West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein turns his Broadway panache to a short 50-minute gen of an opera that packs a powerful punch.

The cards are in your favour as Carmen waltzes into the Lowry theatre for Opera North’s new, sensual production. The French treasure, written by Georges Bizet in 1875 is infused with a Spanish flair and blends it extensive, lavish love story with a compelling score.

The six adult-sized six-year-olds of Bloomfield school already know what they want to be when they grow up. Presenting to the audience as part of their end of term presentation, Mischief Theatre’s latest offering is a warm and cosy comedy that runs through three stages of life.

Who’s like Christmas, and at the Lowry theatre their gorgeously unique world has been taken straight out of the 1957 picture book and placed on the stage. Writer Timothy Mason has stretched out Dr. Seuss’s 69 pages and immersed audiences in the reanimated world of Whoville to make How the Grinch Stole Christmas the ultimate musical feast.