Worthy of an encore? Vote for your top theatre show
SHORTLIST REVEALED FOR CITYLIFE AWARD
IT has been another thrilling year in Manchester’s theatres, with a raft of world premiere musicals, groundbreaking productions and intriguing arts experiences to keep us enthralled.
Our annual CityLife awards celebrates that fact, with our shortlist for best theatre production including some of those big budget musical premieres, an immersive play taking audiences literally underground, as well as an exciting fringe theatre making waves in the arts world. We Were Told There Was Dancing - Royal Exchange
A truly immersive theatre production that led its audiences into the underground life of its characters – by taking them down into the depths beneath the historic Royal Exchange and St Ann’s Square.
The promenade production created by Matt Hassall and the Young Company charted the shifting in attitudes to gay rights, marking the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act which began the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Bat Out Of Hell - Opera House
Manchester hosted the world premiere of this blistering new production that brought American rocker Meatloaf ’s seminal Bat Out of Hell album to life on stage.
A true rock opera on an epic scale, with two star-crossed lovers at its heart, it won rave reviews from fans and critics alike on its two-month Opera House run - before transferring to the West End to yet more acclaim.
Our reviewer hailed it a ‘truly staggering piece of musical theatre which breaks new boundaries in its staging, choreography and concept’. The Band - Opera House
Yet another world premiere for Manchester, with Take That choosing their home city to debut their musical love letter to their fans.
With Take That’s Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams as co-producers it was always going to grab the headlines, but the emotional storyline and thrilling musical delivery made this a firm fan favourite on its Man- chester run as it then took flight across the UK. Our review said it : Pippin - Hope Mill Theatre
This new, independent theatre has been winning rave reviews and huge acclaim based inside a former Ancoats mill.
Their bold production of rarelyperformed musical Pippin shook that mill to its foundations with its bawdy portrayal of a mysterious Victorian dance troupe.
Set for a London transfer in the new year. 10,000 Gestures - Manchester International Festival (Mayfield Depot)
This extraordinary arts/theatre/ dance production was one of the most talked about moments of MIF 2017, and left our reviewer feeling ‘exhilarated, challenged and delirious’.
French choreographer Boris Charmatz is known for breaking the rules and breaking out of traditional theatre spaces, and made the cavernous old train depot at Mayfield his stage for a troupe of writhing, jerking and colliding dancers to portray the human condition. Had to be seen to be believed.
To vote, look @citylifemanc on Twitter, find us on Facebook or visit www.manchesterveningnews.co.uk/ whats-on for full details. Voting closes at midnight on January 24.