The Octagon Theatre Bolton in Greater Manchester is staging a new professional production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth from Wednesday 4 March to Saturday 28 March 2026. The run gives residents the chance to see a major Shakespeare production locally rather than travelling to larger cities such as Manchester or London.
The production is a co-production between the Octagon, Derby Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre. It is directed by Mark Babych, Artistic Director of Hull Truck Theatre and a former Artistic Director of the Octagon, and features a cast that includes local talent such as 12-year-old Freddy Targar from Haslingden, who will play Banquo’s son Fleance.
Local leaders and the theatre frame the production as part of efforts to boost Bolton’s night-time economy and increase evening footfall in the town centre; organisers expect this to help nearby hospitality businesses, including restaurants and bars around the Vaults and Le Mans Crescent.
According to the Octagon, its activities generate around £10 million in economic impact each year — the theatre’s published impact work reports a Gross Value Added (GVA) of over £10.8 million annually across the UK economy, with more than £8.4 million generated for Bolton and Greater Manchester. Octagon Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham said, “I am delighted to share details of our new season with audiences, and hope they are as excited as we are by this upcoming programme.”
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