Guys and Dolls leads Royal Exchange Manchester 2027/28 season

Guys and Dolls is heading to Manchester. A new production of Frank Loesser's much loved musical will be the big festive show of the Royal Exchange Theatre's 2027/28 season, which also brings Beverley Knight to the stage as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and a new Simon Stephens play for Manchester International Festival.

The season is the second announced by artistic director Selina Cartmell and follows the theatre's 50th anniversary year. It runs from 20 March 2027 to 12 March 2028 with eight productions. The theatre will also now use the name Royal Exchange Theatre Company as it begins this next phase of its work.

What is the musical highlight?

Natalie Abrahami directs the new Guys and Dolls, which runs from 19 November 2027 to 9 January 2028. The musical follows the lives of gamblers, showgirls and missionaries in 1950s New York.

Who is Beverley Knight playing?

Beverley Knight plays Beatrice in a new production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Michael Buffong and co produced with Talawa Theatre Company. This version of Shakespeare's comedy is set in Trinidad shortly after the Second World War, and runs from 17 September to 24 October 2027.

Which new plays are premiering?

Cartmell directs the world premiere of The First Blue Thing, a new play by Simon Stephens that reimagines the Greek myth of Phaedra in modern day Stockport. It is presented as part of Manchester International Festival 2027 in association with Factory International, and runs from 18 June to 25 July.

The season closes with Munichs, Ben Power's stage adaptation of David Peace's novel about the Munich Air Disaster and its aftermath. Cartmell also directs this world premiere, which marks 70 years since the disaster and runs from 28 January to 12 March 2028.

Before that, the season opens with Brian Friel's Faith Healer, directed by Emma Baggott, from 20 March to 18 April 2027. Later in the spring comes the UK premiere of RIOT by Jennifer Jennings and Phillip McMahon, produced by THISISPOPBABY, which combines theatre, circus, acrobatics and dance.

What is happening in the studio?

The theatre's intimate 100 seat studio reopens in spring 2027 as a home for new talent and radical new theatre. Abbi Greenland's Talking to Boys, directed by Sam Pritchard, will be the first production in the space since March 2020, with its world premiere from 8 April to 8 May.

It is followed by Daisy Miles' R Lady's, winner of the 2025 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting North West Original New Voice Award. Directed by Elin Schofield and set in a Catholic primary school in Stockport, it runs from 13 May to 5 June 2027.

What are the full season dates?

• Faith Healer, 20 March to 18 April 2027: Brian Friel's play, directed by Emma Baggott.
• Talking to Boys (Studio), 8 April to 8 May 2027: World premiere of Abbi Greenland's play, directed by Sam Pritchard.
• R Lady's (Studio), 13 May to 5 June 2027: World premiere of Daisy Miles' play, directed by Elin Schofield.
• RIOT, 27 May to 6 June 2027: UK premiere by Jennifer Jennings and Phillip McMahon, produced by THISISPOPBABY.
• The First Blue Thing, 18 June to 25 July 2027: World premiere of Simon Stephens' new play, directed by Selina Cartmell, part of Manchester International Festival 2027.
• Much Ado About Nothing, 17 September to 24 October 2027: Directed by Michael Buffong, with Beverley Knight as Beatrice.
• Guys and Dolls, 19 November 2027 to 9 January 2028: Directed by Natalie Abrahami.
• Munichs, 28 January to 12 March 2028: World premiere adapted by Ben Power from David Peace's novel, directed by Selina Cartmell.

How can I get tickets?

Tickets are sold through the Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, Manchester. The theatre also offers the Exchange Pass, a £50 season pass with priority booking. For more theatre news from around the country, see our latest stories.

Image credit: Official season artwork, courtesy of the Royal Exchange Theatre.