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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

REVIEW - everyone seems to have a favourite section of EVEN THESE THINGS at the Royal Exchange. I thought Elaine Cassidy's opening monologue, set in Angel Meadow in the 19th century, was one of the best things I've seen this year. Full thoughts at: circlesandstalls.com/2026/06/04/e...

circlesandstalls.com

Even These Things

Review of Even These Things at Royal Exchange, Manchester. When an IRA bomb exploded in Manchester city centre on 15 June 1996, the force of the blast caused the Royal Exchange to shift several inc…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

REVIEW - one of the great strengths of Blanche McIntyre’s production of PRIVATE LIVES at the Royal Exchange is its clear focus on the nature of Amanda and Elyot’s relationship – & Dick Bird’s sets and costumes are integral to that storytelling. Full review at: circlesandstalls.com/2026/04/07/p...

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Private Lives

Review of Private Lives at Royal Exchange, Manchester. On honeymoon in the south of France, Amanda discovers that her first husband Elyot is staying in the hotel suite next door, celebrating his re…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

REVIEW - a stirring, sprawling revival of Jim Cartwright's ROAD. Selina Cartmell's directorial debut at the Royal Exchange is more than a show - it's an event, a full-on experience. Read more at: circlesandstalls.com/2026/03/01/r...

circlesandstalls.com

Road

Review of Road at Royal Exchange, Manchester. Telegraph poles have sprouted within the Royal Exchange’s Great Hall, a van sits abandoned near the toilets, and a chippie awaits around the corner. Se…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Great to see campaigning, socially engaged theatre-making at @contactmcr.bsky.social with BLOCK THE BLOCK. Nathaniel McBride's play asks challenging questions around what power citizens have, if any, as Manchester is remade around us - & the script-in-hand performance had real impact. More please!

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

David Thacker's THAT CAN'T HAVE HAPPENED! at Salford's The Kings Arms is verbatim theatre at its most powerful. Staged simply, with emotionally rich, and often raw, performances - the production honours the harrowing, yet inspiring, stories of women who have survived domestic violence.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Challengingly double-edged, Kellie Colbert's DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE thoughtfully conveys how relationships have the ability to make and/or break us. There's power in the show's restraint, it's often like a suppressed scream, & Colbert's face can say so much. From @warnmcr.bsky.social at Contact

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

REVIEW - Oldham Coliseum is in a celebratory mood with their new production THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY, directed by Amanda Huxtable, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Full review at: circlesandstalls.com/2025/02/20/t...

circlesandstalls.com

The Engagement Party

Review of The Engagement Party at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham. It feels good to be heading to Oldham for a night out. The tram ride out from Victoria used to be a regular feature of my cultural li…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

REVIEW - director Hannah Ellis Ryan's affection for BLITHE SPIRIT is obvious, but her production at Hope Mill Theatre takes enough risks to make it feel fresh as well as fun – and Karen Henthorn's Madame Arcati blows in like a gale. Full review at: circlesandstalls.com/2025/02/17/b...

circlesandstalls.com

Blithe Spirit

Review of Blithe Spirit at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. Novelist Charles Condomine has invited a local medium and clairvoyant to his home, hoping to gather material for his next book. As they pre…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

circlesandstalls.com

The Engagement Party

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

circlesandstalls.com

Blithe Spirit

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Strong women, working class bingo, dormant desires, Rachael Gooch's uninhibited singing, & who would have thought bubbles would bring such pure joy to a roomful of adults! No shortage of creativity & connections at @warnmcr.bsky.social's first SOCIAL EXPERIMENT at @contactmcr.bsky.social last night.

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Word of Warning (hÅb) @warnmcr.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

🧬 #SocialExperiment A new gathering for #LiveArt & contemporary #performance — meet artists & others, take a few risks, maybe test out an idea… A series of free, #informal evenings at @contactmcr.bsky.social — today we're showing five works from 6pm to about 9pm wordofwarning.org/socialexperiment

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Night People's SALOON IN BLOOM was a delight last night. Club kids, gambolling sprites, pleasure-seekers - to a beat-driven soundtrack, Daisy Howell & Aaron Howell enticingly shapeshifted back & forth through HOME's new arches. My highlight of PUSH 2025.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Isn't January meant to be quiet theatre-wise? Apparently not. Lots of festival happenings in Manchester this week with the wonderful FUTURE FLARES at Grosvenor East from tonight & the welcome return of PUSH (after its mysterious disappearance last year) at @HOME_mcr from Friday.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

David Thacker scatters the audience (at the King's Arms) among the shifting & uncertain perspectives of Brian Friel's FAITH HEALER - & with Colin Connor, Vicky Binns & Rupert Hill firing on all cylinders, powerfully evokes a shabby, rootless & unravelling world - where miracles might just happen.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

REVIEW - Josh Seymour’s production of SPEND SPEND SPEND at the Royal Exchange is enjoyably effervescent & full of restless ingenuity. It’s all highly entertaining and helped in no small part by Lucy Hinds’ wonderful choreography. Full review at: circlesandstalls.com/2024/12/29/s...

circlesandstalls.com

Spend Spend Spend

Review of Spend Spend Spend at Royal Exchange, Manchester. After winning £152,000 on the football pools in 1961 (the equivalent of over £4,000,000 today), Viv Nicholson famously declared “I’m going…

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

In the throes of a life-changing phone call, Jess Gough's spurned lover slowly unravels in @peripeteiatheatre.bsky.social's adaptation of THE HUMAN VOICE at the Kings Arms. A mesmerisingly raw & emotional performance from Gough, & Áron Gyenge's cinematic sound design heightens the dramatic tension.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Experiencing David Hockney's BIGGER & CLOSER (NOT SMALLER & FURTHER AWAY) at Aviva Studios is the perfect antidote to Manchester's grey winter months - with its ravishing saturated colour palettes, eye-opening landscapes, & constantly shifting perspectives - it's like imbibing a warm reviving tonic

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Manchester/Salford theatre this week is big on Christmas musicals - but there's also a dash of Jean Cocteau in the mix. Looking forward to seeing: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET at HOME THE HUMAN VOICE from Peripeteia Theatre at King's Arms A CHRISTMAS CAROL from Hope Mill Theatre at The Lowry

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Word of Warning (hÅb) @warnmcr.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

🔵 OPEN CALL FOR NEW NW DANCE — #Turn2025 will platform North West dancers & #dance makers next April at Contact #Manchester 🔵 TurnMcr.org 🔵 PARTNERS: hÅb/ @warnmcr.bsky.social, @contactmcr.bsky.social, Company Chameleon, Dance Consortia NW, Project Auske, @artscouncilengland.bsky.social supported.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Incredible production of Mike Bartlett's COCK at 53two. Clever, edge-of-your-seat theatre. Not a moment wasted - the whole thing tightly drawn together by director Rupert Hill - with fully committed performances that wring every drop of emotion, drama & comedy from the writing.

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 28/12/2023

Here's my round up of my favourite Greater Manchester theatre this year. My top 10 shows + a few other things I really liked: circlesandstalls.com/2023/12/28/m...

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 11/10/2023

Exciting week of theatre ahead, & looking forward to seeing: Wayne Steven Jackson's AND HERE I FIND MYSELF at The Arden KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER! at HOME OH DEER! by Aphids as part of Transform Festival Manchester School of Theatre's production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' AN OCTOROON

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circlesandstalls.bsky.social @circlesandstalls.bsky.social · 02/10/2023

Theatre-wise this week in Manchester, looking forward to seeing: DUAL دوگانه from Peyvand Sadeghian, & Two Destination Language's 40/40. Both at HOME And also heading to Stoke-on-Trent for Claybody Theatre's SONG OF THE SYTCH at Spode Museum.

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