Royal Exchange hosts two Caryl Churchill classics in one beautiful evening of theatre

Royal Exchange Theatre has announced a special performance featuring two short plays in one evening from acclaimed British playwright Caryl Churchill.

Director Sarah Frankcom returns to the theatre to lead the productions, each of which proudly feature female characters over the age of 70 in their leading roles.

The first piece, Escaped Alone, offers ‘an intricate, elliptical, acutely female view of the apocalypse’ that unfolds from the once tranquil setting of a garden get-together between three old friends and a neighbour.

Meanwhile, What If If Only is a condensed hard-hitting-but-humorous meditation on grief, death and healing that somehow manages to pack a tumultuous journey of wild emotion into just a 20-minute slot.

Speaking about the show, Frankcom said: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into the worlds of these extraordinary plays in which Churchill so brilliantly explodes the domestic and the apocalyptic. It shouldn’t feel radical to put female characters over seventy years old centre stage but it still does.

“Churchill’s Escaped Alone celebrates the emotional and intellectual dexterity that only older actresses can bring to live performance. What If If Only is epic in its ideas and audaciously distilled in its form – a brilliant challenge for any director. I can’t wait to get started.”

Escaped Alone and What If If Only come to the Royal Exchange from Fri 7 Feb – Sun 9 Mar. Book your tickets using the button below.