Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Royal Exchange Backstage Tour

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

Royal Exchange Backstage Tour

Royal Exchange Theatre, City Centre
5 March 2020

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

From £5
Royal exchange Theatre
Book now
Whether you are an ardent thespian, amateur dramatic enthusiast or just like seeing the odd play, the backstage tour at the Royal Exchange Theatre immerses you in the world of creating productions. The Royal Exchange has been a part of Manchester in its various configurations for centuries. Having been a cotton exchange for the wealthy men of Victorian Manchester through to its now stunning reincarnation as a theatre. You will be fascinated to learn more about the iconic structure of the main theatre and how it connects with the older exterior. As well as the former uses of the studio theatre, a space which is now used for developing and smaller scale productions. The building is full of subtle reminders of the past which are easily overlooked, whilst being an innovative space for theatre creation. Your tour guide will shine a light on some of these hidden features and make you see the main hall in a new light.
see everything from the tailors working hard in wardrobe to the wigs of hair and make-up
Each backstage tour is lead by one of the Royal Exchange’s enthusiastic volunteers, whose passion for the place is infectious as they lead you through the building. It isn’t often that you have the chance to see behind the scenes of a working producing theatre and visit all the departments involved in putting a production on from scratch. You’ll see everything from the tailors working hard in wardrobe to the wigs of hair and make-up and of course, the structure of the theatre itself, every part of the Royal Exchange is about producing different worlds for people to get lost in. Tours run every Thursday from 11:00 am, be sure to book in advance as they are increasingly popular. They last around two hours and during that time you’ll meet a mixture of people from the theatre making sure there’s never a dull moment.

What's on at Royal Exchange Theatre

Where to go near Royal Exchange Backstage Tour

CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

St Ann’s Square
City Centre
Park
St Ann’s Square

St Ann’s Square is a quiet little enclave of shops, with Barton’s Arcade set back from it on one side, and St Ann’s Church, which dates back to 1712 and…

Rapha Clubhouse Manchester
City Centre
Shop
Rapha Clubhouse Manchester

AKA cyclist heaven, Rapha is more than just a cycle-wear shop. It’s a place for anyone who loves cycling to congregate and celebrate the sport together.

City Centre
King Street Manchester

King Street is one of the most picturesque parts of Manchester with buildings designed by Alfred Waterhouse and C.R. Cockerell. Once Manchester’s financial epicenter, it’s now home to high-end retail and fine dining.

City Centre
Restaurant
Lunya Manchester

Lunya is a Spanish and Catalan deli and restaurant in Manchester’s Barton Arcade. Here are the venue details.

City Centre
Shop
Aston’s Of Manchester

In Royal Exchange Arcade, Aston’s of Manchester is a tobacconist that recently branched out into whisky sales. In their shop you’ll find an interesting selection of bottles to buy, including

See all places

What's on: Theatre

The Bob Ross Effect
TheatreManchester
The Bob Ross Effect at Hope Mill

One of pop culture’s more unlikely icons – the man with the famous perm and ‘happy little trees’ – gets a theatre show. Intrigued? Us too.

From £15.50
Until
FestivalsChester
Storyhouse in the Park

Four open-air productions, films under the stars and frozen cocktails in the park – Chester’s doing summer right.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Food and Drink in the North

It's heatwave time, so set your small talk phasers to 'weather' and get out there and grab some cold drinks and delicious food.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

Discover the summer's most rewarding theatre in libraries, pubs, Fringe venues and unexpected spaces across the North.

“the ripple” artwork by Crowns & Owls courtesy of Good Machine.
Music

From post-industrial romance to experimental country, here's a hot new batch of weird gigs in small venues.

Blue triangles with white clouds on them against a beige backdrop. A gold sun is in the middle.
Exhibitions

Five exhibitions worth your time this month - and between them, a lot of ground covered.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

See all guides