Theatre: Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch at the Royal Exchange

It’s a great time to be a theatre fan, as the Royal Exchange has five world premieres coming up in the spring/summer season. The first of which, running from May to June, is the emotional drama The Night Watch. The play is based on the novel of the same by Sarah Waters, the acclaimed author of The Little Stranger and Tipping the Velvet. Waters is well-known for historical works that feature LGBT characters and themes, and The Night Watch continues this tradition. Set in late 1940s London, the narrative centres on five characters, both gay and straight, who are struggling with the aftermath of war. Their stories intertwine as we uncover the illicit loves and acts of heroism that have bound them together during this period of upheaval. This staging is directed by Rebecca Gatward, a veteran of both theatre and television, who makes her RX debut.

Thu 19 May – Sat 18 Jun, Royal Exchange Theatre, St. Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH, Tel: 0161 833 9833, Times vary, £8 – £34, www.royalexchange.co.uk