Man To Man - Priority Booking & Ticketing

Tickets for the highly anticipated Edinburgh run of Man to Man, marking Tilda Swinton’s return to the Traverse stage for the first time in almost 40 years, will go on general sale on Wednesday 9 September.

Translated from German by Anthony Vivis and revised by Stephen Unwin (2026), the play reunites members of the original creative team, including director Stephen Unwin, designer Bunny Christie and lighting designer Ben Ormerod. More than 30 years after she first brought the role to life at both the Traverse Theatre and Royal Court Theatre, and the last time she performed live in a theatre, Tilda Swinton returns to the stage in the lead role as Ella/Max.

Ahead of general sale, we will open a limited priority booking period from Thursday 3 to Tuesday 8 September, giving early access to 50% of the available ticket inventory as a thank you to those who support the Traverse and our work.

Existing annual Traverse Supporters will automatically receive access to priority booking.

If you are not already a Supporter, you can qualify for priority booking until Sunday 30 August 2026* in one of two ways:

Everyone who qualifies will receive the same access to priority booking. You do not need to both become a Supporter and make a donation.

Access to priority booking does not guarantee a ticket. Tickets will be subject to availability, with significant demand anticipated for the production.

The remaining 50% of tickets will be held for general sale on Wednesday 9 September, alongside any tickets remaining following the priority booking period. A maximum of two tickets per customer will apply across the entire run, whether booking during priority booking, general sale, or across both.

Donations made to theTraverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project will support much-needed improvements to the Traverse’s largest auditorium.

Already a Supporter? You do not need to take any further action to qualify for priority booking. We will contact you with booking information ahead of priority booking opening.

Not yet a Supporter? You can find out more and become an annual Traverse Supporter HERE.

Alternatively, make a qualifying one-off donation to the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign below.

*Annual Supporter sign-ups and qualifying donations made after this date will not be eligible for Man to Man priority booking.

**Previous donations to other Traverse funds, or to the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project outside the qualifying period, will not provide access to Man to Man priority booking unless you are also an existing annual Supporter.

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FAQS

KEY DATES

When can I qualify for priority booking? 

If you are not already a Traverse annual Supporter, you can qualify for priority booking until Sunday 30 August 2026 by either becoming an annual Supporter or making a donation of £20 or more through the dedicated Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project, campaign. 

Existing annual Supporters will automatically be eligible for priority booking and do not need to make an additional donation. 

Qualifying for priority booking does not enter you into a ticket draw or automatically reserve tickets for you. You will need to book your own tickets once priority booking opens on Thursday 3 September. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability. 

When is priority booking?

Priority booking will run from Thursday 3 September to Tuesday 8 September 2026.

When do tickets go on general sale?

The remaining ticket allocation will go on general sale on Wednesday 9 September 2026.

PRIORITY BOOKING

How do I access priority booking for Man to Man?

Priority booking is available to people who support the Traverse through either annual Supporter membership or the dedicated Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project fundraising campaign. 

You will be eligible if you: 

  • are already a Traverse annual Supporter; 

Everyone who qualifies will receive information about how to access priority booking ahead of it opening on Thursday 3 September.

I am already a Traverse Supporter. Do I need to donate £20 as well? 

No. Existing annual Supporters will receive access to priority booking as part of their ongoing support of the Traverse. You do not need to make an additional donation through the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign to qualify. 

We are hugely grateful for your continued support of the Traverse. 

Can I become a Supporter now and receive priority booking? 

Yes. Anyone who becomes an annual Traverse Supporter by Sunday 30 August 2026, will receive access to priority booking. 

What if I don't want to become an annual Supporter? 

You can also qualify by making a one-off donation of £20 or more through the dedicated Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign by Sunday 30 August 2026. 

Does access to priority booking guarantee me a ticket for Man to Man? 

No. Access to priority booking does not guarantee a ticket. 

Tickets will be subject to availability and we expect demand for Man to Man to be extremely high. It is therefore possible to qualify for priority booking and not be able to secure tickets from the priority allocation. 

What does priority booking give me access to? 

During priority booking, 50% of the available ticket inventory for the Edinburgh run of Man to Man will be available to book. 

Tickets must be purchased separately and remain subject to availability. 

Can I donate more than £20?

Yes. £20 is the minimum donation required to qualify for priority booking, but you are very welcome to give more if you would like to further support the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project.

Will donating more than £20 give me a better chance of getting tickets?

No. Everyone who qualifies for priority booking receives the same access, whether they are an existing annual Supporter, become a Supporter during the qualifying period or donate £20 or more through the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project.

No level or method of support gives earlier access or priority over anyone else. 

Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from the priority allocation and remain subject to availability. 

I have already donated to the Capital Project. Does that give me access to priority booking?

If you are also an existing annual Traverse Supporter, you will receive access through your Supporter status.

Otherwise, previous donations to the Capital Project will not automatically qualify for this particular priority booking period. To ensure we can identify everyone who should receive booking information, you will need to either become an annual Supporter or make a qualifying donation through the dedicated Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign during the qualifying period. 

Can I become a supporter or donate after Sunday 30 August 2026 and still access priority booking?

To qualify for the Man to Man priority booking period, by Sunday 30 August 2026 you must have done one of the following:

Any additional support, donations or Supporter sign-ups after Sunday 30 August 2026 are, of course, hugely appreciated, but will not provide access to the Man to Man priority booking period. This cut-off is necessary so that we can identify everyone who qualifies and provide them with the relevant booking information ahead of priority booking opening.

When will I receive information about how to book?

Everyone who qualifies will be sent information about accessing priority booking ahead of it opening on Thursday 3 September. 

TICKETS

How many tickets can I buy?

There is a maximum of two tickets per customer across the entire Edinburgh run of Man to Man, whether you book during the priority booking period or general sale.

How many tickets are available during priority booking?

50% of the available ticket inventory for the Edinburgh run will be made available during priority booking.

Will there still be tickets available during general sale?

Yes. 50% of the available ticket inventory will be held for general sale on Wednesday 9 September.

Any tickets remaining unsold following the priority booking period will also be released into general sale.

This means you do not need to be a Supporter or make a donation to have an opportunity to book tickets for Man to Man.

If tickets sell out during priority booking, does that mean the whole run is sold out?

No. Only 50% of the available ticket allocation is being released during priority booking. The remaining 50% is being held for general sale on Wednesday 9 September.

Can I buy two tickets during priority booking and another two during general sale?

No. There is a maximum of two tickets per customer across the entire Edinburgh Man to Man run, regardless of whether you book during priority booking or general sale.

How much are tickets?

Tickets for Man to Man are priced as follows:

  • £45 – Standard  
  • £40 – Concession  
  • £35 – Students and Under 30s  
  • £15 – Other concessions  

Are accessible seats available during priority booking?

Yes. Accessible seating will be available as part of the priority booking allocation. 

SUPPORTING THE TRAVERSE

Why are Supporters receiving priority access? 

The Traverse is a charity and the generosity of our Supporters plays an important role in enabling us to champion new writing, support artists and bring ambitious theatre to our stages. 

With exceptional demand anticipated for Man to Man, we wanted the priority booking period to recognise that contribution and offer early access as a thank you to those who support our work, while protecting 50% of the available tickets for general sale. 

What will donations made through the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign support? 

One-off donations made through the dedicated Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project, will help us invest in much-needed improvements to our largest auditorium. 

Thanks to the generosity of supporters and funders, significant development and preparatory work has already taken place. Donations through this campaign will help us build on that progress and move closer to delivering the improvements to Traverse 1. 

Why is Man to Man connected to Traverse 1? 

With that essential groundwork undertaken, the project is preparing to move from planning towards delivery.

Funds raised through the Man to Man priority booking initiative will build on the generous support received to date and help take the Traverse closer to delivering the much-needed improvements to the Traverse 1 seating bank.

Why is Man to Man being connected to the Capital Project?

Man to Man has a special place in the Traverse’s history. The production received its UK premiere at the Traverse’s former Grassmarket home in 1987, with a then 26-year-old Tilda Swinton in the role of Ella/Max Gericke. 

Nearly 40 years later, Swinton is returning to the Traverse to reprise the role, this time in Traverse 1 at our Cambridge Street home. 

Its return gives us an opportunity to celebrate an important part of the Traverse’s history, thank the people who continue to support our work and look towards the theatre's future.

IF YOU DON’T SECURE TICKETS

What happens if I can't get a ticket during priority booking?

Access to priority booking does not guarantee that tickets will be available when you come to book.Tickets are not allocated in advance or through a draw; everyone with priority access will need to book their own tickets, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are unable to secure tickets from the priority allocation, you will still have the opportunity to try again when the remaining 50% of tickets are released for general sale on Wednesday 9 September.

Can I get my donation back if I don't manage to buy a ticket?

No. All donations are non-refundable and are separate from the purchase of tickets.

Making a donation through the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project campaign gives you access to priority booking but does not reserve a ticket for you or enter you into a ticket draw. You will still need to book and pay for your tickets separately during the priority booking period, subject to availability.

Your donation will continue to support the Traverse 1 Auditorium Restoration Capital Project whether or not you are able to secure a ticket, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.