Marlowe’s Edward II at the Royal Exchange Theatre

On ascension to the English throne, Edward II calls back his beloved ally Piers Gaveston.  But when their close relationship throws the court and Edward's marriage into disarray, it threatens to destabilise an entire country. 

The inventive creative team behind last year's unmissable production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS, led by director Toby Frow, reunite for this fast-paced thriller which will have your allegiances shifting in a night of gripping theatre.

The Award-winning theatre module is one of the most exciting architectural achievements in the country built within one of the Manchester's most prestigious historic buildings - the former Cotton Exchange and once the largest room for commerce in the world.

The seven-sided steel and glass module squats within the Great Hall of the Manchester Royal Exchange. It is a pure theatre in the round in which the stage area is surrounded on all sides, and above, by seating.

The theatre can seat up to 700 people on three levels, making it the largest theatre in the round in Britain.

Over the years the Exchange has attracted a high calibre of actor to its stage. Everyone from Albert Finney, Leo McKern and Tom Courtenay in the early days through successive generations including Vanessa Redgrave, Helen Mirren and Robert Lindsay to figures such as Janet McTeer and Amanda Donohoe have played there.

The theatre has a reputation for spotting young actors before they became stars. Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant both appeared at the Royal Exchange long before they made it on film.

The Exchange has also had a knack of spotting directorial and design talent before they went onto greater things.

Adrian Noble, Nicholas Hytner, Phyllida Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Robert Delamare, Matthew Lloyd and Marrianne Elliott all directed at the Exchange as associate or artistic directors at some stage and designers such as Mark Thomas, Rae Smith and Lez Brotherston have all done important work there.

New and old theatre goers can book tickets for Edward II online at the Royal Exchange Manchester website by clicking here.