Theatre Review: DEATH OF A SALESMAN – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Sarah Frankcom’s production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN is a multi-layered and fascinating reframing of an American classic Following his critically acclaimed performance in KING LEAR, Don Warrington makes a welcome return to the Royal Exchange to take on Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Set in late 1940s America, DEATH OF […]
Theatre Review: QUEEN MARGARET – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Blending authentic Shakespearean text with newly crafted dialogue, Jeanie O'Hare's QUEEN MARGARET is an ambitious and modern exploration of the War of the Roses It’s been a long journey for Jeanie O’Hare to bring QUEEN MARGARET to the stage. Since 2006, the playwright has been playing with the idea of bringing Margaret of Anjou’s story to […]
Theatre Review: QUEENS OF THE COAL AGE – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Poignant, powerful and full of Northern wit, Maxine Peake's QUEENS OF THE COAL AGE is a political piece of theatre full of heart Following her recent performance as Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s HAPPY DAYS, Maxine Peake makes a welcome return to Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre with her new play QUEENS OF THE COAL AGE. Set […]
Theatre Review: HAPPY DAYS – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Strange, surreal but surprisingly life-affirming, HAPPY DAYS is a challenging two-hander about love, life and relationships Following the success of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, THE SKRIKER and HAMLET, Maxine Peake reunites with Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom to take on Samuel Beckett’s surreal masterpiece HAPPY DAYS. Written by Beckett in 1961, HAPPY DAYS tells […]
Blending gothic horror with morality, Matthew Xia’s adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN at the Royal Exchange stays true to Mary Shelley’s classic tale
Blending gothic horror with morality, Matthew Xia’s gripping adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN stays true to Mary Shelley’s classic tale It’s been two hundred years since Mary Shelley penned the dark, gothic tale FRANKENSTEIN. Since 1818, Victor Frankenstein and his macabre monster has captivated audiences across the world with the Royal Exchange marking the landmark anniversary with […]
THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES Review: Kendall Feaver's striking debut balances humour with emotional acuity
Powerful and thought-provoking, THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is an impressive and striking debut by Kendall Feaver It’s hard to believe that THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is Kendall Feaver’s debut play. With its carefully crafted narrative, vividly drawn characters and emotional poignancy, this powerful and thought-provoking piece boasts the maturity of an established and experienced writer. No wonder […]
Theatre Review: GUYS AND DOLLS – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Michael Buffong brings a unique twist to a timeless classic with GUYS AND DOLLS Since GUYS AND DOLLS made its premiere on Broadway in 1950, the award-winning musical seen many revivals. From the 1955 film adaptation starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine, to the 2005 West End production starring Ewan McGregor […]
Theatre Review: JUBILEE – Royal Exchange, Manchester
Toyah Wilcox stars in Chris Goode's 40th anniversary production of JUBILEE When Derek Jarman’s iconic film JUBILEE was released 1978, it captured punk at its dizzy height. Almost forty years later, Chris Goode remixes the wild and artistic piece for a new stage adaptation at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. JUBILEE takes us to a contemporary […]
Theatre Review: PARLIAMENT SQUARE - Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Shocking, gripping and thought-provoking, PARLIAMENT SQUARE is a powerful play about the fallout of political protest It’s fair to say that playwright James Fritz is riding on a high. His debut play FOUR MINUTES TWELVE SECONDS was nominated for an Olivier Award before transferring to London’s West End and his follow-up play ROSS & RACHEL […]
Theatre Review: OUR TOWN – Royal Exchange, Manchester
Uniquely redefined for the present day, Sarah Frankcom’s revival of Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN is hauntingly beautiful It is said that Thornton Wilder’s 1938 drama OUR TOWN is performed at least once every night somewhere in the world. Hardly surprising when you consider the Pulitzer Prize-winning depiction of ordinary life remains Wilder’s greatest and best-known […]