LGBTQ+ Theatre Spectacular RIOT Announces UK Premiere

An award-winning Irish theatre production celebrating LGBTQ+ creativity, drag and live entertainment is coming to Manchester for its UK premiere in May 2027.

RIOT, created by Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY, will play at the Royal Exchange Theatre from 27 May to 6 June, bringing together performers whose work spans comedy, dance, circus and spoken word.

The production features celebrated Irish drag performer Panti Bliss, alongside spoken word artist Emmet Kirwan and a cast of internationally recognised variety performers.

The Manchester engagement marks another milestone for a show that has spent the past decade building an international following through its energetic combination of queer culture and live performance.

What is RIOT about?

RIOT is a large-scale theatrical variety show that brings together several forms of entertainment rather than following one conventional storyline.

The production combines drag, acrobatics, dance, comedy and personal monologues, moving between humour, emotional storytelling and elaborate performance sequences.

Its eclectic format is designed to surprise audiences, with performers bringing different styles and experiences to the stage.

The show includes performances from Panti Bliss, spoken word artist Emmet Kirwan, comedy acrobats Lords of Strut and The Sirens. A special guest is also expected to appear at each performance, adding another element of surprise to the Manchester production.

Although RIOT is designed to entertain, it also explores wider themes involving identity, community and the importance of creative expression.

The show's creators describe it as both a celebration and a response to the world around it, combining theatrical spectacle with an optimistic message about the future.

Panti Bliss brings Irish LGBTQ+ culture to Manchester

Panti Bliss is one of Ireland's best-known drag performers and LGBTQ+ advocates, recognised for her contribution to queer culture and public discussions about equality.

Her performances combine comedy, personal storytelling and commentary on the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities. Panti became internationally recognised through her advocacy during Ireland's campaign for marriage equality, with her public appearances helping to bring LGBTQ+ experiences into wider national conversations.

Her involvement in RIOT provides the production with a prominent figure whose work combines entertainment and community representation.

For British audiences, the Manchester engagement offers an opportunity to see Panti perform as part of a larger theatrical company rather than through a standalone drag show.

The production also introduces audiences to performers from different creative backgrounds, bringing together Irish theatre, variety entertainment and queer performance culture.

Who created RIOT?

RIOT was created and directed by Jennifer Jennings and Phillip McMahon, the award-winning co-directors of THISISPOPBABY.

The Irish company has developed a reputation for productions combining theatre, club culture, activism and contemporary performance.

The Manchester production features choreography by Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding, the Irish dance duo known as Up & Over It. Costumes are designed by James McGlynn Seaver, whose work brings a distinctive theatrical style to the show.

Set design is by Niall Sweeney, an internationally recognised artist and designer whose work has been influenced by Dublin's club culture during the 1990s.

Together, the creative team brings different disciplines into one production, reflecting THISISPOPBABY's approach to making theatre that moves beyond traditional genres.

A decade of international recognition

The UK premiere follows ten years of performances and international recognition for RIOT, which has developed an audience through its mixture of theatrical spectacle and queer cultural expression.

The production has previously been praised for combining comedy and entertainment with moments of emotional reflection. Its variety format allows each performer to contribute something distinctive while remaining part of a larger celebration of creativity.

The Manchester engagement will present the show in the Royal Exchange's in-the-round auditorium, creating an intimate environment in which audiences surround the performance space.

That setting offers a different experience from a conventional theatre stage, particularly for a production built around movement, direct audience engagement and surprise performances.

When can audiences see RIOT in Manchester?

RIOT runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre from Thursday 27 May to Sunday 6 June 2027, marking the production's UK premiere.

For Manchester's LGBTQ+ community and audiences interested in innovative live entertainment, the production offers a celebration of Irish queer creativity and contemporary theatre.

The show brings together established performers and an internationally recognised creative team, creating an opportunity to experience a production that has developed its following over the past decade.

Full details and tickets are available through the Royal Exchange Theatre's RIOT page.