Two Years after IRA Bomb, Exchange Re-opens

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre re-opened to the public last night for the first time in two and a half years. The 19th century building, a former corn exchange, was nearly demolished when an IRA bomb hit Manchester city centre on 15 June 1996. The blast, the biggest in mainland Britain since the second World War, reportedly lifted the structure several inches off the ground before the rubble resettled, the theatre's three famous glass domes completely shattered.

Since then, the Royal Exchange has undergone a £31m refurbishment, with most of the funding coming from a National Lottery grant, the largest ever given to an arts scheme outside of London. The theatre-in-the-round has now been restored to its former glory while many additions have been introduced. These include improved seating in the 750-seat main auditorium, rehearsal rooms and offices as well as a 120-seat studio space dedicated to new writing, a retail arcade, a book shop, and an all day bar and cafe. Theatre directors hope that the complex will become a communal meeting space and hive for city activity.

During its exile, the Royal Exchange Theatre Company has continued performing, having erected a temporary structure across town. The refurbished theatre re-opened with Helena Kaut-Howson's original production of Stanley Houghton's Hindle Wakes, the play whose run was cut decisively short after the 1996 bomb. The theatre's new studio also opens for business this week with the world premiere of Kevin Hood's play So Special, a portrait of the young, lost and lonely which is directed by Matthew Lloyd, the Exchange's newest artistic director. The 1999 season includes a production of King Lear starring Tom Courtenay.

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