MANCHESTER'S Royal Exchange has announced the second half of its 30th anniversary season. And it features two world premieres, a modern American classic, tales of gender bending in 18th century France and the return of Pete Postlethwaite to play Prospero in Shakespeare's most theatrical of plays - The Tempest. The season opens with a production of Edward Albee's modern American classic Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha and George are a bitter, erudite couple, who invite a new college professor and his wife to their home after a faculty party. Long buried resentment and rage is unleashed in a whirl of verbal sparring. Sarah Frank-com will direct this production, which runs from March 14-April 21. Brainy and beautiful Leonide loves gorgeous and gullible Prince Agis. All she has to do now is to get past his uncle, the austere philosopher Hermocrates and his equally chilling aunt Leontine who have lived their lives by one simple rule; love is ruinous! Written in 1732 by Pierre Marivaux, the theatrical darling of Louis XV's glittering court, The Triumph of Love is the 18th century equivalent of a Joe Orton comedy, erotic and sexually charged with cross-dressing princesses, mistaken identity and misplaced desires. Braham Murray directs this production, which he has adapted with Katherine Sand, from April 24-May 19. The Tempest is Shakespeare's most theatrical play and the noble magician Prospero: clever, mysterious, in charge of the elements, spirits and the fates of those around him is often regarded as a characterisation of the playwright himself. Pete Postlethwaite will return to play the role at the Royal Exchange. Greg Hersov, who last worked with Pete in the 25th anniversary production of The Homecoming, will direct the production from May 23-July 7. As part of the Manchester International Festival, the season concludes with two new plays, the winners of The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition for The Royal Exchange. In Pretend You Have Big Buildings by Ben Musgrave, it is 1994 and buildings are rising in the Docklands. But marooned miles to the east, half-in and half-out of London, Romford has not been invited to the party. Confused about its identity and threatened with the gradual demise of its blue-collar industry, the inhabitants of the 'only town in London with its own ring road' are trying to cope. In a family that doesn't understand him, Leon is having trouble working out who he's meant to be, while Danny arrives from India to claim the glorious inheritance his father promised him, only to be sorely disappointed. Jo Combes and Sarah Frank-com will co-direct this production from July 11-August 4. In The Studio will be Monster (June 20-July 7) by Duncan Macmillan. In an attempt to save their relationship, Tom and Jodi have left the city and begun again in a small town. Soon, Jodi is pregnant and Tom has started a new job in the local school. But their new life is turned upside down by Darryl, a disruptive student with an obsession with violence. * For more information, contact the box office 0161 833 9833. | 
