Cotton, slavery and poetry: Theatre turns spotlight on its problematic past

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"Disrvpt was born out of a really strong desire to continue this occupation but to be more revolutionary in what it is - not just put on nice plays with beautiful costumes, but to really crack open the idea of who belongs in this space," he says.
The exterior of the Royal Exchange is as imposing as the interior Disrvpt launches on Thursday with the performance of a poem addressing the building's history, and its place in modern Manchester, by local writer Keisha Thompson.
"Hopefully, each time that people see it and read it, it helps them to move a little bit closer to having some of the really challenging conversations that I think we need to have about this place, about this city, about this country, and its relationship to the rest of the world," Weise continues.
"And the people who have been subject to the oppression and exploitation that spaces like this have historically been a part of - they also know that they are being seen."