Actor and comedian, Jason Manford has been announced to join Ricky Tomlinson as a special guest in Stockport in a new musical comedy that celebrates the best of Irish culture.

Irish Annie’s will perform at Stockport Plaza on St Patricks Day on Friday 17^th March. Jason will perform as a celebrity guest entering Irish Annie’s pub, as part of the show.

Salford born Jason Manford is one of the UK’s leading performers, he is a multi-talented comedian, presenter, actor and singer, of stage and screen. Jason has presented numerous shows for the BBC and ITV including the Children In Need, Sunday Night at The Palladium and The Royal Variety Performance. He can currently be seen on ITV1 every Saturday night judging on the new series of Starstruck. Later this month, he will host BBC One's primetime show Big Night of Musicals for the second time. Jason has also starred in numerous stage musicals in the West End and across the UK, including Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls, and Curtains.

The Stockport date is part of a UK which visits St Helens Theatre Royal, Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, City Varieties in Leeds, Stafford Gatehouse, Blackpool Grand, The Brindley in Runcorn and Mansfield Palace Theatre. Jason Manford will only appear at Stockport Plaza.

Irish Annie’s is a celebration of Irish culture, from the music to the comedy, featuring the well-known live 6-piece band The Shenanigans.  Meet landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night out of comedy, music and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy, along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including Galway Shawl, Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey In The Jar, Danny Boy and many more.  The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing, and dancing the night away.

Ricky Tomlinson will also perform as himself as a celebrity guest in the pub. Ricky is a much-loved actor and comedian living all his life in Liverpool, he is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family, he also played the title character in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager. He is a very keen musician playing both the banjo and harmonica.

Ricky said “This show is a delight to be part of, with a wonderful cast of characters and beautiful original and classic Irish music. Stockport is going to be a great night now that my good friend Jason Manford will join the cast. Come and enjoy the show, I guarantee you will have a ball”.

Irish Annie’s is co-produced by Bill Elms Productions (Judy & Liza, Jerry Springer The Opera, Swan Song, Something About Simon) and Asa Murphy Productions (Buddy Holly Lives, The Bobby Darin Story).

The show also stars Catherine Rice as Irish Annie, Asa Murphy as Seamus Murphy, Nathan Murphy as Porky the Postman, Sam Conlan as Noel Singen-Smithe and Pauline Donovan as Moira the Money Lender. Look out for very special guests at some of the venues too.

Producer Bill Elms commented: “Irish Annie’s is the perfect show to bring out around St Patricks Day, it’s a huge feel-good show filled with great comedy and live music, I am thrilled that we have such a fantastic cast including Ricky Tomlinson, Asa Murphy and Catherine Rice. The show premiered in Liverpool a few years ago and went down a storm, now it’s even bigger and better than before, with Jason Manford in Stockport and Mick Miller in Blackpool.”

Asa Murphy has created and co-produced the show. Asa has been a successful entertainer for 18 years. He has performed all over the world singing Big Band Swing music and my own self-penned songs. He has fulfilled many of his dreams as a performer selling out London's Ronnie Scott’s, topping the bill at the famous Liverpool Empire, and cruising and singing on the most beautiful liners in the world. Asa also has a very popular BBC Radio show and has been on the airwaves for 10 years. In 2019 he turned his talents to writing stage musicals and has so far had three hit shows, Buddy Holly Lives, Mack The Knife and Irish Annie’s along with two children’s shows.

Writer and performer Asa Murphy added: “This show is a celebration of everything that makes Irish culture and the people of Ireland so special. Laughter, music, and the ability to make people face life’s difficult obstacles through friendship. I am very proud that the show has been so well received with my family originating from Cork and Tralee and many still living in Ireland.”

WHAT THE PRESS SAID 

“A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION OF IRISH CULTURE”
The Irish Post

“NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, I URGE YOU TO SEE THIS PRODUCTION. IT’S A WONDERFUL, FEEL-GOOD SHOW THAT SYMBOLISES EVERYTHING THAT WE LOVE ABOUT IRISH MUSIC.”
Writebase – 10/10 Perfect

 “A GREAT NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT”
Champion News

THEATRE ROYAL, ST HELENS
Sunday 12 March at 7.30pm

STOCKPORT PLAZA
Friday 17 March at 7.30pm

EPSTEIN THEATRE, LIVERPOOL
Saturday 18 March at 2.30pm & 7.30pm 

CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL, LEEDS
Sunday 19 March at 7.30pm

GATEHOUSE THEATRE, STAFFORD
Monday 20 March at 7.30pm

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE
Monday 27 March at 7.30pm

THE BRINDLEY, RUNCORN
Wednesday 29 March at 7.30pm

PALACE THEATRE, MANSFIELD
Thursday 30 March at 7.30pm