Canal Street Online Manchester

Beautiful Thing

Beautiful Thing

BEAUTIFUL THING
By Jonathan Harvey
Directed by Sarah Frankcom
Designed by Liz Ascroft

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre is set to stage a major revival of Jonathan Harvey’s celebrated play BEAUTIFUL THING - eighteen years after it first took London’s West End by storm.

Often described as an urban fairytale, the play is set on an inner city urban housing estate. It tells the story of Jamie’s relationship with classmate and neighbour Ste. Together the two boys find comedy, warmth and the music of Mama Cass. Funny, joyful and heartwarming, the play exquisitely depicts what it is to be sixteen, in the first flush of love and full of optimism. 

Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom directs this new production which runs from Wednesday 9 November – Saturday 3 December. Her recent successes include the critically-acclaimed PUNK ROCK, WINTERLONG and A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.

Jonathan Harvey wrote BEAUTIFUL THING when he was 23. Just three months after he submitted it to the Bush Theatre in London, it was given its premiere in what was to become a legendary opening night. The play went on to be a West End hit, sold out its five-week run and won its author an Olivier nomination and the John Whiting Award.

Now in 2011 the play is eighteen years old and has come of age. Director Sarah Frankcom feels it is the perfect time to revisit it. She said: “I have a very personal relationship with this play. I went to one of the very first preview performances of the original production and it was one of the most exhilarating nights of my life.”


This will be the first major production of the play for five years – and the first ever in-the-round. It will pose the questions: ‘Have the messages of tolerance and acceptance been an accurate prophesy of the future?’ and ‘How does the optimism of the play sit with audiences of today?’

Tommy Vine (whose recent credits include the film TOP BOY for Channel 4) plays Ste; Matthew Tennyson (whose recent theatre work includes the FLARE PATH at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and MORE LIGHT for the NT Connections Festival) plays Jamie and Tara Hodge (last seen at the Exchange in the MOGADISHU) plays Leah. The cast also includes Claire-Louise Cordwell, as Sandra and  Alex Price as Tony.

The production will also feature members of Manchester’s Gay and Lesbian Chorus. The creative team – is completed by Liz Ascroft (design), Johanna Town (lighting) and Peter Rice (sound).
For more details and to book..Click here.

Published: 12-Oct-2011: (849)

Canal-st.co.uk Top Stories

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

Explore Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village with Josh’s LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour!

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Members of various stakeholder parties met again recently and here is what resulted moving forward

Pride events and dates for 2024

Pride events and dates for 2024

Save The Date: Greater Manchester Pride Events for 2024

All Wmn 24 launched

All Wmn 24 launched

We share the news of a new community event bringing Women together through live music