life Behind the Lens 'My mission is to get people outside and experience the wonder of the natural world. Immersing yourself in nature is an effective antidote to the anxieties of modern life' Join wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin on a new adventure as he takes to the stage to share his infectious sense of wonder and most precious memories both in life and in nature. Hamza brings a fresh perspective to the natural world and truly believes that by engaging people in the joy of Mother Nature and what she has to offer, we can all gain a fresh perspective on the world around us and how we can protect it together. Packed with breath-taking footage, fascinating insights, charming personal stories, and with a deep passion for nature, he invites audiences of all ages to reconnect with the wild world around them. This unique live experience offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of Britain’s most beloved natural history storytellers.
Jay Rayner: Nights out in the Kitchen

Jay Rayner: Nights out in the Kitchen

10 Sept 2026 - 4 Oct 2026

Jay Rayner faces some serious questions and in Nights Out in the Kitchen, the show marking publication of his fabulous new cookbook, he's finally going to answer them. What's the secret to a great dinner party? Is a restaurant critic, renowned for his negative reviews, just a bit of a scumbag? What's the best thing you can have on toast? Can you braise spaghetti? And what does a food writer do when they've run out of words like ‘crispy', ‘moist' and ‘dense'? All of these vital issues, posed to Jay by someone very close to his cholesterol-drenched heart, will be up for discussion alongside many more as he sets out on tour. Join wit, raconteur, and occasional pastry-wrangler Jay Rayner, for a couple of hours of intense foodie insight, fabulous dinner ideas and the occasional dodgy one too.
Ruby Turner

Ruby Turner

16 Oct 2026 - 16 Oct 2026

Originally from Jamaica, Britain’s number one r’n’b and soul voice has long been the leading light in Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. She’s got a voice that hardly anyone can match and she can breathe life and meaning into any song, whether it is a passionate gospel tune, a soaring ballad, a dirty blues or a funky up-tempo groove. This is good time music -- for lovers of all types of music.
Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: Dead!!!
Yorkshire’s biggest b-d and Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2024 is back, after yet another sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! This time he’s dead… dead good! And also, dead. He’s a dead man. Join the nation’s favourite demonic entertainer, owner of a Working Mens Club in Rotherham what is also a portal to hell, as he dazzles you from beyond the grave. See him now before he is well and truly gone.
The End Of The World According To Jonathan Pie
Jonathan Pie is coming to terms with the horror of Keir Starmer's Labour and the fact that he voted for it. Meanwhile, Reform are waiting in the wings and Elon Musk is pulling the strings. The far-right are on the march, Trump's having a ball and the woke left still haven't worked out how to get their head out their own arses. The climate is collapsing; AI is about to rule and ruin your life and World War Three feels distinctly possible. Come and see this helpful and hilarious guide to surviving the impending apocalypse. This is The End of The World according to Jonathan Pie.
Laura Lexx

Laura Lexx

3 Oct 2026 - 22 Nov 2026

Join multi award winning stand up star and viral sensation Laura Lexx (Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, Hypothetical, The Now Show) with her highly anticipated UK tour: Slinky. Firmly established as one of the most sought after headliners on the UK and international comedy circuits... This show is effortlessly heartwarming, hilarious about motherhood, and fearless with the front row.
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

23 Jun 2026 - 27 Jun 2026

Matthew Bourne's award-winning The Car Man is back! Loosely based on Bizet's ever-popular opera, The Car Man has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures' repertoire. The familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1950's garage-diner in the American Mid-West where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge. Matthew Bourne's vivid storytelling combines with one of the most passionately dramatic scores ever written, with music by Terry Davies featuring Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite (after Bizet's Carmen), to create a dance thriller like no other. The Car Man will ignite your senses and leave you breathless. Music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite (after Bizet's Carmen) Sound by Paul Groothuis Lighting by Chris Davey Designed by Lez Brotherston Directed & Choreographed by Matthew Bourne Content warnings: The Car Man contains scenes of a sexual nature, brief nudity, strobe lighting and gunshots.  Age guidance 12+ Running time; 2 hours including an interval
Joe Tracini - Ten Things I Hate About Me
Hi, hope you're ok. My show is about hope. It's also about mental illness, good liars, bad ideas, Lorraine Kelly and a gang lord forcing me to hold a raw chicken. But it's mostly about hope. I live with a complex mental illness called borderline personality disorder (BPD) and I started writing this, about that, in January 2020. It's been a long 5 years, but I'm finally here. Please come. I wrote it for you.   Joe Tracini is an actor, writer and TV presenter. He's starred in TV shows including Hollyoaks, Coming of Age and The Great Outdoors, and was the host of the BAFTA winning The Dengineers on CBBC.  Since March 2020 his social media videos have been viewed over 90 million times. The BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 documentary Me and the Voice in My Head explored the frequently debilitating effects that Joe's Borderline Personality Disorder has on every aspect of his life. His book, Ten Things I Hate About Me is a Sunday Times Bestseller. 
Uncovering Ancient Egypt with Bettany Hughes
Step into the golden sands of Ancient Egypt with award-winning historian Bettany Hughes as she brings the land of the pharaohs vividly to life. With over 50 documentaries seen by 250 million viewers worldwide and bestselling books including The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and Venus & Aphrodite, she has devoted 25 years to transform ancient history into captivating storytelling. Bettany will reveal how Ancient Egypt's innovations in medicine, mathematics, engineering, and governance laid foundations for our modern world. She'll explore how Egyptian concepts of the afterlife, justice, and leadership continue to influence us today, and why this ancient civilization remains so compelling to contemporary audiences. From the sands of the Sahara to the secrets of the Valley of the Kings, don't miss this chance to experience Ancient Egypt through the eyes of one of our finest historians. Whether you're fascinated by ancient mysteries or curious about how the past connects to our present, this evening promises to be an indelible journey down the Nile and through time.
Chris Packham's World of Wonder: A Planet on the Edge
For nearly forty years Chris Packham has been the voice of nature in the UK. Through his groundbreaking work on The Really Wild Show, Springwatch, Inside Our Autistic Minds and Earth, Chris has devoted his remarkable life to engaging with the natural world - and urging us all to do the same. Join Chris as he opens an encyclopaedia of stories from his lifetime of curiosity and conviction. From a childhood bedroom bursting with feathers, skulls, jam-jars full of tadpoles, snakes and lizards, foxes and badgers, to the wild adventures that shaped his love of nature, and the practical things we can all do in our daily lives to make a difference in a time of crisis. Experience an evening alive with discovery, with the chance to see extraordinary specimens from Chris's own collection up close, hear untold stories from behind the camera, and share in his infectious passion for the living world. If you care about everything that creeps, crawls, slithers and slimes - if you believe the world can still be saved - then this is your night. Because the dinosaur in the room isn't fiction. It's real. And it's demanding your attention!
My Royal Life: An Audience with Lucy Worsley
Lucy wants to take you behind the scenes and into the history of the royal residences she came to know so well, from Hampton Court’s Haunted Gallery, to the gilded apartments of Kensington Palace. Along the way, we’ll meet some of Britain’s best-known queens and kings, and find out what Lucy really thinks of them. With her trademark warmth and scholarly sparkle, this evening will lift the lid on royal life over the centuries, introducing you to its pageantry and – sometimes – its pain. Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and thoroughly charmed as Lucy reveals the secrets, stories, and splendours of Britain’s royal past.
Oh Zeus!

Oh Zeus!

28 Jul 2026 - 1 Aug 2026

Kings of Comedy Le Navet Bete are back! For lovers of Fawlty Towers, Bottom and The Play That Goes Wrong, Oh Zeus! is a riotous, all-out hilarious ride through Greek mythology. When the stability of Olympus is threatened by the marriage of Zeus' daughter Hebe to a mere mortal, the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding. Three actors play 40 characters in this mythical farce through Ancient Greece, the Underworld and back. Expect sensational physical comedy, outrageous jokes, fast paced chaos, and more togas than you can smash a plate at. From one of the UK's most-loved comedy theatre companies and creators of Dracula: The Bloody Truth, King Arthur and Treasure Island, "you are promised a non-stop evening of entertainment from a company who have a bottomless pit of talent at their disposal".
The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs

6 Oct 2026 - 10 Oct 2026

The Iconic Psychological Thriller A World Stage Premiere The Silence Of The Lambs Dr Hannibal Lecter will see you now. Come face to face with the chilling cultural phenomenon THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS as it makes its world stageplay premiere in 2026. Based on Thomas Harris's gripping literary masterpiece, this electrifying new play sets the definitive psychological thriller loose in a city near you from next July. When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview the psychiatrist and infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter, it's hoped his brilliant mind will help catch sadistic new serial killer, Buffalo Bill. Another girl is missing, and time is running out. But Dr Lecter has questions of his own, and now Clarice must decide: keep a safe distance, or let Hannibal ‘The Cannibal' into her head? Written by the award-winning Gina Gionfriddo and directed by the acclaimed Nikolai Foster, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS drips with tension and gets you closer than ever to the iconic thrills and terrifyingly memorable characters of the landmark novel. The Clock Is Ticking. Hunt Down A Ticket And Book Now. Before It's Too Late. Age Guidance: 15+. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please note this production contains scenes of threat, violence and murder, strong language, sexual references and harassment, mutilation and body horror, psychological intensity, childhood trauma and onstage prosthetic human remains.
Seann Walsh: After This One, I'm Going Home
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and the self-dubbed “Lie-In King”, Seann Walsh is 'unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation' (The Guardian). Returning from his run in America, where he made his USA television debut appearance on Conan, Seann Walsh is back on tour in the UK. This disheveled, fiery, animated, fiercely idle, millennial man child is one of best live comedians to have come out of the UK. Seann made his acting debut starring in Comedy Central’s sitcom Big Bad World, this was quickly followed up by the lead role in Monks (BBC One), he utilized his physical comedic abilities in Sky’s silent comedy, Three Kinds of Stupid, which led to him producing, writing and starring in his own silent comedy web-series The Drunk. He also wrote and starred in his own Sky short for Sky Arts and is now co-starring in Jack Dee’s brand-new sitcom Bad Move (ITV one). He recently made his feature film debut as the children’s nemesis in family film, 2:hrs. Seann is quickly on his way to becoming one of the UK’s best comedy character actors. Team captain on Virtually Famous (Channel 4) and a regular on Play To The Whistle (ITV), other TV appearances include: One For The Road (BBC 3), Live At The Apollo (BBC 2), The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV), Tonight at The London Palladium (ITV), Celebrity Juice (ITV2), 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Channel 4), 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Alan Carr’s Chatty Man (Channel 4) and Russell Howards Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) Seann can currently be heard hosting his weekly radio show News-Ish on Fubar Radio. His debut DVD, Seann to be Wild, was recorded at Hammersmith Apollo to critical acclaim when it was released in 2013 by Universal Pictures.
Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire

Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire

26 Sept 2026 - 27 Oct 2026

Gaza. Ukraine. Syria. Sudan. Yemen. The world is facing more armed conflicts than at any point in decades, and Jeremy Bowen has reported from the centre of nearly all of them. As the BBC's International Editor, Jeremy has spent over 40 years covering more than 90 countries and 20 wars. From El Salvador in 1989 to the frontlines today, he has interviewed world leaders, documented war crimes, been shot at, and survived to tell the stories. But something has changed. Israel prevents foreign journalists from entering Gaza. Russia controls the narrative in occupied Ukraine. Governments from Syria to Sudan restrict access, manipulate information, and discredit reporters who contradict official accounts. In the age of social media, competing claims flood our screens, but who is telling the truth? And how do we know? Jeremy has spent his career fighting for access, verifying what others want hidden, and bearing witness when governments would rather the world look away. He will explain how the battle for truth is being waged, why press freedom is collapsing in conflict zones, and what it means when the first casualty of war is not just truth, but those trying to report it. In the second half, audiences will have the chance to put their questions to a journalist who has made it his life's work to get as close to the truth as possible—even when that truth is dangerous, disputed, or under fire. An essential evening for anyone who wants to understand the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.
Nice! Stories and Rhymes with Michael Rosen
To celebrate his 80th birthday, Michael Rosen will present a one-man show for children and families, where he performs a lifetime of poetry. The poems Michael will perform will include classics like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and No Breathing, along with debuting new work that will be published in an associated book celebrating A Life in Poems. NICE! is a show for all ages, from the young to the young at heart!
Ginger Johnson

Ginger Johnson

4 Sept 2026 - 26 Feb 2027

You’ve seen her in the Masterchef kitchen… You’ve seen her on the Drag Race runway… Now it’s time to see her in her element: outrageous, untamed and completely off the reins. Following the explosive success of her smash hit 2024 tour Ginger Johnson Blows Off!, the nation’s silliest sausage is back on the road with her brand-new live spectacular: Show Pony! Promising high camp, low morals, and double helpings of her trademark ridiculousness, Show Pony is a barnstorming night of whip-smart comedy and top-tier talent that proves why Ginger is one of Britain’s most beloved queens.
High Society

High Society

19 May 2026 - 3 Oct 2026

Clear your diary, because you’re invited to the most swell party of the year, Cole Porter’s, High Society. Hot on the heels of Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate, this summer’s most eagerly anticipated production delivers another glorious dose of Golden Age musical theatre escapism at the Barbican. Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) stars as glamorous socialite Tracy Lord and is joined by Felicity Kendal (Rosemary and Thyme, Anything Goes), alongside a full size orchestra, delivering a score overflowing with the best of Cole Porter’s songbook including Just One Of Those Things, Let’s Misbehave, I Love Paris, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?, Well, Did you Evah, True Love and many more. Join the 28-strong cast for this lavish new production as plans for the society wedding of the year descend into chaos, with old flames and new flames vying for attention as a sharp-eyed tabloid reporter hunts for scandal at the waterfront estate. Brought to life by a multi award-winning creative team, including Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographer Anthony Van Laast Cole Porter’s High Society declares the summer season officially open!
Matt Haig: The Midnight Tour

Matt Haig: The Midnight Tour

21 May 2026 - 21 May 2026

When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? Matt Haig joins us for an event to share his latest novel, The Midnight Train, a magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library. Hosted by Emma Jane Unsworth Matt Haig is an internationally bestselling author of novels including the 12m copy selling international phenomenon The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, The Humans and most recently, The Life Impossible, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. He has also written non-fiction including Reasons to Stay Alive and The Comfort Book, as well as books for children. No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there.  The chance to re-live the moments that meant most.  To see what kind of person you really were.  For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.  Before he gave it all away.  He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . . Book Add-On Available
Olaf Falafel's Stupidest Super Stupid Show
After a sell out run at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, award-winning comedian and children's author Olaf Falafel is dishing up another frying pan full of family-friendly comedy. The comedy show comedians take their kids to is back and even funnier! Join Olaf Falafel (if that is his real name) for an hour of kid's comedy which will be the stupidest he has ever let trickle from his brain. Expect jokes, poos on pogo sticks, more jokes and truth-telling cheese. There will definitely be a time-travelling portal to the future and a live drawalong! Be there or be a dodecahedron!
Keith Brymer Jones and Marj Hogarth: Us, Pots and a Welsh Chapel
Beloved Great Pottery Throw Down judge and ceramic designer Keith Brymer Jones returns to the stage with a brand-new show. Join Keith alongside his partner in life and crime, actor and designer Marj Hogarth, as they share stories of clay, craft, and their most ambitious project yet. bringing a building back to life. Fresh from filming the third series of Channel 4's Our Welsh Chapel Dream, Keith and Marj invite you behind the scenes of their creative partnership based on the restoration of Capel Salem, a Grade II listed 19th-century chapel in North Wales. Together, they'll reveal the highs, lows, and surprises they've uncovered whilst breathing new life into historic stone—from navigating Welsh planning regulations to discovering what resilience really means when the roof leaks and the budget doesn't stretch. But this isn't just about saving a building. It's about restoring a community hub, creating a space where local potters can train as apprentices, and weaving Capel Salem back into the fabric of village life. Watch Keith work his magic at the pottery wheel with live demonstrations. Hear Marj share her passion for making something beautiful from nothing, and why she's spent decades quietly championing sustainable craft long before it became fashionable. This is an evening about more than restoration. It's about what we make, why we make it, and who we become in the making. Expect laughter, pottery, partnership, and the kind of warmth that only comes from two people who've learned to create a life together, one handmade piece at a time.
Fun! With Barbara Nice

Fun! With Barbara Nice

5 Jun 2026 - 3 Jul 2026

5-star award-winning entertainment from the tip-top Queen of Comedy. Join ordinary housewife extraordinaire Barbara Nice for a laugh-out-loud joyful get-together as we reconnect with what makes life worth living. Barbara says In these dark days, we need to find fun whenever we piggin' can. Expect Barbara's unique comic insights into the current state of play on how we are all getting on. This smashin' show is suitable for anyone aged from fourteen to four score & ten, guaranteed to lift the spirits and put a spring in your step. Edinburgh Festival regular and comedy circuit headliner Barbara Nice brings out the hidden joy in all of us.
Galleries Quiet Session

Galleries Quiet Session

11 Jun 2026 - 30 Oct 2026

This is a session for individuals and families with access requirements who would prefer to experience our Galleries in a calmer and less busy environment.  Two sessions are taking place during this October school half term, when we expect our galleries to be busier than usual. Booking is required due to limited capacity. In the Andrew Law Galleries, there will be: Reduced noise levels and visitor capacity Relaxed screening of LOWRY 360: with reduced volume and viewer capacity Artwork to look at Comfortable seating if you need to sit down Ear defenders and sensory packs available from the Andrew Law Galleries Welcome Desk A sticker system which allows you to communicate the level you wish to be interacted with during your visit A private Reflection Room (please ask the Andrew Law Galleries Desk if you require access to this)
Neddy Goes To Glasto

Neddy Goes To Glasto

22 May 2026 - 23 May 2026

Neddy Goes to Glasto  is a high-voltage, one-woman rollercoaster through grief, sisterhood, and the strange magic of losing — and maybe finding — yourself in a field of strangers.  Thirty years after her first Glastonbury, Neddy returns to celebrate her sister's 50th birthday. Trouble is, her sister's dead. Determined to escape her grief for one wild weekend, Neddy dives headfirst into a mud-soaked world of chaos and unlikely companions. And in the beating heart of Shangri-La, she stumbles across what could be her salvation.     Fierce, funny and unfiltered - Neddy Goes to Glasto is a riotous sprint through the festival of dreams. 
Kate Williams: The Truth about Royal Women
The Truth About Royal Women: Secrets & Scandals, Politics & Power Join Kate for an incredible and exhilarating tour of the world and its royal women, from early Egypt to Mesopotamia to the glittering Tudor Court to the modern day, from Cleopatra to Grace Kelly, this epic new history of royal women shatters the myths we have built around them and explores a life behind closed doors. Historian, broadcaster and bestselling author Professor Kate Williams leads us into the world of queens, empresses, princesses and ladies-in-waiting, and goes to the heart of women and power. This dramatic and beautifully illustrated event takes you to archaeological sites, palaces and wonders of the world - stories of intrigue, plots, love and power, and the secrets of women's lives. Professor Kate Williams is a bestselling author and broadcaster, and an award-winning academic. She has published ten bestselling historical books and presented many shows on the BBC and Channel 5, including ‘Restoration Home', ‘Inside Versailles', and ‘Secrets of the Royal Palaces'; as well as appearing on shows from ‘The Great British Bake Off' to winning ‘Celebrity Mastermind'; a celebrity expert on ‘The Wheel', and a contestant on ‘Pointless Celebrities', plus covering royal events. She also presents a podcast ‘Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things' and gives lectures all over the world. Her latest book, REGINA, out June 4th, about the history of royal women across the ages, comes after successful books including ‘England's Mistress,' ‘Rival Queens' and ‘The Royal Palaces.' Join Kate for a thrilling - and funny - tour across the world - and queens.
Le Gateau Chocolat: Spirituals

Le Gateau Chocolat: Spirituals

29 May 2026 - 30 May 2026

A homily of Black Queer excellence through Negro-Spirituals Le Gateau Chocolat delivers a Sunday Service like no other, in an ode to two ground-breaking Black American sopranos - Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle. Collaborating with renowned Musical Director - Allyson Devenish (NitroVOX, ENO), performing a selection of Norman & Battle's famed 1990 Carnegie Hall concert ‘Sing Spirituals'. Blurring the lines between spirituality or religion, and spiritualism of self, Gateau's Spirituals will take our congregation on a journey of the soul. Seeing Jessy Norman and Kathleen Battle perform with an all white orchestra opened ideas that young Gateau could barely imagine, and now lives. Where acceptance of self meant defiance of his deeply Christian Nigerian upbringing, the power in the music of these hallowed spaces was transformative - from church to Carnegie Hall, and now Wales Millennium Centre. Welcome to Gateau's sacred space - his stage, his church, his dance floor - his safe space. Safe to explore the rich complexity of how songs born in slavery beget salvation; and where diaspora and drag collide the way only Le Gateau Chocolat can.
A Man for All Seasons

A Man for All Seasons

3 Nov 2026 - 7 Nov 2026

The greatest, most powerful and dangerous figures who shaped English history are brought vividly to life in Robert Bolt's award-winning play. Martin Shaw stars as Sir Thomas More - scholar, ambassador, Lord Chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII. Above all, he is a man of integrity, loved by the common people and his own family. When Henry demands a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, clearing the way for him to marry Anne Boleyn, the staunchly Catholic Thomas is forced to choose between his loyalty and his own conscience, committing an incredible act of defiance for which he eventually pays the ultimate price. One of the UK's best-loved actors on stage and screen, Martin Shaw is known to millions for his television roles in Judge John Deed, Inspector George Gently and The Professionals. His recent West End stage appearances include Hobson's Choice, The Best Man and Twelve Angry Men. Jonathan Church's directorial credits include a ten year period as artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre. He last directed Martin Shaw in the acclaimed West End transfer of Hobson's Choice.
DYKE Systems LTD

DYKE Systems LTD

5 Jun 2026 - 20 Jun 2026

Sally and Susan aren't your average suburban women. They're business women. And you're invited to the most prestigious seminar of the year that could help you get filthy rich!  Step into the glittery, unhinged world of multi-level marketing mayhem with Fag Packet, Kheski Kobler and Holly Wilson-Guy, the award-winning cabaret and theatre double act. Equal parts corporate seminar and queer fever dream, DYKE Systems Ltd is a sharp, subversive takedown of pyramid schemes, ruthless heteronormativity and corporate feminism.  Bring your wallets, your carabiner and get ready to find your inner   (D)ynamic! (Y)oung! (K)nowledgeable! (E)ntrepreneur!  Written, created and performed by: Kheski Kobler and Holly Wilson-Guy Directed and co-written with: Lucy Allan  Movement Director: Barry Fitzgerald  Set Designer: Shahaf Beer Lighting Design: Benny Goodman Sound Design: Sarah Spencer Produced by: Beth Sitek Image: Corinne Cumming
Nish Kumar: Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy
The world is in chaos. Inequality is widening, autocracy is rising and political parties are collapsing. In these divided times, what this country desperately needs is Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy (in many ways it's actually the last thing this country needs, but it's what it's getting so tough luck). The UK’s leading political comic Nish Kumar – co-host of hugely popular podcast Pod Save the UK, former host of axed BBC show The Mash Report, and one of Taskmaster’s greatest losers – is back on tour with a formidable batch of passionate, progressive stand-up for the ages. Kumar is 40. His mind is breaking. His body is worse. Expect existential angst and political disquiet from comedy's cheekiest boy. Nish Kumar was named one of the 50 Best Comedians of the 21st Century by both The Guardian and The Telegraph, with his previous tour playing to sold out crowds across the UK, North America, Australasia and mainland Europe.
Derek Mitchell: Double Dutch

Derek Mitchell: Double Dutch

18 May 2026 - 2 Jul 2026

Stand-up and characters from the hilarious Derek Mitchell, whose online sketches have generated over 250 million views and a dedicated following. Right off the back of a 44-date European tour and a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe 2024 run, the show is about the journey from being an outsider to a sort-of insider, and making sense of all the cultural nonsense and confusion in between.
How The Body Keeps the Score: Dr Bessel van der Kolk
How The Body Keeps the Score - Dr Bessel van der Kolk Live on Stage Across the UK and Ireland Traumatic experiences leave their imprint on the body as well as the mind. Dr Bessel van der Kolk returns to How To Academy to offer a new paradigm for healing. The helplessness and invisibility associated with trauma need not be inevitable. Drawn from more than thirty years at the forefront of research and clinical practice, Dr Bessel van der Kolk's global bestseller The Body Keeps The Score showed us that the terror and isolation at the core of trauma literally reshape both brain and body - and demonstrated a new approach to recovery, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies to heal mind, brain and body. Now Dr van der Kolk joins us to explore his bold new paradigm for treatment. Fusing insights from the cutting-edge of neuroscience with the weight of decades of experience as an active therapist, Dr van der Kolk will reveal the power of our relationships - whether in the intimacy of the home or in our wider communities - to both hurt and heal. Join us to discover how both adults and children can reclaim ownership of their bodies and their lives.
Lemn Sissay: Let The Light Pour In

Lemn Sissay: Let The Light Pour In

29 Sept 2026 - 8 Nov 2026

Spend an evening with a master of the spoken word, BAFTA award-winning author, activist, performer and Sunday Times number one bestseller, Lemn Sissay OBE as he returns to the stage with this acclaimed show. Every morning for 10 years Lemn has written four lines and shares them on his socials with no explanation and no title. After catching the public's attention, they have been transformed into murals, quoted in books, made into songs and even tattoos. He chose the best of them for Let the Light Pour In which became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller - and now a live show. With live readings from his books, Lemn will unravel some of the original stories behind the poems, and how they have been used in people's lives and his own. Expect the unexpected. A night bursting with light to stave off the dark. With the unique chance to pepper Lemn with questions, this thought-provoking and entertaining show on the power of creativity can't be missed. An evening full of truth, humour and hope, Lemn will allow us into his morning poetry practice and show us all how he lets the light pour in. I will build an embassy in your heart over time There is a plot of land inside me Build one in mine
Lost Girl

Lost Girl

20 May 2026 - 20 May 2026

Some secrets refuse to stay buried.  From award-winning playwright Amy Lever comes Lost Girl - a powerful, spellbinding solo performance about family, identity and the weight of inheritance.  Birdy is 19. Too old to fight boys in the playground. Too old to skip maths. Too old , apparently, to be lost. But when she stumbles across a long-buried family secret, everything changes...  Hidden in the shadows of 1930s Cairo lies a truth her grandfather would rather forget. For Birdy, uncovering it could be her only chance to rewrite the past and finally prove she isn't as useless as she's always believed.  Sharp, darkly funny, and deeply moving, Lost Girl collides the aching nostalgia of early-2000s girlhood with haunting biblical gothic horror. Inspired by a real family secret kept by Lever's 98-year-old Middle Eastern grandmother, this unforgettable story explores Jewish-Arab heritage, belonging and the courage it takes to reclaim what was lost.  Written & Performed by: Amy Lever  Directed by: Dermot Daley  Produced by: Daisy Howell
W*nkernomics

W*nkernomics

1 Nov 2026 - 23 Nov 2026

Wnkernomics are masters at skewering the buzzwords, bureaucracy and bullst ofthe modern workplace with their unique blend of observational comedy and dark satire. Their hilarious new show is a must see: A Q&A-style thought-leadership driven best-in-class deep-dive unpacking the many ways corporate bullshttery is taking over the world, and your life. So find some extra bandwidth, synergise your stakeholders and pop some time in the diary for an outcomes-focused, value-added, laugh-out-loud, ‘oh-my-god-that’s-exactly-what-happens-at-my-work' deep-dive into the realities of the working world.
Lucy Beaumont - Bad at Quiz Shows, Good With Weirdos
Lucy Beaumont has had quite the year. She lost a contestant £79,000 on The Wheel, forgot to revise for Mastermind and generally confirmed she’s terrible at quiz shows. So she’s sticking with what she does best - she’s back on the road with a brand new show. Following the success of her sell-out debut UK tour, Lucy returns with Bad at Quiz Shows, Good with Weirdos - an evening packed with chaotic brilliance, mayhem and beautifully surreal storytelling that’s made her one of the UK’s most beloved comedians. Expect tales of going into hiding after Celebrity Traitors, creating cow udder couture on The Great British Sewing Bee and navigating life as someone for whom “normal” has never made much of an appearance. Whether you loved her on Taskmaster, know her from her award-winning sitcom or just appreciate someone who turns everyday disasters into comedic gold, this is the night out you need. Come for the chaos. Stay for the weirdos.
The Jolly Christmas Postman

The Jolly Christmas Postman

4 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027

Join the Jolly Postman on a frosty, fairytale adventure in this brand-new stage adaptation from Lowry and Royal & Derngate. Based on the award-winning children's book by much-loved duo Janet and Allan Ahlberg, this all-new family show sees the Jolly Postman cycling through the snow to deliver parcels and letters to familiar friends as they prepare for Christmas celebrations. There are visits to Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty, the Gingerbread Man, and not forgetting the big, bad wolf! As the snow continues to fall, who will help the Jolly Postman get home in time for Christmas? Live music, original songs and a sprinkling of theatre magic bring this favourite festive classic to life for all ages to enjoy. By arrangement with Penguin Books Ltd, a Penguin Random House UK company. Age guidance: Aimed at younger children and their families, this show is suitable for all ages. Running time: 1 hour (no interval)
Botis Seva - Sing Child Sing

Botis Seva - Sing Child Sing

27 Nov 2026 - 27 Nov 2026

How do we protect ourselves as we learn from the past, without living forever in its shadow? Sing Child Sing is a new solo work from Far From The Norm, an unfiltered exploration of healing, identity, and the invisible legacies that drift quietly from one generation to the next. Performed by Botis Seva and rooted in his own autobiographical experiences, Sing Child Sing unravels how abandonment, frustration, and faith embed themselves in the body and how they surface as both function and fracture. Audiences are drawn into an intimate, shifting portrait of Botis' inner reality, where time folds and refolds, and the past self stands face to face with the present. Through searing physicality and unflinching emotional clarity, we witness the anatomical rebuilding of a man: a body rewiring itself, confronting generational chains, and reclaiming its power with fierce, embodied intention. What emerges is a man suspended between memory and possibility, slowly loosening the inherited patterns that have shaped him. Sing Child Sing is a courageous act of transformation, an invitation to feel, to reckon, and to rise.
Scottish Dance Theatre: 40th Anniversary Rotten Work & The Game of Life
Scottish Dance Theatre, Scotland's flagship contemporary dance company, brings the German premiere of a new captivating double bill by internationally acclaimed choreographers Emilie Leriche (US/Sweden) and Edouard Hue (Switzerland).  In Rotten Work, Leriche offers a poetic, slow-burning work that unfolds through moments of connection and shared endurance, asking what it means to move forward together without leaving anyone behind. In sharp contrast, Hue's The Game of Life bursts with sensation-driven movement. Inspired by puzzle, the piece explores how individuals come together, evolving whole without surrendering their uniqueness. Suggesting that imperfection may be the very force that keeps a society alive. Age Guidance: 12+
CIRKO - Based on Kimberly: Yes Person
Quintessential new wave, new wonk circus. Experimental, physical, fashionable, and satirical work by Inka and Imogen. Yes Person is a circus show that celebrates ideas too peculiar to live—but too fabulous to die. Inspired by the concept of "killing one's darlings," the creative process of discarding beloved but unfit ideas, this performance breathes new life into those very darlings. Embracing the rule of ‘yes-saying' in devising quickly leads to an expansive wasteland of ideas. From the dregs of their old creative processes—the sediment of ideas left behind, too mismatched, ambitious, or nonsensical to fit into past creations—comes a performance that gives these discarded concepts a second chance to flourish, expand, and spiral out of control. Based on Kimberly, a new company created by Imogen Huzel and Inka Pehkonen (formerly co-directors of Fauna Circus and Sisus). Our desire is to uncompromisingly and unpretentiously commit to our vision of what circus can be, and make things happen! Using the resources we have and whatever artistic medium best serves our vision, we create from a punk, playful, and politically left playground. Fueled by love and created with a clown mentality, we frequently incorporate topics of feminism, freedom of speech, friendship, community, sexuality, and identity. We aim to create an open atmosphere for artistic processes and experiments to grow and find their tangible place in the world.
Barrowland Ballet: Chunky Jewellery

Barrowland Ballet: Chunky Jewellery

26 Sept 2026 - 26 Sept 2026

Two friends, one year, two births, a death, 18 bursts of laughter, 34,000 tears (each) and one piece of chunky jewellery. It was a year to forget but instead Natasha and Jude turned it into a show. This is a comedy that bites. An achingly joyous celebration of sisterhood and motherhood, taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster with open-hearted, brutal honesty.
One Fell Swoop: By A Thread

One Fell Swoop: By A Thread

10 Sept 2026 - 11 Sept 2026

Seven Acrobats And 30 Metres Of Rope Long spools of white rope run through pulley sheaves and wrap around bodies, explicitly connecting the artists' movements above and off the ground. Like the booms and sheets of a sailing ship the performers are hoisted and swung by one another to create striking tableaux and breath-taking dynamics. The actions of one acrobat affect and implicate the movements of others in a mesmerising negotiation of cause and effect. By A Thread offers rich visuals of inventive aerial acrobatics from some of Australia's best circus artists. The relationships between ensemble members on stage mimic the everyday relationships we have as human beings. The acrobatic ensemble is the vehicle through which ideas of risk and trust are explored, creating an intimate audience experience around the dangers and joys implicit in engaging with others.  More than mere bodies in space, By A Thread is an exploration of tensions physical, emotional and relational.
Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía: Tierra Bendita
"Blessed Land of art and tradition, of cherished customs  Constantly evolving, in the strum of a solera, Lament in the voice, in the dance of yesterday Beauty serves as inspiration" Tierra Bendita: Blessed Land journeys through the most striking corner of Andalusia, the birthplace of flamenco. Through a vibrant selection of iconic music and dances, this stunning production celebrates the passion, history and beauty of this powerful art form. Tierra Bendita sits between tradition and modernity, blending 18th-century stage elements with contemporary ones, highlighting the new generations of creators by laying the artist bare before the audience. Staged by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, under the direction of Patricia Guerrero (National Dance Award of Spain 2021), the work is a meticulous creation full of nuances, and is crafted in such a way that each part can stand independently on its own. This event is part of Lowry's Flamenco Festival.
Olga Pericet - Baile Sonoro

Olga Pericet - Baile Sonoro

13 Jun 2026 - 14 Jun 2026

Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Olga Pericet presents "Baile Sonoro", her new flamenco dance production blending tradition and innovation. On stage, the strength and subtlety of her dance converse with live guitar and singing, creating a dance-concert that is pure living art. Each performance is unique—an intimate and intense dialogue between body, music, and emotion that transforms time and space into an unrepeatable experience. "Baile Sonoro" is flamenco in constant evolution, where the classical is reinvented and the contemporary becomes tradition.  This event is part of Lowry's Flamenco Festival.
Cie Modo Grosso: Tout/ Rien

Cie Modo Grosso: Tout/ Rien

1 Jun 2026 - 2 Jun 2026

How can we make people see, feel, or seek time in its purest shape? How to catch time passing by, seize it in its very movement?  This is the challenge that Alexis Rouvre and his "circus of objects" have taken up. Juggler of time, rather than gravity, inspired by the astrophysicist Carlo Rovelli: "Bodies move naturally where time passes more slowly".  Alchemist of the vanities, he composes from very simple objects - knit, chain, stone - a work of a dense poetry, opening on the reverse side of the instant, where nothing lasts but remains. A choreographic ballet of hanging objects, tumbling with humour, and crashing down the unexplored corners of our sensations. 
Second Trimester

Second Trimester

27 May 2026 - 28 May 2026

Second Trimester by Krishna Istha & Geetha Shankar, Directed by Milli Bhatia Four years ago, Krishna told his mum he was trying to get pregnant and she freaked out. Like, massively freaked out. Krishna didn't know why. It's rare for a fight between them to end in tears. But this one did. . . and for good reason. Love triangles. Missing people. A pregnant son. In Second Trimester, trans performance artist Krishna Istha and his mother, Geetha Shankar, confront pregnancy, loss, gender, and the weight of inherited memories in this cinematic, Bollywood-inspired epic family saga. One Stage. Two Generations. Endless Drama. Based on a true story, Second Trimester asks: how well can you ever really know your parents? The anticipated second show in a trilogy of work, following the critically acclaimed 'First Trimester'. A Making Waves Major Commission by Battersea Arts Centre. Made possible with funding by Arts Council England and Cockayne 10th Anniversary Grants for the Arts. Additionally Commissioned by Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Cambridge Junction, Lowry, Marlborough Productions, SICK! Festival.
Korean National Contemporary Dance Company - Double Bill: Voyage & Hakkō
Festival favourite Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) returns with a contrasting double bill which showcases the talent and precision of the company's dancers, including the latest work from choreographer Young-doo Jung since his 2025 Olivier Award nomination for Lear at the Barbican.  In Jung's Voyage, a solitary spacecraft moves towards a singular point. Drawing inspiration from the Voyager deep-space probes launched in 1977 which dedicated a lifetime to venturing towards the unknown, Voyage attempts to pause the present moment and lead us into an uncharted world beyond our experience. A tongue-in-cheek score intertwines the sounds of the 'Golden Record' - a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk sent into space by NASA, containing sounds which aimed to capture life and culture on Earth for aliens - with rock, classical music, and Korean traditional rhythms.  Inspired by the repetitive actions of the traditional Japanese cup-and-ball toy ‘kendama', Ryu Suzuki's Hakkō explores the gradual transformation of body and mind through focussed iterations of the simplest movements. The dancers enter a trance-like state of deep concentration, giving Hakkō an intense energy which draws from club culture and electronic music - a modern prayer to keep breathing in a world of perpetual flux. Duration: 60 mins (no interval) Age guidance: 11+
Smoke

Smoke

21 May 2026 - 21 May 2026

Smoke  + You Are Loved panel.  Created and performed by Alexis Gregory   Directed by Campbell X  Alex wakes one morning to a new message on Insta from his boyfriend Ben. But Ben died two years ago. What appears to be an everyday hack soon turns into something else as Alex's life spirals out of control.  SMOKE is the newest play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory ("Riot Act") whose work has appeared in the West End, across London, the UK, and internationally, and is directed by the award-winning filmmaker Campbell X ("Stud Life", "Low Rider").  Raw, and stripped back, the conversational SMOKE is a hard-hitting, savage comic-thriller about another dead gay guy on social media, drugs, the Demon Twink in Starbucks, and Mariah Carey.  Non-profit organisation You Are Loved (YAL), created in response to disproportionately high rates of premature deaths from suicide and drugs in the LGBTQ+ community, focuses on addressing the root causes, including stigma, shame and loneliness.    Post each SMOKE performance, YAL will host a specially curated forty-five minute panel, unique to each town and city on the tour, involving local LGBTQ+ figures, exploring how SMOKE's themes crossover with YAL's work, in mobilising the community to get better at talking, sharing and supporting each other.  SMOKE and You Are Loved tour in a unique partnership combining culture and community, presenting two interlinked events for audiences.  Running times:  SMOKE 60 minutes Interval / break 10 minutes You Are Loved panel 45 minutes SMOKE is funded by Arts Council England.  SMOKE image by Tyler Kelly. 
Lowry Boys

Lowry Boys

13 May 2026 - 8 Jul 2026

Lowry is launching a new youth dance company for boys of all abilities aged 11-16. Book on to Lowry Boys to develop new physical skills and to unleash your creativity, all in a supportive environment.  Whether you have previous dance experience or are completely new to dance, join the fun on Wednesdays 5-6 pm at Lowry! You can expect. • Movement games and challenges • Dance techniques and phrases • Creative methodologies • Devising and improvisation techniques • Performance skills and opportunities All for just £3 per session! The project is brought to you by Lowry Centre for Advanced Training 
In The Night Garden Live

In The Night Garden Live

17 Jun 2026 - 12 Sept 2026

In the Night Garden Live is an amazing musical theatre experience for all the family. Children’s favourite CBeebies’ stars -- Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends -- are all brought to life on stage with beautiful costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music, and breathtaking projections that make it feel like you're actually in the Night Garden.
Stevie Martin: Clout

Stevie Martin: Clout

7 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026

Stevie Martin has built a significant following and acclaim for her prolific online output which includes a series of regular viral sketches with Lola-Rose Maxwell which have amassed over 20 million views (3 million of which on Tiktok) two hit podcasts (Nobody Panic with Tessa Coates and Might Delete Later with Gina Martin) which collectively receive over 100,000 downloads a month, and a regular long-form improvised comedy book club on Twitch. A writer published everywhere from Vice to the Guardian, Stevie’s first book, Nobody Panic, was published by Hodder Studios and adapts her hit podcast.
Sherlock Holmes and The Curious Case of the Masked Magician
"Tell Me Everything, Holmes"  It's 1906 - the Golden Age of Magic. The Masked Magician bestrides London's world of Magic like a colossus, UNTIL . one night, in mid-performance, the Magician vanishes. Dead? Kidnapped? In hiding? After a month Scotland Yard is completely baffled (obviously) and call in Sherlock Holmes to help solve the mystery of the Masked Magician's disappearance. Holmes (with an excitable Watson in tow) plunges into the secret world of Edwardian Magic only to find that the Masked Magician's identity is Magic's best kept secret.  As they meet, and question, the Magician‘s peers (seeing a lot of Magic), the mystery of his identity and fate deepens. As they unravel clue after clue, Holmes comes to share Watson's wonder and discovers that it can sit alongside his logical outlook.  When Holmes finally uncovers the startling and surprising secrets of the Masked Magician he, Watson and the audience have to decide.... ....are some mysteries best left as...mysteries!
A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception
A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos. When a priceless painting goes missing at a private auction, Detective Stuart Pidcock is called upon to uncover the mystery. However, when he cannot solve it himself he is forced to enlist the help of an old nemesis. Together, the pair must interrogate the many characterful suspects that reside at the manor, in order to catch the conniving culprit and solve the crime of the century!
Ahir Shah

Ahir Shah

5 Jun 2026 - 14 Mar 2027

HBO and Netflix star Ahir Shah (Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, QI) is back with his new stand-up show Golden. His last show, Ends, won the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show, sold out shows across the world and was recorded as a comedy special for Netflix. Ahir has also been seen and heard on shows including Ahir Shah: Dots (HBO), Jurassic World 3, Foundation (Apple TV), Richard Osman's House of Games (BBC2), The Last Leg (C4), The Mash Report (BBC2), Frankie Boyle's New World Order (BBC2) and The Now Show (BBCR4).
Rhys James: Chop Logic

Rhys James: Chop Logic

10 Sept 2026 - 13 May 2027

A fast, forensic show of big ideas and gag-dense overthinking from one of the nation’s sharpest stand-ups. Rhys has made a discovery that could fix everything. It’s been staring him in the face the whole time, in a mirror held behind his head. If he can ignore his own problems for long enough, he might just be able to solve yours. Star of TLC’s Mock The Week and BBC Radio 4’s Rhysearch, also seen furrowing his brow on QI, Live At The Apollo and his viral U&Dave lecture, ‘I Stalk Strangers Online’.
Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning

Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning

26 Sept 2026 - 20 Nov 2026

Jason Byrne is back and "Byrning" brighter than ever, celebrating 30 glorious years of stand-up with his brand-new show, 30 Years Byrning. Byrne delivers a riotous night of high-energy storytelling, surreal tangents and unstoppable laughter. From razor-sharp observations to gloriously unhinged audience interaction, brave improvisation, that has made Jason a festival favourite for three decades. This anniversary special is a hilarious return to props and stunts of the past decades, a fearless leap forward and a masterclass in pure comic mayhem. Do not blow it by missing this show, get tickets early, it makes sense.
Andrew Ryan: Honest Capacity

Andrew Ryan: Honest Capacity

8 Jun 2026 - 9 Apr 2027

Off the back of a total sell-out tour in 2024, Andrew Ryan is back with a brand-new show. Everyone’s favourite Cork in the North returns in good faith and in an honest capacity with what promises to be his biggest and most hilarious show to date.
The Crocodile of Sadness by John Powell Jones
The Crocodile of Sadness is an experimental performance exploring grief, care and shared responsibility. Presented in Lowry's Studio Theatre, the work invites audiences into an intimate, imaginative space where storytelling, digital media and live performance meet. Presented at Lowry for the first time as a live performance, the story is adapted from an original graphic novel by John Powell Jones, bringing an imagined world to life on stage.  Set in the fictional world of Durt, the work takes the form of a performance lecture that gradually begins to unravel. Through layered narration, projected digital material and moments of interruption, the story centres on Drock, a crocodile tasked with carrying the sadness of the Skyn Forest in fragile, egg-like vessels. As reliance on this system grows, its consequences become increasingly clear.  The story is guided by The Maddock, a ceremonial narrator, and The Rollop, an interpreter of myth. At key moments, the narrative is disrupted by transmissions from Skrud, a hostile presence that interferes with the story and reshapes how it is understood.  An imagined world woven from sci-fi, graphic novels and folklore, The Crocodile of Sadness asks how grief is shared, who is asked to carry it, and what is lost when collective care breaks down. 
Robert White: 'THAT' Gay Autistic Keyboard Tanktop Comedy Guy!
Robert White is going on tour with a brand new show!  Whether you're a fan from his series of Britain's Got Talent, or you're one of his millions of online viewers but only just realising that Robert is ‘THAT' Gay Autistic Keyboard Tanktop Comedy Guy, you'll want to see his mix of songs, stories, stand up, gags, props, improvisation, interaction and all sorts of other engaging naughty nonsense besides!
Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity

17 Nov 2026 - 17 Apr 2027

Direct From A Sold-Out West End Run James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places aren't haunted, people are... This thrilling West End hit is inspired by the iconic, hugely popular film series, Paranormal Activity,  with a brand-new story live on stage. Now embarking on its first ever UK and Ireland tour after a sell-out, extended run in London, this chilling production promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Hold your nerve.
An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo
Meet Johnny, 18, stuck at an all boys boarding school. Enter rugby golden boy, Harry. To save time, Johnny and Harry shg. Constantly. This isn’t a coming out story or a gay tragedy. It is life through the lens of a young queer man, navigating Grindr, hyper-masculinity and institutional shame. A Choir Boys Production written by Ned Blackburn.
Macfest

Macfest

13 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026

Musical evening at the Lowry, Salford  Hello from Salford! Join us for a marvellous Eid musical evening at the Lowry in Salford Quays.  Like our previous festivals, we have a musical feast for you with talented and highly entertaining singers and musicians from the North West. They are: Hamza Robertson and Friends and Urooj Qawali Group.  Hosted by: Matt Eames - Head of Theatres (Contemporary & Commissioning). 
Wilko: Love and Death and Rock 'n' Roll
By Jonathan Maitland In 2012, Wilko Johnson, the iconic rock star and founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood, was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life. Then, a miracle happened. A play with live music comes to Salford, direct from the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End and before that, from the Southwark Playhouse, following critical and audience acclaim in its initial run at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch in 2024.
Jack Rooke: Good Grief

Jack Rooke: Good Grief

14 Aug 2026 - 14 Oct 2026

Featuring the original show (co-written with his 80-year old Nan Sicely) and some present day musings, this retrospective further explores grief, ambition, being a class traitor, milking having a dead dad for personal / professional gain, the innocence of writing just for oneself before the interference of "telly wankers", and the palpable regret of his own decline into becoming said "telly wanker". Content Warning: this show may contain potentially triggering stories around grief, suicide and Geri leaving the Spice Girls in May 1998.
It Walks Around The House At Night

It Walks Around The House At Night

3 Nov 2026 - 7 Nov 2026

A ghost story by Tim Foley · Directed by Neil Bettles  Supported by Queen's Theatre Hornchurch Following a sell-out UK tour and London run, the award-winning ThickSkin present this chilling new play by Tim Foley (former Bruntwood Prize-winner).  When an out-of-work actor takes a job playing a ghost at an old countryside manor, he expects nothing more than a few cheap scares. But as night after night unfolds, the role begins to blur with reality — and something far more sinister starts to emerge.  Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, It Walks Around The House At Night draws audiences into a world of creeping dread, unexpected twists and dark humour. A haunted house story for a new era, brought to life through inventive staging, immersive sound and bold visual effects.  ThickSkin, one of the UK's most exciting touring companies, joins forces with Tim Foley (award-winning writer of Doctor Who audio dramas; Electric Rosary, Royal Exchange Theatre) to create this thrilling production. Directed by Neil Bettles (ThickSkin's How Not To Drown, Disney's Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Frantic Assembly's The Unreturning), with sound design by Pete Malkin (Othello, National Theatre; The Encounter, Complicité - Tony Award winner) and lighting and video design by Joshua Pharo (Measure for Measure, RSC; Kenrex, The Other Palace).  Unsettling, darkly comic and full of surprises, the stage is set. for terror.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Who is to blame for the worldwide phenomena of ukulele orchestras and ukulelemania? The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain! Tap your toes with the royalty of the ukulele scene, the independent rock-stars of the “bonsai guitar”, who have plucked and sung, joked and whistled with Clean Bandit, Robbie Williams, Madness, Cat Stevens, The Ministry of Sound and Blue Peter. The world’s very first Ukulele Orchestra is not just about ukuleles; it is about entertainment, joy, fun, strum and artistry.
Dylan Moran: We Got This

Dylan Moran: We Got This

3 Jul 2026 - 30 May 2027

How can it be you have spent a whole ten minutes staring at a banana? Why do you always do stuff like that? Why do you never do the other really great things where it’s much, much better - and afterwards you don’t want to saw off your own face and post it back to yourself with not quite enough stamps? Also, learn how to make breakfast not even knowing you are out of bed. Diagnose the mirror, reason with the mice and boil yoghurt blindfolded. Enjoy the fruits of hurtling cognitive decline and your neighbour’s sprawling ghastliness, absence of humanity and so, so much more. These times have not been easy. We Got This is the brand new show from BAFTA and Perrier award winning comedian Dylan Moran. It promises to be a joyously furious romp through the frustration and folly of modern day life.
Illegal Eagles

Illegal Eagles

14 May 2026 - 30 Jan 2027

The World’s Official No. 1 Eagles tribute returns for another outstanding show promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail, and incredible showmanship. This phenomenal group of musicians have been touring for over two decades and remain true Eagles fanatics! Their longevity and continued international acclaim are due in no small part to their extraordinary mastery of the Eagles’ distinctive sound. Featuring the very best from the Eagles’ repertoire including Hotel California, Take it to the Limit, Life in the Fast Lane, Take It Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, Desperado and plenty more!
Larry Dean: Hellbent

Larry Dean: Hellbent

18 Jun 2026 - 3 Dec 2026

Recently married, emotionally feral.  The Gallus Glaswegian Goon returns with a riotous show about refusing to grow up.  As seen on SNL, Live at the Apollo, QI and The Royal Variety Performance. 
Together Trust Music and Performing Arts Showcase
At the Together Trust we believe that nothing is more rewarding than seeing someone break through barriers so they can experience joy, happiness and hope. Join us in celebrating the talents of students from specialist schools across Greater Manchester in a very special show - Together Trust charity's Music and Performing Arts Showcase!  Hosted at the Lowry in Salford Quays, the performance will showcase a number of performances from students from the Together Trust's specialist educational settings and other specialist schools.   For 150 years, the Together Trust charity has been championing and caring for people with disabilities, autism and complex health needs. And providing life-changing support for looked-after children and care-experienced people. They help children, adults, parents and carers, delivering individual care, support and education to thousands of people each year.  
An Evening Shared with Jasper Carrott & Alistair McGowan
Comedy legends Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan join forces to split the bill and your sides with a night of comedy stand-up and impressions. The two masters of comedy present a show of pure laughter and entertainment that is not to be missed. When the pair first teamed for a one-off festival appearance it proved a match made in comedy heaven and the chance to work together again was simply too good to miss. Splitting the evening between them, the mix of Jasper's inimitable stand up and Alistair's peerless impressions is a terrific experience for audience and artists alike. Don't miss this chance to see the godfather of British comedy Jasper Carrott and Britain's leading comedy impressionist Alistair McGowan at the top of their game, having a blast and delighting audiences in their unique ways.
The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant

20 Sept 2026 - 20 Sept 2026

The Giant is angry. He returns from Cornwall to find children - children! - playing happily in his beautiful garden!   Every day after school, they come and run about, laughing and playing games under the blossom on his peach trees, listening to the delightful songs of the birds! So he puts up a big wall and an even bigger KEEP OUT notice to put a stop to all that. Then winter seizes the garden in its icy fingers.  Will this grip ever be broken?  Through vivid, interactive story-telling, original music, puppetry and humour, Riding Lights Theatre Company brings you this brilliant story of transformation. Perfect for families. No one, not even the story-tellers themselves, can be left unaffected by this inspiring tale of love and generosity. 
Dear Zoo Live!

Dear Zoo Live!

11 Aug 2026 - 7 Feb 2027

Dear Zoo the timeless children's classic book returns to the stage! See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy.  Help your children learn as the book leaps onto the stage and share a magical experience as the story unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. Rod Campbell's best-selling lift the flap book has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published in 1982. And has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide. This production will delight all those who have read the book (both young and old) as it unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. Join us at your local theatre to see what the zoo has sent: the perfect pet - in the end! Suitable For Ages 1+
Surreally Good

Surreally Good

9 Jul 2026 - 10 Jul 2026

Say hello to Scott - The finest ‘Edutainment Officer' in the business, a leading expert in "Overhead animation and lo-fi storytelling", a renowned descendent of the ‘Turnbull Family Edutainment programme' and a grieving son. The only problem is, he's gone a little bit 'Freaky-Deaky'.  With the Wilkes Booth Corporation breathing down his neck, our charming yet unreliable narrator is struggling with the pressure of real life. Will he succumb to the lure of big money boom-boom, or realise his artistic integrity and tell the story he's always wanted to tell?
Bobby Seagull's Escape from Ancient Egypt
What happens when a maths whizz gets trapped inside an ancient pyramid? Best known for television appearances on the BBC and University Challenge, join Bobby Seagull for a thrilling family adventure packed with puzzles, secrets and surprising discoveries! While exploring the wonders of Ancient Egypt, Bobby accidentally triggers a mysterious ancient trap. and now he's stuck deep inside a pyramid. Hidden chambers, coded messages and curious artefacts stand between him and freedom. The only way out? Solving the clues left behind thousands of years ago. Luckily, Bobby won't be escaping alone. In this lively and interactive stage show, the audience becomes Bobby's team of brilliant problem-solvers! Together, you'll crack clever puzzles, uncover hidden clues and learn amazing facts about the world of the pharaohs along the way. Expect mind-bending challenges, laugh-out-loud moments and a dash of mathematical magic. Perfect for curious kids and adventurous grown-ups alike, Bobby Seagull's Escape from Ancient Egypt blends history, maths and storytelling into a fun-filled theatrical quest. Will you help Bobby solve the riddles. and escape the pyramid before time runs out?
Joe Wells: Daddy Autism

Joe Wells: Daddy Autism

4 Jun 2026 - 15 Nov 2026

Joe and his wife are having a baby. He's autistic so statistically it's quite likely the baby will be too. In this new show, critically acclaimed comedian Joe Wells explores fatherhood through the lense of neurodiversity. Plus, there's a really good joke about a parrot. As seen on: Rosie Jones Disability Comedy Extravaganza, BBC Two's Ouch Storytelling Live and Channel 4's Jokes Only a Neurodivergent Can Tell.
UnTaPped 2026: Double Bill - Grow Up! / So Long, Farewell
Lee Fletcher — Grow Up! Grow Up! The classic expression everyone tells you when you're younger. Be better than you were before, more mature, more older, more wiser. But that isn't what Lee thinks, or what Little Lee thinks. What you dreamt of when you were younger is still there, and what you were afraid of. The only difference: that jumper you used to love just might not fit anymore... and that's okay. On stage you will see a son, a father, a mother, a friend, an artist, a nurse, a singer, a civil engineer, a binman, a bumblebee, a drummer, and someone who just wanted to be older. There's a place for you as well, but where? So, look back at Lee's memories, dreams, and fears, and see what his family has to say about all that too. Just don't tell him he's about to turn 21! Warnings: Audience Participation. Description of loss. Age Rating: 12+ (mild language at the start) Lewis Sowerby — So Long, Farewell. An extraterrestrial being has fallen to earth. Lost, lonely, and alienated he realises he does not belong to this world. Disgusted by the state of society the alien self isolates in a way to figure out how to fit in only to realise he needs to get back home to the stars. Follow this alien last moments on earth has he says his goodbyes to the few things he loves in this world before he attempts to travel back home to the stars. The only question is will he make it back home? Warnings: Flashing Lights. Themes of suicide. Age Rating: 15+ About unTaPped ‘26: Dear Audience, unTaPped 2026 is a festival of innovative new works, signed by 10 emerging artists, made up of 8 sealed performances, delivered over 2 days. A showcase of original works which have been delicately created, shaped, and crafted by the Theatre and Performance Third Years. As a platform for the next generation of up-and-coming theatre-makers, unTaPped 2026 allows them to push boundaries of performance, unleash their creativity in new and exciting ways and to develop their voices. Expect a variety of different works with contemporary themes and personal narratives, told in experimental and individually unique styles. All developed with passion, honesty, and integrity.
UnTaPped 2026: Double Bill - What more could we say? / Letters to My Younger Self
Joey Leakey and Hannah Larouci — What more could we say? Have you ever wanted to say something so desperately, but the words don't come out, right? Have you ever felt like every word you say seems to backfire in the weirdest of ways? Have you ever been in a room full of people and still felt as alone as you did before you walked in? We do, so we made a Game Show about it! Come and find out which one of us is the most awkward person ever. Warnings: Audience Interaction. Possible emotional triggers, and strong language. Age Rating: 15+ Katie Dixon — Letters to My Younger Self Letters to My Younger Self, a performance where Katie invites you on an emotional journey through the moments that have defined her life. As she navigates the complexities of grief, you'll witness how each loss has shaped her and taught her lessons of love, resilience, and hope. This isn't just about Katie's life this is about connecting through universal experience of growth through hardship, reminding us all of the strength found in vulnerability. And how grief doesn't disappear, it just evolves. Warnings: Potential strong language. Topics around Grief and Death. Age Rating: 12+ About unTaPped ‘26: Dear Audience, unTaPped 2026 is a festival of innovative new works, signed by 10 emerging artists, made up of 8 sealed performances, delivered over 2 days. A showcase of original works which have been delicately created, shaped, and crafted by the Theatre and Performance Third Years. As a platform for the next generation of up-and-coming theatre-makers, unTaPped 2026 allows them to push boundaries of performance, unleash their creativity in new and exciting ways and to develop their voices. Expect a variety of different works with contemporary themes and personal narratives, told in experimental and individually unique styles. All developed with passion, honesty, and integrity.
UnTaPped 2026: Iris Bell and Emma Grave (Id Est) — Mania
Mania is an informed mess that is quietly loud with a calm chaos. Iris knows. Emma knows. She knows. They know. We know. You know? There is twenty-eight minutes counting down on the clock, two young women on stage ready to shred, prepare, release, and grow. Exploring cycles, within us and surrounding us. Cycles are shared, connecting us internally and externally. 28 days for the moon to orbit earth, 28 days of a menstrual cycle. Our cycles create who we are. Cycles can change with time but for now we would like to keep ours. And we assure you that Mania will fall and rise again. Warnings: Themes about women's health. Flashing lights included. Age Rating: 15+ (audience under the age to be accompanied by an adult) About unTaPped ‘26: Dear Audience, unTaPped 2026 is a festival of innovative new works, signed by 10 emerging artists, made up of 8 sealed performances, delivered over 2 days. A showcase of original works which have been delicately created, shaped, and crafted by the Theatre and Performance Third Years. As a platform for the next generation of up-and-coming theatre-makers, unTaPped 2026 allows them to push boundaries of performance, unleash their creativity in new and exciting ways and to develop their voices. Expect a variety of different works with contemporary themes and personal narratives, told in experimental and individually unique styles. All developed with passion, honesty, and integrity.
UnTaPped 2026: Double Bill - Dear Matchstalk Men/Big Kids
Christopher Mountain — Dear Matchstalk Men Working class Salford: a scene that L. S. Lowry once painted in the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Yet here Chris stands in the middle of a developing landscape, constantly changing around him—the landscape that appeared in Lowry's work. It seems inevitable that time continues, even as we try to capture moments of it. In the wake of political tensions and economic crises, life can feel as though it is constantly slipping away from us. But in moments of loss, time pauses—and a personal revolution takes place. A journey through endings and reflection, Dear Matchstick Men tries to frame the impossible: how do we live knowing that our days are numbered? What is the bigger picture? Warnings: Themes of death, grief, and existentialism. Loud sounds, sustained suspense, and mild language throughout. Age Rating: 15+ Nika Unwin and Finley Briars — Big Kids Two nerds; a stage; a clothing rail. Twenty-one years of memories to get through. What could possibly go wrong? Finley and Nika are nerds. Big nerds. One likes Marvel; the other prefers DC. One likes gaming; the other prefers movies. One remembers every canon event; the other remembers. something like that. Together they explore their shared interests while taking you on a journey of how their lives have been shaped by film, TV, and comic books. Expect homemade heroes, a touch of sincerity and an archive of fandom knowledge that some may say is useless in the "real world." What starts as reminiscing quickly becomes a chaotic tribute to Sci-fi, fantasy, comics, and everything in between. Memories are materialized between old toys and clothes from the past. Comedy occurs between nostalgia and nonsense. Common ground is found between childhood heroes and present-day experience. Because where is the fun in growing up and moving on? Why can't we just be big kids? Warnings: Themes exploring memory loss and potential emotional triggers. Age Rating: (U) All ages. About unTaPped ‘26: Dear Audience, unTaPped 2026 is a festival of innovative new works, signed by 10 emerging artists, made up of 8 sealed performances, delivered over 2 days. A showcase of original works which have been delicately created, shaped, and crafted by the Theatre and Performance Third Years. As a platform for the next generation of up-and-coming theatre-makers, unTaPped 2026 allows them to push boundaries of performance, unleash their creativity in new and exciting ways and to develop their voices. Expect a variety of different works with contemporary themes and personal narratives, told in experimental and individually unique styles. All developed with passion, honesty, and integrity.
UnTaPped 2026: How Soon Is Now?

UnTaPped 2026: How Soon Is Now?

15 May 2026 - 16 May 2026

10 performers, an 80s TV show set and a reimagined performance. ‘How Soon is Now?' is based on the nostalgia of a decade the performers did not experience. Drawing from their 2024 performance ‘Neon Dreams and Power Schemes' it aims to retell stories and evoke conversation and connection between generations. This performance balances theatricality and intimacy, accompanied by facts and footage. Acknowledging the past, embracing the present and looking to the future together. Let us understand the cyclical nature of politics and the trepidation of a cultural reset whilst also recognising how far we have advanced. Let us cherish the people that made up the decade, whether it's in music, grandeur, or hardships. Join us in our retold appreciation of the 1980s. Warnings: Topics that may cause distress including war and homophobia. Flashing light, strong language, and loud sounds. Age Rating: 12+ About unTaPped ‘26: Dear Audience, unTaPped 2026 is a festival of innovative new works, signed by 10 emerging artists, made up of 8 sealed performances, delivered over 2 days. A showcase of original works which have been delicately created, shaped, and crafted by the Theatre and Performance Third Years. As a platform for the next generation of up-and-coming theatre-makers, unTaPped 2026 allows them to push boundaries of performance, unleash their creativity in new and exciting ways and to develop their voices. Expect a variety of different works with contemporary themes and personal narratives, told in experimental and individually unique styles. All developed with passion, honesty, and integrity.
BSL exhibition tour of Curtain Up

BSL exhibition tour of Curtain Up

13 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026

Join us for a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted exhibition tour of Curtain Up. This is a BSL tour with no spoken English, that is designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing BSL users. The tour will be facilitated by Hope Lambert. The duration of the tour will be one hour, with opportunity for continued discussion afterwards. Please meet at The Galleries Desk, on Level 2 of the building.
Salford Dance Explosion 2026

Salford Dance Explosion 2026

30 Jun 2026 - 2 Jul 2026

This year Salford Dance Explosion returns to The Quays theatre with a 3 day festival of dance performances from local schools, colleges, higher educational settings, as well as theatre and dance academies from across the region. They will be showcasing a full range of genres from Ballet and Irish dance to street dance and contemporary styles. This event has now been running since 2010 and it looks to be another exciting year, giving children and young people the opportunity to shine on stage.
Woodhill

Woodhill

13 Oct 2026 - 17 Oct 2026

‘I Dance In The Horror Of Grief.' Three men at Woodhill prison are dead. The families demand answers. This is a call to arms about the crisis facing prisons. Gut punching choreography and unflinching beats shine a light on the hidden story of HMP Woodhill. Lyrically told in their own words, three families investigate what happened to their boys. What they discover is so haunting, it turns their world upside down. Pushing the form of documentary theatre and dance, Woodhill is an explosive true story by multi-award-winning LUNG and originally developed with The North Wall.
Lenny Henry: Still At Large

Lenny Henry: Still At Large

22 Jun 2026 - 26 Oct 2026

Part stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation with himself (and with you), this new live show sees Lenny return to the experiences that shaped him while also exploring the ideas, challenges and creative sparks driving him today. From the unforgettable days of The Lenny Henry Show and Chef! to acclaimed dramatic performances in Othello and, more recently, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Lenny traces the roles, characters and moments that have defined his remarkable career – and shares what continues to inspire him now as he reflects on a life lived out loud. Expect big laughs, heart and a celebration of the many versions of Lenny: the actor, the impressionist, the comedian, the fundraiser and the Stand-Up Anecdotalist.
Richard Ayoade - Afterthoughts

Richard Ayoade - Afterthoughts

31 May 2026 - 15 Jul 2026

Partially recognisable for being in The IT Crowd, his acclaimed films Submarine and The Double, he has also hosted TV landfill like Travel Man and The Crystal Maze, and lent his nasal voice to The Boxtrolls, Early Man, Soul and The Bad Guys. But you may well know him best for his role as ‘photographer’ in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers in which he delivered the iconic line: ‘Please, Mer Sellers, can I get a shot of you and your mum?’ Now, in the midst of some self-inflicted financial difficulty, he turns to the stage, inviting you to explore over 500 of his colossal notions. Thoughts like… Where’s the box to tick if you ARE a robot? If, when one door shuts, another door opens, there's something wrong with your doors. They shouldn't be doing that. TV detectives need a gimmick. Mine would be not caring who did it. Afterthoughts goes beyond rumination, past pondering, probing further than ever before. Drawing from a deeply private pool of questions—a reservoir so refreshing you may never need to think again.
Vincent Simone - Tango Passions

Vincent Simone - Tango Passions

22 Feb 2027 - 27 Mar 2027

Argentine Tango King and Strictly Come Dancing legend, Vincent Simone, returns to the stage in 2027 with Tango Passions. Accompanied by world-class Argentine Tango and Latin specialists, let the original Italian stallion take you on a journey to Buenos Aires and tell the tale of love, passion and lust set at the turn of the 20th century. Featuring classic and modern Argentine Tango music from the likes of Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project. A sexy, steamy, passionate night not to be missed!
Matt Bragg
Comedy

Matt Bragg

4 Mar 2027 - 30 May 2027

The son of television warm up man Bobby Bragg, Matt has been performing stand up all over the country for the last 7 years. With a unique, low energy, deadpan style and meticulously crafted material he has been gaining critical acclaim from audiences, promoters and comedians alike. As well as performing at some of the largest clubs in the UK, he is tour support for Ricky Gervais, Harry Hill, Lloyd Griffith (Soccer AM), Suzi Ruffell, Jason Manford, John Bishop, Phoenix Night’s Clinton Baptiste and Scott Bennett. He was also selected for Just The Tonic’s Big Value showcase at Edinburgh Festival in 2019 and finished runner up in Leicester Mercury’s Comedian of The Year 2020.
Showcase 2026

Showcase 2026

19 Jul 2026 - 19 Jul 2026

Seven amateur theatre companies come together for their annual celebration of The West End and Broadway. All in aid of Alzheimer's Society.
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

11 Dec 2026 - 10 Jan 2027

Matthew Warchus' big-hearted, smash hit production of Charles Dickens' immortal classic comes to Lowry following nine sell out years at The Old Vic, joyously adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, His Dark Materials). A Christmas Carol fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. A unique staging immerses the audience in London's longest running adaptation of this beloved festive favourite. Age Guidance: 8+
Flat & the Curves: Rosé-Tinted

Flat & the Curves: Rosé-Tinted

28 Mar 2027 - 28 Mar 2027

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex Presents.  Flat & the Curves: Rosé Tinted  Award-winning comedy girl band Flat & the Curves return with their well-aged cabaret, Rosé Tinted!  Join the vocal powerhouses as they piece together bygone years of revelry, from knee-defying slut-drops to toe-curling one-night stands.  Through original music, the comedy girlband pays homage to friendships forged through grape-fuelled revelry. Expect a raucous look at life's disasters and absurdities, delivered with a cheeky wink and ferocious vocals.  With critical acclaim from The Scotsman, Sunday Express, BroadwayWorld and many more, book now for an unforgettable night of wine-soaked wisdom and glorious fun!  "The Most Dynamic Girl-Band To Hit The Circuit For 40-Years" Sunday Express  "Electrifying.outstanding.powerhouse Cabaret!" The Scotsman 
BRB Class On Stage: The Maiden of Venice
Come along and watch as some of BRB's talented young dancers take their daily ballet class, essential to warm up their bodies ahead of a day's rehearsals and performance. The class will be run by a senior member of the company, who will explain the exercises to the audience. A brilliant way for those new to ballet to get an insight into the hard physical work that lies behind each performance.
Tez Ilyas: Tez Things I Hate About You
Comedy
Stand-up
Tez Ilyas, one of the most most celebrated stars in British comedy, returns to stage in 2023 with an hour of his trademark, no-holds barred, crowd participation and fun. As seen on Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three), Live At The Apollo (BBC Two), Bounty (CH4), Mock The Week (BBC Two) and much more.
Aarian Mehrabani: How's Your Head?

Aarian Mehrabani: How's Your Head?

31 Jul 2026 - 1 Aug 2026

Aarian is a triple threat. Brown, Blind and Bi. Arguably already too many things to talk about in a debut stand up hour. Then 2024 came, and he only had to go and get f★★king brain cancer. The highly anticipated debut stand-up show from the multi award-winning writer of the smash hit play It's a MotherF★★king Pleasure. Commissioned and supported by Lowry through its 'Developed With' Programme. Join Aarian ahead of his run at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe Festival to explore his relationship with his Persian identity, his time in hospital battling an aggressive brain tumour, and his obsession with 2019 Netflix spectacular The Crown. "Ridiculously entertaining." - The Stage "hilarious and incisive" - Playbill "Aarian Mehrabani has naturally perfect comedic timing, and left me genuinely winded with laughter a couple of times...Pure genius...as close to perfection as you can get" - Binge Fringe "entirely charming...Funny, chaotic and wincingly relevant." - The Spy in the Stalls Directed by Dec Munro Written & Performed by Aarian Mehrabani
CBeebies House Party LIVE!

CBeebies House Party LIVE!

29 Aug 2026 - 30 Aug 2026

You're all invited to the CBeebies House Party LIVE! A family fun-packed stage show with sensational songs, stupendous surprises and mega moments. Join the superstars of CBeebies - Andy Day, Duggee, Joanna Adeyinka, Rhys Stephenson and George Webster - as they throw an epic party just for YOU! Get ready to rave.with dancing, singing, streamers, giant jellies and bubbles galore..and of course, a CBeebies Bedtime Story. But.IT'S NOT TIME FOR BEDTIME!  IT'S TIME TO PARTY! ‘Glastonbury for kids! ​CBeebies House Party Live is a glorious for toddlers'​ Manchester Evening News
Pauline Eyre: Anyone For Tennis?

Pauline Eyre: Anyone For Tennis?

16 May 2026 - 25 Feb 2027

A Wimbledon line judge for 20 years, comedian Pauline Eyre is ready to spill the Pimms on tennis gossip from the fragrant royal box to the musty locker room, and why line judges are OUT! Expect smashing stories, ace anecdotes and a 40-love letter to the game. And there’s nobody to say ‘quiet please’. She cannot be serious… can she? Fresh from sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. As featured in/on The Guardian, Sunday Post, The Times, The Guardian, Daily Mail, BBC 5 Live, Radio Wimbledon, Der Spiegel, TVNZ, ABC Australia...
Artists In Conversation: Curtain Up

Artists In Conversation: Curtain Up

21 May 2026 - 21 May 2026

Join Lowry's Contemporary Curator, Zoe Watson, in conversation with artists Ulla von Brandenburg, Chris Paul Daniels and Rowland Hill. All three artists have been commissioned by Lowry to make new work for Curtain Up, using different disciplines to explore the audience experience. The discussion will be followed by a short Q&A.
Aarian Mehrabani: The Blind Guy's Hosting A Comedy Night?
Aarian Mehrabani is a visually impaired actor, writer, comedian and theatre maker from the North West. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is a co-founder of the multi award-winning theatre company FlawBored. Their debut show, It's a MotherFcking Pleasure, premiered at Vaults Festival in 2023 before transferring to Soho Theatre and a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, where Aarian was named one of The Stage's Fringe Five. The show has since toured internationally, including runs in New York, Washington DC and at the Southbank Centre. Aarian is currently developing new work with the Royal Court, alongside a number of TV projects, including an adaptation of It's a Motherfcking Pleasure with Hat Trick Productions.
The Manchester Vocal Ensemble

The Manchester Vocal Ensemble

19 Jul 2026 - 19 Jul 2026

Experience the power of voices like you've never heard before.  Join Manchester Vocal Ensemble, one of the city's most exciting vocal groups, for an electrifying afternoon where iconic songs are transformed through spine-tingling vocal harmony.  From Adele and Fleetwood Mac to Hozier and Queen, hear legendary artists reimagined through rich, layered harmonies and a beautifully blended sound. Each performance is crafted to captivate, uplift and surprise — turning familiar hits into something thrillingly new.  This collective of outstanding singers brings a bold creative vision to contemporary music, performing completely original arrangements that reveal new colours, textures and emotion in the songs you love.  Expect powerful anthems, breathtaking ballads and unforgettable musical moments as we take you on a journey from chart-topping pop to the magic of film and theatre.  Whether you love great pop music, stunning vocal harmony, or simply a brilliant live night out, this is a show not to miss.   The Ensemble performs with such energy and joyous enthusiasm, with the more tender ballads proving all the more effective by contrast.  - The Arts Shelf 
MC Grammar: The Mic Drop Tour!

MC Grammar: The Mic Drop Tour!

15 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2026

World Book Day Ambassador and bestselling author, MC Grammar, is back and this time he's bringin'...  BIGGER Beats, BIGGER Laughs and even BIGGER Family FUN!  Grab your caps and shades and get ready for the ultimate family party!   Warning: This show may cause.  - Uncontrollable laughing  - Unexpected dancing  - Parents partying   - And the next GOAT MC! Social media superstar, World Book Day ambassador and bestselling author, MC Grammar, is in the house! Get ready to read, rap and party with the nation's favourite rapping teacher! 
Fascinating Aida

Fascinating Aida

17 Jan 2027 - 24 Mar 2027

The world’s greatest cabaret troupe is back with a BRAND NEW SHOW! Devilishly funny and gloriously glamorous Dillie, Liza and Adèle, with Michael Roulston on piano, are back on the road following their hugely successful 40th Anniversary Tour. With brand new songs generated by human neural networks and using their combined deep-learning age of 278 years, they have data-mined their back catalogue to bring audiences their greatest, most sensationally analogue show ever! As the saying goes... when the world is going to sh★t, be sure to book tickets to see Fascinating Aïda! Directed by Paul Foster.
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella
Ballet
Dance

Matthew Bourne's Cinderella

24 Nov 2026 - 1 May 2027

Matthew Bourne’s epic reinterpretation of the classic fairytale places a true wartime romance at its heart. A chance meeting leads to a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being torn apart by the horrors of the Blitz. With Lez Brotherston’s glorious Olivier Award-winning designs, lighting by Olivier Award-winner Neil Austin, and video and projection designs by Duncan McLean, CINDERELLA also features sensational sound design by Paul Groothuis, transporting audiences into the heart of Prokofiev’s magnificent score and the sights and sounds of war‑torn London. CINDERELLA is both a tribute to — and a testament of — the indomitable spirit of London during a time when every second counted and lives were changed forever. Bourne’s vivid storytelling has never been more heart‑stopping or touching, creating a unique and unforgettable reimagining of a familiar yet timeless fable.
Sabri Sisters Live

Sabri Sisters Live

2 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2026

Qawwali World presents a historic awakening as the mesmerising Sabri Sisters embark on their debut UK Tour 2026. As the next generation of the world-renowned Sabri Gharana and nieces of the late Amjad Sabri, their work redefines the art of Qawwali through a groundbreaking, female-led perspective into the modern era.  With over 100M+ streams, the sisters have achieved global fame through Coke Studio hits like "Maghron La" and the chart-topping OST "Meri Zindagi Hai Tu," with Asim Azhar, to tracks like "Manzar" with Farhan Saeed and the PSL x Pepsi title track "Khelenge Beat Pe" alongside Atif Aslam. Now collaborating with Universal Music, their rich textures and powerhouse vocals bring life to centuries-old texts into modern melodies. Produced by Qawwali World, this concert is an immersive portal into the soul of South Asian music. It offers a high-octane collision of heritage and revolution, inviting audiences to witness a legendary lineage as it breathes new life into timeless spiritual melodies. Secure your place for an experience of transcendence and spiritual rapture. 
Steven Pinker: The New Science of Harmony, Hypocrisy and Outrage
The Harvard Professor and bestselling author of Enlightenment Now and The Better Angels of Our Nature joins us to reveal the power and perils of thinking alike.  What do you know that everyone else knows?   As a cognitive scientist, the ultimate subject of Steven Pinker's fascination is how we think about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. This awareness is called common knowledge - and it has a momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives.  Common knowledge can make sense of financial bubbles and crashes, revolutions that come out of nowhere, the posturing and pretence of diplomacy, the eruption of social media shaming mobs and academic cancel culture, and the awkwardness of a first date.   But people also go to great lengths to avoid common knowledge―to ensure that even if everyone knows something, they can't know that everyone else knows they know it. And so we get rituals like benign hypocrisy, veiled bribes and threats, sexual innuendo, and pretending not to see the elephant in the room.  Returning to How To Academy to explore these paradoxes of human behaviour, Harvard's most renowned psychologist will invite us to understand the ways we try to get into each other's heads - and the harmonies, hypocrisies, and outrages that result. Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He has won many prizes for his teaching, his research on language, cognition, and social relations, and his twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and one of Time's "100 Most Influential People in the World Today." 
DanceSyndrome Presents ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill
It all began with a simple question: "What do you want to create?"  Now, three years later, ORIGIN emerges— a bold, artist-led platform where diverse voices take centre stage.   Developed through DanceSyndrome's iCreate programme, which places Artists with learning disabilities at the heart of the collaborative process, ORIGIN is a mixed bill of six newly commissioned works, created with international choreographers.  Joyful, daring and deeply original— ORIGIN is a powerful celebration of creativity, collaboration and artistic freedom. It is a defining moment: the beginning of something really exciting, a space where all Artists are seen, valued and celebrated.  Join us in the foyer from 5:45pm to learn more about DanceSyndrome's iCreate project, visit our pre-show access table to learn more about the show, and enjoy a pre-show foyer performance from our DS Youth Collective. 
Amy Gledhill: Thanks for Having Me

Amy Gledhill: Thanks for Having Me

24 May 2026 - 8 May 2027

Amy Gledhill has appeared on the biggest comedy shows on TV, won the most prestigious award in live comedy AND starred in a Netflix blockbuster. Then why can't she nail just one first date, social interaction or trip to the spa. (She is now banned.) Join the Taskmaster alumnus, Last One Laughing's cruelest red card, and co-host of smash-hit podcasts Single Ladies In Your Area and Northern News on her brand new stand-up tour, as Amy Gledhill says Thanks For Having Me to audiences up and down the country. Amy won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2024, is triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, National Comedy Award nominee and 1/3 of cult double act The Delightful Sausage. She's also appeared on Live at the Apollo (BBC) Would I Lie To You (BBC), The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV), Never Mind The Buzzcocks (Sky), Run Away (Netflix), Alma's Not Normal (BBC) and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (C4). Presented by Plosive Live in association with United Agents.
Hay

Hay

8 Nov 2026 - 8 Nov 2026

There is only one word used in our show - it's ‘Hay!' Like the stuffing in Geenie's scarecrow, ‘Hay!' like the sound she makes when he comes to life and ‘Hay!' when he sees all the wonders of the natural world for the first time. Only one word but so many meanings in a show about growing up in the heart of the countryside and discovering that you don't have to stay stuck in the mud - you can live your dreams, spread your wings and fly like the birds. A highly accessible show filled with music, clowning, song and dance.   In this beautiful story Farmer Geenie guides scarecrow step by step as he finds his feet, then his hands, his voice, his legs and his love of song and dance in a story about the fun of growing up where everyday there's something new to make you say ‘Hay!'   Our two very talented physical theatre performers are expert clowns and so our show doesn't use any words - everything is told in a fantastically clear way through sound, dance, music and our incredibly inventive props which playfully represent the essential elements of nature that this show celebrates. We've got charming puppets - the birds of course and also the butterflies and bees - and some very wonderful eggs each with their own particular surprises.  All of this means that our show is highly accessible and perfect for a younger age-group who will be giggling all the way through this gentle introduction to what theatre can be - sweet, funny, inclusive and uplifting. For those who know the countryside this show will be full of shared moments and for those who aren't so familiar with our green spaces they will want to continue the journey they will start with this show into how best to live in harmony and protect our environment.
Jack Carroll: Walking Funny

Jack Carroll: Walking Funny

7 Aug 2026 - 12 Nov 2026

Join BAFTA-Winning Comedian and Star of Britain’s Got Talent, Live at the Apollo and Coronation Street as he expertly examines subjects that can make us feel awkward, within the safe confines of his northern charm. Expect jokes about the broken promises of modern life, internet rabbit holes, and his disability, obviously – that being said, buy a ticket to prove you don’t hate people with cerebral palsy.
Blaze FM

Blaze FM

17 Sept 2026 - 19 Sept 2026

‘Yo! Listen. Right now it's Blaze FM. 101.7. You're locked into the sounds of SHUT DOWN CREW. I need 20 missed calls if you wanna hear this one again. Press play on that.' The Big House made their Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut with Blaze FM in 2025, an explosive piece of political theatre weaving Grime, Garage, Drill and Jungle tracks through an electrifying eighty minutes of powerful performance. Now, Blaze takes the fire from the studio to the road in a 2026 regional tour. You're locked into Blaze FM - the pirate radio station pioneering new music as a voice to the madness outside, broadcasting an uncensored political perspective and birthing "the realest music from the next generation". Blaze FM blasts from a rundown council flat in Hackney, laying the foundations of Grime, now one of Britain's most celebrated subcultures of music. But in the midst of court orders, DTI signal cuts, and outright attacks against Black music, the family fight for their right to exist. Co-written by acclaimed Grime MC Jammz and playwright James Meteyard (Electrolyte) and directed by TBH Artistic Director Maggie Norris, Blaze FM was created in direct response to issues faced by members of The Big House. Founded by Norris, The Big House creates "world-class" theatre charged by the lived experience of its members, passing the mic to challenge the systems that failed them
Wright&Grainger's 'Selene'

Wright&Grainger's 'Selene'

25 Sept 2026 - 26 Sept 2026

From the internationally award-winning team behind ORPHEUS comes a new sibling show to the hugely acclaimed HELIOS. A Story About The Goddess And The Dark Side Of The Moon A radical explosion of an ancient myth about the moon from the internationally award-winning company behind HELIOS, ORPHEUS and THE GODS THE GODS THE GODS. A young girl watches the moon landings on repeat. A teenager makes a list of all the things they are not. A young adult starts to discover who they are. A story about the light sides of us, the dark sides of us, and the things we grow up in the orbit of. And about the stuff inside us, all the wild stuff inside us. A Wright&Grainger and Theatre@41 Co-Production. Written and created by Alexander Wright & Phil Clive Grainger. Made with and told by Megan Drury.
Mistero Buffo

Mistero Buffo

2 Oct 2026 - 2 Oct 2026

Rhum + Clay present Dario Fo's devilishly funny masterpiece, Mistero Buffo, a darkly comic look at the absurdities and inequalities of everyday life, as seen through the eyes and tales of a travelling storyteller.  Banned as blasphemous for many years, but perhaps even more relevant now, Mistero Buffo takes an unflinching but humorous aim at those who manipulate truth and belief for power and control. With culture wars driving division and a pandemic that has highlighted vast economic inequalities, can laughter (and a little righteous anger) help unite us?  A tour-de-force that won Julian Spooner The Stage's Award for Best Performance, this is an extraordinary, virtuosic romp through a hundred characters and locations in the person of one man. Our 21st century travelling storyteller, yet another employee of the gig economy, rushes from his last job of the day to deliver a subversive, gleeful rallying cry for the disillusioned and disenfranchised.  Adapted by Julian Spooner & Nicholas Pitt  Performed by Julian Spooner  Directed by Nicholas Pitt  "Spooner tackles a huge cast of characters. with astonishing sharpness and clarity"  The Guardian ★★★★  "Magnificent production. with an outstanding performance"  The Stage ★★★★★  "A shape-shifting, body-popping, mesmerising performance"  WhatsOnStage ★★★★★  "Julian Spooner is simply outstanding"  British Theatre Guide ★★★★★  Age Guidance: 12+ References to: Blasphemy, drug and alcohol use, suicidal ideation, simulation of infanticide, sexual assault.
Ontroerend Goed- Thanks for Being Here
Thanks for Being Here is an ode to the audience. Because without an audience, there is no theatre. The fact that you are now reading this text, perhaps buying a ticket (or already have!), and will soon spend an hour in a room full of strangers, not knowing what's to come - we find that deeply hopeful. And that is worth celebrating. On stage: us. In the audience: you. We will watch. Ourselves, but especially each other, as a group. We'll switch roles. Maybe you'll see yourself, as part of the audience, or even as a character. Without you, there would be no performance. So thank you for being here.  In a game of video and perspective, Thanks for Being Here constantly puts you off balance. But don't worry — you don't have to do anything. Because Ontroerend Goed has been creating interactive theatre for over 20 years for people who don't particularly like interactive theatre. And we'll take your expectations into account. Both before and after. Promise.
Tim Key: Loganberry

Tim Key: Loganberry

12 Oct 2026 - 15 Oct 2026

Presented by Plosive Live in association with PBJ Management TIM KEY (Alan Partridge, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme) again pops his suit on, plods about, in a brand new show. Bit gutted he's old. Guzzling continental lager. Magnetic lol. Decent reviews for previous shows. Played a pigeon in Bong Joon Ho's latest movie. Been on Richard Herring's podcast. Book out: "L.A. Baby!". Met Steffi Graf in 1998/9. This show has poems in, and he'll stamp and howl. Won the Perrier Award in 2009! ★★★★★ The Skinny ★★★★ The Times ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Telegraph ★★★★ The Scotsman Age guidance: 14+ 
Tom Cassani: Iterations

Tom Cassani: Iterations

23 Oct 2026 - 23 Oct 2026

Iterations centres Cassani's obsession with the skill and precision of sleight of hand magic. It invites us to consider the performance of the seemingly impossible.  Through deconstructed routines and text that re-imagines the aesthetic tropes of magic, we are offered time to reflect and re-interpret. This exposé of the practising magician explores how impossibilities emerge through repetition, actions, gestures and self-reflection. See how placing a coin into a pocket becomes a lifetime's work.  Learn how hard it really is, to do something impossible so effortlessly.
Bert & Nasi: L'Addition

Bert & Nasi: L'Addition

23 Oct 2026 - 24 Oct 2026

Two performers armed with (or trapped in) a single scene - a customer orders a drink from a waiter. And then things go awry. Played again and again, the scene starts spinning out of control. Nightmarish spiral or grotesque farce? Roles flip back and forth. Who's serving and who's being served? Directed by Forced Entertainment artistic director Tim Etchells, and created with the brilliant performance duo Bert and Nasi, L'Addition orchestrates a complex hilarious and explosive performance from simple materials. Together, the three of them play with the mechanisms of theatre as much as with power relationships — but in the end, someone has to pay the bill.     ‘Very weird and extremely funny' The New York Times "Tim Etchells's score and the duo of performers are enchanting". Telerama "with a striking economy of effect, Bert and Nasi are worthy heirs to Monty Python". Télérama ★★★★ ‘Superbly absurd comedy' The Guardian ★★★★ ‘L'Addition is as inventive and funny as it is challenging' The Arts Desk ★★★★★ ‘This Extraordinary Production Will Live Long In The Memory.' Broadway Baby
Amazons

Amazons

24 Oct 2026 - 24 Oct 2026

A recent sellout show at the Edinburgh Fringe, Amazons presents a compelling and mesmerising retelling of the stories of women from the world's largest forest.  "Amazon? Online shopping? No! Come and discover the real Amazon."  Plant-sitting and live-streaming from her friend's flat in the U.K., Gayara unearths the untold histories of her Amazonian ancestors, from those who watched the first Europeans lay claim to her land, to the women fighting to defend the forest today.  Developed with the support of Norwich Theatre
Rewrites: Jeezus!

Rewrites: Jeezus!

27 Oct 2026 - 3 Nov 2026

Falling for Jesus is a mortal sin, but damn it feels good! In 1990s Peru, a brutal military coup ushers in a decade of dictatorship under the rule of Alberto Fujimori. In the home of General José and his devoted wife María, altar boy Jesús prepares diligently for his first communion. But as the biggest day of his adolescent life approaches, the hot man on the cross makes him feel something…unholy. Catholic guilt collides with unrepentant queerness in this sinful, heart-pounding mix of live music, dark humour, and Latin heat. If Bo Burnham, Bad Bunny, and Bertolt Brecht had a baby, this would be it. JEEZUS! is the smash hit debut from award-winning migrant-led company Alpaqa. Bulging with new songs and Big D★★★ Energy, the show returns after taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm – this time hotter, sweatier, and even more unhinged. This is the second coming – let’s burn in hell! Winner of the 2025 Untapped Award and The Stage Fringe Five.
Madonna on the Rocks

Madonna on the Rocks

19 May 2026 - 1 Oct 2026

She used to have dreams, now she has a baby. A sad, aging sack full of milk and regret.   Madonna on the Rocks is a visceral, beautiful, hilarious call to arms. A neon-lit menty-b at the Stay and Play. It's about egos, responsibilities and the struggle to be an artist, or to have any career at all really, and be a relatively decent parent at the same time. With songs inspired by Madonna, Peaches and Nina Simone.   Written and performed by Marie Hamilton, composed in Berlin by Cameron Mackintosh Award winner Ben Osborn, directed by Stephanie Kempson with dramaturgy from Hildegard Ryan and Bryony Kimmings.  Brighton Fringe Award Nominated, Top 10 Shows Of The Edinburgh Fringe 2025 (Fergus Morgan The Crushbar, The Scotsman, The Stage) 
Simon Amstell: I Love it Here

Simon Amstell: I Love it Here

22 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2026

Presented by Show And Tell  Simon Amstell returns on tour with a brand-new stand-up show - funnier, truer, and more healing than anything ever before or after.  I Love It Here is the latest creation from the internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker behind the Netflix stand-up special Set Free and the feature films Benjamin and Carnage.  At a friend's beach house just outside Los Angeles, Simon finally finds peace: he is in love, free, released from the need to perform. But when an invitation arrives from the man who first ignited his teenage desire, that fragile calm is thrown into chaos.  What follows is a desperate, hilarious attempt at surrender, during a night of overwhelming stimulation - the raw material for this extraordinary new show. 
Chris Hadfield

Chris Hadfield

15 Nov 2026 - 19 Jun 2027

The Artemis missions have changed everything. For the first time in half a century, humans are returning to the Moon-reaching terrain no mission has ever touched. A crewed lunar landing is two years away. The dark side is no longer myth. And the questions are no longer if-they’re who, why, and what comes next. Join Colonel Chris Hadfield-acclaimed astronaut, commander, spacewalker, and bestselling author-for a gripping journey through the most consequential moment in space exploration history. Drawing on his three spaceflights, his time commanding the International Space Station, and his work alongside NASA, SpaceX, and world governments including the British Royal Family, Chris places the Artemis era in full, thrilling context-from the geopolitics of lunar resources to satellite mega-constellations to the $2 trillion space economy reshaping our world. Awe-inspiring visuals. Rare behind-the-scenes insight. Personal stories from the edge of human experience. One night with the man referred to as “the most famous astronaut since Neil Armstrong”. Live Q&A. This is history happening. Be part of understanding it first.
Movement Magic

Movement Magic

28 May 2026 - 28 May 2026

Spend a morning in May half term discovering the magic of movement, exploring ways to devise and perform dance. If you are a super-keen mover, you can take this opportunity to find out more about how Lowry Centre for Advanced Training dancers train. This workshop is for all levels, beginner-advanced Suitable for ages 11-15 [no prior experience necessary] What to wear / bring: Comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely without risk to your modesty. A jumper/top to keep you warm on breaks. Please note that participants will be dancing bare-foot. Bring water to keep hydrated plus a healthy snack. This Movement Magic workshop is part of a series of dance workshops delivered by industry professionals and artists from or connected with Lowry Centre for Advanced Training
MAPAS WCIT Concerts - This is Our Salford!
We are delighted to invite you to ‘This Is Our Salford' - a concert series performed by primary school children from across Salford who have been taking part in a Whole Class Instrumental project in their school since September 2025. Throughout the concert week we will hear from strings, brass, woodwind and percussion players showcasing their amazing talents and delighting us with their music.  Led by our inspiring team of MAPAS tutors and accompanied by a live band each concert will feature up to 4 different classes who will showcase what they have been working on individually, before coming together to form a huge orchestra, ready to raise the roof of The Quays theatre!  In Salford's centenary year, we hope you will join us for this uplifting celebration of the musical youth of the city! 
Krishna Calling: Classic Bhajans and Raga Symphony
Devotional songs accompanied by String Orchestra   Singer: Dr. Rakesh Joshi & choir  Rakesh Joshi is talented composer, artistic director of the Indian choir-ensemble and educator. He specialised in singing devotional and semi-classical songs. Achieved Ph.D. in Indian music from the University of Salford. He has widely performed music concerts in the UK, USA, India and Europe. He plays raga based classical, contemporary and folk music on Grand Piano.  A Bhajan is a devotional song in Indian traditions, sung to express love, reverence, and devotion to the divine. Bhajans are not just musical expressions but serve as a medium for spiritual growth, devotion, and inner peace. They often draw on scriptures, epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, teachings of saints, and stories of deities such as Rama, Krishna, and Shiva. Singing or listening to bhajans is believed to purify the mind, focus the soul, and foster a deep connection with the divine.  You will hear popular and newly composed bhajans from Rakesh Joshi & choir, accompanied by renowned musicians.  Join us for the inner peace and wellbeing 
The Choir of Man

The Choir of Man

13 Oct 2026 - 17 Oct 2026

Presented by HH Productions, Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay, Global Creative and Kenny Wax  Created by Nic Doodson & Andrew Kay  Directed by Nic Doodson  Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award-nominated, worldwide smash hit is now on its first ever UK & Ireland tour.  Welcome to THE CHOIR OF MAN, the best pub in the world. Come ready to drink in the excitement!  Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name but a few, this is a pub like no other!  A wildly talented group of incredible instrumentalists, world-class wordsmiths, and sensational singers, this cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys serve it all... live!  An uplifting celebration of community and friendship where everyone is welcome, don't miss this feel-good night of foot-stomping entertainment, so good you'll want to come back and see it again and again.  Age guide 10+: Contains on-stage alcohol use and some adult themes. No swearing.
Jon Culshaw: Me, Myself & Others

Jon Culshaw: Me, Myself & Others

7 Feb 2027 - 26 Apr 2027

Jon Culshaw is taking to the road with a brand-new show. Join the star of BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers as he takes you on a whistle stop tour through an array of famous voices in an evening of stand-up, stories, sketches and song! 

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