DRAMA AT THE LOWRY January - April 2006
Exciting new productions and a few old favourites make up the breathtaking new season of drama at The Lowry. The National Theatre return with the hotly anticipated Two Thousand Years, the first Mike Leigh play in over a decade and takes a look into the lives of a contemporary Jewish family tackling issues of politics, religion and identity. Nine middle-eastern writers including comedian Shazia Mirza combine to create 1001 Nights Now, a feast of often moving and hilarious storytelling told by migrants working in a Christmas decoration factory.
Contemporary cinema makes a leap from the silver screen to the stage with Trainspotting replayed in all of its gory detail and East Is East brings home the hilarious story of the Khan family’s struggle against self-destruction in Salford in 1971. Some of Britain’s best known and best loved stars visit our theatres with Sir Ian McKellen appears in Donmar Warehouse’s production of The Cut, Stephanie Cole plays the comical Mrs Malaprop in The Rivals and Leah Bracknell leaves her character of Zoe Tate behind in Emmerdale for a part in Gaslight.
• Tunes of Glory
Tue 17 – Sat 21 January
• Great Expectations
Tue 31 January – Sat 4 February
• Gaslight
Mon 6 – Sat 11 February
• 1001 Nights Now
Tue 7 – Sat 11 February
• National Theatre - Two Thousand Years
Tue 14 – Sat 18 February
• East Is East
Tue 28 February – Sat 4 March
• The Grand Inquisitor
Thu 16 – Sat 18 March
• The Rivals
Mon 20 – Sat 25 March
• Hull Truck - Wrestling Mad
Mon 20 – Sat 25 March
• Trainspotting
Mon 27 March – Sat 1 April
• Donmar Warehouse - The Cut
Tue 4 – Sat 8 April
• Marrying The Mistress
Tue 11 – Sat 15 April
Tue 17 – Sat 21 January
Middle Ground Theatre
Tunes of Glory
World première stage adaptation of James Kennaway’s gripping tale of two strong military men forced into a collision of wills.
Times Eves 7pm, Wed & Thu mats 2.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £12 - £18
Tue 31 January – Sat 4 February
Northern Stage
Great Expectations
Fresh and exciting, using film, music and ensemble storytelling, this is an inspiring interpretation of this classic of English literature.
Times Eves 7pm, Wed mat 1.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £12 - £18
Signed performance
Sat 4 February mat
Wed 1 February
Open Workshop
Two-hour practical workshop exploring the themes of aspiration, ambition and yearning inherent in Dickens' timeless story.
Most suitable for ages 14+.
Capacity 60
Times 10am – 12pm
Tickets £3
Venue Quays Theatre
Wed 1 February
Post Show Talk eve
Meet members of the cast and discuss the processes involved in bringing a classic story to the contemporary stage.
Free to ticket holders
Venue Quays Theatre
Mon 6 – Sat 11 February
Ian Dickens Productions Ltd
Gaslight
Patrick Hamilton’s classic psychological thriller In fog-shrouded Victorian London, beautiful Bella seems to be losing her mind, and as night sets in, the gaslights are dimming again…! Starring Emmerdale’s Leah Bracknell and Peter Amory and Bruce Montague (Butterflies)
Times Eves 7.30pm, Wed mat 2pm, Sat mat 2.30pm
Tickets £14.50 - £18.50
Tue 7 – Sat 11 February
Northern Stage, Nottingham Playhouse & Albany London
1001 Nights Now
Featuring some of the UK’s leading Middle Eastern and Asian performers in great new stories by leading writers.
Most suitable for ages 16+.
Times Eves 7pm, Thu mat 1.30pm
Tickets £12 - £16
Thu 9 February
Open Workshop
The workshop will draw on storytelling techniques used in the rehearsal process, giving a unique insight into the creation of the production.
Capacity 20 Times 10am – 12pm
Tickets £3
Venue The Studio
Thu 9 February
Post Show Talk eve
Meet members of the cast, discuss the ideas explored in the production and hear about the performers' experiences of creating the show.
Free to ticket holders
Venue Quays Theatre
Tue 14 – Sat 18 February
National Theatre
Two Thousand Years
The National’s latest hit – a moving and amusing family saga from Salford-born Mike Leigh (Abigail’s Party, Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake).
Times Tue – Thu eves 7pm, Wed mat 1.30pm, Fri & Sat eves 8pm, Sat mat 3pm
Tickets £16 - £22
Audio Described Performance
Sat 18 February mat
Thu 16 February
Post Show Talk Free to ticket holders
Venue Quays Theatre
Tue 28 February – Sat 4 March
Pilot Theatre, York Theatre Royal & Bolton Octagon
East Is East
Set in 1970s Salford, this brilliant comedy follows the struggles of the Khan family children as they attempt to escape from their domineering father. Contains some strong language.
Times Eves 7pm, Wed & Thu mats 1.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £12 - £16
Audio Described Performance
Sat 4 March mat Touch Tour 1pm
Thu 2 March
Post Show Talk mat
Free to ticket holders
Venue Quays Theatre
Thu 2 March
Post Show Talk eve
Free to ticket holders
Venue Quays Theatre
Thu 16 – Sat 18 March
CICT & Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord
The Grand Inquisitor
Dostoïevski's stunning Inquisition drama is brought to vivid life by legendary director Peter Brook and Salford born actor Bruce Myers.
Times Eves 8pm
Tickets £14 - £18
Mon 20 – Sat 25 March
Theatre Royal Bath Productions
The Rivals
A really special revival of this brilliant classic English comedy. Starring George Baker and Stephanie Cole.
Times Eves 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm
Tickets £16 - £22
Mon 20 – Sat 25 March
Hull Truck
Wrestling Mad
When their girlfriends walk out, two couch potatoes take up wrestling! Grappling good new comedy from John Godber.
Times Eves 7pm, Wed mat 1.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £12 - £18
Stagetext Performance
Sat 25 March mat
Mon 27 March – Sat 1 April
Trainspotting
Tenth anniversary stage production of Irvine Welsh’s shockingly funny drug-fuelled roller coaster ride that inspired the sensational movie.
Contains strong language and nudity.
Times Eves 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm
Tickets £14.50 - £20
Tue 4 – Sat 8 April
Donmar Warehouse
The Cut
Sir Ian McKellen stars in a thrilling new play by Mark Ravenhill (Shopping & F***ing) about a man with a shocking secret.
Directed by Michael Grandage.
Contains strong language.
Times Eves 7pm, Wed mat 1.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £16 - £20
Tue 11 – Sat 15 April
Marrying The Mistress
A distinguished judge announces he is leaving his wife for his young mistress.
First ever stage adaptation of a Joanna Trollope best-seller.
Times Eves 7.30pm, Wed, Thu & Sat mats 3pm
Tickets £14.50 - £20
Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 under Press Theatre Press