Singin’ in the Rain splashes onto the stage at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester with charm, nostalgia and a palpable fizz of energy. This revival leans confidently into the classic MGM-era spirit: big smiles, bigger choreography and a warm, generous glow that feels like stepping into a golden-age picture house: nostalgic without being stale, polished without feeling airless. 

Set in late-1920s Hollywood, the story follows silent-movie star Don Lockwood (Louis Gaunt) as the movie industry is upended by the arrival of talking pictures. When his latest silent film is hastily converted into a talkie, its success is threatened by the grating voice and ego of his co-star, Lina Lamont (Laura Baldwin). With the help of his quick-witted best friend Cosmo Brown (Danny Collins) and rising ingénue Kathy Selden (Carly Mercedes Dyer), the production team scrambles to salvage the picture- reinventing it as a musical while navigating romantic sparks, studio chaos and the growing pains of an industry racing to stay relevant. 

From the off, the production directed by Raz Shaw, makes its intentions clear. “Make ’Em Laugh” erupts with athletic, full-throttle energy- a set-piece so immersive, the performers quite literally spill into the laps of those in the front row. Alistair David’s spritely choreography is deliberately timeless, staying loyal to the vaudeville-tinged movement that defines the era. It’s crisp, clean and unabashedly joyful, served up in the round with the kind of precision that feels both affectionate and accomplished. Some musical numbers appear intentionally spontaneous- as if characters simply can’t help bursting into song, a playful nod to the era’s performative bravado.  

Visually, the design team is having a feast. Lighting design by Jack Knowles washes the space in warm ambers and glowing bulbs, evoking the backstage shimmer of music halls and early film studios. Those lined-bulb formations instantly transport the audience to a lost world of marquee lights and backstage bustle. When the show hits its bigger moments, the lighting opens out into bold, bright sweeps that match choreography’s drive.  

Where the production falters slightly is in its pacing. The first act stretches close to 90 minutes- a generous sprawl compared to the 1952 film’s lean runtime. The familiar story of Hollywood’s bumpy transition from silent movies to talkies is charming, but the narrative lingers just a touch too long in places. Still, the themes remain compelling: the fear of obsolescence, the scrabble to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry and the brutal instinct some people have to tear others down rather than fade quietly into the background. Even when sketched lightly, those ideas resonate. 

And then, anchoring the whole thing, comes Laura Baldwin- whose performance as the unstoppable Lina Lamont effortlessly lifts the show from enjoyable to genuinely memorable. Baldwin must pull off a double trick: she needs to let the audience see her formidable skill while convincing the on-stage world that she hasn’t any at all. It’s a delicate, delicious balancing act, and she does it with charm, wit and laser-guided comic timing. That central energy is complemented brilliantly by Danny Collins as Cosmo Brown- Don Lockwood’s vaudevillian sidekick. Collins brings a light-footed buoyancy to the role that plays beautifully off the larger character arcs. His presence helps keep the show grounded in chaos of old Hollywood, giving the comedy and rhythm an easy, effortless bounce.  

Whilst it might step in the odd puddle along the way, in the end, Singin’ in the Rain is a warm, crowd-pleasing revival- just make sure you pack your raincoat if you’re sat on the front rows… 

Playing at Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre until Sunday 25th January 2026. Further information and booking details can be found here.

Tickets received in exchange for an honest review. #AD

Photography by Johan Persson.