Little Shop of Horrors was reviewed at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester where it continues until 28 November 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ This production isn’t all homage; there’s enough fresh energy to show why audiences still love this show.
Tag Archives | Hope Mill Theatre
Regional news round-up – Fame, Back to the Future, Waitress, Little Shop of Horrors and more
Angela Thomas rounds up all the latest news in regional and touring theatre in the UK and Ireland.
Lead cast confirmed for new West End production of RENT
Principal casting has been confirmed for the upcoming West End run of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT.
West End debut for Gaten Matarazzo in new production of RENT
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo will make his West End debut in a new production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT.
First casting for new production of Disney’s High School Musical
First casting has been announced for the eagerly awaited first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical, the run of which been extended for an extra week.
Paddington The Musical and Evita are the big winners at the 26th annual WhatsOnStage Awards
The critically acclaimed smash-hit Paddington The Musical triumphed at the 26th annual WhatsOnStage Awards, winning nine awards.
The Stage Awards 2026 winners announced
Joint winners of Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2026 were London’s Royal Court Theatre and Newbury’s Watermill Theatre.
Young Frankenstein – Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
Young Frankenstein continues at the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool until 3 January 2026. Star Rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Young Frankenstein is two hours of uproariously funny and often risqué comedy.
Five Questions With: Ria Jones
Award-winning actress and singer Ria Jones is reprising the role of Mrs Overall in a special charity concert revival of Acorn Antiques The Musical, Victoria Wood’s cult-classic satire of British soap operas, which plays Manchester Opera House (2 and 16 November) and London’s Shaftesbury Theatre (9 November).
Hope Mill and The Lowry to stage new production of High School Musical
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre and The Lowry are joining forces again to present the first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical next summer.
Glorious! – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Glorious! continues at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until 30 March 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ A witty and joyful portrait of one of the musical world’s most unforgettable characters.
Hope Mill to stage regional premiere of Young Frankenstein musical
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will stage the regional premiere of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein The Musical as part of its 10th birthday celebrations this autumn.
I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester and Touring
I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical was reviewed at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. The tour continues touring until 31 August 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ First-rate entertainment that will make your face ache from grinning, and the only thing not to like about it is that it ends all too soon, leaving you genuinely wanting more.
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2023
A selection of critics have chosen their ‘show of the year’ although some struggled to pick just one. The shows represent just a small percentage of productions staged this year, but we hope these ‘top picks’ bring back some happy memories.
Hope Mill’s To Wong Foo – full cast and creatives
The full cast and creative team have been unveiled for the world premiere of To Wong Foo the Musical, a musical based on the hit 1990s film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
To Wong Foo The Musical to debut in Manchester
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will stage the world premiere of a musical based on the hit 1990s film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, To Wong Foo The Musical.
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2022
A selection of Musical Theatre Review critics were asked to choose their ‘show of the year’ although, as you can see, some struggled to pick just one.
Grace Mouat injury delays Hope Mill’s press night for Cinderella
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has been forced to cancel this weekend’s press night night performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella after leading lady Grace Mouat suffered an injury.
Full cast for Hope Mill Theatre’s Cinderella
Full casting has been confirmed for the upcoming UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre. As previously announced the production which will play the Ancoats’ venue from 1 November until 11 December 2022, will star Grace Mouat (Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; & […]
Hope Mill’s Ella finds her Prince in Jacob Fowler
Jacob Fowler will play the Prince to Grace Mouat’s Ella in the UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre. Known for winning the BBC talent search show Little Mix: The Search, Fowler’s musical theatre credits include playing JD in Heathers The Musical at The Other […]
Grace Mouat to star in Hope Mill’s Cinderella
Grace Mouat will take on the central role when the delayed UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella dances into Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre in November. Mouat whose credits include the recent Regent’s Park Open Air production of Legally Blonde, and the West End productions of Six The Musical, & […]
Passion – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Passion continues at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until 5 June 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Originally announced prior to the composer’s death last year, Hope Mill Theatre’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion is now dedicated to his memory, and what more fitting tribute could there be than this, arguably one of his […]
UK premiere for 1920s German musical It’s In The Air!
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will stage the UK premiere of German cabaret musical It’s In The Air! in June. Written by composer Mischa Spoliansky and lyricist Marcellus Schiffer, the never seen before English translation of Es Liegt in der Luft features original English translations by West End composer and librettist Steven Edis and original orchestration […]
Dean John-Wilson and Kelly Price join the cast of Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre
Dean John-Wilson and Kelly Price will join the previously announced Ruthie Henshall in Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated re-imagining of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Passion later this year. Wilson (Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre) will play Giorgio alongside Olivier nominee Price (What’s New Pussycat, Birmingham Rep) as Clara in the production which is due to play […]
Hope Mill’s The Wiz to be filmed and streamed online
Hope Mill Theatre’s critically acclaimed festive production of The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” will be streamed online later this month. Following the cancellation of 15 sold-out performances late last year due to Covid, the Manchester venue has reached an agreement with the musical’s rights holder to film and stream the […]
Cast for Turn On Fest’s The Regulars
Casting has been announced for the rehearsed reading and concert presentation of new US musical The Regulars at Hope Mill Theatre’s third annual LGBTQIA+ arts festival Turn On Fest in January. Featuring music, lyrics and book by trans writer Will Shishmanian, the folk music-flavoured musical is being produced by Hope Mill Theatre and developed by […]
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2021
At the end of each year Musical Theatre Review news editor Angela Thomas normally puts together a round-up of all the shows that have received four and five star reviews during the last 12 months, but this year we thought a different approach might be more appropriate. For a start, MTR wants to congratulate all […]
Hope Mill Theatre to showcase new US musical The Regulars
A rehearsed reading and concert presentation of new US musical The Regulars will be the headline event at Hope Mill Theatre’s third annual LGBTQIA+ arts festival Turn On Fest in January. Featuring music, lyrics and book by trans writer Will Shishmanian, the folk music flavoured musical is being produced by the Manchester venue and developed […]
The Wiz – Hope Mill Theatre Manchester
The Wiz continues at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until 16 January 2022. Star Rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Regardless of whether you’re unfamiliar with Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown’s The Wiz or if you think you already know it, prepare to be blown away. Either way, this electrifying revival at Hope Mill Theatre, […]
Ruthie Henshall leads re-imagining of Sondheim and Lapine’s Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre
Olivier Award winner and popular musical theatre performer Ruthie Henshall (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Oliver!, Crazy For You, Chicago, Billy Elliot) will lead a reimagining of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s multi-award-winning Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre for a limited run from 5 May to 5 June 2022. Under the direction of Michael Strassen […]
Cast for London premiere of Little Women
Casting has been confirmed for the upcoming London premiere of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Little Women at London’s Park Theatre. The March sisters, Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg, will be played by Lydia White (Chess, Nuffield Southampton Theatre, Rags, Hope Mill Theatre), Anastasia Martin (Legends TV series), Mary Moore (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Southwark Playhouse) and […]
Full cast for Hope Mill Theatre’s The Wiz
Hope Mill Theatre in association with Ameena Hamid Productions have announced casting for the Manchester venue’s eagerly-anticipated festive production of The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. As previously announced the first new UK production of the musical in ten years, directed by the Actors Touring Company’s artistic director and former Royal […]
Little Women and Tony Blair musicals lined up for new season at London’s Park Theatre
The London premiere of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Little Women and a work-in-progress presentation of Harry Hill and Steve Brown’s Tony!(The Tony Blair Rock Opera) will feature in the autumn to spring season at London’s Park Theatre. Presented by the team behind last year’s successful transfer season of RAGS The Musical, Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill […]
Rent – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Rent continues at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until 19 September 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Rent has always been a show about triumphing over adversity. From the tragedy that marked its early development – with creator Jonathan Larson passing away just before the show’s Off-Broadway premiere in 1996 – to its […]
New cast members added to Hope Mill’s Rent – rehearsals begin
Hope Mill Theatre’s hit production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent has welcomed six new cast members as rehearsals begin for the production’s imminent return to live performances. Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre, Soho Cinders, Charing Cross Theatre) is joining the cast as Mark alongside Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Andrew Lloyd […]
Hope Mill Theatre to stage new production of The Wiz
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has unveiled plans for the first new UK production of the Wizard of Oz-inspired The Wiz in ten years. Directed by Actors Touring Theatre’s artistic director and former Royal Exchange associate artistic director Matthew Xia, The Wiz will be the Christmas attraction at the Ancoats venue from 24 November 2021 until […]
Hope Mill’s Rent to return in August 2021
Hope Mill Theatre’s hit production of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent will return for live performances this summer. After playing just five performances in the short window before restrictions returned late last year, the production will play the Manchester venue for a strictly limited season from 6 August until 19 September 2021. Announcing the latest […]
The Last Five Years and Rags share the musical theatre honours at the 2021 Offies
There were two wins each for the Southwark Playhouse run of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years and the Park Theatre transfer of Hope Mill Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of Rags (Charles Strouse, Stephen Schwartz, Joseph Stein), directed by Bronagh Lagan, at OffWestEnd’s 2021 Offies Awards. Jonathan O’Boyle won in the Director category for his […]
Five Questions With: Ahmed Hamad
Actor AHMED HAMAD takes centre stage in the new production of Tim Gilvin’s Stay Awake, Jake which continues to be streamed via Southwark Playhouse until 28 February 2021. Ahmed (Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, The Boy In The Dress, Royal Shakespeare Company) followed up his recent recording of the show’s album (being released soon!) by taking […]
Doing, rather than waiting – An interview with acclaimed producer Katy Lipson (Part One)
KATY LIPSON is the director of Aria Entertainment, a company which has been at the forefront of reimagining how theatre can operate given our current world of lockdowns and social distancing. Her Park Theatre production of Rags (originally at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre) and Southwark Playhouse production of The Last Five Years have been nominated […]
The Last Five Years and Rags lead the musical theatre nominees for 2021 Offies
The Southwark Playhouse run of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years and the Park Theatre transfer of Hope Mill Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of Rags lead the musical theatre finalists for OffWestEnd’s 2021 Offies Awards. Jonathan O’Boyle’s actor-musician production of The Last Five Years and Bronagh Lagan’s staging of Rags The Musical lead the list […]
Musical Theatre Review critics offer their Top 5 theatre picks from 2020
As each year draws to a close, Musical Theatre Review usually pulls together a round-up of all the productions covered that have received four and five star reviews. After such an extraordinary year, during which any production staged has been a triumph over adversity, such an approach seemed inappropriate. Instead, I asked a small group […]
Rent – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester continues to be streamed online on 4, 5 and 6 December 2020; 11, 12 and 13 December 2020; and 18, 19 and 20 December 2020. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ My colleague Nigel Smith reviewed this show when it opened in person at Manchester’s Hope Mill […]
Rent – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester (Although Rent has been closed by the national Covid lockdown, it was recorded live and is available as an online streamed performance from 27 November to 20 December 2020). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The creator of Rent, Jonathan Larson, saw parallels between Puccini’s […]
Pandemic fears set to bring the curtain down on Theatreland again
After a few weeks in which theatres had started to reopen or announce imminent plans to kickstart new seasons the curtain looks set to come down on live entertainment once again as the Covid crisis continues. In the wake of a day of frenzied media speculation following a leaked report, the Government was forced to […]
Hope Mill to release tickets to watch theatre’s sold-out Rent online
Home viewers will get a change to view selected performances of the sold-out run of Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated new production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. With tickets selling out for the live theatre performances within 48 hours, the production will now be filmed and broadcast online to a strictly limited number of viewers over four […]
Hope Mill Theatre to host Industry Minds Awards 2020
The Industry Minds Awards 2020 will be announced at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre on 30 November 2020 during a ceremony hosted by Industry Minds and Hope Mill patron Denise Welch. Set up to celebrate, support and raise awareness for mental health in the arts, this year’s award winners will be announced during a ceremony in […]
Cast announced for Hope Mill Theatre’s rescheduled Rent
West End favourites and 2020 graduates will feature in the 12-strong cast for Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated new production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre) will play Joanne with Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill, The Other Palace, Closer to Heaven, Above The Stag) as Mark, Ahmed Hamad […]
Godspell 50th to feature at West End Musical Drive-In
Stars from the recent online charity concert marking the 50th anniversary of Godspell will feature alongside a one-off screening of the event at the West End Musical Drive-In on 4 October 2020. Jodie Steele (Six, Heathers), Danyl Johnson (2009 X Factor finalist), Jenny Fitzpatrick (Tina, The Musical, Our House), John Barr (The Story of Bart, […]
Cast to form bubble for Hope Mill Theatre’s Rent
The 12-strong cast of Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated new production of Rent will form a ‘bubble’ for the rescheduled run at the award-winning Manchester venue. Originally due to play a limited season from 31 July 2020, the team at Hope Mill has confirmed the production will now run from 30 October until 6 December with […]
