Olivier Award-winning Layton Williams announces Layton Live UK tour, coming to the Manchester Opera House on 25 February 2027

Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Layton Williams will embark on a brand-new nationwide tour with LAYTON LIVE, a spectacular evening of music, dance and storytelling celebrating his extraordinary career on stage and screen. Tickets open for general sale Tuesday 11th August 2026.

Marking the upcoming 20th anniversary of his professional stage debut, LAYTON LIVE takes audiences on a whistle-stop musical journey through Layton’s remarkable career – from his breakout performance in Billy Elliot to his acclaimed turn in Titanique, with stops at Cabaret, Hairspray, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the Bad Education classroom and even the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.

LAYTON LIVE will tour the UK from 23 February to 4 April 2027, visiting more than 20 towns and cities including Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff and Sheffield, before culminating in a major London performance at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 4 April 2027.

Backed by a company of exceptional performers, the show promises unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories, powerhouse vocals, spectacular choreography and many of the iconic songs and moments that have defined Layton’s career. With a strictly limited run of performances, audiences are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

Born in Bury, Greater Manchester, Layton Williams began his professional career at just 12 years old in the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Since then, he has become one of the UK’s most celebrated musical theatre performers.

His stage credits include Titanique (Criterion Theatre), Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), Kiss Me, Kate (Sheffield Crucible), Hairspray (UK Tour), Rent (The Other Palace), Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man and Lord of the Flies, Thriller Live (Lyric Theatre) and Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre).

Layton’s television and film work includes Bad Education (BBC), People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC), I Hate Suzie (HBO), I Kissed A Boy (BBC), The Cleaner (BBC), Murder, They Hope (BBC), Benidorm (ITV), School for Stars (CBBC) and Beautiful People (BBC). This year he also makes his Netflix series debut as stylist Onassis in Geek Girl.

Beyond performing, Layton is the director of Pros From The Shows, which delivers professional performing arts experiences for young people through his acclaimed “Slay Clubs”. He is also a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.

His accolades include three Black British Theatre Awards, a WhatsOnStage Award, the Olivier Award for Titanique in the West End, and a Tony Award nomination for the show’s Broadway transfer. Before embarking on the LAYTON LIVE tour, Layton will appear as King Herod in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

LAYTON LIVE is a joyful celebration of two decades of one of British entertainment’s most dynamic performers, combining show-stopping musical numbers with the humour, honesty and charisma that have made Layton a favourite with audiences across theatre, television and beyond.

Layton Live plays at Manchester Opera House Thursday 25th February. Tickets are available here.