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.

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

Members get Priority Booking for each season as well as for additional events. You can find out about Membership here.

With your support, we can make brilliant theatre, tell stories, nurture new talent, and help as many people as possible get involved.

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