Writer Takes Centre Stage in New Play

Award-winning writer Jim Cartwright is to take the starring role in the world premiere of his new play, Prize Night, which runs at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre from Wednesday 27 October to Saturday 20 November.

Cartwright plays Burn, a famous writer back at his old school presenting awards for the Prize Night. Drunk and uncooperative, he takes refuge in his old classroom. The night is transformed when he meets his childhood sweetheart and, together, they paint the town red. Prize Night races through roller-discos, karaoke specials, deserted football pitches, cosy pubs and rainy northern back streets. Though Burn seeks peace, things will never be the same again after this wild odyssey.

Jim Cartwright is best known for his play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice which won Evening Standard and Laurence Olivier Awards. It was recently made into an Oscar-winning film starring Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn and Jane Horrocks, who also starred in the stage version.

Cartwright is joined in the cast by Antony Booth, Kathy Jamieson, Susan Twist, David Fielder, Adam Zane, Eileen O'Brien, Alan Gear and Jennifer James. It is directed by Royal Exchange artistic director Gregory Hersov whose recent productions include King Lear, starring Tom Courtenay, at the Exchange and Look Back in Anger, starring Michael Sheen, at the National.

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