Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

The Best of What's on in Manchester This Week

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK CALENDAR

With over 4000 shows listed on Manchester Theatres, it can be hard to decide which show to go and see - as you will probably know if you are one of the 200,000 members who receive our Sunday night "What's on in Manchester over the next seven days" e-mails [subscribe here].

If it's any help, we have handpicked our recommended theatre shows, classical concerts and stand-up comedy acts from what's on in Manchester over the next seven days...

You can find the best music gigs listed separately, here.

Quick Links: Theatres / Comedy / Gigs / Classical / Tribute Shows

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Our Top 10 What's On in Manchester Theatre This Week

Matilda The Musical

Palace Theatre, Manchester
Until Sat 25 Apr 2026
Watch our Exclusive Interview with RICHARD HURST
Read our ★★★★★ review
Tickets & More Info

Private Lives

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts

Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
Until Sat 11 Apr 2026.
Watch our Exclusive Interview with TOM CHAMBERS
Read our ★★★★ review
Exclusive £25 Tickets Offer & More Info

The Boy at the Back of The Class

Diversity

Manchester Opera House
Weds 15 - Fri 17 Apr 2026
Tickets & More Info

Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus

Luminiscence

You're Dead to Me

Wating for Godot

Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical

Contact, Manchester
Sat 18 Apr - Sat 2 May 2026.
Tickets & More Info

Gandeys Circus by Night

The Trafford Centre
Until Fri 17 Apr 2026.
Tickets & More Info

Zog

The Railway Children

Ballet Black at 25

Parody of the Rings

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Sat 11 Apr 2026 (2 shows).

Tickets & More Info

The Utterly Revolting Science Show

Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Sat 11 Apr 2026 (2 shows)
Tickets & More Info

The Jury Experience - Diamonds, Lies and a Dead Man

The Stoller Hall, Manchester
Sat 11 Apr 2026 + more dates
Tickets & More Info

Danny Baker

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Weds 15 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Legends of Steam

Australia's Thunder From Down Under

O2 Ritz, Manchester
Sat 18 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Ballaí (Walls)

53two, Manchester
Weds 15 - Fri 17 Apr 2026
Tickets & More Info

Shane Koyczan

Relay

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Fri 17 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

The Freshwater Five

Shakespeare North Playhouse Studio
Sat 18 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Murder Mystery Evening

East Lancashire Railway, Bury
Fri 17 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

National Theatre Live - All My Sons

HOME Cinema, Manchester
Thu 16 & Sat 18 Apr 2026.
Tickets & More Info

The Corinthians: We Were The Champions

HOME Cinema, Manchester
Sun 12 April - Sat 23 May 2026.
Tickets & More Info

The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind

Bubble Planet

Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

Lowry 360

Horizon of Khufu - Journey to Ancient Egypt

Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City

Manchester United v Leeds United

Hope Mill Amateur Dramatic Company - Sister Act

Shockout Academy BTEC Showcase

RNCM Theatre, Manchester
Tue 14 - Weds 15 April 2026
Tickets & More Info

Gozzle's Wetland Adventure

WWT Martin Mere
Until Sat 30 May 2026
Tickets & More Info

~ All Shows in Manchester This Week ~

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What's on in Manchester Comedy This Week

James Acaster

Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays + Shakespeare North Playhouse
Tue 14 - Sat 25 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Scott Bennett

Parr Hall, Warrington
Sat 18 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Max Amini

O2 Apollo, Manchester
Fri 17 Apr 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Aisling Bea

Laura Ramoso

Hannah East

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Sat 11 Apr 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Thomas Green

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Thu 16 Apr 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Looking For Me Friend - The Music of Victoria Wood

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays + Bury Met
Sat 18 & Sun 19 Apr 2026.

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Lucy Darling

Albert Hall, Manchester
Thu 16 Apr 2026.

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Emma Doran

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Sat 18 Apr 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Matt Parker

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Fri 17 Apr 2026.

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Pierre Novellie

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Mon 13 Apr 2026 + more dates.

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Mark Steel

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Sun 12 Apr 2026 + more dates.

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Mike Wozniak

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Tue 14 Apr 2026.

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Barbara Nice

Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Fri 17 Apr 2026 + more dates.

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The Cheryl & Kitty Show

O2 Ritz, Manchester
Weds 15 Apr 2026.

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ButtTootKing

Manchester Academy 2
Fri 17 Apr 2026.

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Myra DuBois

53two, Manchester
Sun 12 Apr 2026 + more dates
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Parody of the Rings

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Sat 11 Apr 2026 (2 shows).

Tickets & More Info

Dawn Bailey + Colin Manford

Garrick Theatre, Stockport
Fri 17 Apr 2026.

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Simon Munnery

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Sun 12 Apr 2026.

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Crissy Rock

~ All Comedy Shows in Manchester This Week ~

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Our Top What's On in Manchester Classical & Choral This Week

Luminescence

Hallé - A Sea Symphony

Conductor Tarmo Peltokoski is joined by Soprano Chen Reiss and Baritone Huw Montague Rendall for Vaughan Williams’ groundbreaking A Sea Symphony.

Hallé - The Best of John Williams

Manchester's oldest orchestra pay tribute to legendary film composer, John Williams.

BBC Philharmonic & Frank Dupree - New World Symphony

Joshua Weilerstein makes his triumphant return to the Philharmonic in this musical postcard celebrating the 250th anniversary of American Independence featuring the debut of firebrand pianist Frank Dupree.

La Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia & Thibaut Garcia

Star guitarist Thibaut Garcia joins the OSG (Galicia Symphony Orchestra) to bring some gorgeous Spanish sunshine to Manchester.

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Bernstein's On the Town

Joshua Weilerstein conducts the BBC Phil through Leonard Bernstein's On the Town, alongside works by Pavel Haas, Bohuslav Martinů and Charles Ives.

Candlelight - A Tribute to Coldplay and Ed Sheeran

A string quartet perform the hits of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Sat 18 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Candlelight - A Tribute to Queen and ABBA

A string quartet perform some of the most iconic hits of all time from Freddie, Brian, Roger, John, Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Sun 12 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Candlelight - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

A string quartet perform some of the most iconic hits of all time from Fleetwood Mac by candlelight.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Fri 17 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Candlelight - A Tribute to Taylor Swift

A string quartet perform hits from Taylor Swift by candlelight.

Candlelight - A Tribute to Adele

A string quartet perform the hits of Adele under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Candlelight - UK Indie Rock

A string quartet perform hits from indie rock by candlelight.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Sun 12 Apr 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Candlelight Babies

Bask with your baby in the glow of a thousand candles as gentle classical melodies, adapted for tiny ears, spark early development and create tender bonding moments between the two of you..

Evgeny Grinko

Having fled Russia after publicly opposing the war in Ukraine, the former noise rock artist turned classical composer brings his multi-million streamed compositions to Manchester.

National Concert Band Festival

The largest, most active festival for musicians who play in wind bands & big bands in the UK.

RNCM, Manchester
Sat 11 & Sun 12 Apr 2026
Tickets & More Info

~ All Classical Concerts in Manchester This Week ~

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Our Top 5 Tribute Shows in Manchester This Week

The Drifters

Continuing the legacy of George and Faye Treadwell, the latest line-up of The Drifters are back on tour performing all the classic hits of the soul legends from the last six decades.