The Bard stands with the Reformers of Peterloo, and their shared genius in teaching history with music and song
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Light Falls, Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester
Missed opportunity to shed light on complex northern realities
In meltdown: David Moorst as Steven in Light Falls
[Manuel Harlan]
SUE TURNER is fascinated by a book that researches who the largely immigrant workforce were that built the Empire State
MARIA DUARTE and MALC McGOOKIN review Sirat, The Testament of Ann Lee, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and All You Need Is Kill
STEVE ANDREW recommends a Marxist analysis of the long chains of production that global corporations exploit
MARY CONWAY relishes the period detail but misses the drama in this unsatisfactory dramatisation of the subjugated life of George Eliot
IAN SINCLAIR welcomes a mainstream scholar to the ranks of left-wing critique of US foreign policy
PETER MASON is disappointed that the eponymous Count fails to put in an appearance
SIMON STEPHENS’S new play marks the last production from the Royal Exchange’s artistic director Sarah Frankcom before she takes over the reins at LAMDA drama school.
One of the country’s finest directors, she has reshaped the Exchange into a theatre with international renown and over the past decade her innovative work, especially wonderful collaborations with Maxine Peake, have thrilled audiences.
That’s not necessarily the case with Light Falls, inspired by a road trip she took in 2016 with Stephens across the north of England, visiting Warrington, Blackpool, Ulverston, Doncaster and Durham.
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