REVIEW - MALORY TOWERS AT HOME MANCHESTER - A HEARTWARMING THEATRE TRIP WITH ALICE 💖
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
Our Evening Trip to See Malory Towers at HOME Manchester
On Saturday 6th June, Alice and I headed into Manchester to see Malory Towers at HOME for the 7:30pm performance.
As we had been away on holiday during the press night earlier in the week, we attended one of the later performances instead, and it turned out to be a really lovely mother-and-daughter theatre trip.
We caught the tram at around 6:20pm and arrived at Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop just after 6:40pm. One of the things I like about visiting HOME is how easy it is to get to by public transport, as it's only around a five-minute walk from the tram stop.
When we arrived, we headed straight to the box office to collect our tickets and programme before having a look around the venue.
Programme, Books & Pre-Show Activities 📖
Unlike some touring productions, there wasn't a large merchandise stand for this show. Programmes were available to purchase for around £4, and there were also copies of the Malory Towers books available, although I didn't spot the prices.
Alice never misses an opportunity for theatre popcorn, so we picked up a large popcorn from the box office before heading off to explore the venue. I think it was around £4.
As we had arrived quite early, we had plenty of time before the performance started. We took some photos in front of the Malory Towers backdrop before heading over to HOME's Creative Corner, where Alice spent some time playing while we waited for the auditorium to open.
It's one of the things I really like about visiting HOME with children. Having somewhere for them to play before the show starts helps make the whole experience feel much more relaxed.
Before long, the auditorium opened at around 7:10pm and we headed inside to find our seats.
Our Seats at HOME Manchester 🎭
We were seated in Row H, Seats 1 and 2 in the stalls, with Seat 1 being the aisle seat.
Although we were slightly to the side of the stage, the view was excellent and we never missed any of the action.
We've seen quite a few productions at HOME over the years and I've always been impressed by the sightlines. It feels like one of those venues where there really aren't many bad seats.
As we entered the auditorium, I noticed booster seats available just inside the stalls entrance and asked Alice if she wanted one.
At first she said no.
Then, about five minutes before the show started, she suddenly changed her mind.
I offered to swap seats with her as there was an empty seat directly in front of me, but she wanted to stay where she was. Once she was sitting on the booster seat she could see perfectly over the person in front and was comfortable for the entire performance.
Even before the show began, the set immediately caught our attention. The large school façade dominating the stage looked impressive and instantly created the feeling that we were about to step into the world of Malory Towers.
The Show ✨
Neither Alice nor I had ever read the Malory Towers books before seeing this production, so we were both going in completely fresh.
The story begins in the modern day before one young girl is transported into the pages of her favourite Malory Towers book and finds herself taking on the role of Mary-Lou Atkinson.
From there, audiences are whisked away to the 1940s world of boarding school life, where friendships, rivalries, midnight feasts and adventures unfold against the backdrop of the Cornish coast.
What I loved most about the production was how warm and uplifting it felt.
Rather than relying on huge special effects or dramatic twists, the story focuses on friendship, belonging and growing up, creating a show that feels genuinely heartwarming.
One thing Alice and I both enjoyed was how different all of the girls were. Even though neither of us knew the characters beforehand, it was very easy to tell them apart and quickly become invested in their friendships and disagreements.
At one point Alice leaned over to me and whispered, "That girl is mean. Why is she so mean?" while Gwendoline Lacey was causing yet more drama, which made me smile because it showed just how invested she had become in the story.
The audience around us seemed equally engaged, with lots of laughter throughout the funnier moments and plenty of children clearly following the adventures unfolding on stage.
Imaginative Staging & Live Music 🎶
The staging throughout was wonderfully inventive.
The set transforms effortlessly between dormitories, classrooms, train journeys and coastal locations through clever use of movement, projections and props.
One of my favourite moments involved the girls' trip to the seaside, where puppetry was used in a really creative way to bring the scene to life.
It was simple, imaginative and incredibly effective.
Alice absolutely loved these moments and there were lots of laughs from younger audience members whenever the production embraced its more playful side.
The music also adds a huge amount of energy to the show.
While Malory Towers isn't a traditional musical, songs are woven throughout the production and help maintain its uplifting atmosphere.
The cast also play instruments live on stage, which is always impressive to watch and adds another layer to the performance.
Interval Treats 🍦
The first act lasted approximately 60 minutes before a 20-minute interval.
During the break, Alice chose a strawberry ice cream while I went for mint choc chip. At £3.50 each they were a lovely little treat.
Back at our seats, we enjoyed our ice creams while chatting about the show.
I asked Alice what she thought of the show so far and she told me she was really enjoying it.
I also asked if she had a favourite character, but she couldn't choose and insisted they were all her favourite.
We were both looking forward to seeing how the story would end in the second half.
The Second Half & Journey Home 🚋
The second act lasted around 45 minutes, bringing the total runtime to approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes including the interval.
The performance finished at around 9:35pm and after making the walk back to Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, we arrived home shortly after 10:20pm.
It was definitely a late night for Alice and she headed straight to bed once we got home.
Final Thoughts 💖
Malory Towers was a lovely surprise.
Neither Alice nor I had read the books beforehand, yet we both thoroughly enjoyed the production and found ourselves completely drawn into its world of friendship, school adventures and boarding school chaos.
The imaginative staging, live music and talented cast create a warm and uplifting theatre experience that works just as well for newcomers as it does for long-time fans of the books.
For Alice, the jumping into the sea scene and playful moments were definite highlights, while I particularly enjoyed the creativity of the staging and the strong sense of community running throughout the story.
Whether you're already a fan of the books or discovering Malory Towers for the first time like we were, this is a charming, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable family theatre trip.
A heartwarming family adventure packed with friendship, imagination and plenty of boarding school fun.
More Information About Malory Towers 📚
Malory Towers is at HOME Manchester until Saturday 13th June 2026.
Tickets are available from £26.50 via the HOME Manchester website.
For more information about the show and future tour dates, visit the official Malory Towers website.
If you'd like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre.
🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #456
If you’d like to see what I got up to during my trip to see Malory Towers you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #456. Our trip to the show begins at 13:01 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week.
At a Glance
📍 Venue: HOME Manchester
📅 HOME Run: Tue 2 Jun – Sat 13 Jun 2026
🎟️ Tickets: From £26.50 via the HOME Manchester website
⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 5 minutes including interval
☕ Interval: 20 minutes
👧 Recommended Age: 8+
💺 Our Seats: Stalls Row H Seats 1 & 2
👀 Seat View: Excellent, slightly side-on but clear throughout
🪑 Booster Seats: Available free of charge
📖 Programme: Available from the box office (approximately £4)
📚 Merchandise: Programmes and Malory Towers books available from the box office
🍿 Refreshments: Large popcorn approximately £4
🍦 Ice Creams: £3.50 each
☕ Food & Drink: Restaurant, café and bar facilities available on site
🚋 Travel: Easily accessible by tram, bus and train. Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop and Deansgate railway station are both around a 5-minute walk from HOME.
🌍 Tour Dates: See the official Malory Towers website for future tour dates
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