If you have walked through Manchester city centre recently, you have probably seen the helmeted silhouettes staring back from posters near Piccadilly and across the Northern Quarter. The Empire Strips Back is now in Manchester, taking over Depot Mayfield for a limited run and pitching itself as a loud, adults only twist on a universe most of us grew up with.
This is not a touring West End musical and it is not a quiet fringe show tucked above a bar on Deansgate. The Empire Strips Back is built for a city that treats theatre as part of a full night out. You finish work, grab food near Kampus or in the Northern Quarter, walk across from Piccadilly station and step into something deliberately outrageous.
What is The Empire Strips Back?
The Empire Strips Back is an adult burlesque parody inspired by the Star Wars aesthetic. The two hour show blends choreographed dance, striptease and comedy, with performers riffing on stormtroopers, Sith villains, smugglers and droids. It leans into camp spectacle rather than plot driven storytelling.
It is important to be clear about what The Empire Strips Back is not. It is not an official Star Wars production. Star Wars and its characters belong to Lucasfilm, and the show is not affiliated with or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm. It operates as parody, using recognisable imagery to create a comedy driven burlesque experience for adults.
The tone is cheeky and self aware. There is crowd interaction, exaggerated character work and knowingly over the top set pieces. You are not expected to follow canon or debate timelines. You are there to laugh, watch strong choreography and enjoy the absurdity.
Because The Empire Strips Back is burlesque at its core, it is strictly 18 plus. The humour is adult and the costumes are designed accordingly. Anyone searching for age restrictions should be aware there is a firm age limit in place.
When and where in Manchester?
The Empire Strips Back is running at Depot Mayfield, the large scale event space behind Manchester Piccadilly station. If you have been to Warehouse Project or one of the immersive exhibitions staged there in recent years, you already know the setting.
Depot Mayfield sits a short walk from the Fairfield Street exit at Piccadilly. From Piccadilly Gardens, it is around ten minutes on foot. For anyone travelling in from Salford, Bury, Altrincham or East Didsbury, the Metrolink into Manchester city centre makes it straightforward.
The current Manchester run spans several weeks, with midweek evening performances and busier Friday and Saturday night slots. There is also at least one weekend matinee, giving people the option of turning it into a daytime event rather than a late finish.
Ticket prices typically start from around £25 to £30 for standard zones, with premium seating areas costing more depending on proximity to the stage. Seating is generally zoned rather than individually allocated at booking, with exact seats assigned on arrival within your chosen section.
Given the size of Depot Mayfield, arriving early helps. Doors usually open well before showtime, and queues can build on weekend evenings.
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Is The Empire Strips Back worth it?
For Manchester audiences, the real question is whether The Empire Strips Back justifies the ticket price in a city that sees constant touring productions and pop up experiences.
On production alone, it holds its own. Costumes are detailed, lighting design suits the industrial scale of Depot Mayfield and the performers are clearly experienced in both burlesque and stage work. The choreography is tight, and the pacing keeps the two hour runtime moving.
It is not subtle. The Empire Strips Back aims for big reactions rather than quiet appreciation. The atmosphere on busier nights is closer to a comedy cabaret or themed club event than a traditional theatre performance. Drinks are flowing, groups are celebrating birthdays and there is regular cheering between numbers.
That will appeal to some and put off others. If you prefer a quiet play at HOME or a conventional musical at the Palace Theatre, this may feel too brash. If you enjoy immersive events at Mayfield and do not mind adult humour layered over sci fi imagery, The Empire Strips Back delivers what it promises.
It is also worth repeating that this is not a family show. Taking older relatives because they like Star Wars is likely to end in awkward silence. The 18 plus age restriction is there for a reason.
Ticket demand and Manchester crowd
Elsewhere on its tour, The Empire Strips Back has extended runs in major cities, and that track record suggests steady demand rather than a one weekend novelty. In Manchester, early dates have drawn a mix of couples, friend groups and themed night out bookings.
Weekends are predictably the busiest, with Friday and Saturday performances attracting hen parties, work socials and larger groups. Midweek shows tend to feel slightly looser, with more after work bookings and smaller groups testing the waters.
Depot Mayfield events often see a late rush of bookings once word spreads through group chats and office messages. If you are targeting a specific Saturday, booking in advance is sensible rather than hoping for last minute availability.
For those planning the full evening, the location makes it easy. You can eat in the Northern Quarter, grab a drink near Piccadilly or Kampus and walk across without relying on taxis. That convenience adds to the appeal for Manchester city centre audiences.
Final verdict for Manchester
The Empire Strips Back in Manchester knows exactly what it is offering. It is a bold, adult burlesque parody staged in one of the city’s best known large event spaces. It does not pretend to be an official franchise experience or a serious theatre production.
For people who enjoy themed nights out, alternative cabaret and a loud crowd atmosphere, The Empire Strips Back earns its place on the local events calendar. The staging is professional, the performers are committed and the venue suits the scale of the show.
If you want subtle storytelling or a traditional theatre evening, you are better off looking elsewhere. If you want something playful, slightly outrageous and firmly adults only in the heart of Manchester, The Empire Strips Back is likely to be money well spent.
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