Something Rotten! at Manchester Opera House

There’s something gloriously daft, loud, and utterly winning about Something Rotten! at Manchester Opera House.

This UK premiere arrives with all the confidence, colour and comic chaos you’d want from a big musical comedy, and from the moment the curtain goes up it’s clear this is a show that knows exactly what it is — and exactly how to make an audience fall for it.

This is a musical that doesn’t just poke fun at the genre; it dances across the line between parody and love letter with a massive grin on its face.

Richard Fleeshman told us the show is a “love letter to musicals and to theatre,” and that really sums it up: it’s packed with knowing jokes, cheeky Shakespeare references and a brilliantly self-aware sense of humour that means both musical obsessives and sceptics are in safe hands.

The cast and comedy

At the centre of it all is Jason Manford, who Richard Fleeshman clearly rates hugely — and rightly so.

Fleeshman described him as a “well-rounded musical theatre performer” with a “fantastic voice” and said he “never leaves the stage,” and that comes across in the sheer energy of the performance.

Manford has the charisma to carry the show, while Fleeshman gives the production a sharp, playful edge as Shakespeare, a version of the bard who is far more narcissistic, obnoxious and hilariously dubious than the figure we’re taught about at school.

That comic spirit runs through the whole production. The jokes land quickly, the pace is brisk, and the performances are pitched beautifully so that the humour never feels forced. It’s the kind of show where you can feel the audience leaning in from the first few minutes, then properly giving themselves over to the fun as the night goes on.

Music and staging

Musically, this is a feast. Smithy and Ian from the Mix 56 breakfast show came away calling it “absolutely fantastic,” praising the music, acting, set and lighting, and it’s easy to see why.

The songs are catchy, playful, and genuinely enjoyable, with enough musical theatre in-jokes to keep aficionados grinning while remaining instantly accessible to everyone else.

Visually, the production looks the part too. Fleeshman was full of praise for the sets and costumes, saying you “rarely see something like this,” and that sense of scale really matters here.

From the outside, I came away feeling this is a show that gives you a proper night out — bright, bold, and full of the kind of theatrical generosity that makes you want to stay in your seat just a little longer.

Audience reaction

One of the best things about Something Rotten! is how quickly it wins over the room.

By the time the interval comes round, the atmosphere is already buzzing, and the audience reaction tells you everything you need to know: people are laughing, cheering and clearly loving being part of the ride.

Smithy and Ian even said they were “still crying” and called it the “best thing I’ve seen in ages,” which is about as enthusiastic a verdict as you could hope for.

That’s what makes this production such a success. It isn’t just for die-hard musical fans, although they’ll have a field day spotting the references and echoes throughout.

It’s also for anyone who thinks musicals are a bit daft, because the show is smart enough to know that and affectionate enough to win them over anyway.

Final verdict

This is a gleeful, high-energy and genuinely funny musical that delivers on every level. With a stellar cast, sharp writing, a hugely impressive look and a crowd-pleasing heart, Something Rotten! is the sort of show that leaves you smiling all the way home.

Five stars from me.  A brilliant night at the theatre, and one that should have Manchester audiences singing its praises for a long time to come!

• Something Rotten! Runs at The Manchester Opera House until Sunday 19th July
• Tickets from ATG Tickets