Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - Road is packed with character - an immersive experience you won't forget!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

We were invited to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester to see Road. Read what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this sell-out production...

I’ll be honest, I’d never actually heard of Road before this production. But I had heard of Jim Cartwright and, with names like Johnny Vegas and Lucy Beaumont attached, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. The Royal Exchange has a strong track record for bold, character-led productions, and as part of its 50th anniversary season, this felt like a statement piece.

Before we even reached the auditorium, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a typical theatre trip. On arrival, we were handed a map outlining how the building had been transformed, and from the second you step inside the Royal Exchange, you are firmly in the 1980s.

Actors roam the foyer in character, interacting with the bustling crowd as though we’re residents of the estate. The bar has been turned into an 80s pub, complete with the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to order a pint and stay a while. There’s even a DJ set in the round during the interval, spinning tracks that root you firmly in the era - they even got some audience members up dancing.

What really stood out to me was that the cast never dropped character throughout the whole time we were at the Royal Exchange. They entertained pre-show, during the interval and in every corner of the building, not once taking a break from bringing Road to life. It felt immersive in a way I’ve genuinely never experienced in Manchester before. It wasn’t just theatre, it was a full experience.

Once seated in the in-the-round auditorium, the world of Road tightens around you. The industrial set design creates the sense of a worn-down Lancashire street - old TV sets hanging from the ceiling broadcast short monologues from key characters and a record player consistently sits in the middle of the stage. Arm chairs, sofas and tea trolleys moved in and out to shift between homes and the lighting helped set the mood as we’re guided from door to door across one night in this struggling community.

The story follows a collection of residents navigating love, loneliness, frustration and fleeting joy against the backdrop of 1980s Britain. It’s a genuinely funny comedy, packed with sharp Northern wit and laugh-out-loud moments, but it doesn’t shy away from darker realities. That balance of light and shade is what makes it so powerful, just as you’re roaring with laughter, you’re suddenly hit with something raw and sobering.

Johnny Vegas (Ideal, Benidorm, Bleak House) is magnetic as Scullery, our guide through the night. He balances bravado with vulnerability beautifully, delivering Cartwright’s language with rhythm and authenticity. There’s humour, but there’s also a quiet sadness bubbling underneath, which Vegas captures effortlessly.

Lucy Beaumont (Meet the Richardsons, Hullraisers, Taskmaster) brings biting comic timing and grounded realism to her role. She’s effortlessly funny, but there’s a resilience and heart in her performance that gives it real depth.

The wider ensemble deserves huge praise. Each actor fully commits to the immersive nature of the production, embodying multiple characters with nuance and individuality. From chaotic party scenes that had the audience howling, to intimate monologues delivered in near silence, every performer plays their part in creating a vivid portrait of this street. The stamina alone is impressive, entertaining audiences throughout the building before and during the show, then delivering emotionally charged performances under the lights.

Amongst the ensemble, Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) delivers some of the standout comedy moments of the evening. Her timing is razor sharp and she commands attention the second she enters a scene, drawing huge laughs with expressions and throwaway lines that feel completely natural.

Laura Elsworthy (The Forsyte Saga, Peter Grimes, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart) is equally memorable, bringing infectious energy and brilliant physical comedy to her roles. She throws herself into every moment with gusto, earning some of the biggest laughs of the night.

The atmosphere on the night I attended was electric. There’s something special about experiencing a story so rooted in Northern identity inside the Royal Exchange, especially during its milestone anniversary season. It felt communal, celebratory and deeply human.

Road isn’t glossy escapism. It’s bold, brash, funny and unflinchingly honest. But it’s also warm and surprisingly uplifting in places. The Royal Exchange has transformed its entire building into a living, breathing world, and the result is theatre that completely surrounds you.

If you want something immersive, different and packed with character, Road is absolutely worthy experiencing. It’s a fitting addition to the Royal Exchange’s 50th anniversary season, and a reminder of the power of community stories and the magic that can happen when an entire theatre commits to one vision. And above all, it’s genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.

Please note that although the run is sold out, there will banquette seat day tickets available from 12pm each day which audience members can purchase in person from the Royal Exchange Theatre’s box office or on the phone throughout the run.

WE SCORE ROAD...