This fearless portrait of a young woman who urgently wants to find out who she is, and a mother who is determined to protect her, marks playwright Kendall Feaver’s professional debut after winning one of the Judges Prizes in the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2015. Directed by Katy Rudd THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is a sharply observant new play which runs in the Theatre from 9 – 24 February 2018.

As a child Anna was diagnosed with a severe mental illness and prescribed a cocktail of medication. Now she’s a young adult and wondering for the first time how life might feel without it. But as Anna tries to distance herself from her doctor and the label that has defined most of her young life, her mother, Renee, refuses to let go, threatening the fragile balance they have both fought so hard to maintain.

Winner of a Judges Award at the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, Kendall Feaver’s extraordinary play is unflinchingly honest and woven through with startlingly delicate humour. THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES is a profoundly moving portrait of a young woman trying to take control, and a mother compelled to protect her.

Award-winning actor Julie Hesmondhalgh returns to the Royal Exchange stage following her UK Theatre nominated role in WIT in 2016 and said of being part of THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES…

“There is so much love, warmth and humour in this play about family, loss, mental health and creativity. It feels important to be talking about these things right now as there is an undoubted crisis around the wellbeing of our young people. I feel excited and honoured to be part of this beautiful play.”

Julie studied at LAMDA. She is best known for her portrayal of Hayley Cropper in CORONATION STREET, a role she left after 16 years and won multiple awards. Theatre includes: THE REPORT with Lemn Sissay, GOD BLESS THE CHILD (Royal Court), THE GREATEST PLAY IN TE HISTORY OF THE WORLD…, BLACK ROSES: THE KILLING OF SOPHIE LANCASTER, WIT and BLINDSIDED (Royal Exchange Theatre). Television includes: BROADCHURCH 3, HAPPY VALLEY 2, BLACK ROSES (RTS Award for Best Actress 2015). Julie is a speaker for Arts Emergency and founder of Take Back, an award-winning political theatre collective in Manchester. She has just finished filming feature Pond Life with Bill Buckhurst & Peterloo with Mike Leigh.

Norah Lopez Holden was last seen at the Exchange in the critically acclaimed OUR TOWN directed by Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom. Her other credits include OTHELLO (The Tobacco Factory); GHOSTS (HOME Manchester).

The cast also includes Mike Noble as Oliver, who returns to the theatre following his role in PUNK ROCK. Mike Noble performed at the Lyric Hammersmith in PUNK ROCK, which was a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre, and has just finished performing in ROAD at the Royal Court.

THE ALMIGHTY SOMETIMES runs from 9 – 24 February 2018. Book tickets here