'Husband & Sons' at Royal Exchange Theatre

The Royal Exchange Theatre in co-production with the National Theatre present
HUSBANDS & SONS
By D H Lawrence, adapted by Ben PowerDirected by Marianne ElliottDesigned by Bunny Christie

Friday 19 February – Saturday 19 March - The Theatre 

Award winning director Marianne Elliott returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre with HUSBANDS & SONS by D H Lawrence, adapted by Ben Power and performed by a stellar cast led by Anne-Marie Duff. This co-production with the National Theatre arrives at the Exchange from 19 February to 19 March. HUSBANDS & SONS interweaves three of D H Lawrence’s greatest dramas (THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, A COLLIER’S FRIDAY NIGHT and THE WIDOWING OF MRS HOLROYD), and plays them simultaneously. Describing the world he came from with fierce tenderness, Lawrence evokes a now-vanished world of manual labour and working class pride.

On the cracked border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire stands the village of Eastwood. The women of the village, wives and mothers, struggle to hold their families and their own souls together in the shadow of the great Brinsley pit.

This powerful production opened in London last October to critical acclaim. The outstanding ensemble cast also includes Joe Armstrong, Matthew Barker, John Biggins, Cassie Bradley, Louise Brealey, Susan Brown, Julia Ford, Johnny Gibbon, Tala Gouveia, Lloyd Hutchinson, Philip McGinley, Martin Marquez, Katherine Pearce, Josie Walker and Sue Wallace. The production is stunningly designed by Bunny Christie with lighting by Lucy Carter, video design by Tal Rosner, movement by Scott Graham, music by Adrian Sutton, sound by Ian Dickinson and fight direction by Kate Waters.

Marianne Elliott was a previous Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange where she directed PORT, DESIGN FOR LIVING, LES BLANCS, AS YOU LIKE IT, A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, NUDE WITH A VIOLIN, FAST FOOD, MARTIN YESTERDAY, DEEP BLUE SEA, MAD FOR IT, POOR SUPERMAN and I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. She is an Associate Director at the NT where her work includes THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (winner of seven Olivier Awards including Best Director and five Tony Awards including Best Director), RULES FOR LIVING, THE LIGHT PRINCESS, PORT, SEASON'S GREETINGS, WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, MRS AFFLECK, HARPER REGAN, SAINT JOAN with Anne-Marie Duff (Olivier Award for Best Revival, South Bank Show Award for Theatre), THÉRÈSE RAQUIN, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY (Evening Standard Award for Best Director) and WAR HORSE (co-directed with Tom Morris, winning a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play).

Anne-Marie Duff makes her Royal Exchange Theatre debut in Husbands & Sons. Her National Theatre work includes STRANGE INTERLUDE and SAINT JOAN (for which she won Best Actress at the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards 2008 and was nominated for an Olivier); other recent theatre work has included CAUSE CÉLÈBRE (Old Vic) and the title role in BERENICE (Donmar Warehouse). Her many television appearances include the title role in ELIZABETH THE VIRGIN QUEEN and SHAMELESS. Anne-Marie Duff appeared in the recent feature film SUFFRAGETTE written by Abi Morgan.

Joe Armstrong returns to the Royal Exchange following his role in MISS JULIE. His other work includes CONSTELLATIONS (Also West End) & THE EMPIRE at the Royal Court and THE DUMB WAITER at the Print Room. Television credits include THE VILLAGE (series regular) and HAPPY VALLEY (series regular).

Ben Power is Deputy Artistic Director of the National, where his adaptations have included Euripides' MEDEA and Ibsen’s EMPEROR AND GALILEAN. He has also worked as dramaturg on over twenty productions for the National. For Headlong Theatre, his adaptations included SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR and FAUSTUS with Rupert Goold and PARADISE LOST.  His screenplays include the forthcoming THE HOLLOW CROWN: THE WARS OF THE ROSES for the BBC. For the first series of The Hollow Crown, Ben Power adapted HENRY V, and RICHARD II which won the RTS Award for Best Drama and was nominated for a BAFTA.

For further information, images, or for interview / press review ticket requests, please contact Paula Rabbitt on 0161 615 6783 / paula.rabbitt@royalexchange.co.uk

The Royal ExchangeThe Royal Exchange Theatre is a leading producing theatre situated in the heart of Manchester. We showcase an ambitious programme inspired by the world’s greatest stories: stories that have the power to change the way we see the world. To us, that means taking artistic risks, working as part of exciting partnerships, championing new talent and seeking out bold collaborations. A record number of people have experienced our work in the last year, and we’re continuing to broaden our output on and off our stages to speak to the most diverse audiences in Manchester and beyond. 

Our Spring/Summer 2016 season also includes KING LEAR, a co-production with Talawa Theatre Company; THE NIGHT WATCH a new adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel by Hattie Naylor; Howard Jacobson’s THE MIGHTY WALZER adapted by Simon Bent and Katherine Chandler’s BIRD, a 2013 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting winner; LITTLE SISTER created in collaboration with Mark Storor and NOTHING an adaption of Janne Teller’s novel by Amanda Dalton.

HUSBANDS & SONS - Listings Information
The Royal Exchange Theatre and the National Theatre present

HUSBANDS & SONSBy D H Lawrence, adapted by Ben PowerDirected by Marianne ElliottDesigned by Bunny Christie

Friday 19 February – Saturday 19 March

PERFORMANCE TIMES:

EVENINGSMonday – Saturday evenings, 7pm

MATINEESThursday & Saturday 1.30pm