Karl Marx is back in Manchester with 'Marx in Soho'

It’s been two hundred years since Karl Marx’s birth, and now Manchester audiences are about to see the UK premiere of the play dedicated to him.

By Manchester's Finest | 10 May 2018

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Following a successful run in New York at the start of this month, the production embarks on a six-week tour of the UK, stopping at Chetham’s Library on Saturday 2nd June.

The revolutionary thinker, who spent part of his life in Manchester striking up a friendship with fellow philosopher Fredrick Engels, has been reincarnated for the theatre production ‘Marx in Soho’.

Renowned historian and activist Howard Zinn’s brilliant, timely one-man show, is a passionate, funny and moving defense of Karl Marx’s life and political ideas. Zinn reincarnates Marx and lands the prominent thinker for one night only in present day Soho, New York, where, during the course of the play, he confronts issues such as American education, their super-rich ruling class, corporate mergers, prisons, and the media.

Celebrated actor Bob Weick (Terra Nova, Circle Mirror Transformation) takes on the role of Marx, a part he has played for the past 7 years performing the piece over 300 times across the US from Maine to California.

Marx in Soho will be performed at Chetham’s Library on Saturday 2nd June. The performance has added meaning as the venue holds strong historical connections to Marx as he used to visit the library with Engels whilst in the city. The play will also be visiting the Salford Arms for 2 nights (Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June).

Juniper Productions, founded by Sonya Aronowitz, brings Marx in Soho to the UK. Sonya grew up in Manchester before moving to Philadelphia and she is confident that this production will resonate with a modern day audience: “It is great to be able to start working on bringing the work of talented Philadelphia theatre artists to the UK.”

You can catch Marx in Soho at Chetham’s Library on June 2nd and the King’s Arms, Salford 9th and 10th June

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