03-07-26
You can't stop the beat...
The producers of Hairspray have announced that the feel-good musical will return for a major UK and Ireland tour in 2027, opening at Manchester's Palace Theatre before visiting theatres across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Neil Hurst will reprise the role of Edna Turnblad, while Brenda Edwards returns to co-direct the production alongside Paul Kerryson. Olivier Award-winning choreographer Drew McOnie also returns to the creative team.
Edwards knows the show better than most, having previously starred as Motormouth Maybelle in three UK tours before making her directorial debut on the production's last national tour.
Speaking about the new production, Edwards said: "I am so thrilled that this wonderful musical is returning to cities across the UK as it holds a very special place in my heart. The show's story and themes continue to remain as relevant as ever and I cannot wait to share this vibrant new production of this timeless musical with even more people."
Based on John Waters' cult 1988 film, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad as she dreams of dancing on Baltimore's biggest television show. Along the way she challenges prejudice, fights for racial integration and discovers that changing the world can start with one determined teenager.
Featuring a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the musical includes some of the biggest songs in modern musical theatre, including Good Morning Baltimore, Welcome to the 60s, Without Love and the show-stopping finale You Can't Stop the Beat.
Since premiering on Broadway in 2002, Hairspray has become one of the world's most successful musicals, winning eight Tony Awards before transferring to London's West End, where it collected four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
Further casting for the 2027 tour will be announced in due course.
Hairspray UK and Ireland Tour Dates
Manchester Palace Theatre — 2–19 July 2027
Glasgow King's Theatre — 20–25 July 2027
Edinburgh Playhouse — 27 July–1 August 2027
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff — 3–7 August 2027
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin — 9–14 August 2027
Grand Opera House, Belfast — 16–21 August 2027
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend — 24–29 August 2027
New Wimbledon Theatre — 31 August–4 September 2027
Liverpool Empire — 13–18 September 2027
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford — 20–25 September 2027
Sunderland Empire — 27 September–2 October 2027
Milton Keynes Theatre — 4–9 October 2027
Malvern Theatres — 11–16 October 2027
Birmingham Hippodrome — 25–30 October 2027
York Grand Opera House — 1–6 November 2027
Curve, Leicester — 8–13 November 2027
Theatre Royal Brighton — 15–20 November 2027
New Victoria Theatre, Woking — 22–27 November 2027
Bristol Hippodrome — 10–15 January 2028
Further venues and dates are expected to be announced.