BRADFRASER WORLD PREMIERE AND CLASSICS BY MILLER, SHAKESPEARE AND COWARD AMONG HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE SEASON
Major revivals of classics by Noël Coward, Arthur Miller and William Shakespeare and a world premiere of the latest Brad Fraser play make up an exciting line-up for the new Spring – Summer 2011 Season at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.
The season opens with Noël Coward’s stylish comedy PRIVATE LIVES from Wednesday 23 February to Saturday 9 April.
In this elegantly witty tale of love and hate, Elyot and Amanda accidentally find themselves honeymooning in the same hotel with their new spouses. Old passions are re-ignited and quarrels and chemistry abound.
Guest director Michael Buffong – who directed the hugely acclaimed A RAISIN IN THE SUN at the Exchange earlier in the year – takes the helm for this new production. Previous RET credits also include SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION and ALL THE ORDINARY ANGELS.
The season continues with the world premiere of 5@50 by Canadian playwright Brad Fraser from Wednesday 13 April to Saturday 14 May.
This quirky look at the lives of five women about to turn 50, is directed by Royal Exchange founding Artistic Director Braham Murray and is the latest offering from a writer who has forged a hugely successful relationship with the Exchange over the last 13 years.
His explicit style has attracted acclaim and controversy in equal measure and previous Exchange productions of his work include UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE, MARTIN YESTERDAY, SNAKE IN FRIDGE and COLD MEAT PARTY and – most recently – TRUE LOVE LIES.
Following this, Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom directs Arthur Miller’s powerful drama A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE from Wednesday 18 May to Saturday 25 June.
Spring – Summer 2011 Season / 2
The play centres on Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone who takes in two illegal immigrants. His cosy family life begins to crumble when his niece falls for one of the men. There’s more to Eddie’s familial love than he can admit, which takes him on a tragic emotional journey towards the ultimate act of betrayal.
Sarah Frankcom’s recent RET successes include THE CHILDREN’S HOUR, the mult-award-winning PUNK ROCK (recently revived at the Lyric Theatre prior to a national tour) BLITHE SPIRIT and THE LADY FROM THE SEA.
And the season concludes with a new production of William Shakespeare’s gloriously sunny comedy AS YOU LIKE IT from Wednesday 29 June to Saturday 6 August
This exuberant combination of concealed identities, verbal jousting, reconciliations and multiple weddings sees romance blossom when Rosalind is banished by her uncle and flees to the Forest of Arden where here father holds court. Dressed as a boy to avoid discovery, she encounters Orlando, the man she loves.
The production is directed by Royal Exchange Artistic Director Greg Hersov, whose RET credits include THE TEMPEST with Pete Postlethwaite, HAY FEVER, ANTIGONE, WIDOWERS’ HOUSES with Roger Lloyd Pack, THE ENTERTAINER, with David Schofield and – most recently - PYGMALION.
For further information, images, or to arrange interviews, please contact JOHN GOODFELLOW (Press Officer) on 0161 615 6783 / john.goodfellow@royalexchange.co.uk
This press release is also available for download from the Royal Exchange Theatre Online Press Office at www.royalexchange.co.uk/press
