12 shows you can’t miss this Winter

So many shows to enjoy…so little time! Spend your time away from the office this Christmas booking some of the very best shows taking to the stage between January-March so you have plenty to look forward to in 2017.

Educating Rita – Bolton Octagon Theatre
Thursday 19 January – Saturday 11 February 2017

Frank has almost given up completely. Given up on his ambition to be a poet and bored of teaching undergraduate English students. That is until Rita walks in. The 26-year-old married hairdresser has decided to take control of her life and earn herself an education. With Rita’s brash honesty and Frank’s deep intellect, each inspires the other as they both begin to wake up to life in their own way.

Billy Elliot – Manchester Palace Theatre
Now – Saturday 29 January 2017

Follow Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class in a northern town where the 1984/85 miners’ strike is currently taking place. Billy discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Glasgow Girls – Liverpool Playhouse
Tuesday 14 February to Saturday 18 February 2017

A life-affirming, song-filled drama based on the true story of seven feisty teenagers, whose lives change forever when their school friend and her asylum-seeking family are forcibly taken from their home to be deported. The young women take a stand and fight for the life of their friend and, ultimately, for the rights of all children of asylum-seekers.

Lord of the Dance – Dangerous Games – Liverpool Empire
Monday 09 January 2017 – Saturday 14 January 2017

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance returns to the stage in 2017. Head along for an intoxicating mix of dance and music. Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games features new staging, cutting edge technology, new costumes and choreography, world champion acrobats and 40 of the world’s most outstanding young performers.

Pride and Prejudice – Liverpool Playhouse
Tuesday 7 February – Saturday 11 February 2017

As the Bennet sisters haplessly search for love in Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy, it is Mr Darcy who unwittingly finds his match. Pride and Prejudice features the Olivier award-winning Matthew Kelly and Felicity Montagu as Mr and Mrs Bennet. The show is the perfect way to celebrate the legacy of Jane Austen as we approach her bicentennial.

Buddy Holly – Blackpool Grand Theatre
Monday 20 February – Saturday 25 February

Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a cast of talented actors and musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to fame, to his final legendary performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The show includes classics like That’ll Be The Day, Johnny B. Goode and Shout.

Seriously Dead – St Helens Theatre Royal
Sunday 12 February

When small time crook Albert Blunderstone returns home to attend a funeral, a chain of events is set in motion which places the lives of Betty, Albert, Billy and the local Undertaker Tristan de Winter on a path which leads towards the “Pearly Gates” and a disgruntled Angel-in-Waiting named Thelma Henderson. Seriously Dead is a cleverly written plot which blends drama, comedy, pathos and farce into one hilarious night at the theatre.

Funny Girl – Manchester Palace Theatre
Saturday 18 February – Saturday 25 February 2017

This iconic musical tells the story of Fanny Brice, whose vocal talents and comedic ability see her rise from Brooklyn music hall singer to Broadway star. Starring Sheridan Smith, who has had incredible success from the likes of Mrs Biggs, Cilla and Gavin & Stacey, Funny Girl boasts some of the most iconic songs in theatre history, including People and Don’t Rain On My Parade.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – The Lowry
Saturday 21 January – Saturday 4 February 2017

Christopher, fifteen years old, has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world.

Fiddler on the Roof – Liverpool Everyman
Friday 17 February – Saturday 11 March 2017

It’s 1905 and a father in rural Russia, the times are moving on. Is it his daughter or his faith, his village or his life? When those he loves pick away at the thread of tradition, his choices are more and more impossible to make. With glorious songs, such as If I Were a Rich Man and Miracle of Miracles, this classic musical follows the fate of Tevye and his daughters in a story of family, belonging and the dangers of a changing world.

Ashes – Bolton Octagon Theatre
Thursday 23 February – Saturday 11 March 2017

It is the 1970’s and Anne and Colin desperately want a child, and are trying everything to achieve this dream. They subject themselves to the indignity of trailing from doctor to specialist to consultant and suffer the humiliation of feeling sexually and socially inadequate. Through their struggle they come to question themselves: why this blind compulsion to make a child? With dark humour and stark realism, their efforts to achieve their goal of parenthood is tested and they must summon all of their strength and love to find a way forward together.

 RENT – Liverpool Empire
Tuesday 28 February 2017 – Saturday 4 March 2017

The multi-award-winning rock musical RENT is celebrating its 20th anniversary and arriving in Liverpool in February. Featuring Layton Williams and Lucie Jones, the musical tells the captivating story of a group of young artists struggling to survive in New York City’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian excess. The show features the unforgettable Seasons of Love and Take Me or Leave Me.