Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival and the Royal Exchange Theatre

THE SKRIKER

With Maxine Peake

  • By Caryl Churchill. Music by Nico Muhly and Antony
  • 1 July 2015 - 1 August 2015
  • The Theatre

…long before that, long before England was an idea, a country of snow and wolves where trees sang and birds talked and people knew we mattered.

In a broken world two friends meet an extraordinary creature. The Skriker is a shapeshifter. She can be an old woman, a child, a death portent. She is a faerie come from the Underworld to pursue and entrap them, through time and space, through this world and her own.

One of MIF 13s most electrifying moments was Maxine Peake’s and Sarah Frankcom’s presentation of Shelley’s Peterloo memorial, THE MASQUE OF ANARCHY performed just yards from the site of the massacre. Fresh from her leading role in HAMLET (2014), Royal Exchange Associate Artist Maxine Peake renews her partnership with Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom, to play the title role in this landmark revival of Caryl Churchill’s extraordinary collision of ancient fairy story and portrait of a fractured England. This new version will feature specially commissioned music by Nico Muhly and Antony (Antony and the Johnsons).

"I'm hugely excited to be collaborating with the Manchester International Festival again, and this time to be staging it here at the Royal Exchange" Sarah Frankcom, Artistic Director

Please note, ticket availability is limited. For availability it is best to call the Box Office (0161 833 9833). We will also be releasing 10 tickets (£15-£17) on B Row Second Gallery each day from 10.00am. These will be bookable firstly in person at the Box Office (as per Banquettes), then via the phones (01618339833) and lastly here online. 

A SPECIAL ROYAL EXCHANGE EDITION OF THE SKRIKER PLAYTEXT IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE INFORMATION POINT FOR £7.50

logo-manchester-international-festival-black
THE SKRIKER is a Royal Exchange Theatre and Manchester International Festival co-commission.

Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events and takes place biennially, in Manchester, UK. 

View the full Festival programme here



  • Event Information

  • VENUE: The Theatre

    PERFORMANCE DATES: Friday 3 July - Saturday 1 August 2015 
    Previews: 1-3 July
    Festival Dates: 4-18 July

    PERFORMANCE TIMES:     

    Wed 1/7/15 7:30PM 
    Thu 2/7/15 7:30PM 
    Fri 3/7/15 7:30PM 
    Sat 4/7/15 8:00PM 
    Mon 6/7/15 7:30PM
    Tue 7/7/15 7:30PM
    Wed 8/7/15 7:30PM
    Thu 9/7/15 7:30PM
    Fri 10/7/15 7:30PM
    Sat 11/7/15 8:00PM
    Sun 12/7/15 2:30PM
    Tue 14/7/15 7:30PM
    Wed 15/7/15 7:30PM
    Thu 16/7/15 7:30PM
    Fri 17/7/15 7:30PM
    Sat 18/7/15 2:30PM
    Sat 18/7/15 8:00PM
    Mon 20/7/15 7:30PM
    Tue 21/7/15 7:30PM
    Wed 22/7/15 7:30PM
    Thu 23/7/15 7:30PM
    Fri 24/7/15 7:30PM
    Sat 25/7/15 8:00PM
    Mon 27/7/15 7:30PM
    Tue 28/7/15 7:30PM
    Wed 29/7/15 7:30PM
    Thu 30/7/15 7:30PM
    Fri 31/7/15 7:30PM
    Sat 1/8/15 8:00PM

    TICKET PRICES: £15 - £45. £12 for Greater Manchester Residents on a lower wage
    FOR CONCESSIONS PLEASE CONTACT THE BOX OFFICE DIRECTLY.

    Please note, ticket availability is limited. For availability it is best to call the Box Office (0161 833 9833) as we will be releasing tickets upto 48 hours before each show. We will also be releasing 10 tickets (£15-£17) on B Row Second Gallery each day from 10.00am. These will be bookable firstly in person at the Box Office (as per Banquettes), then via the phones (01618339833) and lastly here online. 

    SEATING: Please note, stage level seats are unreserved

    BOOK TICKETS: 0161 833 9833 / online. 

    RUNNING TIME: Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes (no interval)


    AGE GUIDANCE: 14+

  • Creative Team

  • WRITER Caryl Churchill
    DIRECTOR Sarah Frankcom
    DESIGNER Lizzie Clachan
    CHOREOGRAPHER Imogen Knight
    LIGHTING DESIGNER Jack Knowles 
    SOUND DESIGNER David McSeveney
    COMPOSERS Nico Muhly and Antony
    MUSICAL SUPERVISOR Stuart Overington
    ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Bryony Shanahan
    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Alasdair Pidsley
    ILLUSIONS Chris Fisher

  • Related Events

  • BACK STAGE TOUR: Wednesday 15 July: 11am. Tickets £5 (including refreshments). Book on 0161 833 9833. More Information 

    BETWEEN THE LINES: Wednesday 15 July: 11am - 1pm. Play reading and discussion group to accompany the show. Come along and read, discuss or just listen. Tickets £6 per session. Book on 0161 833 9833 / online. More Information

  • Accessible Performances

  • Captioned Performance: Thursday 16 July, 7.30pm. Seats will be on 2nd Gallery, Row A. 
    BSL-interpreted Performance: Friday 17 July, 7.30pm. Seats will be on 1st Gallery, Row B. 
    Audio-described Performance: Saturday 18 July, 2.30pm. Seats will be on 1st Gallery, Row A.

    There will be £5 off the ticket price. Please book via Box Office 0161 833 9833 or email box.office@royalexchange.co.uk 

    Click here for more information about our accessible performances

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