CityLife

The Lowry's winter and spring season

EXCITING new productions and a few old favourites make up the new season of drama at The Lowry from January.

The National Theatre return with the hotly-anticipated Two Thousand Years, the first Mike Leigh play in over a decade, taking a look into the lives of a contemporary Jewish family.

Nine Middle Eastern writers, including comedian Shazia Mirza, combine to create 1001 Nights Now, a feast of storytelling told by migrants working in a Christmas decoration factory. And cinema makes a leap from the silver screen to the stage with Trainspotting replayed in all of its gory detail.

Some of Britain's best known and best-loved stars visit the theatres with Sir Ian McKellen appearing in Donmar Warehouse's production of The Cut, Stephanie Cole as the comical Mrs Malaprop in The Rivals, and Leah Bracknell leaving behind her Emmerdale character Zoe Tate for a part in Gaslight.

Highlights of the coming season in dance include the first visit to The Lowry by the great Bolshoi Ballet, with their renowned productions of Swan Lake and Spartacus; Matthew Bourne's brand new adaptation of Edward Scissorhands and, from Germany, the hit of the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Romeo and Juliet hip-hop style in Rumble.

MIDDLE Ground Theatre present their world premiere stage adaptation of Tunes Of Glory, James Kennaway's gripping tale of two strong military men forced into a collision of wills from Jan 17-21.

That's followed by Northern Stage's Great Expectations, using film, music and ensemble storytelling in an inspiring interpretation of this classic of English literature (Jan 31-Feb 4). Patrick Hamilton's classic psychological thriller Gaslight, starring Leah Bracknell, comes to the theatre from February 6-11, while the intriguing 1001 Nights Now runs from Feb 7-11.

Then it's time for a double-whammy of Salford-associated plays. First, from Feb 14-18, there's the eagerly-awaited Two Thousand Years. Already a huge hit at the National Theatre in London, it's a moving and amusing family saga from Salford-born Mike Leigh.

That's followed from Feb 28 by the new production of East Is East and there's yet another biggie from March 16 as legendary director Peter Brook brings his new production of The Grand Inquisitor, featuring Salford-born actor Bruce Myers.

George Baker and Stephanie Cole star in a special revival of the classic English comedy The Rivals from March 20, at the same time as the theatre also presents a new Hull Truck comedy, called Wrestling Mad.

The humour is considerably darker in the tenth anniversary stage production of Irvine Welsh's drug-fuelled roller coaster ride Trainspotting, from March 27. The easily-shocked might also wish to steer clear of Donmar Warehouse's The Cut. Local hero Sir Ian McKellen stars in this thrilling new play by Mark Ravenhill about a man with a shocking secret. It runs from April 8.

The first-ever stage adaptation of a Joanna Trollope best-seller Marrying The Mistress rounds off the season from April 11.

With Tchaikovsky's famous score, classical choreography by Marius Petipa, production by Sir Peter Wright and a romantic finale packed with fairytale cameos, The Sleeping Beauty is as engaging now as ever. Birmingham Royal Ballet bring their lauded version on Jan 18.

Then, from Feb 21, the brilliant Matthew Bourne unveils his long-promised version of the Tim Burton film Edward Scissorhands. A fairytale for all the family, it tells the story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor - a boy with only scissors for hands.

Rumble, by Germany's Renegade Theatre was the smash-hit of the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is on March 6-7.

Universally regarded as the supreme Russian ballet company, the Bolshoi Ballet makes its first visit to The Lowry from April 4-8 April, presenting two of its most spectacular classic productions - Swan Lake and Spartacus. With new artistic director Alexei Ratmansky at the helm, this legendary company of 220 artists is at the top of its form.

For more details, contact The Lowry box office on 0870 787 5793.