Top 10 must-see shows across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire & Cumbria next week
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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 global music stars to renowned comedians and acclaimed productions, there's something on for every taste between Monday, October 26 and Sunday, November 1.
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
Aardman In Concert at Storyhouse, Chester
- When: Monday, October 26
- Description: To mark 50 years of Aardman, Carrot Productions’ brand new show is a hilarious, heartwarming big-screen celebration featuring Wallace & Gromit*, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Morph, Creature Comforts and more — all accompanied live by a world class orchestra.
- Ticket information: Still available, for non members tickets start from £20 for adult or £15 for those under 16 per show and are available here.
The Strokes at Co-Op Live, Manchester
- When: Monday, October 26
- Description: The iconic indie band bring their Reality Awaits tour to Manchester with their decade-spaning catalogue of indie anthems with support from Fat White Family and Alex Cameron.
- Ticket information: Resale tickets available only on Ticketmaster here, starting from £118.
Mean Girls at Liverpool Empire
- When: Monday, October 26- Saturday, October 31
- Description: Winner of Best New Musical (WhatsOnStage Awards) and direct from the West End, this the hilarious smash-hit musical comedy, starring Steps star Faye Tozer, follows The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen- and home-schooled Cady Heron.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £30 and are available here.
Heathers The Musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre
- When: Tuesday, October 27 and Saturday, October 31
- Description: Following smash-hit runs in London and New York, the WhatsOnStage ‘BEST NEW MUSICAL’ winner, Bill Kenwright Ltd & Paul Taylor-Mills Heathers the Musical, is based on the iconic movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £18 and are available here.
J Cole at Co-Op Live, Manchester
- When: Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29
- Description: The Fall-Off Tour is J. Cole’s first solo headline tour in five years, following 2021’s The Off-Season Tour, and his first full global run in nearly a decade since the 2017 4 Your Eyez Only World Tour.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £61.20 and are available for Wednesday here, and Thursday here.
Dr John Cooper Clarke at The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
- When: Wednesday, October 28
- Description: The anarchic punk poet has thrilled people for decades and his latest collection, Have It, will be a completely new collection of work.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £37.95 and are available here.
Sweeney Todd at Winter Gardens, Blackpool
- When: Wednesday, October 28- Sunday, November 1
- Description: In ‘Here Man’, the comedian tells audiences all about all the stuff that he CAN’T SAY on his hit podcast ‘Shagged Married Annoyed’.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets are £37.20 and are available here.
Janet Street-Porter at Lancaster Grand Theatre and Lowther Pavillion, Lytham
- When: Thursday, October 29 (Lancaster) and Friday, October 30 (Lytham)
- Description: Armed with a senior railcard and a fifth husband in tow, the nation's favourite pissed-off pensioner is back on the road bringing comedy, tragedy and gossip in equal measure, a tour de force rant against growing old gracefully.
- Ticket information: Still available, Lancaster tickets are £30 and can be bought here while Lowther Pavillion tickets start from £31.50 and can be bought here.
Kevin Bridges at M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
- When: Saturday, October 31
- Description: After shattering box office records with his last three tours, Scotland’s comedy powerhouse returns to the stage in 2026 with a brand-new stand-up show ‘Here If You Need Me’.
- Ticket information: Single seats only are available on Ticket Quarter from £42.50 but more resale tickets are available on Ticketmaster starting from £50.14.
Swan Lake at The Sands Centre, Carlisle
- When: Sunday, November 1
- Description: Following the success of previous tours, Imperial Classical Ballet proudly returns with a breathtaking new season of Swan Lake which tells the powerful tale of Princess Odette, cursed to live as a swan by day and a woman by night.
- Ticket information: Still available, tickets start from £28.50 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.