Royal Exchange celebrates the North as a Wondrous Place

Writers, artists, theatre makers and actors have come together to create four stories challenging the ‘it’s grim up North’ clichés and exploring fresh and vibrant perspectives on Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle and what they share. A Wondrous Place is staged at the Royal Exchange – next month.Electricity by Sarah McDonald Hughes discovers that Manchester can be as glamorous as New York and as romantic as Paris.Porters Brook by Matt Hartley looks at the spirit of Sheffield people.Dog by Luke Barnes explores redemption and forgiveness within the midnight streets of Liverpool.Whatspacebetween by Alison Carr examines an extraordinary encounter with Gateshead’s Dunston Rocket.     Director Chris Meads brings these stories together in a fascinating new production led by a cast with an emotional affinity for each of the four cities: Kathryn Beaumont, Josh Hayes, Sally Hodgkiss and Adam Search.A Wondrous Place is brought to the stage by Northern Spirit, in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Northern Stage, the Unity Theatre, New Writing North and Sheffield Theatres.The show is inspired by an online archive that has been guest curated by award-winning bloggers who are inspired by Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.  For more information visit northernspirit.org.uk. A Wondrous Place is at the Royal Exchange Studio from 11 – 22 June.