Royal Exchange

Royal Exchange Theatre Two bold and brilliant co-productions are on sale to members from today! Firstly, we are excited to collaborate with our friends over at Factory International on a powerful new play, LIBERATION by Ntombizodwa Nyoni, which forms part of the 2025 Manchester International Festival. We're also delighted to join forces with Sheffield Theatres for a brand-new co-producing partnership, that will deliver a new production of Brian Friel's multi-award-winning play DANCING AT LUGHNASA. To buy tickets for these fantastic new shows ahead of general sale, become a member today. As well as priority booking, you can access exclusive benefits such as Member-only events, 10% discount in The Rivals Café and much more, all whilst supporting Manchester’s only full-time producing Theatre. T&C's apply. Priority booking for Members opens today, Tue 11 March at 12:00pm Tickets on general sale, Thu 13 March at 12:00pm Become a member An illustration designed by KomiKamo to represent the Fifth Pan-African Congress at Chorlton-on-Medlock Town Hall. Key figures and moments in history are drawn inside a shape that mimics the African continent. Commissioned by the Royal Exchange Theatre, LIBERATION is a brand-new play by poet and playwright Ntombizodwa Nyoni (The Darkest Part of the Night, Kiln Theatre) and directed by Monique Touko (G, Royal Court), in a co-production with Factory International. The play receives its World Premiere as part of Manchester International Festival 2025 and runs from 27 Jun - 26 Jul. It’s 15 October 1945, Manchester. Africa's freedom and future is in the hands of her descendants at the fifth Pan-African Congress. This powerful new play is inspired by true events in Black British history and traces the private lives of activists who fought to liberate Africa and explores why their story remains relevant in 2025. This ground-breaking new play, developed 80 years after the Congress introduces the people behind the movement. With generational shifts and gender politics added to a swirling mix of power dynamics, LIBERATION asks timeless questions about revolution, freedom, and what it means to be an activist. DANCING AT LUGHNASA by Brian Friel. The image features three women wearing dresses and jumping into a puddle and smiling. Brian Friel’s multi-award-winning drama DANCING AT LUGHNASA runs at the Exchange from 11 Oct - 8 Nov, this is a powerful and moving exploration of reflection, memory and how the future will arrive no matter how much we resist. On the outskirts of Ballybeg, County Donegal, the five Mundy sisters’ lives are bound by responsibilities and social expectations. When influences from a wider, more modern world creep into their home, the sisters are swept along in a sea of change and suddenly the life they know is gone for good. Co-produced with Sheffield Theatres, this highly acclaimed play will be brought to life by Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman. Become a member now and be the first in line for tickets. Access performances are also available for productions within our theatre space, including Sensory Adapted (SA), Audio Described (AD), BSL Interpreted (BSL) and Captioned (C) performances, with all tickets for Sensory Adapted performances as Pay What You Can starting at £15. Find out more here. Please keep an eye on our event pages for confirmed dates and times. Stay connected with us Royal Exchange Theatre St Ann's Square Manchester, M2 7DH 0161 833 9833 royalexchange.co.uk Logos of funding bodies - GMCA, Manchester City Council and Arts Council England Logos of funding bodies - GMCA, Manchester City Council and Arts Council England Registered Charity No. 255424. To donate and find out more visit our Support Us page.