Half a century of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre ….. the exhibition

Yesterday I dropped into the major new exhibition celebrating fifty years of storytelling through costume, craft and performance at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

It’s a sobering thought that I have pretty much lived almost all those 50 years at the place.

It’s a place I have proudly shown off to family and friends, as well as dining in its restaurants and of course watched a heap of performances ranging from Shakespeare to musicals and on one wonderful occasion saw our Josh perform in a youth production.

And over the years has been the backdrop to meet ups and quite solitary moments so I had to slide along and enjoy this new exhibition which is entitled “Mythic Reinvention celebrating fifty years of storytelling through costume, craft and performance at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Responding to the unique architecture of our Victorian Great Hall, the exhibition transforms the art of storytelling into an immersive space where the mythic and modern collide.

 Curated from our extensive costume archive that is home to over 25,000 individual pieces, past productions will echo into the present and reveal how stories continue to reflect societal change and deeper human truths through a new lens.

Explore up close the craft of designing and making theatre costumes, where threads of character and stories connect across five decades, through different genres and generations. 

Step inside the inner workings of the theatre’s costume department and hear from the artists who created some of the Exchange’s most iconic productions. Each costume reveals a story of imagination, skill and collaboration, offering a rare glimpse into the artistry that has shaped the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Part exhibition, part installation, Mythic Reinvention invites audiences to immerse themselves in the evolving mythology of storytelling, exploring how costume reimagines stories across time and how those stories continue to define, reflect and shape who we are today.

Mythic Reinvention: An exhibition celebrating 50 Years of Costume and Craft is open from 16 September until 15 November 2026”.

But be careful as “opening hours will vary throughout the exhibition due to other performances and events taking place in the theatre".

I turned up just a little before the doors opened at midday, but the bonus was a conversation with two people from north Manchester also waiting to go in and that is always a bonus.

Location; Mythic Reinvention, Royal Exchange, St Ann’s Square

Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson, 2026

*Mythic Reinvention, Royal Exchange https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/mythic-reinvention-exhibition/

Salford Revisited

 One to do on Wednesday

And as they say ...... its all in the poster.

Songs of Protest and Struggle .... tonight

 One to do

During Chorlton Arts Festival, https://chorltonartsfestival.org/

Fifty years of our story ……. history … paintings ….. photographs .... the exhibition about the Precinct in Chorlton Library …. one to do

The highly acclaimed exhibition celebrating five decades of Chorlton Precinct has moved to Chorlton Library.

It will be there till February.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see it and to contribute your memories.

Location; Chorlton Library

Pictures; poster design and photographs of the exhibition by Peter Topping 

What did you do for Chorlton Book Festival?

Well 40 hardy souls turned out yesterday and walked Chorlton’s past.

To be accurate the 40 of us walked from the village green to the old parish church, back via the Horse and Jockey and on to the Edge Theatre for a meal of soup and mulled wine.

Along the way I hope the 39 found out something about the history of where we live.

And they were a mixed band. Dale and Elizabeth  came over from north Manchester, there was a family from Whalley Range and two  were new to Chorlton.

Dale who used to work at Chorlton never misses one of the walks and along with a few others, drawn back by the fascination with Chorlton's history.

So thank you to Beverly from the library service who as ever worked tirelessly to make the day a success and to Peter and Linda who arrived with the new book and to the faithful who turn out each years for the
event.

And also a thank you to staff at the Edge who put on a fine spread.

See what I did there ?  I used a historical phrase.

That said the Festival is not over and there are lots more events.

So I suggest you get on down there, celebrating both Chorlton and our own book festival.

And that really is it.

Location; Chorlton Book Festival

Pictures, the walk, 2017, courtesy of Beverly Williams





Chorlton Book Festival, https://www.chorltonbookfestival.co.uk/