The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart at the Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange brings us something a little devilish and different this Christmas. Created by the award-winning writer David Greig, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is a wild musical play packed with wit and a spellbinding Scottish folk score.

A wild musical play packed with wit and a spellbinding Scottish folk score.

Set in the depths of the winter solstice, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart charts a journey of self-discovery – presented through a blend of rhyming couplets, wicked encounters and wild karaoke. Unfolding amongst and around the audience, we think the Royal Exchange’s historic in-the-round theatre offers the perfect backdrop for this passionate and unforgettable story.

One wintry morning, Prudencia Hart, an anxious academic fresh from her PhD, sets off to attend a conference on the Scottish Borders. Sharing her theories on Hell in folk literature in a hot stuffy room, the snow begins to fall thick and fast outside and the small-town flings off its folk traditions for decadent karaoke. Swapping Robert Burns for a bit of Kylie, the night becomes increasingly raucous and Prudencia’s surreal journey of self-discovery is revealed.

Evocative folk melodies playing alongside the greatest pop tunes in a rebellious musical mash-up.

Directed by Debbie Hannan, Scottish actor Joanne Thomson makes her Royal Exchange debut in the role of uptight academic Prudencia Hart. She is joined on stage by Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings, Amelia Isaac-Jones, Paul Tinto and Oliver Wellington with Musical Director Malin Lewis performing alongside.

With vodka shots flowing as fast as the snow is falling, and evocative folk melodies playing alongside the greatest pop tunes in a rebellious musical mash-up, we’re mightily impressed by this riotous Christmas ceilidh of a show…