Freaky Friday | Home Manchester

Manchester theatres have been fortunate to stage some fantastic screen to stage adaptations recently with the Manchester Gets it First Scheme, with A Knight's Tale, 13 Going on 30 and Come Fall in Love all taking to the stage in the form of a musical with UK premieres. This time, Home in Manchester gets its turn with Freaky Friday, which also makes its UK premiere after being staged in the US with a near Broadway run.

Based on the 1972 novel and the hit Disney movie of the same title, Freaky Friday follows the fractured relationship between a mother (Katherine) and daughter (Ellie). Katherine is a baker preparing for her wedding day, whilst Ellie is unsure of her mother's plans to remarry as she desperately misses her father who passed away. When a fight between Katherine and Ellie leads to an hourglass getting broken, the pair magically swap bodies leading them to learn how to navigate and accept each other's struggles and hardships in to rebuild on their relationship and understand each other more.

Ultimately, Freaky Friday is a comedic and heartfelt story which has captured the hearts of many, and both writer Bridget Carpenter and director Andy Fickman have ensured that they maintain the book and film's legacy through an energetic and joyous production that will warm the coldest of hearts over the festive period. Carpenter's book conveys the trials and tribulations of teenage years, as well as navigating the pressures of society and experiencing grief - it's funny, relatable and yet there are also some tender moments of vulnerability that are explored. Fickman's direction is energised and upbeat - the show is undoubtedly silly but in the very best way and one can't help but be whisked away in the freakiness of it all.

Music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey strike a balance between upbeat, catchy numbers and emotional ballads. Whilst the more contemporary numbers are fun, particularly paired with Alexandra's Sarmiento's choreography, it's in the more emotive ballads where the score truly shines, particularly due to the incredible vocals from the entire cast. Sarmiento's energetic and striking choreography makes its mark in the ensemble numbers, in which the cast's passion and commitment is utterly infectious. A shoutout here must be given to Morgan Gregory whose performance in these moments is captivating, as he fully embodies the different characters he is portraying and lands his one-liners with comedic timing.

Rebecca Lock as Katherine shows incredible versatility as a performer, embracing the chaos as she body-swaps with her teenage daughter with a perfect comedic physicality. However, Lock also knows exactly when to rein it in with an emotionally charged performance, particularly during After All of This and Everything, bringing depth to the show and its themes. Jena Pandya gives a spunky and assured performance as Ellie with incredible vocals throughout, however, her portrayal of Katherine during the body swap isn't as convincing as it could be. Max Mirza gives a layered performance showing great chemistry with Ellie whilst playing into the high school heartthrob archetype, as well as giving an incredible and heartfelt performance in Women and Sandwiches and Oh, Biology.

Ghaith Saleh is incredibly endearing as Fletcher and he has perfected the role of slightly irritating but absolutely adorable young brother. Katharine Pearson, Waylon Jacobs and James Stirling all multi-role different characters with distinct characteristics which is impressive to watch - a shoutout here to Pearson who is absolutely hilarious as Ms Meyers, the athletics teacher.

David Shields' set and costume design makes use of double sided set pieces which stay stagnant on the stage, with additional props being wheeled on by the cast. Whilst the set doesn't feel inspired by any means, it's perfectly functional and ensures that the pacing of the show is seamless as we transport between the Blake's home and the high school. Costume design gives personality to the characters and it's hilarious to watch Katherine's blouse and skirt combo change into converse and a blouse tucked into cargo pants during the body swap. Nick Richings' lighting design allows the set design to feel vibrant and colourful.

Freaky Friday delivers with an infectious blend of humour, dynamic choreography, and a talented cast with energy that fills the stage.

Freaky Friday plays at Home in Manchester until 10th January 2026.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior