Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre hosts a run of Kendall Feaver’s professional debut The Almighty Sometimes in February.
Winner of a Judges Award in the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2015, the play sees Julie Hesmondhalgh and Norah Lopez Holden return to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play mother and daughter.
What is The Almighty Sometimes about?
In a profound portrait of a young woman trying to take back control and a mother compelled to protect her, Anna is coming of age. Possibilities are unfurling in front of her and she’s ready to take control. However, she knows more about what’s in her bowl of cereal than what is in her medication and she is wondering, for the first time, how life might feel without the pills. But as Anna tries to distance herself from her doctor and the label that has defined her, her mother Renee isn’t ready to let go.
Who is in the cast and crew of The Almighty Sometimes at the Royal Exchange Theatre?
The Almighty Sometimes is Kendall Feaver’s first professional production. Previously, she has had plays and short works performed at The Story Project, Arcola Theatre; Scrapyard Theatre at The Traverse; Islington Youth Theatre; The Australian Theatre for Young People and Adelaide Fringe Festival. She is currently on attachment at the National Theatre Studio.
The production stars Julie Hesmondhalgh and the acclaimed Norah Lopez Holden. Well known for her award winning 16-year portrayal of Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, Julie Hesmondhalgh returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre following previous appearances in The Greatest Play in the History of the World…, Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, Wit and Blindsided. She has also appeared at the Royal Court in The Report and God Bless the Child.
Julie is a speaker for Arts Emergency and founder of Take Back, an award-winning political theatre collective in Manchester.
Norah Lopez Holden was last seen at the Royal Exchange in the critically acclaimed Our Town directed by Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom. Her other credits include Othello (The Tobacco Factory) and Ghosts (HOME Manchester).
The cast also includes Mike Noble as Oliver, credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Punk Rock (Lyric Hammersmith).
The Almighty Sometimes is directed by Katy Rudd who makes her debut at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Her previous credits include Associate Director on Husbands and Sons in 2016 (National Theatre & Royal Exchange Theatre), 2017’s Groundhog Day (Old Vic and Broadway) and Pinocchio (National Theatre).
When is The Almighty Sometimes performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester?
The Almighty Sometimes runs at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from 9-24 February 2018. Tickets are priced from £17.
image of Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, courtesy University of Salford Press Office/flickr under creative commons licence.
