Howard Jacobson’s The Mighty Walzer, the story of Oliver, a Manchester ping pong star and failing Romeo, makes its debut.
Man Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson’s novel The Mighty Walzer will be brought to the stage at the Royal Exchange, Manchester for its world premiere performance.
The coming-of-age story sees Oliver Walzer carry the dreams of his dysfunctional family on his shy and bookish shoulders – that is, until he discovers ping-pong. With just one careful flick of the wrist, the world is suddenly Oliver’s oyster. Elliot Levey (The Lady in The Van, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream for the BBC) takes on the title role of Oliver Walzer and is joined on stage by Tracy-Ann Oberman (New Tricks, Friday Night Dinner) as his matriarchal mother Sadie in this homage to the Manchester of Jacobson’s youth. Directed by Jonathan Humphreys and adapted by Simon Bent, the play will be in Manchester from 30th June until 30th July.
The play’s run also coincides with a free exhibition at Manchester Jewish Museum called ‘Chess in Shorts: Table Tennis and Growing Up in Jewish Manchester’ and Howard Jacobson will also be in conversation at the Royal Exchange on 11th July.