ROY & MARIA’S STORY


JO & ALASDAIR’S STORY


Our Royal Exchange Theatre connections go back over 30 years


and have provided us with the most special memories.


On Wednesday 17th October 1984, we held our wedding reception at the theatre, which was a bit of an unusual wedding venue in those days. We celebrated along to the


sounds in the background of William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline - the matinee performance going on at


the time. This made for a fantastic, energised, special occasion.


“We get a lot of happy stories. Many people get a plaque to honour the birth of a child or grandchild, or for a wedding or anniversary.


“There are some sad ones, though. Sometimes we get people that have visited the theatre with their partner for years and will then get a plaque in memory of their spouse when they have passed away,” added Becky.


The plaques are located in the flooring throughout the colonnade area of the Great Hall- the part that runs from the entrance on St. Ann’s Square to the entrance on Cross Street.


The history of the Royal Exchange Theatre is as dramatic as the productions on stage. Though the theatre company only made it its home in 1972, the Grade II listed Royal Exchange building has stood since 1921 and has survived two bomb blasts.


Few people know that the Great Hall in the building was once twice the size that it is now. The space was one of


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Fast-forward 25 years to our Silver Wedding celebration party,


held in the same room on a Saturday afternoon; this time against the


backdrop to Simon Stephens’ Punk Rock matinee performance going on. We even had Andy, one of the Royal Exchange hospitality team


who was there helping when we got married, actually repeating his role on the day a quarter-century later! To mark this occasion we bought a floor plaque.


Over the years we have regularly visited the theatre to see


productions, meet friends, eat out and generally keep our connections


with such a dynamic, vibrant positive space. When it came to our 30th


anniversary we bought a seat plaque, which really cemented our links to such a fantastic Mancunian place.


the world’s centres for cotton trade until the Second World War when it took a direct hit during the Manchester Blitz. The Great Hall, as it is still known today, was repaired but reduced in size and continued trade until 1968.


Theatre has always been a big part of our lives; it's how we first met. When our first child was born we wanted to mark it in an enduring way that was meaningful to us, so a floor plaque at the Royal Exchange seemed an obvious choice. It's important to us that our children appreciate


and enjoy live performance's so we already bring Bram to some of the family-friendly events and can't wait


to bring him to see plays at the Royal Exchange when he is older.


World War II was not the last time the building was to be damaged by an explosion. In 1996 an IRA bomb was detonated less than 50 metres away from the Royal Exchange building. The resulting explosion devastated the building, and it would take two years, a lot of fundraising, and over £32million from the National Lottery to repair the damage. During this time, the Royal Exchange Theatre Company could be found performing in an indoor market building in Castlefield.


Re-opened in 1998 by Prince Edward, the refurbished theatre launched with a production of Stanley Houghton's Hindle Wakes, which was the same play that had been running when the bomb went off.


Donations to the theatre can be made as a single payment or in instalments paid by direct debit over 12 months. Plaques will be commissioned as soon as an initial payment has been received. You choose the words and pick the spot and your plaque will be installed within a month.


www.royalexchange.co.uk SPOTLIGHT ON: MANCHESTER ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE | 15


Photo by Joel Fildes Photo by Sven Eselgroth


Photo by Sven Eselgroth


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