

Royal Exchange Theatre, Theatre Module
Royal Exchange, Manchester, St Anns Square, Manchester, M2 7DH -
From
£2500 min spendUp to
350 guestsOffers
cateringInternal Catering
allowed
Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre transforms the way people see theatre, each other and the world around them. Its historic building which was taken over by artists in 1976. Today it is an award-winning cultural charity that produces new theatre in-the-round, in communities, on the road and online.
The Theatre is a spectacular seven-sided, glass-walled capsule, suspended in the centre of the historic Cotton Exchange. This unique design means all seats are less than nine metres from the circular stage. The Studio is a smaller 90-seat flexible venue hosting touring and new productions.
Overlooking the Theatre and St Ann’s Square, is the Front Room. With a separate entrance, privacy and an optional bar area the space is ideal for meetings, presentations or private dining, and can accommodate up to 80 people.
In addition, the former board room of the Exchange is now a unique setting for a business meeting, away day, private dining, or drinks reception. This private suite is unique setting unrivalled for interior design, location and service. The Café and indoor beer garden in the Grade II Listed Great Hall offers a warm welcome in a striking location, and is a welcome alternative to the bustle of the city.
Resembling a lunar spacecraft set down amidst the glass domes and towering columns of this Grade II listed building, the Royal Exchange is the largest Theatre in the round in the country, seating up to 750 people on three levels.
Did you know our seven-sided Theatre module is actually suspended from four huge columns? In fact, only the stage area and its ground-level seating rest on the floor of the Great Hall - a necessary architectural feature for a module that weighs 150 tonnes!
The theatre can be used end on for presentations, conferences and lectures. In this set up the theatre seats up to 350.
It's also licensed for marriages!
Theatre Module
Capacity & layout
Theatre
up to 350
Catering & drinks
Catering arrangements
Catering facilities
Refreshments
Alcohol
Amenities
Cloakroom
Disabled access
Heating
Air conditioning
Lectern
Stage
Public transport
Premises parking
Overnight accommodation
Breakout rooms
Audio & visual
Sound system
Microphone
Projector & screen
TV screen
Flipchart
WiFi
Space rules
Allowed events
Wedding ceremony licence
Cancellation policy
50% refundable 7 days before the event
Location
Reviews
Dave Smith
December 2024Spend, Spend, Spend - Dec 2024 ! Talented cast, a wonderful night of theatre. But been coming 47 yrs now since it opened, always a thrill. A unique theatre, part of the DNA of Manchester.
Tim J
February 2025The Royal Exchange is a great asset to Manchester. There have been so many amazing productions here over many years with many famous faces treading the boards at various times. The theatre is a unique pupose-built structure within the cavernous old trading hall which is itself a feat to behold. You can still see the old exchange trading board high up displaying prices amongst the impressive marble columns. It's free to visit the main hall, where there's a nice cafe and you can sit and enjoy the architecture and atmosphere. Do also plan ahead to see a play here if you can though!
carol davis
January 2025Fabulous experience. We sat in the bar stool seats on tier 2. Great view and very comfy. Loved the entire theatre any Rivals Bar. Can't wait to go again.
Nicholas Maloney
March 2025Steel construction of this theatre in this imposing Victorian building built on money, partly, from the slave trade but means that when grants or support arts funding are cut it can be dismantled again and become what? That impermanence worries me. But is it a welcoming space? I’m really not sure. The centres of excellence will, I guess, eventually share the fate of repertory theatre in the face of cuts to the arts. Having a post show drink in the depressing, characterless rather soulless bar left me with an empty feeling echoed in the plays I had just seen. The cast were terrific. The plays challenging - which is good but what will become of this theatre? What’s happened to the Oldham coliseum? The Bolton octagon? Once proud community theatres ….
Theatre Module