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Theatre in Manchester

Plays, musicals, panto, dance and opera: 10 on now and 102 more coming up across 9 theatres, with links straight to each theatre’s tickets. Last checked 28 October 2026.

On now

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Waitress (musical)

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Haunting of Hill House

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Palace Theatre, Oxford Road

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Mousetrap

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Opera House Manchester, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    REWRITES: Jeezus!

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Littlest Yak

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Family show. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    King Lear

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Royal Exchange Theatre, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre. Last few tickets.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Little Shop of Horrors

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Calendar Girls The Musical

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Octagon Bolton, Bolton

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • 7:45pm

    Bright Places

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Play.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Very Hungry Caterpillar

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Family show. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

Panto season

Coming up · October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

  • TBCcheck with venue

    A Shoddy Detective and The Art of Deception

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Romeo & Juliet

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Octagon Bolton, Bolton

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Birdcatcher

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Technicolor by Rhum + Clay

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Jesus Christ Superstar

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Palace Theatre, Oxford Road

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    A Thing of Beauty

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Not That Asian

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Shooters

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Royal Exchange Theatre, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • 8pm

    Monster Mum (Forgive Me)

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Circus.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Dinosaur World Live

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Family show. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Dinosaur That Pooped

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Opera House Manchester, City centre

    Family show.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    It's a Sin (dance)

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Warehouse, Aviva Studios, Castlefield

    Dance. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Trouble with Kids

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Close Enough to Touch

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    São Paulo Dance Company

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Dance. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Fireman Sam Live: The Lost Pirate Treasure

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Family show. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    My First Ballet: Cinderella

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Opera House Manchester, City centre

    Dance. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • 7:30pm

    Vincent Simone: Tango Passions

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Dance.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Crown of Blood

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

March 2027

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Heathers the Musical

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Palace Theatre, Oxford Road

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Opera House Manchester, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    De Nada Dance: Edward II

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Dance. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Opera North: Don Giovanni

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Opera. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Boy Gets Girl

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    This is the Life

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Octagon Bolton, Bolton

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • 7pm

    Opera North: Dead Man Walking

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Opera.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Hadestown

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Signalman

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Room on the Broom

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Octagon Bolton, Bolton

    Family show. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Everybody's Talking About Jamie

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Palace Theatre, Oxford Road

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • 7pm

    RIPPLES

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Play.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Being Mr Wickham

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    VIGNETTES x Coming Home

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    The Uncrackable Case

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Faith Healer

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Royal Exchange Theatre, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Pretty Woman The Musical

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    Palace Theatre, Oxford Road

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Savage

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Musical. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    48 Thoughts Per Minute

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Never Look Back

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Telling the Bees

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    HOME, City centre

    Family show.

  • TBCcheck with venue

    Northern Broadsides: Crime and Punishment

    What:
    Theatre
    When:
    Where:
    The Lowry, Salford Quays

    Play. Times vary by day; check the theatre.

The theatres

  1. Palace Theatre

    Oxford Street · Touring musicals

    The biggest stage in town, opened in 1891. The big West End musicals stop here on tour, often for a week or two, and the Christmas show runs into January.

    Best for A big musical

    Next up

    What’s on at Palace Theatre ↗

  2. Opera House Manchester

    Quay Street · Musicals, plays, panto and comedy

    The Palace’s sister theatre on Quay Street, run by the same company. Touring musicals and plays, big-name comedians and talks, and the city-centre pantomime at Christmas.

    Best for The city-centre panto

    Next up

    What’s on at Opera House Manchester ↗

  3. The Lowry

    Salford Quays · Musicals, plays, dance and opera

    Two theatres and a studio on the waterfront at Salford Quays. Opera North visits every season, Matthew Bourne brings his dance shows, and touring musicals play the Lyric, with new plays in the smaller rooms.

    Best for Dance and opera

    Next up

    What’s on at The Lowry ↗

  4. Royal Exchange Theatre

    St Ann’s Square · Plays in the round

    A theatre in the round built inside the old cotton exchange, so no seat is far from the stage. It makes its own plays, usually with a musical at Christmas.

    Best for A play close up

    Next up

    What’s on at Royal Exchange Theatre ↗

  5. HOME

    First Street, by Oxford Road station · New plays and a Christmas show

    Theatre, cinema and a gallery under one roof. Two theatres with new and international plays, comedy, and a family musical over Christmas.

    Best for New writing

    Next up

    What’s on at HOME ↗

  6. Contact

    Oxford Road · New voices, live art and an alternative panto

    A theatre by the university for young artists, with hip-hop theatre, live art and a Christmas panto from The Big Tiny.

    Best for Something different

    Next up

    What’s on at Contact ↗

  7. Hope Mill Theatre

    Ancoats · Musicals in a small room

    A converted cotton mill in Ancoats with a small studio theatre, best known for its own musicals, plus a cheeky grown-up panto at Christmas.

    Best for A musical up close

    Next up

    What’s on at Hope Mill Theatre ↗

  8. Octagon Bolton

    Bolton town centre · Its own plays, in the round

    A theatre in the round in Bolton that makes its own plays and musicals, and a family show at Christmas. About 20 minutes by train from Manchester.

    Best for A night out of town

    Next up

    What’s on at Octagon Bolton ↗

  9. Stockport Plaza

    Stockport town centre · Panto, tributes and touring plays

    A restored 1930s art deco cinema with its own Compton organ. Tribute concerts, touring comedies and plays, and a traditional family panto at Christmas.

    Best for Panto in an art deco room

    Next up

    What’s on at Stockport Plaza ↗

Show times vary, with matinees on some days, so check the theatre’s page before you book. Most of these theatres sell their own tickets, and we don’t earn anything from those links. For comedy, see comedy nights; for gigs, this month.

What else is on this week

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