Exchange Theatre in the spotlight

6:28pm Monday 21st January 2008

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Not only has one of my favourite theatres announced what promises to be a season of trail-blazing classic dramas - the productions have attracted some of the UK's leading acting talents.

Having the new Royal Exchange Theatre spring and summer brochure drop on the desk is an exciting moment, for me. Sad isn't it.

But that's the affect the glorious Manchester theatre has on me.

However, I thought I'd just give you a brief taster of what's coming up.

First, The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, and a cast including Maxine Peake (TV's Shameless, Clocking Off, among others) and Charlotte Emmerson (Foyle's War, Vincent and more).

They play two women who have worked for years to establish their all-girls boarding school, and now, with the school flourishing and one of them on the verge of marriage all looks hunky dory.

But when a troubled teenager starts to spin a web of deceit all around get caught up in it.

That runs from March 5-April 5.

Does Brenda Blethyn ring a bell?

It certainly should. One of our finest indeed.

Both a BAFTA and Golden Globe winner for her role in Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies as well as being twice nominated for an Oscar.

Not to mention plenty of other acclaimed television, radio, film and theatre performances.

Well, Brenda appears in the monumental Tennessee Williams drama The Glass Menagerie at the Royal Exchange from April 9-May 24, and another star of the small screen Stephen Tompkinson (Ballykissangel and Wild at Heart) graces the boards at the theatre in the powerful and darky comic Jacobean thriller The Revenger's Tragedy, from May 28-June 28.

The summer line-up concludes with fun and frolics in Noel Coward's eccentric comedy Hay Fever, from July 1-August 9.

I'll probably feature more on each play as they come up.

In addition to the main auditorium, there's plenty going on in the Studio too.

Oh, and meanwhile, Denise Black - remember, the hairdresser in Coronation Street, who was the mother of Ken Barlow's son - plays Mrs Bryant in Roots, which runs at the Exchange from January 30 until March 1.

What a line-up!

For further details telephone the box office on 0161-833-9833.