Review: Singin' in the Rain, at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Happy 2026! I'm sure many of you will be back at work, and the snow is kicking the January blues into gear. Well, allow me to gift you the perfect tonic for that - my first (non-shift) show of 2026! The first present of this year, has been Royal Exchange's festive musical, the classic Singin' in the Rain

What a little gem to end 2025 and kick off the Royal Exchange's 50th Anniversary

The classic story based on the MGM film about a Hollywood studio entering the era of the talkies, and one famous actor falling in love with an up-and-comer, is one I have talked about before, but never in a space like this. 

Raz Shaw returns to directing the Christmas musical after his production of The Producers ending the 2018/2019 season, along with Alistair David choreographing. And with that, the question I had in mind going into Singin' in the Rain was this: 

How was this classic story going to be transformed by the space of the Royal Exchange?

Well, as a theatre in the round, you as a creative are forced to look differently at how to interpret the stage. And in this case, Shaw and his team knocked it out of the park. As well as acknowledging that there is nowhere at all to hide, the team actually embrace it, encouraging the cast to break the fourth wall at times and embrace the audience being there. But not too much without it being annoying. 

Just the cheeky nods, one character asking them for reassurance they are beautiful and "talented", a little wink to the front row as if to say "yep, it's coming" before they get soaked in the title number. If you are lucky to be in the front row, you may wish to bring a waterproof, poncho or similar as you will get splashed. 

It is also very inventive on how they create the most iconic scenes that everyone knows: the rain, the sofa and the closing curtain scenes (if you know, you know). This is what I love about the Royal Exchange; simpleness proving so effective, you become transfixed in the story and the choreography. 

Speaking of the dance, as it is such a huge part in the show, it is incredibly joyful. There is so much packed in, from tap, to ballroom, latin, and the kitchen sink chucked in there. Some routines, Don's and Cosmo's in particular, draw you in, just like Gene Kelly's did in the original film. And performed so well by this spectacular cast. 

You have to give so much credit to casting director Will Burton for finding such an incredible group of people to bring this story to life

And what a group: Louis Gaunt, Carly Mercedes-Dyer (A Chorus Line), Danny Collins, Laura Baldwin (Waitress), Julius D'Silva (The Producers) and more. 

Gaunt had so much suave charm, you could not help but fall in love with him as Don Lockwood, and what a dancer he is! Mercedes-Dyer as Kathy Seldon was sweet but with a little edge that I had never seen before. You could tell she is definitely someone wanting to grab every opportunity she has with the studio, after being no all her life. 

On her flip side, Lina Lamont offered a side to Baldwin I don't think anyone has ever seen before; she was undeniably vain and arrogant, but for the first time, when she squawked out What's Wrong With Me, I felt some pity for Lina. Can I also tell you, as a singer myself, how hard it is to talk and sing through your nose like that?!

There were so many highlights with this cast, but I think the highest is Collins' take on Make 'Em Laugh. 

The facial expressions and movement that Collins was making in that sequence were comical revelations. Add in the timing that he gave, and how difficult it must have been to get that right, and he was like a Looney Tune character come to life! 

Cosmo was my favourite in this story anyway, and I think Collins played him sensationally. 

If you want a joyous show this January to shake off those blues I can guarantee you've got back, Singin' in the Rain is the show for you

I know I have used joy or similar words a few times, but I honestly do not think there is a better phrase to explain this production. Singin' in the Rain at the best of times is one of those films that makes you feel joy from the inside. With this production, it explodes from the sprinklers, making it pour with everything you want it to. And it is not closing until the end of January either, so you still have a few more weeks to catch it. 

What an excellent start to this year!