Regional Theatre, what are you watching?

[Kayemm]

I wondered if there would be interest in a thread about theatre that isn't London? Any theatre from the big ones to your local.

I have tickets for...

Operation Mincemeat at The Lowry
Road at The Royal Exchange
The Tempest, The Cherry Orchard, Driftwood and Arturo Ui at the RSC.
The Thrill of Love, a play about Ruth Ellis at Wigan Little Theatre.

I am so excited! Not really the point of this topic, but I’ve just booked to see Rent! In the West End with DD for her birthday (15) in the autumn. She is obsessed with the story of the guy who wrote it (told in the film Tick, Tick, Boom!) and was so excited when she heard it was coming to London.

Even These Things at the Royal Exchange last night. Lovely. Ive always liked Elaine Cassidy, it was good to see her.

Brassed Off at the Leeds Playhouse was brilliant- the set is really clever, the acting is fantastic but the music steals the show - just superb, so emotional.

I saw it on Saturday night and came on to say exactly this. Standing ovation,and lots of tears amongst my friends! I was in buckets at the end. Very faithful to the film, very faithful to history.

I’ve seen some really good stuff at Leeds Playhouse in the last couple of years.

We ended up crossing the road back to the car park with the band afterwards. I asked them how many musicians were actual musicians acting, and how many were actors being musicians. All but 2 (Ernie and Harry) were the actual band, who learnt to act. I work a couple of miles from Grimethorpe, actually in the site of different colliery. A few of my colleagues were mine workers. I’m glad the story is still being told.

We absolutely loved Something Rotten at Manchester Opera House. We had to give away dh’s ticket as father in law ended up in hospital, but I’m thinking of going again with him.

So many Easter eggs, some updates from the Broadway version & a fabulous cast. Wonderful sound design too. There are a couple of things I’d like to see improved but they are very small things & more to do with how things are scaled back in a regional theatre.

I was there on Saturday evening too ☺️

For those of you in Leeds can i direct you towards Leeds Theatre Festival 2026 at Lcon, especially the performance of Life Behind Bars on 6th July.

I saw murder for two at the Bolton octagon this week and it was fabulous! Slow start but two brilliant actors and very funny once it got going. I think it closes this weekend but would recommend if you are local

I’ve just booked tickets to see Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Sam Ryder during its tour. I’m so glad that I’ll finally be able to see it (locally too!)

Went to see Car Man this week. First Matthew Bourne I've seen. Really enjoyed it.

Going to Operation Mincemeat next week. Looking forward to it as we went to the war tunnels on Malta earlier in the year so I feel I have the context nailed.

Im going to Car Man at Sadlers Wells in August, saw Red Shoes earlier tjis year and loved it.

Im going in November, 4th version ive seen. Saw it back in 1976 on a school trip and was blown away and its one of my favorite musicals

Amazing. I have very high expectations now!

DH & I saw Operation Mincemeat yesterday at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Absolutely loved it - front row seats, was such a great performance. Would definitely go again.
DD & I saw Legally Blonde at the same theatre a few weeks ago, & it was ok. Enjoyable; DD liked it better than me. Some good songs but not as good as the movie, character development was pretty much nonexistent & just felt like it didn’t add anything to the Legally Blonde canon/experience.

I saw Something Rotten yesterday in Manchester, and absolutely loved it. It was totally bonkers, very funny, and every cast member was excellent, no weak links. I'd happily watch it again tomorrow.

Can't get a better review than would go again!

Update. I saw it again today. Even better 2nd time.

I also saw Fun Home at the Royal Exchange (saw it on Saturday and immediately booked to come again today) and omg that is a masterpiece. I want to see that again (but can't).

We saw the final performance of Something Rotten, agree with everyone else that it was fabulous. Jason Manford did a speech at the end where he very strongly hinted at the West End.

We have The Cherry Orchard at Stratford next week, anyone else?

I'm seeing that on Wednesday. More my mum's thing than me tbh, although it's bound to be very good. I find Chekhov a bit tedious personally.

I saw Operation Mincemeat in Nottingham and enjoyed it

I’ve just booked tickets for my DD & I to go to London & see Stranger Things:The First Shadow in November.
Have still got Mamma Mia in January in Ply mouth & looking to book Hairspray in Cardiff for next August.

Going to see A Trial - After an Enemy of the People tonight at the Lyceum in Edinburgh. I am excited to see Wagner Moura, the Brazilian actor. The play is a "sequel" to Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. 11 audience members will be on stage as jury members (I won't be volunteering for that)

Just booked Lear at the exchange, othello at HomeMcr and death of a salesman at the Everyman in Liverpool.

I went to see 'Handbagged' at the SJT in Scarborough yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it - very well acted and very funny in places.

It builds of the idea of 'The Audience', but with more interaction between the two sets of actresses playing old and young versions of Thatcher and the Queen, and a large variety of different parts (including Nancy Reagan!) played by two male actors.