Manchester Theatre
New theatre to open inside Manchester's Great Northern Warehouse
Northern Rep will be the city's first dedicated repertory theatre in more than 50 years
Emily Heward
The Great Northern Warehouse, where Northern Rep will be based (Image: Eddie Garvey)
A new theatre space is set to open at Manchester's Great Northern Warehouse this spring, housing the city's first dedicated repertory company in more than 50 years.
Northern Rep will take over the space formerly occupied by Junkyard Golf Club at the Peter Street entertainment complex - just a stone's throw from where the city's last rep theatre, The Gaiety, stood before being demolished in 1959.
"That's the last time there was a dedicated rep company in Manchester," said Northern Rep director and playwright Thomas Moore, who also directed the Manchester Open Air Theatre pop-up play series at Chorlton Park last summer.
"It's started to make a resurgence across the country and with Manchester being, I believe, the best city for theatre at the moment we thought there was a huge gap for it here.
"We want to unite all the undiscovered talent in Manchester and give that a voice - to find the stars of tomorrow, today."
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The theatre will launch as a pop-up in March with an immersive clubland reimagining of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream before opening permanently in May.
"All I will say is don't expect a traditional theatre-going experience," said Thomas.
"Expect somewhere where you can go with your friends, get a drink and not feel like you don't understand the words. This is Shakespeare for now, Shakespeare in a way that everyone is going to get and have fun not only watching it but being part of it."
Northern Rep will take over the space formerly home to Junkyard Golf Club, pictured (Image: The Vain Photography | Carl Sukonik)
Northern Rep plans to create two theatre spaces in the venue: a flexible main house seating between 200 and 300 people and a smaller studio space with capacity for an audience of 100.
Great Northern Warehouse centre director Mark Schofield said: "We are delighted to welcome Northern Rep to the Great Northern Warehouse.
"The team has a track record of delivering unforgettable performances and I know that our visitors will be wowed by what they put on. It's the first time we've utilised the Great Northern Warehouse as a theatre venue, and the space is shaping up really well for Northern Rep."
Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh has also spoken out in support of the venture.
"I am thrilled that Manchester might have its own dedicated rep company," she said.
"There is such an appetite for theatre in this fantastic city, and so much talent. It's just wonderful."
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