From TV stars, Shakespeare and films, to music, comedy and half term entertainment – there really is something for everyone at Shakespeare North Playhouse during February!
Sunday 1 February
A special afternoon of conversation and song as actress Sue Devaney (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies, Casualty) graces the Cockpit stage to discuss her varied career from television to theatre and beyond!
Sue will be interviewed by her pianist and long-time collaborator Phil Reynolds.
Wednesday 4 – Saturday 7 February
Direct from The Globe, London – A Midsummer Night’s Dream as you’ve never seen before. Step into candlelit winter woods and discover the shadowy underbelly of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Shakespeare’s Globe collaborates once again with touring theatre company Headlong on one of Shakespeare’s most-loved plays.
Thursday 12 February
Get ready for a glorious night of standup comedy that’s here to prove one undeniable truth: women are in fact hilarious.
Featuring a stellar lineup of the funniest female and non-binary comedians from across the North West and beyond. Compered by Kay Nicholson.
A Musical Valentines night!
Saturday 14 February
Fleetwood Mac: The Classic Double Band
The Classic Double Band are back! Last year they took to the Cockpit Stage to bring the transcendent music of Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Lennon and McCartney to life, now catch them again performing the greatest hits of Fleetwood Mac.
Half Term at Shakespeare North Playhouse
There’s a fantastic programme of FREE family activities and events to entertain all the family!
Tuesday 17 February
Gather round for an interactive storytelling session that brings the famous legend of the Chinese Zodiac to life.
Discover how the animals earned their place in the Zodiac and learn what makes each one special through engaging stories and discussion, perfect for curious young minds and their families.
Create your own beautiful Chinese lantern to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
A hands-on craft workshop that introduces the symbolism of lanterns while giving families the chance to design and decorate a colourful keepsake to take home.
Experience the excitement of a traditional Chinese Dragon Dance!
Can you help the dragon come alive with music, movement, and energy, and learn about the meaning behind this iconic Chinese New Year tradition as it weaves its way through the space.
Get creative and make your own dragon inspired by Chinese New Year celebrations.
A relaxed craft session inviting families to cut, colour, and assemble their own dragon designs while learning about the importance of dragons in Chinese culture.
Try your hand at traditional Chinese painting techniques using brushes and ink.
Guided by expert practitioners, families can explore classic styles and symbols while creating their own artwork inspired by nature and New Year themes.
Wednesday 18 February
Tidy Trolls FREE
Ilaria The Storyteller
Adventure awaits as Albert the monkey, Brian the chicken and Rita the mouse prepare for The Tidy Trolls to visit in this entertaining show about friendship and keeping your bedroom tidy.
A funny and free interactive show for the whole family!
Family Storytelling workshop with Ilaria the Storyteller (Tidy Trolls).
This workshop gives you a chance to create your own comic book story inspired by the characters that live in Honey Pot village. There will be puppets you can take inspiration from to create your own characters. What do they sound like? What do they do in the village? What’s their favourite joke? We’ll need bakers, teachers, doctors.
Funny, informal and very creative for all the family…and free to attend!
Thu 19 February
World Book Day Costume Making Workshop (tickets from £8)
Get ready for World Book Day with a fun, hands-on costume making workshop!
A creative session where children and families can design and make their own book-inspired costumes using simple materials and big imaginations. From classic characters to modern favourites, bring stories to life and take home a costume ready to wear with pride.
Friday 20 February
The Lost Property Library FREE
Join award-winning family theatre company for this interactive storytelling performance, where the smallest object can spark an epic adventure.
Perfect for the whole family, with some elements best enjoyed by young explorers aged 3-9.
Friday 20 February
Nominated for 6 BAFTA Awards, including Best Actor. Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his ground-breaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Friday 20 – Saturday 21 February
The UK premiere of Antony & Cleopatra, Shakespeare’s classic tale of love, power and loyalty, translated into modern verse by Christopher Chen, and reimagined by 1623 theatre company.
Featuring original music and live singing, with creative audio description, BSL and captions.