The Big Interview

RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson

1

Ginger Johnson's new show bringing childhood fantasy to life at Home

Paul Whtehouse as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses the Musical (Picture: Johan Persson)

Paul Whtehouse as Grandad in Only Fools and Horses the Musical (Picture: Johan Persson)

Paul Whitehouse on bringing Only Fools and Horses to the stage

Wendy James (Picture: David Leigh Dodd)

Wendy James (Picture: David Leigh Dodd)

15

‘I'm still locked in to my rock & roll roots’ says Wendy James

5

Rising star Freya Beer bringing dark side and more to Barnoldswick

Robert Finley (Picture: Jim Herrington)

Robert Finley (Picture: Jim Herrington)

Authentic voice of the Blues Robert Finley telling folk the way it is

Gerard McCabe and Shaun Blaney in Stones in His Pockets (Picture: Alex Tabrizi)

Gerard McCabe and Shaun Blaney in Stones in His Pockets (Picture: Alex Tabrizi)

'It's the play that made we want to be an actor,' says Octagon star

Tricia Paoluccio and Steven Webb in Here You Come Again
(Picture: Hugo Glendinning)

Tricia Paoluccio and Steven Webb in Here You Come Again
(Picture: Hugo Glendinning)

Here You Come Again star talks about playing Dolly Parton on stage

Kayleigh McKnight as Lizzie

Kayleigh McKnight as Lizzie

1

Axe murder musical Lizzie is great challenge for Six star Jennifer Caldwell

Turn left rather than turning right urges Simon Reeve

Turn left rather than turning right urges Simon Reeve

‘Get out of your comfort zone’ says explorer Simon Reeve ahead of Blackburn date

George Asprey transformed into Scar (Picture: Helen Maybanks)

George Asprey transformed into Scar (Picture: Helen Maybanks)

1

As Lion King celebrates 25 years on stage stars of the show share its secrets

Ed Byrne (Picture: Rosalyn Gaunt)

Ed Byrne (Picture: Rosalyn Gaunt)

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Brother's death was unlikely inspiration for Ed Byrne's new stand-up show

Toxic takes an honest look at men’s attitudes to mental health

Toxic takes an honest look at men’s attitudes to mental health

Toxic at Bolton Octagon tackling mental health in entertaining way

Jason Durr as Colonel Mustard and Ellie Leach, Miss Scarlet, in Cluedo 2 (Picture: Alastair Muir)

Jason Durr as Colonel Mustard and Ellie Leach, Miss Scarlet, in Cluedo 2 (Picture: Alastair Muir)

2

Ellie Leach and Jason Durr bringing board game to life in Cluedo 2

Jayd’N Tyrone and Phoebe Roberts in Grease the Musical (Picture: Marc Brenner)

Jayd’N Tyrone and Phoebe Roberts in Grease the Musical (Picture: Marc Brenner)

Grease on stage is very different from the movie says show star

Dick, Angel and family

Dick, Angel and family

Chateau couple Dick and Angel with ultimate 'can do attitude' take to the stage

Slave - A Question Of Freedom.

Slave - A Question Of Freedom.

Caroline Clegg, storyteller supreme, on scandal of human trafficking

Cast of Sh!tfaced Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Cast of Sh!tfaced Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

3

It’s Shakespeare but not as you’ve ever seen it - one of actors is drunk!

‘Music industry is tough place to be an individual’ says Ruby Turner

Jackie Burns in Burlesque (Picture: Johan Persson)

Jackie Burns in Burlesque (Picture: Johan Persson)

Jackie Burns' ‘pinch me’ moment as she brings Burlesque to Manchester

Hawksley Workman (Picture: Ivan Otis)

Hawksley Workman (Picture: Ivan Otis)

Barnoldswick date for Canadian musician determined to do it his way

Christine Mackie

Christine Mackie

'I suppose I am an emerging writer' says Corrie star Christine Mackie

Michael Maloney as Hercule Poirot (Picture: Jay Brooks)

Michael Maloney as Hercule Poirot (Picture: Jay Brooks)

1

Michael Maloney adds touch of the twirly whirly to Poirot at The Lowry

Joey Hickman and the cast of Brassed Off (Picture: Pamela Raith)

Joey Hickman and the cast of Brassed Off (Picture: Pamela Raith)

2

‘Special show’ will prove to be a real brass act at Octagon says star

Thomas Dolby (Picture: Kevin Keating)

Thomas Dolby (Picture: Kevin Keating)

1

Ahead of rare Manchester show Thomas Dolby reveals 'I'm drawn to new things'

Michael Morpurgo and Joey

Michael Morpurgo and Joey

1

Michael Morpurgo reveals inspiration for War Horse was ‘horse that listened’

Kym Marsh in 101 Dalmatians the Musical (Picture: Phil Tragen)

Kym Marsh in 101 Dalmatians the Musical (Picture: Phil Tragen)

1

Kym Marsh embracing the dark side as 101 Dalmatians the Musical hits Manchester

Lene Lovich (Picture: Wendy Janssens)

Lene Lovich (Picture: Wendy Janssens)

‘I’ve always been uncontrollably creative’ says Rebellion Festival headliner

A Chorus Line (Picture: Marc Brenner)

A Chorus Line (Picture: Marc Brenner)

'If I had that audition I'd run out the door,' says Chorus Line star Adam Cooper

Rumi Sutton, Cecily, and Parth Thakerar, Algernon, in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Royal Exchange (Picture: Johan Persson)

Rumi Sutton, Cecily, and Parth Thakerar, Algernon, in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Royal Exchange (Picture: Johan Persson)

Star of Royal Exchange's modern day Wilde classic having a ball

Wendi Peters in Sister Act (Picture: Mark Senior)

Wendi Peters in Sister Act (Picture: Mark Senior)

Musical magic in Sister Act from ex-Corrie star Wendi Peters

1

TV doc Ranj Singh making his musical debut in & Juliet in Manchester

2

Comedy festival and major tour lined up by Jason Manford

Jess Folley and Michael Mather in Burlesque
(Picture: Johan Persson)

Jess Folley and Michael Mather in Burlesque
(Picture: Johan Persson)

‘It really shouldn’t happen like this!’ says Burlesque the Musical star

James Graham at The Lowry (Picture: Phil Tragen)

James Graham at The Lowry (Picture: Phil Tragen)

3

Dear England will tell Euro story at Lowry whatever the outcome says author

James Quinn (Picture: Joel C Fildes)

James Quinn (Picture: Joel C Fildes)

James Quinn delighted to be part of Importance of Being Earnest in Manchester

Yeukayi Ushe as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin the Musical

Yeukayi Ushe as the Genie in Disney's Aladdin the Musical

1

Yeukayi Ushe grants wish to be entertained as Disney's Aladdin comes to Manchester

Layton Williams as the Emcee in Cabaret (Picture: Marc Brenner)

Layton Williams as the Emcee in Cabaret (Picture: Marc Brenner)

Layton Williams says 'I feel like I'm back home on stage in Cabaret'

Killian Macardle, Chris Hannon and Annie Kirkman in rehearsals for Dracula: The Bloody Truth (Picture: Tony Bartholomew)

Killian Macardle, Chris Hannon and Annie Kirkman in rehearsals for Dracula: The Bloody Truth (Picture: Tony Bartholomew)

Annie Kirkman returning to Octagon for Dracula with a difference

Lytham Festival in 2023

Lytham Festival in 2023

Lytham 'a festival in a beautiful town with music accessible to everybody'

Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly and Steven Webb as Kevin in Here You Come Again (Picture: Hugo Glendinning)

Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly and Steven Webb as Kevin in Here You Come Again (Picture: Hugo Glendinning)

Steve Webb talks about role in Dolly Parton musical heading to Lowry and Blackpool

Freddie Mercury (Picture: Danny Clifford - dannyclifford.com)

Freddie Mercury (Picture: Danny Clifford - dannyclifford.com)

1

Barnoldswick date for one of world’s best rock photographers, Danny Clifford

Ready for the off - The Lovely Eggs have new album and tour to promote (Picture: Darren Andrews)

Ready for the off - The Lovely Eggs have new album and tour to promote (Picture: Darren Andrews)

2

The Lovely Eggs defy the odds to be a DIY success story

Richard Hawley (Picture: Dean Chalkley)

Richard Hawley (Picture: Dean Chalkley)

‘The secret’s out - I’m an old romantic’ says Richard Hawley ahead of album release

The cast of Testmatch (Picture: Helen Murray)

The cast of Testmatch (Picture: Helen Murray)

Haylie Jones' home debut features a play of two different halves at the Octagon

Danny Robins (Picture: Kieran Vyas)

Danny Robins (Picture: Kieran Vyas)

Indiana Jones of the ghost world, Danny Robins, prepares for tour

Gavin Adams as Aladdin (Picture: Deen Van Meer)

Gavin Adams as Aladdin (Picture: Deen Van Meer)

1

Gavin Adams bringing Disney's Aladdin the Musical to Manchester

2

Woo Gary Davies chant still means so much to DJ bringing 80s to Blackpool

Gaynor Faye both stars in and directs The Syndicate written by her late mum, Kay Mellor (Picture: Dave Hogan)

Gaynor Faye both stars in and directs The Syndicate written by her late mum, Kay Mellor (Picture: Dave Hogan)

Gaynor Faye handed winning ticket to direct and star in The Syndicate

Anton Stephans in Little Shop of Horrors (Pictures: Pamela Raith)

Anton Stephans in Little Shop of Horrors (Pictures: Pamela Raith)

Anton Stephans: Bringing man-eating plant to life at Octagon ‘a joyous experience’

Layton Williams as the Emcee in Cabaret

Layton Williams as the Emcee in Cabaret

3

Bury's Strictly star Layton gets West End role in Cabaret

Neil Arthur (Picture: Helen Kincaid)

Neil Arthur (Picture: Helen Kincaid)

Neil Arthur promises more new material as Blancmange retrospective out tomorrow

The 12 dancers who are part of Strictly Come Dancing The Professionals tour 2024

The 12 dancers who are part of Strictly Come Dancing The Professionals tour 2024

Twelve Strictly favourites will show how it's done at The Lowry

Catherine Tyldesley (Picture: Darren Bell)

Catherine Tyldesley (Picture: Darren Bell)

2

Catherine Tyldesley starring in first musical in Bonnie and Clyde

Tristan Gemmill in 12 Angry Men (Pictures: Jack Merriman)

Tristan Gemmill in 12 Angry Men (Pictures: Jack Merriman)

1

Tristan Gemmill proving '12 blokes in a room is compelling drama'