Comedy, TV and musical theatre icon Jason Manford makes his highly anticipated return to the stage in fetching pantaloons as this UK Premiere production opens at Manchester Opera House, bringing this award-winning show to the land where it all (most definitely) happened!

The ‘90s are back! The 1590s, that is. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but remain stuck in the shadow of that pompous Renaissance rockstar, Will Shakespeare. When a quirky soothsayer foretells an outlandish future for theatre – full of acting, singing, and dancing all at the same time – Nick and Nigel set out to write this strange new creation called A MUSICAL! But amidst the scandalous excitement of Opening Night, the Bottom Brothers discover that reaching the top means being true to thine own self… and all that jazz.

Created by the award-winning team behind Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical – Grammy award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick (Change the World, Every Heartbeat), screenwriter Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, James and the Giant Peach) and best-selling author and comedy writer John O’Farrell (Spitting Image, Have I Got News for You. Just For One Day) – Something Rotten! was the toast of Broadway, where it received 10 Tony Award nominations. This new fully staged production, which follows the acclaimed 2023 WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert version, is directed by Tim Jackson (Merrily We Roll Along, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York) and presented by Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End producers Kevin McCollum of Alchemation and Joshua Andrews of JAS Theatricals.

If musicals be the food of love, this is an all-you-can-eat buffet! An irresistible valentine to the singular magic of musical theatre, Something Rotten! guarantees spectacular fun for audience members of all ages. Book now… or forever hold your codpiece!