Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds coming to Manchester's Co-Op Live - featuring Liam Neeson in hologram form

Jeff Wayne’s dramatic musical version of The War of the Worlds will be coming back to Manchester in 2025 for a special show featuring Hollywood actor Liam Neeson in holographic form.

The cutting-edge production will come to Co-Op Live on April 6, 2025 as part of a huge 17-date The Spirit of Man Tour, which will coincide with the 130th anniversary of the iconic HG Wells novel it is inspired by.

Conducted by Jeff Wayne, the show will feature Liam Neeson in 3D holography as The Journalist, who recounts his story of survival from the Martian invasion of 1898. There will be a whole new cast joining the tour - which kicks off at Connexin Live in Hull on March 28, 2025 and will finish up with a matinee and evening show at London's The O2 on April 20.

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The musical spectacular is one of the biggest touring productions - with 2006’s incarnation featuring six trucks full of sets, props and special effects. Organisers say its itinerary for the 2025 tour will be double in size and will now fill around twelve trucks.

Over the years, cast members featured in the touring production have included Jason Donovan, Kerry Ellis, Marti Pellow, Duncan James, Claire Richards and Kevin Clifton.

The dark Victorian tale is inspired by the HG Wells novel of the same name, first released in 1898. It has been hailed as one of the most influential books in science fiction and is also one of the first novels to feature conflicts between humans and extra-terrestrials.

Bosses behind the show say of the 2025 production: “One of