THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW | Opera House | 6-15 January
Richard O’Brien’s cult classic is bought back to hair-raising life this January, promising all the barmy glory of the original. Outrageous outfits? Check. Transylvanian transvestite? Plenty of rude bits? Check. It’s almost like a time warp...
Opera House, 3 Quay Street, M3 3HP (various times; tickets from £16.90 at atgtickets.com).
FLATPACK | Islington Mill | 16 January
A melting pot of art, music and theatre, Flatpack is an entire show assembled, performed and disassembled within a one hour timeslot. Developed during an intensive weeklong residency, it’s immersive and original; interweaving live electronics with amplified objects and subtle lighting.
Islington Mill, James Street, Salford, M3 5HW (7pm; free).
Flatpack features electroacousticsMARY POPPINS | Palace Theatre | 20 January - 5 March
The nation’s favourite nanny flies into Manchester for a jolly holiday at Palace Theatre, promising a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious performance. Presented by Disney in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, expect spellbinding choreography, an award-winning cast and the Shermans’ timeless score.
Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, M1 6FT (various times; tickets from £22.50 at atgtickets.com).
TWO | Bolton Octagon | 21 January - 6 February
Renowned for the depth of its characters, Bolton Octagon makes the perfect home for this intimate story set in a pub in the North of England. From opening to last orders, those that pass through are watched by the all-seeing proprietors in this ‘surrealistically and comically poetic piece’. Grab a drink and enjoy.
Bolton Octagon, Howell Croft S, Bolton BL1 1SB (various times; tickets from £10.50 at octagonbolton.co.uk).
Two is set in a local tavernTHE CROWS PLUCKED YOUR SINEWS | Contact Theatre | 27-29 January
Based on real events about Somalis in Britain and vice versa, this lyrical one-woman show is aided by a live soundtrack and stunning visuals. 1913: the search is on for the Mad Mullah during British fighting in the Horn of Africa. 2011: Bin Laden is assassinated. When the two worlds collide, our dervish protagonist is caught at the centre.
Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, M15 6JA (7.30pm; tickets £11 at contactmcr.com).
CATS | Opera House | 30 January - 13 February
Adapted from TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cat, this West End classic has delighted audiences worldwide with its fur-raising dance, sparkling verse and artistic design. The musical phenomenon is unsurprisingly one of the longest-running shows in showbiz.
Opera House, 3 Quay Street, M3 3HP (2.30pm and 7.30pm; tickets from £15 at atgtickets.com).
Jellylorum and GusSHREK THE MUSICAL |The Lowry | 2-20 February
You can’t beat Shrek for some New Year cheer. The loveable DreamWorks giant and his misfit gang are back for more fun-filled antics as they embark on a quest to save Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing, lovesick dragon. This is one that most certainly promises to be larger than life. Are you a believer?
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ (2pm and 7pm; tickets £36 at thelowry.com).
MACBETH | HOME | 2-6 February
Unsettling and visceral, HOME’s ambitious new staging of Macbeth - in cooperation with Young Vic and Birmingham Repertory Theatre - has enchanted the public and critics alike. With a medley of Shakespeare, treachery, betrayal and suicide, we prophesise a murderously good show...
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, M15 4FN (2.30pm and 7.30pm; tickets from £15 at homemcr.org).
Macbeth at HOMEBEC HILL CAUGHT ON TAPE | Dancehouse Theatre | Saturday 6 February
Self proclaimed ‘comedian, doodler and playa’ Bec Hill has gained a cult following in the UK and native Australia thanks to her unique ‘paper puppetry’ style and popular YouTube videos. Now she brings her critically-acclaimed stand-up to Manchester, hot on the heels of a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe Fest. One to watch.
The Dancehouse, 10 Oxford Road, M1 5QA (8pm; tickets £8 at ticketline.co.uk).
SARAH MILLICAN | O2 Apollo | 25-28 February
Speaking of Fringe Fest girl comics, Sarah Millican won Best Newcomer Award following her Not Nice Edinburgh debut and has since become a household name - not to mention being BAFTA-nominated and winning the People’s Choice Queen of Comedy. One to miss if you’re easily offended...
O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, M12 6AP (7pm; tickets £27.50 at ticketmaster.co.uk).
Sarah Millican on her namesake TV show
