Top 10 must-see shows in the North West next week including iconic musicals & a beloved festival
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Take a look at the top 10 must-see shows in the North West next week according to our entertainment reporter.
The North West is packed with incredible live entertainment week in and week out.
Ahead of next week, we’ve scoured venues across Merseyside, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria to come up with the top 10 shows on offer.
From renowned comedians, to global music stars and acclaimed theatre productions, there's something on for every taste between Monday, August 3 and Sunday, August 9.
Below, we've rounded up the ten biggest shows you won't want to miss out on next week, listed in date order, and included some show and ticket information too.
Our 10 top things to do in the North West next week


Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Liverpool Empire
- When: Monday, August 3 - Saturday, August 8
- Description: Winner of 10 Tony awards, Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and - above all - love, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £20 and are available here.
Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit at Victoria Wood Theatre
- When: Monday, Augst 3 - Sunday, August 9 except no show on Friday (runs until August 30)
- Description: Peter Rabbit and his friends hop from page to stage in a delightful musical spectacular with beautiful puppets and enchanting songs.
- Ticket information: Still available, adult tickets cost £11.81, child tickets £8.75 and are available here.


Miss Saigon at Palace Theatre Manchester
- When: Tuesday, August 4 - Saturday, August 8
- Description: Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical is reborn for a new UK and Ireland Tour before heading to the West End.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £20.80 and are available here.
Summer Holiday at Blackpool Grand Theatre
- When: Tuesday, August 4-Saturday, August 8
- Description: Blackpool Grand Theatre joins forces with the world-famous Sheffield Crucible Theatre to bring a major new musical to the stage, this one bursting with classic feel-good hits from the golden age of 60s pop, the show features favourites made famous by Cliff Richard and the era’s biggest stars.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £15 and are available here.
SIX at The Lowry, Salford
- When: Tuesday, August 4 - Sunday, August 9 (runs until August 15)
- Description: From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £25 and are available here.


Rebellion Festival at Blackpool Winter Gardens
- When: Thursday, August 4-Sunday, August 9
- Description: The largest independent punk & alternative festival returns for its 30th year with over 350 bands appear across 8 stages, including the usual mix of classic bands from the 70s and 80s, and the very best of the new breed
- Ticket information: Sold out.
Tales from Acorn Wood at Storyhouse, Chester
- When: Thursday, August 4-Friday, August 5
- Description: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience full of full of toe-tapping songs and puppetry.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £19 and are available here.
You can also take a look at all the live events on in your local area via sites such as Eventbrite, Ticketmaster and Eventim.
Laughter at the Lounge Comedy Club at Guild Lounge, Preston
- When: Friday, August 7
- Description: The venue's monthly comedy club returns with comedians Karen Bayley, Sandro Ford and Elliot Steel.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets are £19 and are available here.


STRATA at The Ferret, Preston
- When: Friday, August 7
- Description: An indie band which formed in Preston are performing a homecoming show featuring “melodic riffs, punchy basslines and a raw British edge built for sweaty rooms”.
- Ticket information: Sold out
It’s Not a Game - starring award-winning illusionists Jay & Joss at Floral Pavillion, Wirral
- When: Saturday, August 8
- Description: Fresh from Britain’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, acclaimed magic duo Jay & Joss are back with a mind-bending new show where nothing is quiet as it seems.
- Ticket information: Still available, adult tickets start from £29, under 16 tickets £24.13, and they are available here.
