New writing will always be the lifeblood of theatre. Not only is it a chance for writers to develop their craft, but also for actors and directors. The latest Contact Compacts features six new fifteen minute plays, set in the Lounge area of the Contact theatre. The Contact theatre is a great venue, showcasing new… Continue Reading →
Gullivers in the Northern Quarter is a lovely pub that has just been refurbished. Downstairs is a comfortable bar and upstairs a performance space seating perhaps eighty or a hundred. It’s an intimate room, quirky, the sort of place that could become a favourite. I like fringe theatre; it offers something different. Othello is the latest… Continue Reading →
One Hand Clapping is Lucia Cox’s adaptation of the Anthony Burgess novel. It’s been on in Manchester a couple of times with great reviews so I was excited to see this at the Bolton Octagon studio (a second trip there in less than a month, it’s so close on the train). It’s a clever and… Continue Reading →
It’s a long time since a play at the Royal Exchange came with such expectation as does the current production of Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake. Having seen her last year in the Masque of Anarchy I was excited to see whether she could reproduce the standard of performance for the full three hours of Hamlet…. Continue Reading →
October in Manchester provides a real variety of innovative and challenging plays across a wide range of venues. I would recommend looking beyond the established theatre venues and trying at least one of these.