Theatre and performance in Greater Manchester & other places.
Royal Exchange, Manchester. In recent years the Royal Exchange has been serving up a musical as their festive season main course, and things are no different this year. A rags-to-riches story, set in 1920's Vaudeville and packed with familiar tunes, Gypsy promises a touch of glitz and glamour to brighten the winter months. It also [...]
Royal Exchange, Manchester. 29 October 2019. Life ends. Death comes. Light falls. As Christine collapses to the floor in the drinks aisle of the Co-op on Stockport's Heaton Moor Road, she recalls details from her life as if they are flashing before her eyes. At that moment too, she shares with the audience her deep [...]
18 September 2019. Royal Exchange, Manchester. "Is this a dagger which I see before me?". Well, yes and no, but I definitely see a red balloon, and a bloke in a bear costume at a banquet, and someone munching crisps loudly on the front row. Christopher Haydon's Macbeth is certainly surprising, often visually arresting, and [...]
22 August 2019. The Den, Stalybridge Civic Hall. Using Thomas More's book, published in 1516, as their starting point, the Royal Exchange Young Company explore the concept of Utopia in their latest show. In these uncertain times, it seems only natural to search for alternatives, wish for something that's not broken, and perhaps even dream [...]
29 July 2019. Royal Exchange, Manchester. Sub-titled Scenes From The Luddite Rebellion, Lauren Mooney and James Yeatman's new production provides exactly that – a rousing collection of voices, sounds and stories from a time of great turmoil. Drawing on archive material, including letters, court reports and newspaper articles, Mooney and Yeatman trace the increasing radicalism [...]
5 & 27 June 2019. Royal Exchange, Manchester. Cobblers? Not this production of Hobson's Choice! The Boot Shop of Harold Brighouse's classic comedy is now a tailor's in Tanika Gupta's zippy new adaptation, and the original play's Salford-based family business has crossed the Irwell to become embedded within the hustle and bustle of 1980s Manchester. [...]
18 April 2019. Royal Exchange, Manchester. "You are invited to attend a Surprise Leaving Party for Amy Waters (Postwoman Extraordinaire) at Albion Close Community Centre". 'Guests' find themselves seated at big round tables. There's plenty of bunting and balloons, and the organisers make sure you've got your silly pointy hat on and party poppers at [...]
11 April 2019. Royal Exchange, Manchester. Sarah Frankcom's revival of Jerome Robbins' popular musical has undoubtedly captured the attention of Manchester audiences, with the show's entire run selling out before opening night. However, the production has also secured a unique place in the West Side Story 'hall of fame' by being the first major professional [...]
Royal Exchange, Manchester. 13 February 2019. It's 2080. Europe is no longer a collection of nations, it has become The Grid. The Reds and the Blues are at war, fighting for possession of each individual grid square of land. Self-styled "entrepreneur" Mother Courage follows the conflict in search of profit. Her daughter and two sons [...]
Royal Exchange, Manchester. 5 December 2018 & 3 January 2019. After the success of Sweeney Todd, Sweet Charity and Guys and Dolls it's no surprise to see the Royal Exchange programming in another crowd-pleasing musical as their Christmas and New Year show. Mel Brooks’ The Producers, however, might not seem the most obvious choice for [...]
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