Creative use of circular stage surrounded by multiple levels of seatings in a circular pattern. Performances are always carefully selected, sometime challenging, sometimes experimental but never dull. Has an emphasis on using actors and performers from the North.
They have stopped offering discounted car parking recently, but parking at nearby q Park costs about £8 for 3.5 hours.
Fantastic theatre with really entertaining shows, expertly mixing classics with new work. A massively under-appreciated gem in Manchester’s city centre and cultural identity.
The Royal Exchange is a purpose-built theatre within the stunning architectural space of Manchester's former cotton exchange.
The performance space is 'in the round', with seating on three levels all offering excellent views.
The productions are wide-ranging in genre and subject matter, and invariably well-staged.
All performances usually have a selection of 'pay what you decide' tickets, so you can enjoy top-quality theatre in a stunning setting for as little as £5 or £10.
It's well worth a visit.
Love the Royal Exchange. We've been a few times and it never disappoints. I'd recommend to anyone to try and visit at least once.
I wasn't much of a theatre goer before and certainly wouldn't have looked at a Shakespeare play but I've seen Macbeth and now Romeo and Juliet and the productions have just been amazing.
Not been to the Royal Exchange for a long, long time but it won't be too long before we're back again. Thoroughly enjoyed the "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" performance and the experience of theatre in the round. Forgotten how good it is.
I've seen a few plays & performances over the years, it's a brilliant experience.
But you can also just call in to visit the café and enjoy the architecture and use the loo.
As a recently joined member of the Elders theatre Company, I'm impressed by the dedication of everyone there, great atmosphere in this historic citadel of Drama, drop in! take a look! book a show!
I hasten to add and reiterate the fact that the Royal Exchange is innovative with its "module" theatre in the round, being housed in Manchesters historical former Corn Exchange. What a marvelous way to keep this beautiful marble building alive!
It was great to go back there after a decade by virtue of me joining the "Elders" (The last show I saw there was "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller much longer ago !) and see the place still vibrant, and progressive even, in its approach and staging of the best in drama!
This place never disappoints. A beautiful building, warm, welcoming and really different in design. Brilliant theatre productions at affordable prices. First class theatre entertainment. The Electric rosary production was outstanding, we laughed and cried, brilliant!!
Lovely theatre. Prices for really nasty wine killed the vibe. Need much better quality wine to go with the beautiful theatre. Can't wait to go again.
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The building and the theatre itself are wonderful because they're from a time before ultra Liberal wokeism was known.
If you're going to get paper tickets (because your Internet won't work inside the building, despite the control system bathing everyone in 5G radiation) arrive early because some bright spark has decided to remove two of the three reception desks to make way for the Ai generation. This has simply resulted in long queues. It will have been done in order to save money, and the person who implemented the change will have been rewarded for adding value, which means sacking low waged staff. Well done you.
The second problem is the shift whereby theatre has become political... Which means they have to perpetually ram woke ideologies down your throat, such as gender blind casting etc.
The play I saw this week was Romeo and Juliet which has been completely destroyed by the director as well as weak acting and poor delivery of beautiful lines. Not to mention the horrendous music in it. This is done to attract those who are in no way interested in theatre whatsoever, so what you end up with is a destroyed, deconstructed play and an audience of confused middle class Caucasians who wish it was twenty years ago.
As soon as I left the house I knew I'd be attending a woke fest, but thank God these people can't yet destroy the building.
During some of the play they played EDM music which sounds like you have a nuisance neighbour and there's a low rumble of bass in the background. I took the rumble to be that of Shakespeare rolling in his grave.
I used to come to this theatre a lot and the Left risk alienating people like me. They'll end up not being able to attract the ones they want and they ones they want wouldn't understand it anyway because of their poor education.
Total destruction of something that was perfect.
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