Mean Girls musical to open UK and Ireland tour in Manchester in February 2026

Wednesday, 2 July 2025 22:04

By David Murphy

Original West End Cast. Photography by Brinkhoff-Mögenburg

The smash hit musical comedy Mean Girls will kick off its 2026–2027 UK and Ireland tour at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026, it has been announced.

Lorne Michaels, Crossroads Live, and Sonia Friedman Productions have confirmed that the award-winning Mean Girls musical will begin a major UK and Ireland tour in early 2026, starting in Manchester.

Based on the 2004 cult classic film, the musical follows the ruthless social dynamics of North Shore High as home-schooled teenager Cady Heron takes on reigning ‘Queen Bee’ Regina George and her clique, known as The Plastics.

Having captivated audiences in the West End from June 2024 to June 2025 with more than 330,000 attendees, the production recently won ‘Best New Musical’ at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards.

Originally premiering in Washington, D.C. in 2017 before hitting Broadway in 2018, Mean Girls has toured the US twice and received widespread acclaim for its razor-sharp script, witty lyrics and vibrant choreography.

The UK and Ireland tour will feature the same creative team behind the Broadway and West End productions, with Tina Fey (book), Jeff Richmond (music), Nell Benjamin (lyrics), and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The production also boasts contributions from leading theatre designers, including Scott Pask (set), Katrina Lindsay (costumes), Kenneth Posner (lighting), and Brian Ronan (sound).

The musical enjoyed renewed popularity following the 2024 Paramount Pictures reimagining of the original film, featuring new musical performances and a fresh take on the story.

Tour venues and casting will be revealed in due course, but will land at the Opera House in February 2026. The tour is set to run until the end of January 2027.