ROAD FAQs

Our entrances are at St Ann’s Square (step-free access, with a lift directly to the Great Hall), and on Cross Street. 

Our doors to the Great Hall will open 30 minutes before the show start time. 

Our Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 12pm until the show starts, accessible from the St Ann’s Square entrance. 

We are surrounded by all the major train stations, bus stations and tram stops, so the easiest/quickest way to get to the Royal Exchange is to use public transport. 

You may find it helpful to use the TfGM Website to plan your journey. 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION 

Manchester Piccadilly station will be closed from Saturday 14 Feb to Sunday 22 February 2026. Rail replacement buses will operate during this time. We advise you to plan ahead and check National Rail Enquiries or train operator websites for specific journey alterations during this period. 

Metrolink tram and bee network bus services are expected to operate, but roads may be busier. 

The first part of the show is a journey through the building, so please arrive on time to enjoy the full experience before taking your seats. You’re welcome to explore, eat, drink, and soak up the atmosphere. 

• Evening Performances start at 7pm, Doors Open 6.30pm
• Matinee Performances start at 2pm, Doors Open 1.30pm
• Sunday performances start at 3pm, Doors Open 2.30pm 

The experience lasts approximately 3 hours, which includes a 30-minute interval 

Evening performances are expected to finish around 10pm 

Matinee performances are expected to finish around 5pm 

Sunday performances are expected to finish around 6pm 

Yes, during the first 20 minutes and for the interval action. This involves following the action and our performers, exploring all spaces. You can move around as much or as little as you want during the opening section and explore the spaces in any order. Once in the theatre module, the rest of the performance is seated. 

You are welcome to take your seat in the theatre module at any time. There will be a limited amount of seating available in Great Hall.  

Once you hear Judy Garland’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and see audiences begin moving into the theatre, that’s your cue to take your seat in the Module Theatre and settle in. For the second act, listen out for When You Wish Upon a Star.

Our Bar and Café will be open pre-show and during the interval.

Show Day Opening Times 

Tuesday–Friday (evening performances)
12pm–5.30pm
Reopens for pre-show at 6.30pm 

Wednesdays & Saturdays (matinee days)
1.30pm–5.30pm
Reopens for evening pre-show at 6.30pm 

Sunday
Opens at 2.30pm 

Due to the unique experience of this production, we’ve worked closely with local suppliers to create a food and drink offer inspired by the period. 

Before the show, enjoy a selection of pub classics, including award-winning pork pies from John Mettrick’s Butchers, Scotch eggs from Mr Murray’s, alongside classic sandwiches and warming soups. 

We’ve also partnered with Blackjack Brewery to serve Millstone Edition cask ales in our renamed Rivals Bar – The Millstone Pub. 

Make the most of your visit by pre-ordering your food and drink in advance and have it ready when you arrive – click here to order. 

Food & Drink in the Theatre Module 

Hot drinks are not permitted. Cold drinks may be transferred into our reusable eco-friendly cups (please return them after use). For safety reasons, glassware, ceramic mugs or plates, and hot food are not allowed in the theatre module 

We kindly ask that photography and filming are not permitted inside the building, helping to maintain the world of the show and prevent moments being shared that could spoil the experience for other audiences. 

Yes. For £5, you can buy a programme packed with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes insights from the cast and creatives, available from our Box Office, Bars, or Visitor Experience team.

You can pre-order your programme in advance here and collect from our Box Office when you arrive – click here to order

The show is suitable for ages 14+.

Children under 16 will not be admitted without an adult. 

Road explores a range of experiences and emotions that some audiences may find upsetting.  

It contains strong language and themes reflective of some of the attitudes of the period, with references to domestic conflict, mental health, disordered eating, alcohol use, and aspects of life in a struggling community.  

The production contains smoking (herbal cigarettes), flashing lights and images, and haze across all spaces. There is a live dog in the production, who appears during the opening section and in Act 2. For more information, please contact our Box Office team. 

We offer a cloakroom for bags and coats at £1 per item (card payments only). Due to the nature of the production, we ask that large bags (over A4) are left in the cloakroom. Please be aware that our security team may carry out bag checks. 

Physical access information: 

There is step-free access to all the areas the audience visit during the opening section – the Great Hall, the Studio and the Millstone Pub – the space usually known as the Rivals Bar. 

There is limited seating in the areas used during the opening section and interval –  there are benches with backs in the Great Hall. Overall, there will be less seating in the Great Hall and our bars than there usually is before a performance.  

There will be props and scenery in the areas used for the opening section. In the Great Hall, there are several large piles of props on the floor. These will be lit, and there will be clear pathways to go around them.  

Further information for Access Performances: 

We are continuing to make special arrangements for our access performances in collaboration with access providers. Further details will be shared closer to the performance date. 

Sensory Adapted Performance 

Tuesday 3 March, 6.00pm 

BSL Performance 

Wednesday 4 March, 7.00pm 

With Ali Gordon

Captioned Performance 

Sunday 7 March, 2.00pm & 7.00pm 

By Claire McIntyre 

Audio Described Performance 

Thursday 12 March, 7.00pm 

Mind’s Eye Description Services 

Check out our Visiting Us FAQs for info around coming to the building, toilets and other facilities.