Entertainment
The Manchester Royal Exchange’s indoor ‘spaceship’ is shining a light on its colonial past-John Nathan-Entertainment – Metro
‘No other theatre looks like a spaceship that has landed in an existing building.’
‘No other theatre looks like a spaceship that has landed in an existing building’ (Picture: Supplied)
‘No other theatre looks like a spaceship that has landed in an existing building,’ says Roy Alexander Weise, the joint artistic director of Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre.
Roy is talking about the seven-sided steel and glass structure that occupies the Great Hall of the Exchange, a classical Grade II listed building that was built in 1809. It was here the commodity of spun yarn was traded in huge quantities, a bounty made out of the labour of slaves transported from Africa to the Americas.
Today, that history is no longer a half-forgotten footnote, but at the forefront of the way locals and visitors think about the building, thanks in large part to Disrvpt, the programme conceived by Roy and his joint artistic director Bryony Shanahan.
Launched last year, the project invites artists to engage with and question the Exchange’s relationship with colonialism and slavery. The venue’s focus remains on modern plays and renewed classics.
‘Our programme is a mix of extraordinary work by new writers such as Bloody Elle – A Gig Musical by Lauryn Redding,’ he says before flagging another recent show, Atri Banerjee’s acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie.
The Great Hall of the Manchester Royal Exchange has transformed (Picture: Supplied)
It’s a really unique structure (Picture: Supplied)
Sharing the role of artistic director is an idea recently taken up by the Royal Shakespeare Company, who have also given their top job to two directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. Just in time for Halloween, Roy’s other half in the role, Bryony, is rehearsing vampire chiller Let The Right One In.
Jack Thorne, the man behind the stage version of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, has adapted the cult Swedish novel and the production marks the show’s Manchester debut.
More: Theatre
Roy also claims a different kind of uniqueness for the venue. There is something particular about its intimacy, a point he illustrates with a story told by actor Maxine Peake, who is to play the title role in a new show about former speaker of the House Of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. Called Betty! A Sort Of Musical, the show runs over Christmas. ‘Maxine was talking about the “joy of having to step over people’s Asda bags and rucksacks while performing”, says Roy.
‘The actors and the audience become one in our space. It is the ultimate shared experience and truly unique.’
Let The Right One In is at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, until November 19
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : EastEnders star Josephine Melville dies backstage after theatre performance
Entertainment – MetroRead More
