Theatre goers are invited to experience life’s rich tapestry this season at the Royal Exchange Theatre with an Autumn/Winter programme that offers a glimpse into the highs and lows that life has to offer.
The varied programme of work moves from Shakespeare to contemporary writing and for Christmas 2024 we see the welcome return of the Exchange’s big Christmas Musical, an audience favourite, filling the stage with showstopping song and dance for a festive celebration.
Four powerful stories are brought to life by acclaimed theatre makers, who pair fresh ideas and perspectives to create innovative pieces of theatre for Greater Manchester audiences this season.
Rave ‘til the sun comes up in a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Directed by the award-winning Stef O’Driscoll and starring Mancunian DJ SALO as The Moon, the play invites audiences to experience Shakespeare as one big night out, where hedonism is king and young lovers match their heartbeats to the bass.
The critically acclaimed winner of the 2022 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting takes to the Royal Exchange stage this October, after smash-hit runs in Edinburgh and London.
Nathan Queeley-Dennis’ Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz brings Birmingham to the heart of Manchester in a tale of love, Beyoncé and a man’s deep connection to his barber.
Back for Christmas 2024, the Exchange’s Christmas Musical spectacular is Northern legend Spend Spend Spend , the true rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Viv Nicholson as she goes from winner of the football pools to scrounging for every last penny.
Rachel Leskovac was Olivier Award-nominated for starring as Young Viv in the original West End production, now takes to the Royal Exchange stage as the older Viv, looking back on a chaotic life lived to the fullest. With a cast of 13 performers and a band of seven talented musicians.
A thoughtful meditation on the complexity of life and the wisdom which comes with age is captivatingly captured in Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone and What If Only.
Directed by the award-winning Sarah Frankcom, these two short plays are presented in one evening of theatre and encompass life in all its beautiful messiness.
This September celebrates ten radical years of creative aging and award-winning work from our Elders programme. To mark this occasion, Elderfest takes place in the Royal Exchange Studio and exhibition spaces this autumn, shining a light on the talents of the Elders past and present with a new devised production and exhibition, performances and screenings.
The Royal Exchange makes theatre as affordable and accessible as possible with Season Tickets, giving audiences the opportunity to book for all 4 shows at once starting from £64.50, Pay What You Can tickets available on every standard show, Under 30s tickets and the Exchange’s legendary Banquette Seats from £10.
Access performances are also available for productions within our theatre space, including Sensory Adapted (SA), Audio Described (AD), BSL-Interpreted (BSL) and Captioned (C) performances, with all tickets for Sensory Adapted performances from £15.
