Review | Even These Things | Royal Exchange Theatre | 20 May 2026
- May 21
- 2 min read
Following a series of brilliant productions marking their 50th anniversary, Royal Exchange Theatre’s latest offering is the world premiere of Even These Things. It is unmistakably a love letter to the city, the people within it and its history. Running at 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval, the production is divided into three distinct parts set in 1846, 1996 and 2026. Each has its own unique tone, though as a complete piece it doesn’t quite work.
The opening section follows Annie Donovan (Elaine Cassidy), an Irish woman who fled the Great Famine to Manchester, only to find herself living amongst the horrors of Angel Meadows. Cassidy delivers the opening act through an extended monologue, framed by themes of desperation and violence. There is power found within the material as it progresses, but it never fully grips in the way it should due to its pacing and mixed tone.
Things shift when we find ourselves in 1996 on the day of the IRA bombing. Katherine Pearce provides a wonderful light-hearted narration as we meet a wide range of ordinary Mancunians, brought to life by a huge community cast drawn from across Greater Manchester. There is an undeniable warmth, particularly through nostalgic references to departed staples of the British high street including Our Price and Kwik Save. In a show so strongly about Manchester, these moments stop it feeling exclusionary to those less familiar with local cultural references. Initially this approach is charming, but the production lingers on these moments of nostalgia for too long which makes up the majority of this middle act. However, when the bomb finally detonates, it is handled faultlessly in both the direction and the writing.
It is in the final section where Even These Things truly finds its feet. Presented more traditionally and dialogue driven, two women meet in present day Manchester and begin unpacking how the city’s history has shaped them. Rory Mullarkey’s writing wisely avoids making this discussion feel in any way forced. Instead, the conversation evolves naturally to these themes, as it would in a real world conversation. Through this understated yet raw segment, the often repeated claim that the IRA bomb was ‘the best thing that happened to Manchester’ is challenged head on and unfiltered. While it is undeniably powerful, it feels like a missed opportunity that the shows structure prevents such powerful two way dialogue from happening until the closing scene.
Although its ambitious structure and uneven pacing prevent it from fully realising its potential, when Even These Things connects, it is a genuinely powerful and thought-provoking piece of theatre. The production runs at Royal Exchange Theatre until Monday 15 June 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the IRA bombing.
Note: My ticket was gifted in exchange for a review. This review is based on my honest opinion alone and is without influence.
