Manchester has continued its run of hosting major productions before the rest of the UK, with Something Rotten! making its UK debut at Manchester Opera House following its success on Broadway.
With Jason Manford, Marisha Wallace and Richard Fleeshman leading the cast, my expectations were understandably high. When a production is built around recognisable names, there’s always the question of whether the casting is there to sell tickets or whether they’re genuinely the right people for the roles. Thankfully, Something Rotten! proves it’s firmly the latter. From the leading cast to the ensemble, the talent on display is remarkable, delivering one of the funniest and most entertaining musicals I’ve seen in quite some time.
Set during the Renaissance, the musical follows struggling writer Nick Bottom (Jason Manford), who finds himself competing with the successful William (Will) Shakespeare (Richard Fleeshman). While Shakespeare enjoys his celebrity status, Bottom’s plays continue to fail, leaving him increasingly desperate for success. In one final attempt to turn his fortunes around, he visits the wonderfully eccentric Nostradamus (Cory English), who predicts that the future of theatre lies in… musicals.
It’s an absurd premise, and that’s exactly what makes it work.
A hilarious production that shouldn’t be missed.
Jason Manford is superb as Nick Bottom. This was my first opportunity to watch him live on stage, and he completely exceeded my expectations.
While his energy never drops and his comedic timing is impeccable, his vocals proved just as impressive. Manford’s Northern accent also gives many of the jokes an added punch, making them feel even more at home with a Manchester-based audience. The first real glimpse of just how perfectly cast he is comes during God, I Hate Shakespeare, but that infectious energy continues for the rest of the evening.
A cast clearly enjoying themselves
Richard Fleeshman is perfectly cast as the gloriously arrogant Shakespeare. Vocally flawless and bursting with charm and confidence, he leans fully into the character’s oversized ego while never becoming unlikeable enough to lose the audience. His chemistry with Manford is outstanding, particularly during their hilariously childish tap-dancing rivalry, where both actors look like they’re having as much fun as the audience.
Marisha Wallace is every bit as sensational as I expected. Bea Bottom brings warmth and heart to the story, with some really laugh-out-loud moments. But it’s Wallace’s phenomenal vocals that truly steal the spotlight, commanding every moment she’s on stage.
Cassius Hackforth also deserves enormous praise as Nigel Bottom. His quieter, more timid character provides a lovely contrast to the larger personalities surrounding him, and he brings genuine sincerity to the role. As the story develops, Nigel becomes one of the show’s most endearing characters, and Hackforth delivers the role beautifully.
Cory English’s delightfully eccentric Nostradamus creates some of the funniest scenes in the show. Nostradamus is one of those roles that could easily become overplayed, but English gets the balance exactly right. His wonderfully eccentric performance never feels forced, and his chemistry with Manford produces some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
The supporting cast and ensemble deserve just as much credit. Every performer throws themselves into the comedy with complete commitment, creating an atmosphere that’s vibrant, energetic and impossible to look away from.
A love letter to musical theatre
The comedy lands from beginning to end. Whether it’s Portia (Carla Dixon-Hernandez) and Jeremiah’s (Paul Ryan) wonderfully innocent innuendos, Shakespeare and Bottom’s ridiculous rivalry, or Nostradamus attempting to explain the future of theatre, there’s barely a scene that doesn’t earn laughter from the audience.
For musical theatre fans, there’s an added layer of enjoyment thanks to the endless references to beloved shows. Spotting them becomes part of the fun, but even if you’re unfamiliar with musical theatre, the jokes remain consistently funny in their own right.
One of the show’s first big showstoppers is undoubtedly A Musical. It’s exactly what the title promises: bold, bright, colourful and bursting with theatrical excess. The choreography, costumes and staging come together in one spectacular number that completely brings the house down. Yet impressively, the production never loses that momentum afterwards, maintaining the same infectious energy and delivering several showstopping musical numbers right through to the curtain call.
Big production values to match the big laughs
Visually, Something Rotten! is hugely impressive. The set design is packed with detail, creating a production that feels every bit as polished as the biggest touring productions currently on the road. Every scene feels thoughtfully crafted, while the colourful costumes and slick choreography ensure there’s constantly something happening on stage.
Final thoughts
Something Rotten! is exactly what you hope for when a Broadway hit makes its UK debut.
It’s funny, clever, endlessly entertaining, and packed with standout performances. Jason Manford proves himself to be a fantastic leading man, Richard Fleeshman is brilliantly smug as Shakespeare, and the entire company performs with infectious enthusiasm.
Whether you’re a lifelong musical theatre fan eager to spot every theatrical reference or simply looking for a genuinely funny night out, there’s plenty here to enjoy. The audience around me laughed throughout, and it’s easy to understand why.
Manchester gets it first once again, and it’s a production that shouldn’t be missed.
Something Rotten! is running at Opera House, Manchester until 19 July. Book your tickets now.
*Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review
Kelsey Haslam is the founding editor of Magenta Adventures Travel Publication and a freelance travel writer with a focus on community-based travel, culture-led experiences, and theatre tourism. She is passionate about spotlighting lesser-known destinations and connecting travellers with meaningful, human-centred stories.
Her published work includes destination features and luxury hotel reviews for leading travel outlets such as A Luxury Travel Blog, Beau Monde Traveler, and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
Explore more about Kelsey’s background on the About Page.
