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