Mini-break trips with a dash of drama: Theatres are reopening across the country – and there are some curtain-raising packages out there that include show tickets and hotel stays

Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the leg-work so you don’t have to. This week: Britain’s best-value theatre breaks.

It’s time to make a song and dance as curtains rise again on theatre stages across the country.

And you can join the excitement this autumn with mini-break packages that include a hotel stay, time for sightseeing, show tickets and transport to and from the venue.

Spectacular: Cirque du Soleil returns to the Albert Hall with new show Luzia

One of London’s big new hits is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s modern reimagining of Cinderella, with West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher. Two-day breaks include return coach travel from pick-up points all across the country, a three- or four-star hotel just outside the capital, and transport to and from theatreland, with plenty of time for a pre-show dinner.

After the show you’ll be driven back to your hotel. The following day after breakfast, you’ll return to the city for shopping and sightseeing before heading home. Prices start at £139pp with Omega Breaks (omegabreaks.com).

November brings another new opening with the London premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. Performed in a reconfigured Piccadilly Theatre, expect the soundtrack from the 2001 film plus songs from Adele, Rihanna and Beyoncé.

For something even more spectacular, wait till the new year when Cirque du Soleil returns to the Albert Hall with new show Luzia, in which dancers, acrobats and gymnasts use every inch of the stage – right up to its 135ft-high ceiling.

Both shows are on offer with two-day Omega Breaks packages from £159pp and £129pp respectively.

Tickets for classic London shows, including Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins and The Lion King, can also be booked as part of longer, four-night stays organised by UK Breakaways. 

One of London ’s big new hits is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s modern reimagining of Cinderella

These are perfect for more independent travellers (you make your own way to the hotel and theatre) and can stay in locations such as Tower Bridge, Regent’s Park and Canary Wharf. Four nights’ B&B plus show tickets costs from £279.95pp (ukbreakaways.com).

The company also leads the pack for mini-breaks to see Britain’s best tribute acts. From Abba to Adele, Buddy Holly to The Beatles and Cher to Celine Dion, acts perform in holiday hotspots such as Scarborough, Southport, Bournemouth and Torquay. Three-night breaks with parking, dinner, B&B and nightly cabaret start from £79.95pp.

Coach firm Caledonian Travel offers its ‘Box Office’ mini-breaks, with transport from Scotland, the North East and Yorkshire and tickets to classic shows touring the UK.

Tickets for The Lion King in London can be booked as part of a four-night stay organised by UK Breakaways

Theatres in Manchester, Liverpool, York, Blackpool, Durham, Leeds and Birmingham are hosting top shows including Riverdance, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Dreamgirls, Mamma Mia and more.

Two-day trips cost from £129pp to £189pp depending on the show, theatre and your hotel choice (caledoniantravel.com).

In February, Strictly Come Dancing fans will be able to see the stars of the latest BBC series in person when the spectacular live tour returns to Liverpool. 

 The Strictly Come Dancing live tour returns to Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena in February 

Celebrities, professional dancers, judges and musicians will perform on an over-sized dancefloor at the M&S Bank Arena, while votes from the audience help decide who wins each night’s famous glitterball trophy.

National Holidays offers pick-up points across the North East, North West and Yorkshire, and the price, from £139pp, includes tickets to the glitzy extravaganza, B&B in a nearby hotel and a shopping trip to Manchester (nationalholidays.com).

The firm is also offering short breaks with tickets to see the tenor Andrea Bocelli in Birmingham or André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Birmingham and Liverpool.