Julie Hesmondhalgh to star in new Bruntwood play

After her acclaimed performance in WIT at the Royal Exchange last year, Julie Hesmondhalgh will return to the Manchester venue for the world premiere of The Almighty Sometimes.

Directed by Katy Rudd, Kendall Feaver's first professional play – which won one of the judges prizes in the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting – is a portrait of a young woman, played by Norah Lopez Holden, who urgently wants to find out who she is, and a mother (Hesmondahalgh) who is determined to protect her.

Hesmondhalgh is best known for her award-winning portrayal of Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street. Her theatre credits include The Report and God Bless The Child (Royal Court). She was most recently seen on television in the ITV drama Broadchurch.

Holden was last seen at the Exchange in Sarah Frankcom's production of Our Town. Other stage credits include Othello (The Tobacco Factory) and Ghosts (HOME Manchester). The cast also includes Mike Noble (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time).

The Almighty Sometimes runs at the Royal Exchange Manchester from 9 to 24 February 2018.