The Comedy of Errors at Henry Watson Music Library
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorVisit now
The Comedy of Errors
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Not every Shakespeare production needs a grand stage. Sometimes, all it takes is a beautiful wood-panelled music library, a talented cast and an hour of joyful chaos.
This August, Manchester Central Library’s Henry Watson Music Library swaps shelves of scores for slapstick, song and mistaken identity as TheatreMCR brings The Comedy of Errors to one of the city’s most atmospheric hidden spaces.
Running for just an hour and offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, this lively abridged production makes one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays feel refreshingly accessible. Pair it with lunch, a wander around Central Library or a visit to Manchester Art Gallery, and you’ve got a lovely culture-filled summer afternoon in the city.
Originally believed to be Shakespeare’s shortest comedy, The Comedy of Errors follows two sets of identical twins, separated as children and unknowingly reunited years later. As servants are mistaken for masters, strangers for siblings and complete chaos unfolds, every attempt to untangle the confusion only ties the knots a little tighter. It’s a joyful, fast-moving farce that has been delighting audiences for more than 400 years.
TheatreMCR distils all that comic chaos into a fast-paced production packed with physical comedy, original music and a cappella singing. Performed by a talented ensemble cast, it’s designed to be playful, energetic and easy to jump into, whether you’re revisiting a Shakespeare favourite or seeing The Comedy of Errors for the first time.
Founded by Chris Fordred and Rebecca Naylor, TheatreMCR brings together a wealth of experience spanning international Shakespeare touring, actor-musician performance, opera and new writing. That inventive approach feels perfectly suited to the Henry Watson Music Library, whose striking wood-panelled interior is home to one of the UK’s finest public music collections, and is free to explore throughout the year.
It’s a lovely way to spend an hour, discover one of Manchester’s most beautiful rooms and support future activities at Manchester Libraries at the same time.
