Hobson's Choice

By Harold Brighouse. In a new adaptation by Tanika Gupta. Directed by Atri Banerjee

  • ★★★★★ Whatsonstage ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Stage ★★★★ The Telegraph ★★★★ The Times ★★★★★ Morning Star ★★★★★ North West End ★★★★ Quays Life
  • 31 May 2019 - 6 July 2019
  • The Theatre

Tanika Gupta’s sparkling new version of this classic 1916 comedy finds a new home amid the 1980s Ugandan-Asian rag trade.

‘It’s a man’s world and you girls should keep within your boundaries and do as you’re told’

If tailor Hari Hobson isn’t bossing his daughters about in his Northern Quarter workshop, he’s putting the world to rights in his local pub. His oldest daughter, Durga, is the brains behind the operation. But when Hobson says that Durga is too valuable to lose and must give up all idea of getting married, she takes her fate into her own hands and opens a rival shop nearby.

Cutting through generational divides, it shows that in family life, some stories never get old – and some things never change.

Hobson's Choice Quotes Poster

  • Event Information

  • VENUE: The Theatre

    PERFORMANCE DATES: Friday 31 May - Saturday 6 July 2019. PLEASE NOTE: There will be no performance on Monday 1 July.

    PERFORMANCE TIMES: Matinees, 2.30pm / Evenings, 7.30pm. View all times & dates

    RUNNING TIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes, which includes 1 interval of 20 minutes

    TICKET INFORMATION: Standard Tickets from £18.50. View all ticket prices

    BOOK TICKETS: Book Online or call the Box Office on 0161 833 9833 

    PLEASE NOTE: Production contains flashing lights and smoking

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  • Creative Team

  • WRITER Tanika Gupta

    DIRECTOR Atri Banerjee

    DESIGNER Rosa Maggiora

    SOUND DESIGNER & COMPOSER Arun Ghosh

    LIGHTING DESIGNER Matt Haskins

    MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Jenny Ogilvie

    FIGHT DIRECTORS Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown of Rc-Annie Ltd

    DIALECT COACH Edda Sharpe

    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Lucy Curtis

    CASTING DIRECTOR Vicky Richardson CDG

    BSL INTERPRETER Siobhan Rocks

    AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Samina Ali

    Production originally developed by Pooja Ghai

  • Related Events

  • MEMBERS Q&A
    Join the cast of Hobson's Choice in a Q&A
    Friday 5 July, 12.30pm - 1.30pm 
    Tickets £5 - for members only
    Book Tickets: 0161 833 9833 / online
    More Information about becoming a member 

    POST-SHOW DISCUSSION 
    Wednesday 3 July, following 7.30pm show. 
    No need to book tickets for the discussion.
    Book tickets to the performance

    THEATRE CLUB
    Like an informal, friendly book club, but for plays
    Saturday 29 June, 5.00pm - 6.30pm
    Tickets are free but please book a place.
    Book Tickets: 0161 833 9833 / online
    More Information about Theatre Club

    INTRODUCING...
    Pre-show introduction to the play, led from the stage and featuring company members.
    Thursday 13 June, 10.30am - 12 noon. Tickets £6 / Concessions £4
    Book Tickets: 0161 833 9833
    More Information about Introducing

  • Accessible Performances

  • If you require our BSL, Audio Described or Captioned services, please book directly with Box Office. This is because there are often specific seats, which are held for each show to ensure you have the best experience possible. 

    Book tickets via Box Office: 0161 833 9833 / email

    AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE: Saturday 29 June, 2.30pm 

    BSL PERFORMANCE: Wednesday 19 June, 7.30pm. Interpreter Siobhan Rocks 

    CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE: Wednesday 26 June, 7.30pm 

    RELAXED PERFORMANCE: Tuesday 18 June, 2.30pm BOOK TICKETS

    Click here for more information about our accessible performances

    PLEASE NOTE - if a performance is marked as SOLD OUT - there may still be access seats available - so do get in touch. 

  • Ali Mossop

    Esh Alladi

    Steve Da Silva

    Raj Bajaj

    Jim Heeler

    Tony Hirst

    Ruby Hobson

    Safiyya Ingar

    Hari Hobson

    Tony Jayawardena

    Sunita Hobson

    Maimuna Memon

    Durga Hobson

    Shalini Peiris

    Tubby Mohammed

    Avin Shah

    Robbie Singh

    Gurjeet Singh

    Dr Bannerjee/ Pinky Khan

    Yasmin Wilde

  • ★★★★★ "The tale contains darker and tragic moments but a laugh is never too far away and Gupta's script is brought to life by a host of wonderful performances" Oliver Ainley, WhatsOnStage  

    ★★★★ "Relocating Harold Brighouse’s classic to Manchester’s Hindu community, Tanika Gupta finds some sharp political parallels and a very funny new cultural context" Mark Fisher, The Guardian

    ★★★★"an assured, embracive staging, large-hearted and funny." Natasha Tripney, The Stage 

    ★★★★ " a much-loved comedy brought warmly and astutely up to date." Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

    ★★★★★ "Uplifting and joyous theatre told with true heart." Nikki Cotter, Opening Night

    ★★★★ "sparkling and witty." Donna Kelly, Frankly My Dear

    "sets a benchmark for modern updates and adaptations of classic plays because it will appeal to fans of the original and newcomers alike and offers something we really need right now – warmth, compassion and belly laughs." Glenn Meads, ILoveMcr

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