Theatre Review: Something Rotten! at the Opera House Manchester
In recent years Manchester theatres have attracted some fantastic premiere productions, and last night’s UK premiere of Something Rotten! at the Opera House certainly added itself to that list.
I attended with my 13-year-old daughter and from the moment the show started we were both hooked. By the end we were already discussing our favourite moments on the journey home.
Set in the 1590s, the story follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two struggling playwrights desperately trying to find success whilst living in the shadow of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is the celebrity rock star whose popularity seems impossible to compete with. As the brothers search for a way to finally outshine him, events quickly spiral into hilarious chaos.
Without giving away any spoilers, this is one of the funniest musicals I’ve seen in a long time.
The Performances
Leading the cast is Jason Manford as Nick Bottom. Jason is no stranger to Manchester audiences, having starred in the city’s pantomime for the last few years, and he looked completely at home on the Opera House stage.
Nick spends much of the show frustrated that he’ll never be as successful as Shakespeare, but Jason manages to make him both frustrating and incredibly likeable at the same time. His comic timing is spot on throughout and many of the evening’s biggest laughs came from his scenes. He brings so much personality to the role and you can tell he is having great fun with it.
Richard Fleeshman as William Shakespeare is another standout. This isn’t the Shakespeare we remember from history lessons, but more of a hearthrob of the Elizabethan era – full of swagger, confidence and very aware of his own popularity.
Richard completely embraces the role and commands attention every time he appears. He manages to make Shakespeare charming, funny and slightly irritating all at once, which makes him the perfect rival for Nick Bottom. He is almost the villain of the story, but one you can’t help enjoying watching. I have to admit he was my favourite character of the night.
Cassius Hackford as Nigel Bottom brings a lovely contrast to Jason’s Nick. Nigel is the dreamer of the pair and his more gentle, romantic personality makes him instantly likeable.
His relationship with Carla Dixon-Hernandez as Portia was one of my favourite parts of the show. The pair have fantastic chemistry together and bring some genuinely lovely moments amongst all the madness and comedy.
Marisha Wallace as Bea Bottom is absolutely brilliant. A character ahead of her time, refusing to accept the limitations placed on women in Elizabethan England. She is funny, determined and impossible not to root for and she featured in my daughters favourite scenes.
As expected, Marisha’s singing voice is incredible. She lights up the stage every time she appears and some of the strongest musical moments of the evening come from her.
The Comedy, Music and Staging
The biggest surprise for me was just how funny this show is. There were points where the audience barely stopped laughing, with jokes coming thick and fast throughout the evening.
The humour ranges from clever theatre references to completely ridiculous moments, and while some of the more grown-up jokes went over my daughter’s head, there was still plenty for us both to enjoy.
The music fits perfectly into the story and there are plenty of songs that stay with you afterwards. The staging is clever too, taking you back in time with a modern twist. There was always lots happening on stage without ever feeling overwhelming.
I also really enjoyed the ensemble. They take on so many different roles throughout the show and bring huge energy to every scene. Whether singing, dancing or adding to the comedy, they help keep the pace moving and make the production feel full of life.
Family-Friendly?
While my daughter and I both thoroughly enjoyed the show, it is worth knowing that this is aimed more at older children, teenagers and adults.
The recommended age is 10+ due to the bawdy humour, innuendo and double entendres throughout. Some of the jokes went straight over my daughter’s head (although at 13 she did get some), while the adults around us were clearly appreciating every one.
There is nothing particularly shocking, but it is worth being aware of the style of humour before booking for younger children.
Final Thoughts
Something Rotten! is clever, silly and completely entertaining.
Both my daughter and I came out with huge smiles on our faces. With a brilliant performance from Jason Manford, a scene-stealing Richard Fleeshman, incredible vocals from Marisha Wallace and great chemistry between Cassius Hackford and Carla Dixon-Hernandez, it is a show packed with talent.
If you are looking for a musical that doesn’t take itself too seriously and want an evening full of laughs, catchy songs and brilliant performances, this UK premiere is definitely worth seeing while it is in Manchester.
Something Rotten! is playing at the Opera House Manchester until 19th July 2026.
