The Royal Exchange Theatre News

A number of Manchester's most exciting young actors are in the cast for the Library Theatre Company's much-anticipated third and final site-specific production, Manchester Sound: The Massacre, written by Polly Wiseman and directed by Paul Jepson, which runs at a secret city centre venue between Saturday 8 June - Saturday 6 July.

In an Almeida Theatre and Headlong co-production, Lyndsey Turner will direct the World Premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's Chimerica. The new dates for this production are 20 May - 6 July 2013, with press night on 28 May. Set designs are by Es Devlin with costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by Tim Lutkin, sound by Carolyn Downing and video design by Finn Ross.

Blackbird will make its US Premiere at Location One, 26 Greene Street, New York, NY, running April 16-28, 2013, Tuesday-Sunday at 8PM with 3PM Sun. matinees.

Heralded as 'a dark and mesmerizing tale of the truly complex nature of love' (The Public Reviews), Blackbird is a Manchester Theatre Award nominee, recipient of the Forever Manchester Award, and was produced in the UK by the prestigious Lowry Theatre, as a part of the 2012 re:Play festival. Playwright Lucia Cox has a long-standing relationship with Schmucks Theatre, writing the world premiere production of St. Swithins' Day, which was presented at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Amanda Whittington's new play, The Thrill of Love, directed by James Dacre, will run at the newly opened St. James Theatre from tonight, 27 March to Saturday 4 May, with press night today 3 April 2013. The production comes to the St. James Theatre following its world premiere at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme and a further run at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

Having initially been performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, this production is the first London airing of Janice Okoh's Three Birds. All in all, this is a great production of a vibrant new work. Three Birds runs at the Bush Theatre until April 20 2013 and is unsuitable for a young audience.

Matthew Dunster will direct Rodney Ackland's Before The Party at the Almeida from tonight, 21 March - 11 May 2013, with press night on 28 March. Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Before The Party has designs by Anna Fleischle with lighting by Philip Gladwell and sound by Ian Dickinson. Casting will be announced shortly.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize honors 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-fifth year.

Award-winning Schmuck Theatre announces the New York premiere of BLACKBIRD. Performances begin April 16 and run through April 28, 2013, Tuesday-Sunday at 8PM with 3PM Saturday and Sunday Matinees. All performances take place at Location One, 26 Greene Street, NYC.

Amanda Whittington's new play, The Thrill of Love, directed by James Dacre, will run at the newly opened St. James Theatre from Wednesday 27 March to Saturday 4 May, with press night on Wednesday 3 April 2013. The production comes to the St. James Theatre following its world premiere at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme and a further run at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

According to the Dail Mail, Matthew Kelly will lead the Sheffield Theatres' production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys as 'Hector'. The show is directed by Michael Longhurst (Constellations, Royal Court and Duke of York's Theatre), with performances set to begin on May 16, 2013.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-fifth year.

The theatre programme for the Manchester International Festival 2013 has been announced. MIF13 commissions include: The Machine, The Old Woman, Macbeth, The Masque of Anarchy and The Rite of Spring.

Sell a Door Theatre Company have officially announced their spring/summer UK Tour of Orwell's '1984' adapted by Matthew Dunster.

The Producers of the eight time Tony award-winning musical Once today announce that Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši? will lead the cast as Guy and Girl respectively in John Tiffany's West End production of the Broadway hit musical opening at the Phoenix Theatre in Spring 2013.

As reported last night, the producers of the eight-time Tony award-winning musical Once today announce that Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši? will lead the cast as Guy and Girl respectively in John Tiffany's West End production of the Broadway hit musical opening at the Phoenix Theatre in Spring 2013.

Lindsay Posner directs Rebecca Lenkiewicz' new stage adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw at the Almeida Theatre which runs until 16 March 2013, with press night on 24 January. The cast comprises Caroline Bartleet (a woman), Laurence Belcher (Miles), Eoin Geoghegan (a man), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Grose), Anna Madeley (The Governess), Orlando Wells (Sackville) and Isabella Blake, Emilia Jones and Lucy Morton who will alternate the role of Flora. The Turn of the Screw is sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP.

Thea Sharrock's hit production of The Bodyguard, which opened in December last year, today announces the release of over 250,000 tickets for sale, taking booking at the Adelphi Theatre to 28 September 2013. Starring Heather Headley (to 10 August 2013) as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen (to 7 September 2013) as Frank Farmer and based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, Sharrock's production of this new musical has book by Alex Dinelaris.

Matthew Dunster will direct Rodney Ackland's Before The Party at the Almeida Theatre from 21 March - 11 May 2013. Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Before The Party has designs by Anna Fleischle with lighting by Philip Gladwell and sound by Ian Dickinson. Dunster's production of Before The Party will be the first in over 25 years.

From 5 February 2013, joining the previously announced Gavin Lee who will play Jerry Travers in the West End hit musical Top Hat are Broadway actress Kristen Beth Williams as Dale Tremont, Olivier award nominee Alex Gaumond as Alberto Beddini and Clive Hayward as Horace Hardwick. Vivien Parry continues as Madge Hardwick and Stephen Boswell as Horace's valet Bates.