WHAT'S ON AT THE OCTAGON THEATRE, BOLTON
What's On at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Octagon Theatre Bolton is an award-winning venue in the heart of Bolton that opened in 1967. The Octagon Theatre makes, shares, produces, and welcomes an array of popular theatre shows and experiences from classic plays, musicals, comedy, new work, reimagining’s, and premier events. The capacity in the main theatre is up to 390.
The Octagon Theatre Bolton was the first professional flexible theatre in the UK. It proudly works in partnership with the local community to provide numerous opportunities to get involved. With local business woman and CBE Sue Hodgkiss as a Patron and University Of Bolton as their Principal sponsor, the Octagon Theatre truly embodies all aspects of Bolton.
The Octagon has played a pivotal role in many careers, such as Danny Boyle, Vanessa Kirby, Fiona Shaw, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Es Devlin and Maxine Peake. Productions, shows and events coming up include The Memory Of Water, Macbeth, Waiting For Godot, Teechers and the Christmas production for 2026/27, Cinderella. See what’s on at the Octagon Theatre Bolton below and book tickets online.
Octagon Theatre Bolton is an award-winning venue in the heart of Bolton that opened in 1967. The Octagon Theatre makes, shares, produces, and welcomes an array of popular theatre shows and experiences from classic plays, musicals, comedy, new work, reimagining’s, and premier events. The capacity in the main theatre is up to 390.
The Octagon Theatre Bolton was the first professional flexible theatre in the UK. It proudly works in partnership with the local community to provide numerous opportunities to get involved. With local business woman and CBE Sue Hodgkiss as a Patron and University Of Bolton as their Principal sponsor, the Octagon Theatre truly embodies all aspects of Bolton.
The Octagon has played a pivotal role in many careers, such as Danny Boyle, Vanessa Kirby, Fiona Shaw, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Es Devlin and Maxine Peake. Productions, shows and events coming up include The Memory Of Water, Macbeth, Waiting For Godot, Teechers and the Christmas production for 2026/27, Cinderella. See what’s on at the Octagon Theatre Bolton below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Octagon Theatre, Bolton
What's On at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
The Memory of Water
The Theatre
Tuesday 10 - Saturday 21 February 2026
Starring Helen Flanagan, Vicky Binns, Polly Lister and Victoria Brazier THREE SISTERS AND A FUNERAL... Winter, 1996. The Spice Girls are riding high in the charts, football has failed to come home, and Dolly the Sheep's been cloned. Mean...Family Saturdays
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Saturday 14 February - Saturday 28 March 2026
Join us at the Octagon on selected Saturday mornings for FREE family storytelling sessions for children and their grownups. Sharing stories through creative play to spark imaginations! Family Saturdays is a space where families can explore ...Abstract Arabic Calligraphy Workshop
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Saturday 14 February 2026
Family Calligraphy Art WorkshopFamilies and children will have the opportunity to work on using calligraphy to inspire pictures and cards which they can share with family and friends. This workshop will take place alongside the adults sessi...Ramadan Family Storytelling
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Monday 16 February 2026
About the Author:'As a mother of two, Seemab brings the magic of childhood adventures to life through her writing, creating stories that captivate and inspire young minds. With a background in education, she blends her love for learning wit...The Rocket Man - A Celebration of Sir Elton John
The Theatre
Thursday 26 February 2026
Pack your bags, strap yourself in, for a night like no other and celebrate Sir Elton John with Jimmy Love. The Rocket Man is the world's favourite celebration to a musical icon, playing to audiences all around the world. So, catch a star if...Reflections - The Musical Legacy of Diana Ross
The Theatre
Friday 27 February 2026
Starring multi-award winning Tameka Jackson as Diana Ross with her world class band & backing vocalists under the direction of the renowned, Wendy Richardson... 'Reflections ~ The Musical Legacy of Diana Ross' takes you on a journey through...Mark Simmons
The Theatre
Sunday 1 March 2026
 Winner of Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe Award 2024 and as Seen on Mock The Week, BT Sport and ITV, 'Master of one-liners' Mark Simmons had a groundbreaking 200+ date sell out debut tour lasting two years, spanning the UK, Ireland...Sharing Stories: World Book Day Event
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Sunday 1 March 2026
This event is part of our Sharing Stories Community Project, funded by The Oglesby Charitable Trust and Arts Council England....Macbeth
The Theatre
Wednesday 4 - Saturday 28 March 2026
Shakespeare's iconic tragedy is brought to life in a powerful new production. In a country ravaged by war and rebellion, a fragile peace has finally broken out across an exhausted amd wounded land. Macbeth, returning from battle, meets thr...Josh Jones
The Theatre
Sunday 22 March 2026
After his 2023/24 sell-out smash tour Gobsmacked, this marvellous Manc is back with his best show yet, I Haven't Won the Lottery so here's another show. A TV favourite, and now an aspiring doctor's wife, Josh Jones is now knee deep into his...Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty
The Theatre
Wednesday 1 - Saturday 4 April 2026
"When you have one of the first brains of Europe up against you, and all the powers of darkness at his back, there are infinite possibilities" London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a s...Bridges Company Thursday
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Thursday 2 April 2026
If you're new to the group, please speak to a member of the team before completing your booking so that we can ensure you're fully supported during the sessions. You can email us via participation@octagonbolton. co. uk or call us on 01204 5...There's a Monster in Your Show
The Theatre
Tuesday 7 - Wednesday 8 April 2026
Tom Fletcher's interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved 'Who's in Your Book?' series makes its debut as a brand-new musical show. A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but...Bubble Show 2 - More Bubbles
The Theatre
Thursday 9 April 2026
The Bubble Show 2 - More Bubbles!A magical journey through the Legends of Bubbleland From the creator of The Bubble Show® comes a dazzling new adventure full of bubble artistry and visual magic!Journey through the awe-inspiring legends of ...Sisters 360
The Theatre
Friday 10 April 2026
Sisters 360 is a funny, heartfelt and high-energy new play written by Asif Khan, inspired by the real-life "Hijabi Sisters" from Hull - three skateboard-loving siblings who have challenged stereotypes and inspired countless others, followin...
The Utterly Revolting Science Show
The Theatre
Saturday 11 April 2026
Brace yourselves for the Rude Science team's hilarious, high-tech, highly-explosive new journey through the human body, packed with burp biology, fart physics and revolting edible chemistry. Expect enormous bottoms, edible fireworks, burp m...Waiting for Godot
The Theatre
Wednesday 15 April - Saturday 2 May 2026
Matthew Kelly and George Costigan star in a new staging of Samuel Beckett's classic play - in which absolutely nothing happens. Â Â Set in a shifting, timeless landscape, Waiting for Godot follows two men, Vladimir and Estragon, as they wa...FUN with Barbara Nice
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Friday 17 April 2026
5-star award-winning entertainment from the tip-top Queen of Comedy. In Barbra Streisand?s recent autobiography, she says: "I haven't had much fun in my life, to tell you the truth. And I want to have more fun."?Join ordinary housewife extr...Mark Steel
The Theatre
Sunday 19 April 2026
Multi award-winning, BAFTA-nominated writer and comedian Mark Steel returns with his new tour The Leopard in My House. The topic? His battle with throat cancer. A battle he is winning (thankfully) and which only his rapier wit could fash...The Angry Brigade
The Studio
Friday 1 - Saturday 2 May 2026
Set in 1970s Britain during a period of Tory cuts, high unemployment, and increasing inequality, focusing on the hunt for the anarchist group "The Angry Brigade" by a special police squad. The play contrasts the contrasting perspectives of ...Teechers
The Theatre
Tuesday 5 - Saturday 16 May 2026
New Year. . . same problems! It is the end of term and Godber's hilarious comedy masterpiece has been reset for our post Covid times. bristling with teenage swagger and outlandish imagination, Salty, Gail and Hobby use their B. Tech Perform...WiFi Wars
The Studio
Saturday 9 May 2026
WiFi Wars returns with the live comedy game show where you all play along!Log in with your smartphone or tablet and compete in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show, and prizes! Hosted by comedian Steve McNeil (team captain ...Cassidy Janson: The Songs of Carole King
The Theatre
Sunday 17 May 2026
"Cassidy literally brought me to tears this evening with her performance of Natural Woman. She was who I was, she felt what I felt. She was me!" Carole King Join Olivier award winner and leading lady Cassidy Janson as she honours the music...The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Tuesday 19 - Saturday 23 May 2026
The Theatre Chipping Norton and Selladoor Worldwide present a new version of the West End classic ? rebooted and reimagined for 2026. The worldwide comic phenomenon returns with this updated and reinvented rollercoaster ride through all 37 ...Spitfire Girls
The Theatre
Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 May 2026
INSPIRED BY REMARKABLE TRUE EVENTS"It's built for us, isn't it? The Spitfire. Built for women." New Year's Eve, 1959. Â Decades after answering the call, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of ...The Bench: A Tale from Paradise Heights
The Studio
Thursday 28 - Saturday 30 May 2026
'Stephen King meets Jimmy McGovern' Gritty, urban comedy/drama with a rich vein of the supernaturalIt?s just a bench in the park, the one by the war memorial. A thief, a fake clairvoyant, a homeless man, two burglars, a street sweeper, two ...A Night to Remember: Motown Show
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Friday 3 July 2026
A Night To Remember: Motown Show takes you back in time to 1960?s Detroit. Be prepared for a high energy show, packed with the greatest Motown hits of all time. Starring The Voice UK finalist, Bizzi Dixon, and backed by the soulful vocal dy...Thank You For The Music - ABBA
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Sunday 5 July 2026
Calling all Dancing Queens, this is your night to say, Thank you for the Music!This international smash-hit tribute show brings all ABBA?s number one hits to the stage in a production like no other. The hugely popular show, now in its 22nd ...Diane's Deli: A Tale from Paradise Heights
The Studio
Thursday 9 - Saturday 11 July 2026
Following on from the fabulous success of the award winning The Haunting of Blaine Manor and The Bench: A Tale from Paradise Heights, Joe O'Byrne returns with the next tale in his critically acclaimed Supernatural meets Northern Noir ser...The Legend of Barry White
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Thursday 9 July 2026
THE ONLY UK TOURING SHOW DEDICATED TO THE MAESTRO AND LEGEND BARRY WHITE!Direct from the USA, a critically- acclaimed revue featuring the incredible vocalist William Hicks also known as ?the big man with the big voice? 100 million records s...
The Magic of the Bee Gees - A Tribute to The Bee Gees
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Saturday 11 July 2026
Direct from London's West End. Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother, when the feeling's gone and you can't go on, it's time to put on your dancing shoes, for the night out of the year you have been waiting for to celebrate th...James Phelan
The Theatre
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Dare to believe in magic and step into a world where the impossible comes alive! Star of The Greatest Magician, and the BBC's most broadcast magician of the last decade - the award-winning James Phelan - is back with a completely new breath...Cinderella
The Theatre
Friday 20 November 2026 - Saturday 9 January 2027
Cinderella: A Fairytale brings this well-loved classic tale bang up to date with a funny, high-energy show that will be a real crowd pleaser for the whole family. When Ella's father remarries, her world turns upside down. She escapes from h...An Evening with Jeff Stelling
The Theatre
Thursday 21 January 2027
An Evening With The MAN OF FOOTBALL - Jeff Stelling. Live and in person, coming to us for an exclusive night of sports stories, banter, no-holds-barred insights and charity work updates. From the kind of football commentary straight to you,...How to get to the Octagon Theatre, Bolton
Octagon Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB
The nearest car park is the NCP Octagon located on Great Moor Street, BL1 1SN.
The nearest train station to the Octagon Theatre, Bolton is Bolton Station. It is approximately a 7 minute walk. Click here to view.
The capacity of the Octagon Theatre, Bolton is up to 390. Seating plans can be viewed upon booking tickets.
If you have lost your ticket for a show at The Octagon Theatre, please contact the Octagon Theatre directly so their team can assist you.
If you would like to buy a ticket in person from the Octagon Theatre Box Office, they are open Tues - Fri 11am - 5pm and Saturdays 11am - 3.30pm. On performance days, the box office stays open until the performance starts. Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
When we know of a duration of a show, we add it to the description of the show on our event pages. For example, on our Wicked event page, after the description of the show we have added the duration of the show in large capital letters. If the time isn't listed, we do not have the information yet. We update our pages daily so it maybe a case of knowing closer to the performance itself, so keep checking.
Please click here for further information on Access at the Octagon Theatre, including contact details.
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to the Octagon Theatre, please click here for ways to get in touch.
If you have lost an item during a visit to the Octagon Theatre, click here for ways to get in touch with the team, who will do their best to assist you.
There are plenty of great places to eat in Bolton, including the Octagon Kitchen & Bar situated in the Octagon venue for pre theatre dining.
Bolton has many bars, and the Octagon theatre has it's own pre theatre bars, so why not make a night of it there. Click here for further information.
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for hotels in Bolton
If you need the Octagon Theatre team for more support, click here for ways to get in touch.
Please note that ManchesterTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the Octagon Theatre and all other venues in Manchester and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.
