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

Mamma Mia!

Road

Opera North - The Marriage of Figaro

Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
Thu 12 & Sat 14 Mar 2026.
Watch our Exclusive Interview with JAMES NEWBY & GABRIELLA REYES
Tickets & More Info

Ballet Nights

Manchester Opera House
Weds 11 Mar 2026.
Watch our Exclusive Interview with JORDAN JAMES BRIDGE
Special Offer & More Info

Opera North - Peter Grimes

Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus

Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Until Sun 15 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Gandeys Circus by Night

Macbeth

The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind

Depot Mayfield, Manchester
Fri 13 Mar - Thu 7 May 2026.
Tickets & More Info

The Empire Strips Back - A Burlesque Parody

Luminescence

Michael Portillo - A Life of Two Halves

Jason Fox - Embrace The Chaos

James B Partridge - Primary School Bangers

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Streetwise Opera - Reimagining Figaro

The Jury Experience - Death on the Port Side

The Stoller Hall, Manchester
Fri 13 & Sun 15 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

The Fire Raisers

Murder Mystery Night

East Lancashire Railway, Bury
Fri 13 Mar 2026 + more dates
Tickets & More Info

U Dance Northwest 2026

Massaoke - Sing The Musicals

One For The Road

Stalybridge Civic Hall
Weds 18 Mar 2026 (2 shows).
Tickets & More Info

Always K-Pop

Horrible Science - Cosmic Chaos

Lowry 360

Machu Picchu - Journey to the Lost City

Shakespeare's Othello (12A)

HOME Cinemas, Manchester
Weds 11 & Sun 15 Mar 2026
Tickets & More Info

Macbeth

Manchester United v Aston Villa

~ All Shows in Manchester This Week ~

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What's on in Manchester Comedy This Week

Chris Ramsey

Manchester Opera House
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Mar 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Clinton Baptiste

Lowry Lyric Theatre, Salford Quays
Sun 15 Mar 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Al Murray

Manchester Opera House
Thu 12 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Phil Ellis

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Thu 12 Mar 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Eastbenders - A Drag Celebration of Eastenders

Michelle De Swarte

Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford Quays
Fri 13 Mar 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Stephen Bailey

53two, Manchester
Tue 10 Mar 2026.

Tickets & More Info

The Lancashire Hotpots

The Met, Bury
Sat 14 Mar 2026 + more dates.

Tickets & More Info

Tom Lucy

Lowry Studio, Salford Quays
Sun 15 Mar 2026.

Tickets & More Info

Ian Smith

Fairfield Social Club, Manchester
Fri 13 Mar 2026.

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~ All Comedy Shows in Manchester This Week ~

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

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Four Last Songs

Nicholas Carter, one of the leading opera conductors of his generation, makes his Bridgewater Hall debut with the BBC Phil.

Alex James' Britpop Classical

The Blur bassist brings the biggest hits of the Britpop era to life with the epic scale of a full live orchestra.

Hallé & Tine Thing Helseth - Walton's First Symphony

The Hallé is joined by Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth for a concert which includes Manchester composer William Walton's First Symphony.

Philharmonia Orchestra & Alisa Weilerstein

Celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2025, The Philharmonia is a world-class symphony orchestra for the 21st century, based in London at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. They are joined by cellist Alisa Weilerstein.

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Four Last Songs

Musical ambassadors for their homeland, the NSOU pay homage to our nations’ bond with works from both Ukraine and England.

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Schubert's Unfinished

The BBC Philharmonic perform Schubert and Haydn.

Abel Selaocoe & The Bantu Ensemble

Manchester-based South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a rapidly rising star who is redefining the parameters of the cello.

Candlelight - A Tribute to Coldplay and Ed Sheeran

A string quartet perform the music of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Fri 13 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Candlelight - A Tribute to Adele

A string quartet perform the music of Adele.

Hallé St Peter's, Manchester
Fri 13 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Mystery Ensemble - Hayao Miyazaki's Dreams

A musical tribute to the Studio Ghibli master.

The Stoller Hall, Manchester
Sat 14 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

Manchester Camerata - One Damn Thing After Another

Manchester Camerata are here to amplify the work of women who composed despite the gatekeeping and patriarchal hurdles.

RNCM Chopin Prize

An evening of exceptional piano music, the Royal Northern College of Music's annual Chopin Prize sees finalists from the RNCM School of Keyboard Studies showcase their skills in honour of the virtuoso pianist and his composition.

~ All Classical Concerts in Manchester This Week ~

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Our Top 5 Tribute Shows in Manchester This Week

Seven Drunken Nights

The story of the Dubliners.

Manchester Opera House
Sun 15 Mar 2026 + more dates.
Tickets & More Info

The Celine Experience

Highly acclaimed vocalist January Butler pays tribute to Celine Dion.

Fastlove

A tribute to George Michael.

Shape of You

A tribute to Ed Sheeran.

Luther Live and Velvet Voices

A tribute to Luther Vandross and R’n’B royalty like Marvin Gaye, Bobby Brown, and George Benson.

The Wonder of Stevie

Voted one of Britain’s top soul singers, mesmeric vocalist Noel McCalla, award-winning saxophonist Derek Nash (Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra) and their world-class live band present a diverse catalogue of Stevie Wonder classics.