Road Archives - North West End UK

20Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Road – Royal Exchange

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Exchange Theatre, an occasion celebrated with a season of productions entitled 'A Homecoming', welcoming artistic alumni back to direct and perform in the Levitt Bernstein-designed "spaceship" nestled within the Victorian splendour of the old Exchange building. New Artistic Director Selina Cartmell launches the programme in strong style with a revival of Jim Cartwright's seminal 'Road', boasting a star-studded cast, astonishing design, and an unfortunate modern relevance forty years after its premiere. When the Royal Court Theatre first staged Road in 1986, Margaret Thatcher was at the height of her power and British society was beginning to see the effects of her political credo. While some prospered in this new "Gordon Gekko...

Royal Exchange Announces 50th Anniversary Season

16Sep

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Royal Exchange Announces 50th Anniversary Season

Announcing her first season of work on the 49th birthday of the Theatre, Selina Cartmell, Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, welcomed Sir Tom Courtenay, after 24 years, back to the theatre to celebrate its iconic history alongside a brilliant group of other artists connected to the Exchange, to launch A HOMECOMING - a season that celebrates the theatres past and re-defines its future. A HOMECOMING, Selina Cartmell’s inaugural season for the Royal Exchange’s 50th Anniversary includes: •Selina Cartmell opens the season with ROAD by Jim Cartwright, starring Johnny Vegas, Lucy Beaumont and Shobna Gulati, with a special appearance on film by Sir Tom Courtenay, his 17th time performing at the Exchange since its opening in 1976. •PRIVATE LIVES by Noël Coward directed by Bla...

28Sep

By Amanda HodgsonNo Comments

North West

Road – Oldham Coliseum

A trip to the Oldham Coliseum usually provides a gem of a show, and ‘Road’ did not disappoint. The play explores an array of characters, some loud, some rough, some lonely, some misunderstood, and some tormented, who live on a Lancashire street in 1987. An evening of real-life moments told through monologue and dialogue; we hear about Northern people with Northern problems. Although set in 1987 this play explores issues which clearly resonates with some northern towns today, more than 30 years later. The set captured the essence of Lancashire life, transforming between exterior windows, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. The use of running water, and everyday sound effects such as barking dogs and fireworks, enhanced the real-life atmosphere, providing a sense of familiarity. The ...

Kofi Dennis takes a trip down the Road at Oldham Coliseum

16Sep

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Interviews

Kofi Dennis takes a trip down the Road at Oldham Coliseum

Not many debut works are voted as one the best 50 British plays of all time, but anyone who has seen Lancashire playwright Jim Cartwright’s searing indictment of deprivation on one northern street in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain knows exactly why. It’s still a powerful play that has been revived countless times. and now Oldham Coliseum are staging it starring Coronation Street legend Paula Lane, who was Kylie Platt in the Street, and ironically plays the equally feisty Lane in Road. She is joined by Coliseum regular Richard J Fletcher playing the well-oiled Scullery, who takes the audience on a riotous and ramshackle trip down the eponymous road. It’s a road that could be anywhere in the north where there’s no jobs and little hope, which sadly sounds very familiar in foodbank Britain ...