10 best Theatres in Greater Manchester, and what's coming up.
- Rochelle Antley
- Jun 4
- 9 min read
Who doesn't love a bit of live theatre? The collective experience of sitting together watching performers give their all for our entertainment, with no second chances, no cuts and resets, no room for error. The rawness of live theatre is appreciated by many, and under-appreciated by many more.
Here in Greater Manchester, we have a rich history of live performance, our connection with live theatre stretches back as far as the 1700's, but more about that in another blog! We're taking a moment to celebrate the best theatres in our region and taking a peek into what's coming up in the near future in each one!
Let's go in alphabetical order, by borough, shall we?
Bolton Octagon Theatre
Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB
The Octagon began as an idea by 5 students and their college lecturer, their aim was to create an intimate, flexible performance space that encapsulated the culture and community of Bolton and its surrounding areas. Thankfully after receiving significant funding from local council and a national arts programme, now known as Arts Council England, the space officially opened in 1967, with Princess Margaret having the honour of 'cutting the ribbon'.
The Octagon has entertained over 3.5 million people in it's 58 years and thanks to it's educational initiatives its credited as being a pivotal part of many successful careers in TV and media, Danny Boyle, Fiona Shaw and Maxine Peake to name a few.
Tomorrow (5th June) kicks off a 3.5 week run of a much anticipated, locally produced adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, with some recognisable faces in the cast. Tickets are still on sale over at the Octagon website.
The Met, Bury
Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW
The Met, formally known as The Derby Hall, has stood proudly in Bury since the early 1840s, originally serving the community as a police station, a magistrates court and other governmental facilities, it underwent a transformation in 1979. Under the new name Bury Metropolitan Arts Association (BMAA), or 'The Met' as we know it today, it became a performing arts venue, playing host to some of the biggest names in British music and Comedy. We have an upcoming feature in another blog about Joy Division's infamous 'Derby Hall Riot' that happened here in 1980!
Now splitting its stage times between live music, plays, 'one-man shows' and comedy clubs, The Met has become an integral part of the cultural art scene that's growing rapidly in the borough. Check out their website for the other events coming over the next few weeks, but we're highlighting the next show. "With love, Mr Gay".
With Love, Mr Gay, is the writer, Joshua Val Martin's true story, featuring cabaret, comedy, interviews and showtunes, as he's accompanied by the personification of a laughing Buddha statue from B&M, who acts as his spiritual guide.
“Dear Mr. Gay, if you move my bin again, I will get an ex-mercenary to destroy you… from flat 2.” This (real) letter was blue-tacked to my flat’s front door, and thus sparked a neighbourhood feud over both my sexuality, and the placement of the blue bins. Determined to find peace, and not let the conflict consume me, I sought advice and interviewed experts: a dog trainer, a historian, a Middle East peace negotiator and, of course, my Auntie Clare.
The show was a hit success at Brighton Fringe, and is being funded by Bury LGBTQI+ Forum and Bury Pride, as part of Pride Month. Tickets are still available to buy through the Met's website.
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7DH
Now, as a rule, we don't really focus on central Manchester here at Gr8r, mainly because it's covered enough by everyone else, but this theatre is such a landmark in the borough that I couldn't leave it out. Yes, Manchester, as a borough has a wealth of theatres I could've chosen, but it's my list and my choice so...
The exchange has gone through multiple sites and many iterations over the years, but ultimately the St Ann's site as we know it now, opened in 1976, overseen by the legendary Laurence Olivier. The first performance at the new Theatre, of Sheridan's The Rivals, featured actors Tom Courteney and Patricia Routledge, yes, that is Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet). The cast alternated two shows throughout the short run, well and truly establishing The Royal Exchange as an almighty theatre company which still thrives today.
Performances at the exchange never shy away from real issues that people in this region face, or have faced in the past, which leads me nicely into my little promo for the next performance run at this great venue.
'Liberation' is inspired by true events, where African descendants living in Manchester in 1945, fight for the continent's freedom. It's content is best described by the creators themselves,
This groundbreaking new play developed 80 years after the Congress introduces the people behind the movement. LIBERATION gets to the heart of how our future is built, how our leaders are made, and how dreams are realised. With generational shifts and gender politics added to a swirling mix of power dynamics, LIBERATION asks timeless questions about revolution, freedom, and what it means to be an activist.
'Liberation' opens on the 27th June 2025 and is on for a while month, ticket are available at the Royal Exchange website.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Oldham
Location Pending.
This one's going against the grain a bit as it's not currently open at the moment. Oldham Coliseum officially closed in 2023 due to lack of funding, however, the theatre company managed to be saved from the same terrible fate, and behind the scene's, the amazing board and trustee's are working tirelessly to have a new brick and mortar site in the town by the end of 2025.
We're gonna do our best in keeping residents and visitors updated with news as and when we hear it. The Coliseum is a cornerstone in Oldham's rich performing arts history working closely with the amazing Oldham Theatre workshop, a local drama school who have produced some of the most talented TV and film actors in the region.
Despite being without a venue to host performances all under one roof, The Coliseum are still providing companies and individuals with spaces to perform.
BIG STRONG MAN is a raucous, interactive comedy featuring song, dance, improvisation, boyband parodies, lip syncs, ladders, karaoke and a bear. Join four northern lads for a night of Poundland level extravagance as they bring their fast-paced, quick witted and physical comic style to an unforgettable alt-comedy night out.
Big Strong Man is on for one night only, 26th June, at BILLINGTONS, 3 Ascroft Street, Oldham, OL1 1HY. Ticket's are available on the coliseum website.
Curtain Theatre, Rochdale
47 Milkstone Road, Rochdale, OL11 1EB
Created back in 1925, by a group of friends and relatives, The Curtain Theatre has been providing the people of Rochdale live performances of amateur plays and shows for 100 years. Many professional actors got their first experience treading the board at The Curtain, including Arthur Penlow, who played the formidable Woolpack landlord Henry Wilks in Emmerdale from 1972 until his death in 1991.
Reportedly named after the Elizabethan playhouse 'The Curtain' in Shoreditch [1577-1622], The Curtain in Rochdale is an amateur theatre who produce around 5 shows a year, with on average 8 performances per show. Which for an amateur venue and theatre company is a remarkable achievement.
On Saturday 7th June, a new play opens at The Curtain Theatre, 'The Red Lion' runs until the 14th June, sadly there are no performances on the 12th or 13th, but its final night is Saturday the 14th June.
Small time semi-pro football, the non-league. A world away from the wealth and the television cameras. A young player touched with brilliance arrives from nowhere. An ambitious manager determines to make him his own. And the old soul of the club still has dreams of glory. A haunting and humorous play about the dying romance of the great English game.
Definitely one for the football fans this one, tickets are available on Ticketsource.
Kings Arms, Salford
11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN
Well, by process of elimination, you knew Salford was coming up, and you thought it'd be The Lowry didn't you? Well, think again. I present to you, The Kings Arms.
I absolutely LOVE it in the King's, its intimate performance spaces and upstairs bar that doubles as a theatre/gig space and much more is unique and iconic in equal measure. Anyone who's already part of, or wanting to be a part of, the performing arts scene in Manchester have heard of or visited the Kings. Just a word of warning though, if you see a famous face in there, BE COOL, don't embarrass yourself like I did when I bumped into Mark E Smith in there once. Never lived it down.
This is where I usually go on and on about the history of the building but for this one, I need to switch it up a bit, because starting on Friday, The King's Arms is playing host to the first ever 'Greater Manchester Improv Festival', hosting many comedians and performers across their spaces all weekend, Friday through until Sunday. Get yourself down there, buy a ticket beforehand and have a great night out down Salford!
Ticket's for all performances are available on the King's Arms website, have a flick through what they've got going on and pick a night.
The Garrick Theatre, Stockport
Exchange Street, Wellington Road Sth, Stockport, SK3 0EJ
Founded in 1901, by Engineer Edwin Heys, the Garrick originated in a tavern on nearby St Petersgate following the disbandment of another local theatre group. It's rich history of performing risky and censored plays set a precedent for what the theatre company became over the passing century. It's always been seen as an ambitious amateur venue and company, and it's ambition helped establish a rich amateur performing arts culture in the North West.
The Garrick also boasts a very successful Youth programme, Stockport Garrick Youth Theatre, who produce at least one large scale performance every year. It's also become home to the successful, 'Outside the box' Comedy club.
Performances are advertised locally and tickets are usually provided by the performers themselves. Check out the website to see if their next set of shows are up your street.
Hyde Festival Theatre, Tameside
Corporation St, Hyde, SK14 1AB
Hyde Festival Theatre is a community led venue that houses a variety of performances from local drama groups and theatre companies of all ages. They've been established in Hyde since the 1950's and are constantly thriving to improve their facilities by way of their annual 'summer shutdown'.
They are known for holding regular theatre performances and adaptations, in addition to their annual panto season, which is a huge hit for families across the borough and beyond.
They are just a hosting venue though so ticket's need to be purchased through the companies hosting each performance, but next weekend (13th and 14th June) they're playing host to Showstopper's theatre Group's 'Blood in the Blitz' an interactive Murder Mystery show.
Ticket's can be purchased from the theatre company, and the Theatre's website has a handy link to take you directly there. Whilst you're on there, have a look what else this great space has to offer for the rest of the year, i'd recommend getting your panto seats early, I've heard they sell out quick!
Waterside Art's Centre, Sale, Trafford
1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Waterside sits on the site of the old Sale Civic Theatre and parts of the former Trafford Council buildings. Once the old theatre closed and the council relocated most operations over to Stretford, it opened up the opportunity to develop the new arts centre. After 10 years of work, in 2004 Waterside finally opened it's doors and it's been providing high level entertainment to Sale residents and its visitors ever since.
I used to pass this place every day on my way to Trafford College, fresh out of school, you can take my word for it, that there is ALWAYS something going on at Waterside, whether its inside the venue or on the plaza infront of it. Concerts, Orchestral performances, community events, interactive family fun, live theatre and so much more all happen here.
We've had a look at what they've got coming up over the summer and the next live theatre performance has piqued our interest, so here you go.
Shellshocked. A powerful new play, from Leeds born playwright Philip Stokes. This show is on Friday 20th June
The horrors of World War Two have broken young Wesley, but could the madness he encounters beyond it save or destroy a soldier’s shellshocked mind?
This has had a hugely successful run up at Edinburgh Fringe and tickets are still available on Waterside's website.
Wigan Little Theatre, Wigan
44 Crompton Street, Wigan, WN1 3SL
Wigan Little Theatre has existed since 1943 and moved into its Crompton Street site in 1947, it's a community and charity ran venue who host a wide variety of shows from plays and contemporary works to pantomimes. It also has a successful youth company.
It's a remarkable little venue, it holds the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which is the highest award that can be given to any volunteer in the UK, and to add to it's prestigious status, it boasts to be the venue where Sir Ian McKellen saw his very first Shakespearean play, something he says helped shape his entire career. So, Thank you Wigan's Little Theatre, the world owes you it's gratitude.
Tonight in Wigan marks the start of a 10 day run for a new show, again, we had a look through their plans for the summer and this one seems to be a fantastic play.
An extraordinary drama about an ordinary family who must balance the challenges of daily life whilst living with dementia. Maggie and Gordon first met, dancing to Rod Stewart songs, in 1971. They are still very much in love, but now Maggie is feeling foggy and some days the songs are all she can remember.
There are still tickets available for this one, it sounds like a heartfelt, heart-wrenching show and one not to be missed. Check out Wigan Little Theatre's website for tickets.
So that's the end of our list, every borough covered and hopefully, if you made it this far, we've given you an idea of something to do this weekend or in the coming weeks. If you've never experienced Theatre before or you're not sure if you'll enjoy it, give it a go. It's amazing, and we do it best in this region, if I do say so myself.
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