Bingo Theatre Comes To Manchester

Bingo production is set to open in Manchester as part of summer festival.

One of Manchester's most famous theatres will be transformed into a bingo hall next week for Everybody Loves A Winner, the new play by Neil Bartlett.

Opening at the Royal Exchange on Friday July 3rd, the production is part of this summer's Manchester International Festival and stars former Coronation Street favourite Sally Lindsay.

In order to heighten the atmosphere of Bartlett's drama, which is set in a local bingo hall, the interior of the theatre will resemble a numbers game venue, complete with slot machines in the foyer.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about her role, Lindsay said that she has become a bingo fan since agreeing to star in the production.

"You go in, you pay your money, you get a cup of tea or a sandwich and you just play. It's fascinating," she told the newspaper.

“It's unbelievable when you watch these women filling in a half a dozen cards at a time - what astonishing coordination that needs. I've never been interested in bingo before either – and now I love it."

The bingo caller in Everybody Loves A Winner is played by Ian Puleston-Davies, who starred alongside Ray Winstone in Vincent and recently appeared in the BBC adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles.