The Royal Exchange is a

grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern I ...

building in

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...

, England. It is located in the

city centre A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...

on the land bounded by St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street. The complex includes the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Royal Exchange Shopping Centre. The Royal Exchange was heavily damaged in the

Manchester Blitz The Manchester Blitz (also known as the Christmas Blitz) was the heavy bombing of the city of Manchester and its surrounding areas in North West England during the Second World War by the German '' Luftwaffe''. It was one of three major raids ...

and in the 1996 Manchester bombing. The current building is the last of several buildings on the site used for commodities exchange, primarily but not exclusively of cotton and textiles.

History, 1729 to 1973

The cotton industry in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...

was served by the cotton importers and brokers based in Liverpool who supplied Manchester and surrounding towns with the raw material needed to spin yarns and produce finished textiles. The Liverpool Cotton Exchange traded in imported raw cotton. In the 18th century, the trade was part of the

slave trade Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

in which African slaves were transported to America where the cotton was grown and then exported to Liverpool where the raw cotton was sold. The raw cotton was processed in Manchester and the surrounding the cotton towns and Manchester Royal Exchange traded in spun yarn and finished goods throughout the world including Africa. Manchester's first exchange opened in 1729 but closed by the end of the century. As the cotton industry boomed, the need for a new exchange was recognised. Baines 1835-Exchange, Manchester

Thomas Harrison designed the new exchange of 1809 at the junction of Market Street and Exchange Street. Harrison designed the exchange in the Classical style. It had two storeys above a basement and was constructed in Runcorn stone. The cost, £20,000, was paid for in advance by 400 members who bought £50 shares and paid £30 each to buy the site. The semi-circular north façade had fluted

Doric Doric may refer to: * Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece ** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians * Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture * Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode * Doric dialect (Scotland) * Doric ...

columns. The exchange room where business was conducted covered 812 square yards. The ground floor also contained the members' library with more than 15,000 books. The basement housed a newsroom lit by a dome and plate-glass windows, its ceiling was supported by a circle of Ionic pillars spaced 15 feet from the walls. The first-floor dining-room was accessed by a geometrical staircase. The exchange opened to celebrate of the birthday of George III in 1809. It also contained other anterooms and offices. As the cotton trade continued to expand, larger premises were required and its extension was completed in 1849. The Exchange was run by a committee of notable Manchester industrialists. From 1855 to 1860 the committee was chaired by Edmund Buckley. The second exchange was replaced by a third designed by Mills & Murgatroyd, constructed between 1867 and 1874.Hartwell, p. 155. It was extended and modified by Bradshaw Gass & Hope between 1914 and 1931 to form the largest trading hall in England.Parkinson-Bailey, p. 142. The trading hall had three domes and was double the size of the current hall. The colonnade parallel to Cross Street marked its centre. On trading days merchants and brokers struck deals which supported the jobs of tens of thousands of textile workers in Manchester and the surrounding towns. Manchester's cotton dealers and manufacturers trading from the Royal Exchange earned the city the name,

Cottonopolis Cottonopolis was a 19th-century nickname for Manchester, as it was a metropolis and the centre of the cotton industry. Background Early cotton mills powered by water were built in Lancashire and its neighbouring counties. In 1781 Richard Arkw ...

. The exchange was seriously damaged during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

when it took a direct hit from a bomb during a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

air raid in the

at Christmas in 1940. Its interior was rebuilt with a smaller trading area.Parkinson-Bailey, p. 169. The top stages of the clock tower, which had been destroyed, were replaced in a simpler form. Trading ceased in 1968, and the building was threatened with demolition.Parkinson-Bailey, p. 206.

Architecture

The exchange has four storeys and two attic storeys built on a rectangular plan in Portland stone. It was designed in the Classical style. Its slate roof has three glazed domes and on the ground floor an arcade orientated east to west. It has a central atrium at first-floor level. The ground floor facade has channelled rusticated

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

and the first, second and third floors have Corinthian columns with entablature and a modillioned

cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...

. The first attic storey has a

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its c ...

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). ...

while the second attic storey has a mansard roof. At the north-west corner is a

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including ...

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Objective turret, an indexable holder of multiple lenses in an optical microscope * M ...

and there are domes over other corners. The west side has a massive round-headed entrance arch with wide steps up and the first and second floor windows have round-headed arches. The third floor and first attic storey have mullioned windows.

Theatre

The building remained empty until 1973, when it was used to house a theatre company (69 Theatre Company); the company performed in a temporary theatre but there were plans for a permanent theatre whose cost was then estimated at £400,000. The Royal Exchange Theatre was founded in 1976 by five artistic directors: Michael Elliott, Caspar Wrede, Richard Negri, James Maxwell and Braham Murray. The theatre was opened by

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage ...

on 15 September 1976. In 1979, the artistic directorship was augmented by the appointment of Gregory Hersov. Royal Exchange Arcade

The building was damaged on 15 June 1996 when an IRA bomb exploded in Corporation Street less than 50 yards away. The blast caused the dome to move, although the main structure was undamaged.Parkinson-Bailey, p. 257. That the adjacent St Ann's Church survived almost unscathed is probably due to the sheltering effect of the stone-built exchange. Repairs, which were undertaken by Birse Group, took over two years and cost £32 million, a sum provided by the National Lottery. While the exchange was rebuilt, the theatre company performed in Castlefield. The theatre was repaired and provided with a second performance space, the Studio, a bookshop, craft shop, restaurant, bars and rooms for corporate hospitality. The theatre's workshops, costume department and rehearsal rooms were moved to Swan Street. The refurbished theatre re-opened on 30 November 1998 by Prince Edward. The opening production, Stanley Houghton's '' Hindle Wakes'' was the play that should have opened the day the bomb was exploded. In 1999, the Royal Exchange was awarded "Theatre of the Year" in the Barclays Theatre Awards, in recognition of its refurbishment and ambitious re-opening season. In 2014 Sarah Frankcom was appointed the sole artistic director. In January 2016 the Royal Exchange was awarded Regional Theatre of the Year by ''

The Stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. It was founded in 1880. It contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at those wh ...

''. In announcing the award, ''The Stage'' said: "This was the year that artistic director Sarah Frankcom really hit her stride at the Royal Exchange. The Manchester theatre in the round's output during 2015 delivered its best year in quite some time." In January 2018, the Royal Exchange Young Company won the "School of the Year" award at The Stage Awards 2018. On 28 March 2019, the Royal Exchange announced that Sarah Frankcom was stepping down as Artistic Director of the Theatre to take up a new post as Director of the prestigious drama school

LAMDA LaMDA, which stands for Language Model for Dialogue Applications, is a family of conversational neural language models developed by Google. The first generation was announced during the 2021 Google I/O keynote, while the second generation was ...

. On 8 July 2019, the theatre announced the appointment of Bryony Shanahan and Roy Alexander Weise as Joint Artistic Directors.

Theatres

The theatre features a seven-sided steel and glass module that squats within the building's Great Hall. It is a pure

theatre in the round A theatre in the round, arena theatre or central staging is a space for theatre in which the audience surrounds the stage. Theatre-in-the-round was common in ancient theatre, particularly that of Greece and Rome, but was not widely explored ...

in which the stage area is surrounded on all sides, and above, by seating. Its unique design conceived by Richard Negri of the Wimbledon School of Art is intended to create a vivid and immediate relationship between actors and audiences. As the floor of the exchange was unable to take the weight of the theatre and its audience, the module is suspended from the four columns carrying the hall's central dome. Only the stage area and ground-level seating rest on the floor. The 150-ton theatre structure opened in 1976 at a cost of £1 million amid some scepticism from Mancunians. The theatre can seat an audience of up to 800 on three levels, making it the largest theatre in the round in The World. There are 400 seats at ground level in a raked configuration, above which are two galleries, each with 150 seats set in two rows. The Studio is a 90-seat studio theatre with no fixed stage area and moveable seats, allowing for a variety of production styles (in the round,

thrust Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton's third law. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction, the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction to be applied to that ...

etc.) Prior to 2020, the studio acted as host to a programme of visiting touring theatre companies, stand-up comedians and performances for young people.

Theatre programme

The Royal Exchange gives an average of 350 performances a year of nine professional theatre productions. Performances by the theatre company are occasionally given in London or from a 400-seat mobile theatre. The company performs a varied programme including classic theatre and revivals, contemporary drama and new writing.

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, Ibsen and Chekhov have been the mainstay of its repertoire but the theatre has staged classics from other areas of the canon including the British premieres of '' La Ronde'' and ''The Prince of Homburg'' and revivals of ''

The Lower Depths ''The Lower Depths'' (russian: На дне, translit=Na dne, literally: ''At the bottom'') is a play by Russian dramatist Maxim Gorky written in 1902 and produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre on December 18, 1902 under the direction of Konstantin St ...

'', ''

Don Carlos ''Don Carlos'' is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the dramatic play '' Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Fried ...

'' and '' The Dybbuk''. American work has also been important –

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the thr ...

O'Neill The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin, that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically the most prominent family of the Northe ...

, Miller, August Wilson – as has new writing, with the world premieres of ''

The Dresser ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'', ''

Amongst Barbarians ''Amongst Barbarians'' is a 1989 play by British playwright Michael Wall, first performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester prior to a transfer to the Hampstead Theatre in London. It was filmed as a made-for-TV movie in 1990, which was s ...

'', ''A Wholly Healthy Glasgow'' and ''Port'' to its name. The Royal Exchange also presents visiting theatre companies in the Studio; folk,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

and rock concerts; and discussions, readings and literary events. It engages children of all ages in drama activities and groups and has performances including these children and teens. Performances include "The Freedom Bird" and "The Boy Who Ran from the Sea".

Key productions

The company has produced a very wide range of plays from 31 Shakespeare revivals to over 100 premieres; from neglected European classics to adaptations of famous novels. The many critically acclaimed and award-winning productions include: * '' The Rivals'' by

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Irish satirist, a politician, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as '' The Rivals'', ''The ...

. One of the two opening productions, directed by Braham Murray with

Tom Courtenay Sir Thomas Daniel Courtenay (; born 25 February 1937) is an English actor. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Courtenay achieved prominence in the 1960s with a series of acclaimed film roles, including ''The Loneliness of t ...

, Christopher Gable and Patricia Routledge (1976) * '' The Prince of Homburg'' by Heinrich von Kleist. The other opening production, directed by Casper Wrede with

and Christopher Gable (1976) * '' The Lady from the Sea'' by Ibsen. Directed by Michael Elliott with

Vanessa Redgrave Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress and activist. Throughout her career spanning over seven decades, Redgrave has garnered numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Television Award, tw ...

(1978) * ''

'' by

Ronald Harwood Sir Ronald Harwood (né Horwitz; 9 November 1934 – 8 September 2020) was a South African-born British author, playwright, and screenwriter, best known for his plays for the British stage as well as the screenplays for ''The Dresser'' (for wh ...

. World premiere directed by Michael Elliott with

and Freddie Jones (1980) * '' The Duchess of Malfi'' by John Webster. Directed by

Adrian Noble Adrian Keith Noble (born 19 July 1950) is a theatre director, and was also the artistic director and chief executive of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1990 to 2003. Education and career Noble was born in Chichester, Sussex, England. After le ...

with

Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (born Helen Lydia Mironoff; born 26 July 1945) is an English actor. The recipient of numerous accolades, she is the only performer to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting in both the United States and the United Kingdom ...

Bob Hoskins Robert William Hoskins (26 October 1942 – 29 April 2014) was an English actor. His work included lead roles in films and television series such as '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), ''The Long Good Friday'' (1980), ''Mona Lisa'' (1986), ''Who ...

and Pete Postlethwaite (1980) * '' Waiting for Godot'' by Samuel Beckett. Directed by Braham Murray with

Max Wall Max Wall (12 March 1908 – 21 May 1990) was an English actor and comedian whose performing career covered music hall, films, television and theatre. Early years Wall was born Maxwell George Lorimer, son of the successful music hall entert ...

and

Trevor Peacock Trevor Edward Peacock (19 May 1931 – 8 March 2021) was an English actor, screenwriter and songwriter. He made his name as a theatre actor, later becoming known for his Shakespearean roles. Later in his career, he became best known for playing ...

(1980) * ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

''. Directed by Braham Murray with Robert Lindsay (1983) * '' Moby Dick''. World premiere adapted and directed by Michael Elliott with Brian Cox (1984) * '' As You Like It''. Directed by

Nicholas Hytner Sir Nicholas Robert Hytner (; born 7 May 1956) is an English theatre director, film director, and film producer. He was previously the Artistic Director of London's National Theatre. His major successes as director include '' Miss Saigon'', ''T ...

with Janet McTeer (1986) * '' Riddley Walker'' by Russell Hoban. World Premiere directed by Braham Murray with David Threlfall (1986) * ''

Edward II Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to ...

'' by

Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe, also known as Kit Marlowe (; baptised 26 February 156430 May 1593), was an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights. Based upon t ...

. Directed by

with

Ian McDiarmid Ian McDiarmid (; born 11 August 1944) is a Scottish actor and director of stage and screen, best known for portraying the Sith Lord Emperor Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious in the ''Star Wars'' multimedia franchise. Making his stage debut in ' ...

and Michael Grandage (1986) * ''

'' by

Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (, short: ; 10 November 17599 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller developed a productive, if complicated, friends ...

. Directed by

with

and Michael Grandage (1987) * '' All My Sons'' by Arthur Miller. Directed by

Greg Hersov Gregory A. "Greg" Hersov (born 1956) is a British theatre director. Hersov was educated at Bryanston School and Mansfield College, Oxford. Overview Hersov has been associated with the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester since 1979. He became ...

with John Thaw and

Michael Maloney Michael Maloney (born 19 June 1957) is an English actor. Life and career Born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, Maloney's first television appearance was as Peter Barkworth's teenage son in the 1979 drama series ''Telford's Change''. He made hi ...

(1988) * '' Macbeth''. Directed by Braham Murray with David Threlfall and

Francis Barber Francis Barber ( – 13 January 1801), born Quashey, was the Jamaican manservant of Samuel Johnson in London from 1752 until Johnson's death in 1784. Johnson made him his residual heir, with £70 () a year to be given him by Trustees, express ...

(1988) * '' Arms and the Man'' by Bernard Shaw with Catherine Russell and Adrian Lukis (1988/89) * ''Donny Boy'' by Robert Glendinning (

TMA Award The UK Theatre Awards, established in 1991 and known before 2011 as the TMA Awards, are presented annually by UK Theatre (formerly the Theatrical Management Association) in recognition of creative excellence and outstanding work in regional theat ...

for best new play).World premiere directed by Casper Wrede (1990) * ''

Death and the King's Horseman ''Death and the King's Horseman'' is a play by Wole Soyinka based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during the colonial era: the horseman of a Yoruba King was prevented from committing ritual suicide by the colonial authorities. In ...

'' by

Wole Soyinka Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...

. World premiere directed by Phyllida Lloyd with George Harris and

Claire Benedict Claire Benedict (born 28 July 1951) is a British actress known for her work in classical productions on the British stage, but best known for portraying the principal character Mma Ramotswe in the continuing radio adaptations of '' The No 1 Lad ...

(1990) * ''Your Home in the West by Rod Wooden''. World premiere directed by Braham Murray with David Threlfall, Lorraine Ashbourne and Andy Serkis (1991) * '' Romeo and Juliet''. Directed by

(

) with Michael Sheen and Kate Byers (1992) * '' Look Back in Anger'' by John Osborne. Directed by

with Michael Sheen and Claire Skinner (1995) * '' Hindle Wakes'' by Stanley Houghton. Directed by

Helena Kaut-Howson Helena Kaut-Howson is a British theatre director. Early life and education Helena Kaut-Howson was born (as Helena Kaut) in 1940 in Lviv, which was then in Poland. She grew up in Wrocław, Poland. Her training as a director was first at the Po ...

( MEN Award) with Ewan Hooper and Sue Johnston. See IRA bombing above. (1996) and (1998) * '' Much Ado About Nothing''. Directed by

( MEN Award) with Josie Lawrence ( MEN Award), Michael Muller and Ewan Hooper ( MEN Award) (1997) * ''Poor Superman by'' Brad Fraser. British premiere directed by Marianne Elliott ( MEN Award) with Sam Graham ( MEN Award) and Luke Williams ( MEN Award) (1997) * '' Peer Gynt'' by

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential pla ...

. Directed by Braham Murray with David Threlfall (1999) * ''Snake in Fridge'' by Brad Fraser ( MEN Award). World premiere directed by Braham Murray ( MEN Award) with Adam Sims ( MEN Award) and Kellie Bright (2000) * '' Hedda Gabler'' by

. Directed by Braham Murray with Amanda Donohoe ( MEN Award), Terence Wilton and Simon Robson (2001) * '' The Homecoming'' by Harold Pinter. Directed by

with Pete Postlethwaite ( MEN Award) (2002) * '' Othello''. Directed by Braham Murray with Paterson Joseph and Andy Serkis (2002) * ''Port by'' Simon Stephens ( Pearson Award). World premiere directed by Marianne Elliott with Emma Lowndes ( MEN Award) and

Andrew Sheridan Andrew John Sheridan (born 1 November 1979 in Petts Wood, Bromley, England) is a retired English rugby union player who played as a loosehead prop. Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs . He is known for his great ...

(2002) * ''

Hobson's Choice A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is actually offered. The term is often used to describe an illusion that multiple choices are available. The most well known Hobson's choice is "I'll give you a choice: take it or leav ...

'' by

Harold Brighouse Harold Brighouse (26 July 1882 – 25 July 1958) was an English playwright and author whose best known play is '' Hobson's Choice''. He was a prominent member, together with Allan Monkhouse and Stanley Houghton, of a group known as the Manches ...

. Directed by Braham Murray with

, John Thomson and Joanna Riding (2003) * '' Antony and Cleopatra''. Directed by Braham Murray with

Josette Bushell-Mingo Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE (born 16 February 1964) is a Sweden-based English theatre actress and director of African descent, who was born in London and has been living and working in Sweden for many years. In February 2021, the Royal Central Scho ...

, Tom Mannion and Terence Wilton (2005) * ''

On the Shore of the Wide World ''On the Shore of the Wide World'' is a play by English playwright Simon Stephens. It opened 18 April 2005, at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, under the direction of Sarah Frankcom. On May 26, the production transferred to the Cottesloe s ...

'' by Simon Stephens ( Olivier Award). World premiere directed by Sarah Frankcom with

Nicholas Gleaves Nicholas Gleaves (born 2 January 1969) is an English actor and playwright. Career Gleaves's first theatre part was as an extra in ''Don Carlos'' at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. He did several plays there including the lead in ''Mac ...

, Siobhan Finneran ( MEN Award) and Eileen O'Brien (2005) * ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

''. Directed by Jonathon Munby with

Elliot Cowan Elliot Aidan Cowan (born 9 July 1976) is an English actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in ''Ultimate Force'', Mr Darcy in ''Lost in Austen'', and Ptolemy in the 2004 film ''Alexander''. He also starred as Lorenzo de' Medici in ...

( MEN Award) (2007) * ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusing ...

'' by Arnold Wesker. Directed by Jo Combes with Claire Brown and Denise Black ( MEN Award) (2008) * '' The Children's Hour'' by Lillian Hellman. Directed by Sarah Frankcom with Maxine Peake ( MEN Award), Charlotte Emmerson and Kate O'Flynn (

) (2008) * '' The Glass Menagerie'' by

. Directed by Braham Murray with

Brenda Blethyn Brenda Blethyn (''née'' Bottle; 20 February 1946) is an English actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, and two Academy Award nominations. Blethyn ...

(

) (2008) * '' Punk rock'' by Simon Stephens ( MEN Award). World premiere directed by Sarah Frankcom ( MEN Award) with Jessica Raine ( MEN Award) and

Tom Sturridge Thomas Sidney Jerome Sturridge is an English actor. His early films include ''Being Julia'' (2004), '' Like Minds'' (2006), and ''The Boat That Rocked'' (2009). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performances i ...

( MEN Award and

Critics' Circle Award The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, originally called ''Drama'' Theatre Awards up to 1990, are British theatrical awards presented annually for the closing year's theatrical achievements. The winners, from theatre throughout the United Kingdom, ar ...

)( 2009) * '' A Raisin in the Sun'' by Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Michael Buffong ( MEN Award) with Ray Fearon ( MEN Award), Starletta DuPois( MEN Award) and

Jenny Jules Jenny Jules is an English actress. She started her acting career as a member of the youth theatre programme at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, London. Her career has been closely linked with the Tricycle Theatre where she has acted numerous tim ...

( MEN Award) (2010).MEN Awards

'' City Life (magazine), City Life'', 10 February 2011. * '' Pygmalion'' by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

. Directed by

with

Cush Jumbo Cush Jumbo (born 23 September 1985) is a British actress and writer. She is best known for her leading role as attorney Lucca Quinn in the CBS drama series ''The Good Wife'' (2015–16) and the CBS All Access spin-off series ''The Good Fight'' ...

, Simon Robson, Terence Wilton and Ian Bartholomew ( MEN Award) (2010) * ''Mogadishu'' by Vivienne Franzmann. World premiere directed by Matthew Dunster with Ian Bartholomew, Malachi Kirby and Shannon Tarbet ( Manchester Theatre Awards) (2011)Theatre Awards.
/ref> * '' A View From The Bridge'' by Arthur Miller. Directed by Sarah Frankcom with Con O'Neill ( Manchester Theatre Awards) and Ian Redford (2011) * As You Like It. Directed by

with

(

Ian Charleson Award The Ian Charleson Awards are theatrical awards that reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors under age 30. The awards are named in memory of the renowned British actor Ian Charleson, and are run by the ''Sunday Times'' ne ...

Ben Batt Ben Batt (born 7 February 1986) is an English actor, best known for his role as the villainous Joe Pritchard in Channel 4's comedy drama '' Shameless''. He has also appeared in ''Scott & Bailey'' as DC Kevin Lumb, Alf Rutter in '' The Village' ...

, Kelly Hotten, Ian Bartholomew, Terence Wilton and James Clyde (2011) * '' Wonderful Town'' by

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

( Manchester Theatre Awards).Produced in partnership with the Hallé Orchestra and The Lowry with Connie Fisher, Lucy van Gasse and Michael Xavier. The orchestra was conducted by Mark Elder. The production was the last one directed by Braham Murray as artistic director of the Royal Exchange (2012) * Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Directed by Sarah Frankcom with Maxine Peake ( Manchester Theatre Awards), Liam Gerrard, Joe Armstrong and Carla Henry (2012) * '' The Accrington Pals'' by Peter Whelan. Directed by James Dacre with Emma Lowndes, Sarah Ridgeway, Robin Morrissey and

Gerard Kearns Gerard Kearns (born 4 October 1984) is an English actor. He is best known as Ian Gallagher in '' Shameless''. Career Kearns starred in the film ''The Mark of Cain'', for Film4 Productions, based on British soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners ...

. UK Theatre Award for best design (2013) * '' A Doll's House'' by

. Directed by

with

( Manchester Theatre Awards)( Theatre Awards UK), David Sturzaker, Kelly Hotten, Jack Tarlton and Jamie De Courcey (2013) * '' Sweeney Todd'' by

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

. Co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse directed by James Brining with David Birrell as Sweeney Todd and Gillian Bevan as Mrs Lovett (2013) * ''The Last Days of Troy'' by

Simon Armitage Simon Robert Armitage (born 26 May 1963) is an English poet, playwright, musician and novelist. He was appointed Poet Laureate on 10 May 2019. He is professor of poetry at the University of Leeds. He has published over 20 collections of poet ...

. Directed by Nick Bagnall with Gillian Bevan, David Birrell, Richard Bremner and Lily Cole (2014) * ''Billy Liar'' by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. Directed by Sam Yates with Harry McEntire ( Manchester Theatre Awards), Emily Barber( Manchester Theatre Awards), Jack Deam, Rebekah Hinds, Lisa Millett (2014) * ''

''. Directed by Sarah Frankcom with Maxine Peake,

John Shrapnel John Morley Shrapnel (27 April 1942 – 14 February 2020) was an English actor. He is known mainly for his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in the United Kingdom and for his many television appearances. ...

Barbara Marten Barbara Marten (born 3 January 1947) is a British actress. She is most known for playing Eve Montgomery in ''Casualty''. She has appeared in various soaps, including Eastenders and Brookside, as well as many other drama serials such as ''Harry' ...

, Gillian Bevan ( Manchester Theatre Awards) and

(2014) * '' Breaking the Code'' by Hugh Whitemore ( Manchester Theatre Award). Directed by Robert Hastie with Daniel Rigby ( Manchester Theatre Award),Natalie Dew( Manchester Theatre Award) Phil Cheadle, Dmitri Gripari and Geraldine Alexander (2016) * '' Sweet Charity'': Book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and Lyrics by Dorothy Fields ( Manchester Theatre Award) . Directed by Derek Bond with Kaisa Hammarlund, Daniel Crossley ( Manchester Theatre Award), Bob Harms and Josie Benson (2016)

The Bruntwood Prize

In 2005, the Royal Exchange Theatre launched the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition to encourage a new generation of playwrights from the UK and Ireland. The competition had its roots in two regional competitions called WRITE which attracted over 400 entries. The first two competitions resulted in three festivals of new writing which showcased eight new writers, one of whom, Nick Leather, became writer in residence. The theatre produced his script, ''All the Ordinary Angels'', in October 2005. In 2006, 1,800 scripts were submitted for consideration. The winning entry was Ben Musgrave's ''Pretend You Have Big Buildings'' for which he received a prize of £15,000 and his play was performed as part of the

Manchester International Festival The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first tak ...

2007. In 2008 the Exchange and Bruntwood ran a second competition. Judges included

, Michael Sheen,

Roger Michell Roger Michell (5 June 1956 – 22 September 2021) was a South African-born British theatre, television and film director. He was best known for directing films such as '' Notting Hill'' and ''Venus'', as well as the 1995 made-for-television f ...

and actor/director Richard Wilson. The £40,000 prize fund was split equally between Vivienne Franzmann for ''Mogadishu'' (main house and Lyric Hammersmith 2011), Fiona Peek for ''Salt'' (The Studio 2010),

for ''Winterlong'' (The Studio, 2011) and Naylah Ahmed for ''Butcher Boys''.

Notable people

Directors

The company has been run by a group of artistic directors since its inception. According to Braham Murray: -"Although the names have changed we have remained a team of like-minded individuals sharing a common vision of the purpose and potency of theatre."The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976–1998, p. 62. These individuals includeThe Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976–1998.Braham Murray. * Michael Elliott (1976–1984) * James Maxwell (1976–1995) * Braham Murray (1976–2012) * Richard Negri (1976–1986) * Caspar Wrede (1976–1990) *

(1987– 2014) * Marianne Elliott (1998–2002) * Matthew Lloyd (1998–2001) * Sarah Frankcom (2008–2019) * Bryony Shanahan (2019– ) * Roy Alexander Weise (2019– ) In 2014 Sarah Frankcom became the sole artistic director. Associate Artistic Directors include:-

(1985–1989),

(1986–1988) and Phyllida Lloyd (1990–1991). Many other directors have worked at the Royal Exchange amongst them Lucy Bailey, Michael Buffong, Robert Delamere, Jacob Murray,

Steven Pimlott Steven Charles Pimlott (18 April 1953 – 14 February 2007) was an English opera and theatre director, whose obituary in ''The Times'' hailed him as "one of the most versatile and inventive theatre directors of his generation". His output ran th ...

and Richard Wilson. The company is renowned for its innovative designers, composers and choreographers which include Lez Brotherston, Johanna Bryant, Chris Monks, Alan Price, Jeremy Sams, Rae Smith and

Mark Thomas Mark Clifford Thomas (born 11 April 1963) is an English comedian, presenter, political satirist, and journalist. He first became known as a guest comic on the BBC Radio 1 comedy show '' The Mary Whitehouse Experience'' in the late 1980s. He is ...

Actors

Throughout its history the theatre has attracted great actors and a number of them have taken on many roles over the years. Actors who have been particularly associated with the Exchange and have appeared in several different productions include : -Braham Murray. Lorraine Ashbourne,

, Amanda Donohoe, Gabrielle Drake, Lindsay Duncan, Ray Fearon, Michael Feast, Robert Glenister, Derek Griffiths,

Dilys Hamlett Dilys Hamlett (31 March 1928, South Tidworth, Hampshire – 7 July 2002, Cupar, Fife) was a British actress. Early life Dilys Hamlett was born on 31 March 1928 in South Tidworth, Hampshire (now in Wiltshire), and developed an early interest i ...

, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Claire Higgins, Paterson Joseph,

, Ben Keaton, Robert Lindsay,

, Tim McInnerny, Janet McTeer,

Patrick O'Kane Patrick O'Kane is an Irish actor who was born in 1965 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has been part of the companies of the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. He has appeared in London's West End and at the Abbey ...

, Daragh O'Malley

, Maxine Peake, Pete Postlethwaite, Linus Roache, David Schofield, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen,

, David Threlfall and Don Warrington. Other notable actors have appeared at the theatre and these include Brian Cox,

Albert Finney Albert Finney (9 May 1936 – 7 February 2019) was an English actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in the theatre before attaining prominence on screen in the early 1960s, debuting with '' The Entertainer'' (1960 ...

, Alex Jennings, Ben Kingsley, Leo McKern,

, David Morrissey,

Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman (born 21 March 1958) is an English actor and filmmaker. Known for his versatility and intense acting style, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and three British Academy F ...

, Imogen Stubbs, John Thaw, Harriet Walter,

Julie Walters Dame Julia Mary Walters (born 22 February 1950), known professionally as Julie Walters, is an English actress. She is the recipient of four British Academy Television Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two International Emmy Awards, a B ...

and

Sam West Samuel Filmore West (October 5, 1904 – November 23, 1985) was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams from to . Listed at , 165 lb., West batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Longview, Texas ...

. The company has always had a reputation for spotting young actors before they became famous.

Kate Winslet Kate Elizabeth Winslet (; born 5 October 1975) is an English actress. Known for her work in independent films, particularly period dramas, and for her portrayals of headstrong and complicated women, she has received numerous accolades, inc ...

, Hugh Grant, David Tennant, Michael Sheen,

Andrew Garfield Andrew Russell Garfield (born 20 August 1983) is an English and American actor. He has received various accolades, including a Tony Award, a BAFTA TV Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards. '' Tim ...

and most recently Gabriel Clark all appeared at the Royal Exchange long before starring in film and television.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * *

External links

1874 – Royal Exchange, Manchester, Lancashire

Royal Exchange Manchester

The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition 2008

The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition 2008 Blog
{{Coord, 53.4825, -2.2444, display=title 1921 establishments in England Bradshaw, Gass & Hope buildings Commercial buildings completed in 1914 Grade II listed buildings in Manchester Producing theatres in England Shopping centres in Manchester Theatres in Manchester

History, 1729 to 1973

Architecture

Theatre

Theatres

Theatre programme

Key productions

The Bruntwood Prize

Notable people

Directors

Actors

See also

References

Bibliography

External links