“It’s almost as if you can hear the laughter of a place that time forgot cradled in the wind. This is our home. The place we hold in our bones.”

Taking inspiration from Jim Cartwright’s award-winning masterpiece ROAD, the first show in our 50th anniversary programme ‘A Homecoming’, ONE FOR THE ROAD invited audiences to step into an immersive theatrical experience inside Victoria Market Hall, Stalybridge, to explore the meaning of community and home.

“It has been a complete privilege to work with the humans of Tameside to build this community response piece to the Royal Exchange Theatre’s production of Road. Having just moved to Manchester and taken up post at the Royal Exchange theatre, I can think of no better way to immerse myself into this city. The company are full of courage in their exploration of the themes of Road and have felt fearless in their quest as playwrights across this project.”

Emma Baggott, Associate Director, Royal Exchange Theatre

Co-created with 15 local residents from Stalybridge, the event formed part of the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Local Exchange programme. Directed by Emma Baggott (Associate Director at Royal Exchange Theatre), Playwright Dan Lovatt, Associate Director Tori Burgess and local residents, ONE FOR THE ROAD transformed the Market Hall into an immersive piece of theatre through several creative installations and performances. Over the course of a month, the group shared and wrote stories about their road, and created pieces about nostalgia, collective identity, individualism and hope.

“I’ve learnt how cathartic it is to write about something personal – it’s been beautiful.”

Community Cast Member

Each cast member recorded their story, with sound design by Hannah Bracegirdle, as  audience members donned headphones to be transported into the company’s world. Victoria Market Hall was transformed with lighting design by Yvette Sedgley as cast and audience gathered around a central disco ball, “bending towards the sun”. 

“Who knows what morning will bring
If you’re ever knocking about
Do call again
Down, but not out, kid“

These two sold out performances took place at Victoria Market Hall in Stalybridge on Wednesday 18 March, with audiences from all across Tameside, including Shibley Alam, Civic Mayor for Tameside.

Community Cast
  • Aydie Jane
  • Beth Roscoe
  • Duncan Cowen
  • Jayne Hayward
  • Kim Harrison
  • Linda Boyles
  • Lorraine Reynolds
  • Maralyn Tohill
  • Maria Wilson
  • Matthew Piddington
  • Michelle Lockwood
  • Sandy Parkinson
  • Tess McIntyre
Creative Team
  • Director – Emma Baggott
  • Writer – Dan Lovatt
  • Associate Director – Tori Burgess
  • Sound Designer – Hannah Bracegirdle
  • Lighting Designer – Yvette Sedgley
  • Creative Exchange Manager – Molly Taylor
  • Assistant Producer – Jessica Edwards
  • Stage Manager – Phil Clack
The Royal Exchange Theatre is dedicated to bringing incredible shared live experiences right to people’s doorsteps. Established in 2019, their pioneering LOCAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME has developed long-running creative partnerships across five areas of Greater Manchester. This wide-reaching community programme aims to develop long-lasting relationships between artists and communities, celebrating local talent and establishing paths to the arts for all residents.

This project was made possible by the generous support of Tameside Council and The Oglesby Charitable Trust.