Event type: Theatre

Saddle up for a joy-fuelled, sequin-spattered gender journey of self discovery, as Canal Street Kings founder, trans trailblazer and international cabaret renegade Hunter King presents his debut musical, A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny, ‘maid in the wild, wild, north west’. An award winning, queer parody epic where Disney meets Dolly Parton by way of Manchester’s gay village.

Inspired by Hunter’s real-life transition and the transformative power of drag, this foot-stomping, pun-slinging hoedown tells the tale of a milkmaid on a mission to discover their authentic self. After setting off from their small town and thinking they’ve finally found freedom, they meet a mysterious man with a moustache and a secret — and suddenly, self-discovery gets a whole lot hairier.

Expect epic musical parodies, dazzling vocals, unashamedly terrible puns, “a scene stealing cow”, and a “hootenanny with heart” (Canal St Online, 2025). Commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford.

A coming‑of‑age story set in the world of queer online kink, Four Letter Words explores the thrill, risk, and tenderness of seeking connection in a time of isolation.

Blending live projection with intimate storytelling, the production invites audiences into Gemma’s private world, asking how we search for identity, belonging, and closeness when the world feels out of reach. 

 

Don’t miss the unforgettable theatrical experience of the season as this heartfelt coming-of-age story takes flight with spectacular musical numbers and dazzlingly inventive choreography.

Daniel LaRusso’s journey is reimagined through movement, music, and raw, energetic storytelling. At its heart is the powerful bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, who teaches that karate isn’t about fighting, it’s about balance, dignity, and respect.

A Tony Award-winning design team transforms iconic cinematic moments into an emotionally charged, kinetic stage experience. Honouring the roots of the timeless story, this musical celebrates resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations.

 

 

In the midst of civil war, hunger and incurable sickness – something worse haunts the streets of the City, something the locals cannot lock their doors from… witchcraft.

With the infamous Witch Hunts ripping through Europe, desperation conjures paranoid reaction amongst the towns folk and they have taken matters into their own hands.

Join the secret trial held outside the safety of the city where a Witch; accused of sorcery, seduction and murder must prove her innocence. But with rumours spreading like the plague – is everyone telling the truth?

Inspired by the historical ‘Witch Hunt Craze’ dark history you are invited to be the jury in this interactive and site specific Murder Mystery Show.

Successful lawyer, Atticus Finch, encourages kindness and empathy in his children, but is pushed to the limits of these qualities himself when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it.

Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was long at the top of the banned book lists.

Having been seen by over 35 million theatregoers, The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank-n-Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.

 

Festive lights twinkle outside ‘The Counting House ’pub but inside Manager Bob Cratchit is struggling to keep the spirit of Christmas alive as Landlord Scrooge does all he can to squash it – no music, no laughter and definitely no bar credit.

But at midnight, the piano mysteriously strikes up and spirits of a different kind rise from the cellar to confront Scrooge with his past, present and future. Can he change his ways before it’s too late?

Step inside and pull up a barstool for this riotous, foot-stomping, musical retelling of Dickens ’classic, packed with heart, humour and bar…humbug.

 

In a society obsessed with youth and beauty, Dorian Gray is offered the ultimate prize: eternal perfection. But perfection comes at a price, one that must be paid in blood.

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”

This bold new adaptation of the classic novel celebrates Wilde’s dazzling wit and dark imagination. Stylish and unsettlingly thrilling, The Picture of Dorian Gray plunges you into a world where charm is currency and the truth always exacts its price.

 

Get in a fight. Cross-dress. Throw on some yellow stockings. Love can make you do the funniest things…! The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company present their own brand of Shakespearean mayhem.

Separated at sea, twins Viola and Sebastian wash up on the island of Illyria, both fearing the other lost forever. Plied pranksters, puritanical pillocks and perhaps even true love await them as they forge their own paths through this new world of fools, jewels, duels and dual-identities.

Family-friendly fun with live music and audience participation!

“If Shakespeare chose a modern company to perform his work then it would undoubtedly be The Pantaloons.” (northwestend.com)

What happens when imagination becomes survival?

Set inside a youth custody classroom, The Animals is a fierce, poetic and deeply human play about identity, anger, compassion — and the stories we tell ourselves to survive systems that refuse to listen.

As philosophy lessons spark unlikely conversations, the young people in the room begin to transform. Chairs become savannahs. Trauma takes animal form. And a monstrous idea — of who society says these young people are — looms large.

This powerful production is brought to life by The Boaty Young Theatre Makers, whose work has already earned national recognition for its ambition, emotional intelligence and fearless storytelling.

In 2023, the company were invited to transfer their production of Innocent Creatures by Leo Butler to the Dorfman Stage at the National Theatre, as part of the NT Connections Festival — an extraordinary achievement for any youth ensemble.

The National Theatre has praised Boaty as ‘incredible collaborators’, ‘ambitious and tenacious theatre-makers’, and ‘exemplary in the way they work with young people’.

Now, they return to the stage — this time in the main performance space at Shakespeare North Playhouse — with a bold, urgent production that asks:

Who gets to be heard?

Who gets written off?

And what happens when young people refuse to accept the roles the world places on them?

Raw, imaginative and unforgettable, The Animals is not just a youth theatre production — it is a reminder of theatre’s power to challenge, to listen, and to change the conversation.

Performed by a company whose work continues to reach national stages

‘This play doesn’t ask for sympathy — it asks for attention. The Animals is about the invisible weight young people carry, the damage done when they’re reduced to labels, and what can change when they’re finally allowed to imagine themselves differently. We’re incredibly proud to be bringing this play to Shakespeare North Playhouse, a venue that has always welcomed us, and to be performing in the Cockpit — letting these voices take up the room they deserve.’ — Laura J Harris, Artistic Director, The Boaty Theatre Company