Maxine Peake is to join Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre as an Associate Artist next year and will also star in a radical re-imagining of Hamlet directed by the venue’s artistic director Sarah Frankcom. It will be the first of a number of exciting creative collaborations with the theatre.
Her role will draw on her talents as one of the nation’s best-loved actresses and also as a writer. It will include opportunities for her to get involved in the theatre’s work with community groups and young people—and work with young actors from across the city.
The appointment is the development of a longstanding relationship with the Exchange which has already seen collaborations on a number of acclaimed productions including Rutherford And Son, The Children’s Hour and, most recently, Miss Julie—for which she won a Manchester Theatre Award.
The role of Hamlet will reunite her with Frankcom, following The Masque Of Anarchy, Shelley’s epic poem written in the wake of the Peterloo Massacre, which was performed to more than 6,000 people as part of this year’s Manchester International Festival.
Maxine Peake said: "Sarah and I have looked for a project that would stretch and excite us and Hamlet just seemed the the next natural step to challenge us both in so many ways. I am so excited how gender swapping can affect and throw up new ways of looking at this theatrical masterpiece; then to be asked to join the Exchange as an Artistic Associate was just the cherry on the cake.”
Sarah Frankcom added: “Maxine started her acting career in our youth theatre. Her performances have thrilled our audiences and the Royal Exchange is her local theatre. We are thrilled she is going to be working more closely with us."