Stepping into Manchester’s Opera House, Motown the Musical instantly transports you back to the American age of music, culture, oppression and a looming war.

Apparently audience participation – shouting often-rude, always-hilarious lines in appropriate places in the shows – started for the movie version back in the 1970s in the US and made it to our shows a few years later.

Manchester has waited ever so patiently for its turn to experience the phenomenon that is Kinky Boots – and now it’s finally here.

Ian Rankin’s latest instalment to the Rebus saga has all the moody hallmarks of its predecessors.

Bringing Beatlemania back to Manchester for a few days only, Let It Be began its eight-show run at the Opera House last night.

The 80s are back in full force in Manchester – but for one week only.

“Firstly, I would like to apologise to those of you involved in our little box-office mix-up. I do hope those of you affected will enjoy our little murder mystery just as much as you would have enjoyed Rock of Ages.”

Kindertransport has returned to the stage in Manchester 25 years after writer Diane Samuels’ first showing – and it’s now presented to the world in a time where its themes of identity politics, immigration and anti-Semitism are perhaps more topical than ever.

The classic tale Of Mice and Men has arrived at the Opera House – and it’s brought the novel’s emotion and beautifully-crafted characters with it.

Manchester was brought back to the swinging sixties as hit West End and Broadway musical Hairspray arrived at the Opera House.

An ITV drama turned touring musical doesn’t exactly have ‘classic’ written all over it.