Theatres in and near Manchester

Manchester’s theatres showcase the very best music and drama productions. The Lowry Theatre is set on Manchester’s Salford Quays and offers wonderful danc,e, drama, comedy and popular music events. Another top theatre is Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, an international concert venue that was built in 1996 and has been acclaimed for its beautiful design and superb acoustics.

The Lowry

Set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, The Lowry is an architectural flagship with a unique and dynamic identity. ... more

All the world's a stage,” wrote William Shakespeare, the world's most famous English dramatist. Be inspired by this classic line, and go and lose yourself in one of England's top-class theatre shows.

Visiting a theatre is a definite must for any itinerary: the country's long theatrical tradition and excellent venues means that theatre in England is guaranteed to excite, inspire and entertain. And there's bound to be something to suit all tastes: from lyrical Shakespearean dramas to flashy, catchy musicals and challenging modern productions.

Theatres in London are of course top-notch venues and play host to some world-class productions The capital city's top theatres are centred around the bustling and brightly-lit West End. The countless theatres include famous names such as the Adelphi, Ambassadors, Apollo, Barbican, Aldwych, Criterion, Dominion, Donmar Warehouse and London Palladium.

Here you can see long-running and innovative musicals such as Wicked, The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Chicago, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and others, as well as cutting-edge modern theatre productions. Book a ticket for one of the numerous theatre shows, put on your glitziest outfit, settle down in a plush seat and enjoy some of the world's best theatre. It'll definitely be one of the highlights of your trip.

Book theatre tickets in advance on one of the countless ticket-booking websites, or pick up a last minute cheap ticket at the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square.

For an unforgettable evening, follow up your visit to theatres in London with a scrumptious dinner at a classy gourmet restaurant. Here you can discuss your views on the rousing musical or profound play you just saw to your heart's content.

There are also hundreds of Off-West End theatres in London that offer exciting, edgy and entertaining stage shows, ranging from comedy to drama.

If you'd like to pay homage to England's most well-known thespian, you can visit the fascinating Shakespeare's Globe. The Globe Theatre is a faithful replica of the playhouse designed in 1599, where Shakespeare worked and where many of of his most well-known plays were performed.

The new theatre on Bankside, opened in 1997, is approximately 205m from the original site of the Globe, and was the first thatched-roof building permitted in London since the Great Fire of London in 1666.

As in the 17th Century Globe, the theatre has a stage that projects into a large circular yard surrounded by three tiers of steeply raked seating. You can either sit in one of the galleries, or for a really authentic experience, you can stand in the yard, as a groundling, just as most of Shakespeare's audiences did 400 years ago.

The only aspects of the theatre that differ from Shakespeare's time are the electric lights, sprinklers on the roof to protect against fire, and the modern backstage areas. The seating capacity is also half of what it was in Shakespeare's day, as you'll be glad to know they no longer cram in the groundlings 17th Century-style!

The theatre season runs from April to October with productions of the works of Shakespeare, his contemporaries, as well as modern playwrights. Tours in the visitors' centre run all year round. It's definitely worth trying to catch a play at this unique venue.

Watching a play at the Globe is an unforgettable and magical experience as you can see just how Shakespeare's plays were originally intended to be performed.

The other centre of everything Shakespearean in England is Stratford-upon-Avon, located in the county of Warwickshire, and about two hours train-trip from London.

Stratford-upon-Avon's claim to fame is that Shakespeare was born here, and was christened and buried in the local church. Visiting theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon? Take a detour and peruse all of the original five Shakespeare houses that have been carefully restored where you can gain insight into how people lived in the 1600's.

The illustrious Royal Shakespeare Company also regularly performs the Bard's works in various theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon. An excursion to Stratford-upon Avon allows visitors to take a trip back in time to Shakespeare's colourful and fascinating era, and gives them the opportunity to see the world's best Shakespearean performances in the famous playwright's birthplace.

Many of the other tourism centres in England offer top-class theatres and inspiring and entertaining productions.

The West Yorkshire town of Leeds offers a variety of quality theatre productions at excellent and historic venues. One of the most illustrious theatres in Leeds, the City Varieties Music Hall was built in 1865, and is recognised by the Guiness Book of Records as being the longest continuous running music hall in Great Britain today. When visiting theatres in Leeds, makes sure to swing by the Grand Theatre and Opera House which was built in 1878. Stage Acting stars that have graced its boards over the years include Julie Andrews and and Laurence Olivier.

Norfolk is also home to a plethora of theatre groups and interesting venues: The Theatre Royal, one of the most versatile theatres in Norwich, hosts everthing from major companies from West End Productions to the delicate stylish of the St Petersburg Ballet.

Care to visit some theatres in Oxford? The Oxford Playhouse is recognised as one of Britain's leading theatres and its stage has been the lauching-pad for many stellar productions and artists, including veteran English actors such as Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.

Wherever you travel in England, don't miss the chance to experience the country's vibrant theatres.