The Royal Exchange Theatre is one of Manchester's most unique cultural landmarks, located in the spectacular Great Hall of the former cotton exchange. This Grade II listed building houses a futuristic "lunar module" theatre-in-the-round that seems to float within the massive Victorian hall. Since opening in 1976, it has become world-renowned for its innovative productions and for being a central social hub in the city centre. The surrounding Great Hall serves as a public space with a cafe, bar, and shop, where the city's industrial heritage meets contemporary performance art.