SEPTEMBER 2011 - FEBRUARY 2012
CONTACTMCR.COM / 0161 274 0600
WE ARE CONTACT We are a dynamic charity in Manchester with young people at the heart of everything we do. We work locally, nationally, and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders, artists, and audiences. We redefine theatre for the 21st Century, presenting and producing a diverse artistic programme in our building, surprising places, and virtual spaces.
A WORD FROM OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BABA SAYS At Contact we are dedicated to inspiring young people across Greater Manchester. We are working harder and smarter to generate the income to provide these opportunities and we are continuing to raise our profile around the world with our cutting-edge digital projects. Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve our ambitions. The remainder of this year and beginning of 2012 are shaping up to be packed full of fresh new theatre, music, art and opportunities to get involved. We’re bringing back some events you will recognise, including the Black Sound Series, Flying Solo and Queer Contact but stand by for a few surprises like our new regular comedy event Comedy Playground.
A WORD FROM OUR YOUNG PEOPLE We see theatre as the meeting place of all art forms. Our wide-ranging programme brings together the best of new writing, music, dance, visual arts, performance and spoken word. You’ve probably seen our building. It’s the one that looks like a castle behind Manchester Academy on Oxford Road. We are an environmentally friendly venue where artistic experiments are explored, developed and completed. Inside you’ll find exhibitions, our café-bar Contact Lounge and our top-of-the-range digital studio, Media Lounge.
“I got involved with CYAC through a friend, I auditioned and I got in! CYAC has allowed me to develop my activity, gained me confidence and given me the opportunity to be myself.” James Hakiza, 17, Contact Young Actors Company (CYAC) #CYAC
We are really excited to welcome Larkin’ About as a resident company who will be producing an all-day pervasive gaming event in December. If you were at our Globally Digital launch event I know you’ll be excited to see more telepresence and digital collaborations. Make sure you check out the Playspace commission and a special digital Verbally Challenged in December. Don’t forget to take part through contactmcr.com and our social media channels – we want to hear from you! Hope to catch you all soon! Baba Israel Artistic Director/Chief Executive @BabaIsrael
“My Contact friends are a family now. It’s a safe, welcoming place. It makes you a better person just being here.” Jerrell Barnwell-Duhaney, 17, Media Drop #mediadrop
*NEW* Catch James and Jerrell on the first edition of Noise Generation — our new monthly ALL FM 96.9 radio show. Listen out on the last Tuesday of every month at 3pm and via our mixcloud. The show is presented by our Trainee Producer, Oliver Sykes and our Administration and Future Fires Assistant, Abbie Willcox. Listen out on mixcloud.com/contactmcr 2
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WE DO MORE!
SUPPORT US / OFFERS
CONTACT GROUPS
*NEW* CREATIVE CONSULTANTS
If you’ve never organised a group visit to Contact, it really couldn’t be easier. Sign up and let us look after you:
Our Creative Consultants can deliver bespoke packages and workshops in almost anything! Whether you are looking for a session in drama, dance, spoken word, scratching or sound and lighting, we can put together a workshop specifically designed to meet your needs. Whether you require a curriculum, issue or creative workshop, or even something completely different, please get in touch with our Creative Services Coordinator, Tania Mahmoud on 0161 274 0609 or email taniamahmoud@contactmcr.com and let’s see how we can work together.
• Receive advance show information and education newsletters. • Groups of 10 or more make great savings — every 10th person comes FREE! • Tap into our networks — receive great offers and occasionally FREE stuff! • Feedback opportunities: We are very interested in what you and your group thought of your time at Contact. We will email the group leader the following week to find out. Call our Groups Development Manager, Nikki Smith on 0161 274 0602 or email nikkismith@contactmcr.com Concessions can be used in conjunction with group bookings and are available to anyone receiving unemployment or disability benefit, full time students, senior citizens and young people up to 18 years of age. Proof of status or ID is needed.
DONATIONS
FREE TICKETS!
You can donate to our work with young people at contactmcr.com/supportus or call our Head of Development, Yvonne Hepburn-Foster on 0161 274 0657 if you would like to know more.
FREEACT is our membership scheme for under 26s. If you sign up (email us at info@contactmcr.com or pop in and pick up a form) you’ll get one FREE ticket for every ticket bought on selected shows. An amazing deal!
**NEW** Text CMCR12 £5 to 70070 to donate to Contact and make a difference today. Charity number 501953.
SOCIALISE! Spread the word about Contact. Post your feedback & comments on contactmcr.com using Facebook. Tweet about shows using their #hashtag & @contactmcr. Mark your Instagram photos with #contactmcr. Go on…we’d love to hear from you! Creative Consultants
SPACE HIRE Our Spaces are available to hire for conferences, festivals, filming, parties and meetings. We hire all Spaces at Contact, from our video-conferencing equipped meeting room to our 290 seat main theatre. We also offer in-house catering and an on-site bar, Contact Lounge. For more information and prices, contact our Hires Coordinator, Ian Hyde on 0161 274 0628 or hires@contactmcr.com Space 1
There are many ways to support us. Buying a ticket to see a show is just one.
**NEW**
ONLINE MULTI-BUY OFFER Book online for 3 or more shows and we will give you 20% off your tickets.* *minimum of 3 tickets & 3 shows per transaction
We’re also launching a brand new loyalty card to reward our most frequent customers with free show tickets and food and drink discounts in Contact Lounge.
COMMUNICATION GENERATION This autumn we are giving you the opportunity to be part of our young marketing team. If you’re interested in communication, PR, design, video or social media and want to develop new skills and input to our show campaigns, get in touch. Joining the team will give you a real taste for the world of arts marketing and will be a brilliant addition to your CV. We will be putting the team together during October. If you want to be part of it, email marketing@contactmcr.com
EVENT KEY ART / EXHIBITION
NEW WRITING
DANCE
COMEDY
FREEACT
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LOYALTY CARD
GET INVOLVED!
OPEN MIC
PERFORMANCE
EDUCATION
MUSIC
SPOKEN WORD
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REGULAR EVENTS NEW WRITING SCRIPTWORKS
DANCE MIXED MOVEMENT
COMEDY *NEW* COMEDY PLAYGROUND
MUSIC *NEW* THIS MORNING CALL
Weekly, Mondays, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, FREE 2011: 5 Sep to 12 Dec 2012: 16 Jan to 27 Feb Writers! How does your work translate to the stage? Find out as your work is read by professional actors. Actors! Get script-in-hand practice. Info: scriptworks@heaven.co.uk scriptworks.net • #scriptworks
Monthly, Saturdays, evening, FREE 2011: 1 Oct, 12 Nov, 3 Dec 2012: 4 Feb, 3 Mar Created and hosted by DawN Crandell. Manchester’s ONLY open stage event for dancers, with solos to improvised music and spontaneous duets. All styles welcome. Sign up and participate or just watch. Book open-stage slots via dawndusk@me.com #mixedmovement
1st Monday of the month, 7:30pm, £5/3 2011: 3 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec 2012: 6 Feb Contact’s new monthly comedy night including stand-up, poetry, sketch, puppetry, monologues, video/film, musical comedy, storytelling and clowning. More info: oliversykes@contactmcr.com Over 16s only. #comedyplayground
3rd Saturday of the month, 9:30pm ‘til late, FREE 2011: 17 Sept, 19 Nov, 2012: 21 Jan, 18 Feb A heady mix of electronica, pop and beats from Ben Heyworth and guest DJs. Over 18s only after midnight. thismorningcall.com • #thismorningcall
OPEN MIC RAW (RHYTHM & WORDS)
CABARET
DUB & BASS
YOUNG IDENTITY Weekly, Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm, FREE 2011: 6 Sept to 13 Dec 15 to 25? Develop your poetry skills with Manchester’s premiere group of spoken word artists. youngidentity.org • @YoungIDMcr • #youngidentity
VERBALLY CHALLENGED Monthly, Wednesdays, £5 (except 29 Feb, FREE) 2011: 2 Nov & 14 Dec, 7:30pm 2012: 1 Feb, 7:30pm & 29 Feb (Flying Solo), 6pm Got something to say? Each month we set a group of new writers a different creative challenge and it’s down to you, the audience, to decide who wins the cash prize. #VCMCR
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Verbally Challenged
Mixed Movement
Cake Tin Foundation and Contact present
*NEW* MOTHER’S RUIN 4th Monday of the month, evening, FREE 2011: 26 Sep, 24 Oct, 28 Nov 2012: 23 Jan, 27 Feb An open mic for poets, vocalists, and MCs. Hosted by Martin Visceral (Pen-ultimate) with DJ Jomo. RAW also features the Freestyle Pyramid Competition with quirky prizes. #RAWMCR
RAW
Monthly, Fridays, 8pm 2011: 23 Sept & 16 Dec, £8/5 2012: 10 Feb, £12/7 Join Mother for a hilarious & provocative night of queer-thinking variety hosted by Timberlina. Over 18s only. Guests: Bryony Kimmings & Brian Lobel (Sep) + Lorraine Bowen & Marcus Reeves (Dec) mothersruin.co.uk • @mothers_ruin • #mothers_ruin
Mother’s Ruin
CLUBS 4th Saturday of the month, 11pm ‘til late, £8/6 2011: 24 Sept, 22 Oct, 26 Nov 2012: 28 Jan, 25 Feb Manchester’s sole surviving Reggae & Dub Sound System night, hosted by Dub Smugglers & Dub Conductor, with special guests. Over 18s only dubsmugglers.com • #dubnbass
Keep checking contactmcr.com for details of new regular events.
Young Identity
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IT’S YOUR TURN Young people are at the heart of everything we do. Don’t just watch, get involved!
CONTACT YOUNG ACTORS COMPANY (CYAC) FREE, Ages 15 to 25 CYAC work with renowned directors to produce three amazing shows every year. This is your chance to explore your creativity, push your abilities and be part of one of the country’s leading young actors companies. Auditions are held three times a year. Forthcoming dates are: Sep 7 to 9 and Jan 24 to 26, 6pm to 8pm.
MONDAY DROP 2011: Mondays, 3 Oct to 21 Nov 2012: Mondays, 16 Jan to 5 Mar 7pm to 9pm, FREE, Ages 13 to 19 If you’re interested in drama skills and acting then drop in to our regular Monday night sessions and learn from poets, performers, actors and directors. No experience necessary. #mondaydrop
TECHNIQUE 2011: Mondays, 3 Oct to 21 Nov 2012: Mondays, 16 Jan to 5 Mar 7pm to 9pm, FREE, Ages 15 to 25 If you want to know what happens behind the scenes in theatre, from sound and lighting to stage management and design, come along to our regular Monday night sessions led by our team of professional technicians. #techniqueMCR
MEDIA DROP 2011: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 5 Oct to 24 Nov 2012: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 18 Jan to 8 Mar 6pm to 9pm, FREE, Ages 13 to 21 MCs, DJs, vocalists, poets and producers! Collaborate, build your skills, share tracks and stream material in person and online. #mediadrop
WORKSHOPS Check out the show pages for details about other workshops available. Call 0161 274 0600 or visit contactmcr.com for more info and to enquire about any of the above.
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Media Drop
Advert design: Jason Crouch
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ART, MUSIC & EXHIBITIONS ART
EXHIBITIONS
Our Lounge and foyer spaces have regularly changing exhibitions by homegrown and international artists. Plus check out our new online gallery Exhibit, curated by Akemi Arts at contactmcr.com/exhibit
INSIDEOUT
MUSIC We host club nights, live music and DJs in our bar. Also look out for collaborative play-lists on Spotify — suggestions welcome through our social media channels. The Hermitt’s Residency
Thu 29 Sep to Wed 1 Feb A unique series of photographic portraits taken by children (aged 6 to 7) from the Art Club at : St. Mary’s C.E. Primary School (Moss Side) expressing their feelings about the importance of nature in the inner city. The exhibition is by Alexandra Arts in association with TED award-winning artist JR. synchronizedliquid.com • #insideoutmcr
MOSS SIDE STORIES: THE RIOTS’ 30 YEAR MEMOIRS Thu 29 Sep to Wed 1 Feb A series of twelve large-scale portraits and archive images reflecting conversations and time frozen moments of the Moss Side riots thirty years on. In association with the Manchester Evening News. #mosssidestories
THE HERMITT’S RESIDENCY Mid Oct to Sat 26 Nov Young Identity’s visual artist and performer Bethany Hermitt will be creating new work directly onto the fabric of our building during a one-month residency. Look out for limitededition prints and maps for sale on our website. #hermitt
APOSTLES Fri 3 Feb to Thu 3 May A series of 12 portraits by Lee Baxter that bring together a maverick group of opinionated artists & thinkers. Not ones to mince their words, these images will include a personal message, written, painted, projected or scribbled by the participant and included in their photographic portrayal. #apostlesmcr
HIP REPLACEMENT
Inside Out
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Fri 3 Feb to Thu 3 May An archive of graphic works by artist Lee Baxter in Contact Lounge. hip-replacement.com • #hipreplacement 11
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
OCTOBER 2011 Sat 1 Oct, 12pm ‘til 10pm, FREE hÅb and Blank Media Collective present
EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION at BLANKSPACE (43 Hulme Street) & International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF) (10 Tatton Grove), Manchester Manchester’s extraordinary free marathon of the bizarre and the beautiful, the glamorous and the thought-provoking. emergencymcr.org • #emergencyMCR Produced by hÅb & Blank Media Collective. A greenroom legacy project, supported by the Burgess Foundation, LANWest, Contact and Arts Council England.
Tue 4 to Sat 15 Oct Contact presents
C R Y S TA L K I S S E S BY AVA E S M O H A M M A D A N D S A B R I N A M A H FO U Z . D I R EC T E D BY B E N J I R E I D
Sat 1 Oct, 7pm ‘til late Contact presents
THE
BLACK SOUND S
E R I
E S
Contact celebrates Black History Month with the best Black rhythm and sounds from the UK and beyond. #BSSMCR Sat 1 Oct, 7pm to 9pm, FREE
Sat 1 Oct, 9pm ‘til late, £10
Contact presents
THE AFTERPARTY
MIXED MOVEMENT
Join us for an evening of live music with special guest vocalists and MCs, as well as some of the UK’s leading DJs and producers taking us into the small hours. Over 18s only after midnight. Full line-up will be revealed at contactmcr.com/blacksoundseries
An open stage event for dancers, with solos to improvised music and spontaneous duets. All styles welcome. #mixedmovement
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Mixed Movement: Digital Duets
‘…in a world where bad things happen, and they do, they always happen to me…’ Schools and Community performances: Tue 4 & Wed 5 and Tue 11 & Wed 12 Oct, 10.30am & 1pm Thu 6 & Fri 7 and Thu 13 & Fri 14 Oct, 1pm, FREE Public performances: Thu 6 & Fri 7 and Thu 13 to Sat 15, 8pm BSL interpreted performance, Thu 13 Oct, 8pm, £8/5
Back after a sell out run in 2010… Young, vulnerable and in care Toyah tries to protect herself with her spitfire tongue, but her world is rapidly crumbling; Ally is ‘the golden girl’ but behind the perfect façade lies a mess of lies, confusion, sex and loss; Jay meanwhile has run away from home and is finally finding the care he craves in the arms of a stranger – but what price will he have to pay? Stirring movement, music and words combine to confront the difficult and complex realities surrounding child sexual exploitation, exploring the subject with sensitivity, empathy and insight. Suitable for ages 13+. Contains strong language and mature themes. Crystal Kisses has been produced in partnership with the Protect Team, Brook and NHS Fresh, and funded by Comic Relief.
Mon 10 Oct, 9:30am to 12pm & 12:30pm to 3pm, FREE
OPEN CONTACT We throw our doors wide open to young people from schools (years 8 & 9) and community groups from across Greater Manchester for a day of free workshops, tours and performances. If you would like to book in your school or group please contact Abbie Willcox at abbiewillcox@contactmcr.com #opencontact 13
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
OCTOBER 2011 Flow!
Young Identity
Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze
Fri 14 Oct & Sat 15 Oct and Fri 21 & Sat 22 Oct
M A N C H E S T E R L I T E R AT U R E F E S T I VA L AT C O N TA C T Fri 14 Oct, 7:30pm, £5/3
Fri 14 Oct, 9:30pm, FREE
COMMONWORD POETRY FACTOR
Contact & Broken Rose Performing Arts present
Fri 21 Oct, 7:30pm, £6/4 Plus post-show chat back
Talent-spotted young performance poets from across the North compete to convince a panel of distinguished judges (poets and promoters Helen Clare, Baba Israel, Gerry Potter and Segun Lee French) that they have what it takes to make it on the live poetry circuit. Winners will receive a cash prize, mentoring from one of the judges and the opportunity to take part in the 2012 Manchester Literature Festival.
FLOW!
GERRY POTTER: THE MEN POMES
A revolutionary open-stage event that brings dancers together with poets to create freestyle duets which blur movement and words. Each pair will lock, pop, spit and rhyme their way through a spontaneous set. Sat 15 Oct, 4pm, £5/3
ALLAN STRATTON Award-winning Canadian author Allan Stratton discusses his acclaimed novels for young adults. His book, Life, Above All, was recently adapted into a film that was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2011 Oscars. Set against the AIDS pandemic in South Africa the book explores the universal themes of parental love, the loyalty of friends and the terror of stigma.
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Gerry Potter
Gerry Potter premieres his new book of theatre-verse, The Men Pomes (because men don’t say poems). Continuing the autobiographical themes revealed in his recent publications Planet Young and Planet Middle Age, The Men Pomes unearths working class men as you’ve never seen them before. In this one-man show, Potter will delve into all things male, exploring the camaraderie of brothers; the abandonment of fathers and the wit and wisdom of Scousers. @GerryPotterPoet
Sat 22 Oct, 7:30pm, £8/6 (Plus workshop for under 25s, 3pm to 5pm, FREE)
JEAN ‘BINTA’ BREEZE AND YOUNG IDENTITY Internationally renowned Jamaican dub poet, director and playwright Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze’s words are personal and political and her electric stage presence and rhythmic wordplay has mesmerized audiences around the world. Whether speaking about Third World poverty, reggae music, inner-city life, the Caribbean or family, she weaves together themes that challenge and celebrate human experience in all its many forms. She will be joined by members of Speakeasy People and Contact’s Key Partner Company, Young Identity. Presented in association with Renaissance One and Commonword.
manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk • @McrLitFest • #McrLitFest
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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
OCTOBER 2011 Tue 18 to Thu 20 Oct, 7:30pm Wed 19 & Thu 20, 1:30pm, £12/7 Night Light Theatre presents
ROMEO AND JULIET B Y
W I L L I A M
S H A K E S P E A R E
William Shakespeare’s most powerful story of tragic love is set here in a Verona unlike any ever seen; one filled with music, magic and passion. Old feuds are given new life, as an array of beautiful puppets combine with an ensemble of performers to retell Shakespeare’s story of passion, beauty, lust and pride.
Focusing heavily on creative theatre-making, imagination and vivid theatrical storytelling, Night Light set out to inspire, excite and entertain in this unique interpretation.
Tue 25 & Wed 26 Oct, 7:30pm, £10/6 BSL interpreted performance on Wed 26 Oct Eclipse Theatre & Sheffield Theatres present
ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW
Suitable for ages 10+.
The Harrisons are the most respectable middle-class Black family in Philadelphia. However, the arrival of their young niece and her new ideas from the rural South, turns their polite, Christian, suburban life on its head. The Cosby Show meets Restoration Comedy in this hilariously outrageous play about how hard we try to hide who we really are.
nightlighttheatre.co.uk @NLTheatre • #romeoandjulietNTL
This co-production between the critically acclaimed Eclipse Theatre and Sheffield Theatres marks the European première of Don Evans’ lost American classic.
Jocelyn Jee Esien Roger Griffiths
Starring: Jocelyn Jee Esien (Little Miss Jocelyn, 3 Non Blondes), Roger Griffiths (The Posse, Chef!) and Daniel Francis (The Hounding of David Oluwale). Suitable for ages 12+. eclipsetheatre.org.uk • @eclipsetcl • #OMDSNS
Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine... 16
‘That’s what comes from listening to white folks!!!’ ‘Poor folks, baby! I’ve been listening to poor folks!!!’ 17
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
NOVEMBER 2011
Thu 27 Oct, 8pm, £10/6 Fringe First & Total Theatre Award Winners Little Bulb Theatre present
OPERATION GREENFIELD A bizarre and visually fantastical exploration of music, faith and friendship. Somewhere in middle England four unlikely teenagers are preparing for judgement day with ladders, Elvis and Forest Fruits squash — Stokely’s annual talent competition is nigh. With a stage full of instruments and an eclectic mix of recorded music, Little Bulb Theatre capture the confusing, awkward and beautifully naïve time of adolescence. Suitable for ages 11+.
Wed 9 to Sat 12 Nov, 7:30pm, £8/5 Contact, Take Art & Beaford Arts present
“Recklessly talented... insanely brave” ****Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
Created & devised by Little Bulb Theatre. Produced by Farnham Maltings. Supported by Arts Council England
littlebulbtheatre.com @little_bulb #littlebulb •
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
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COUNTRYBOY’S S T R U G G L E DIRECTED BY BABA ISRAEL As part of a national tour Maxwell Golden presents the premiere of his debut solo show that was developed here at Contact. Michael is a rap star, or at least he is when he dreams, but growing up in rural Cornwall he’s never had a chance to find his community. One day, after a fight with his father, he sets off to London to become an MC. A fast, funny and honest story of a quest for belonging Countryboy’s Struggle features over 40 characters all delivered by Maxwell in a tour-de-force performance. Suitable for ages 12+. Supported by Contact, Take Art, Somerset, and Beaford Arts, Devon.
#countryboystruggle
Mon 31 Oct to Sat 5 Nov, 7pm, £8/6
SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL The largest youth drama festival in the UK returns to Contact with four half-hour productions of different Shakespeare plays each night from local schools, developed in partnership with the National Theatre and National Youth Theatre. Suitable for all ages. ssf.uk.com • #ssf_2011 • @ssf_2011 18
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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
NOVEMBER 2011
Void Story ©Tim Etchells
Sat 12 Nov, 8pm, £8/5 Plus post-show chat back
Tue 15 to Thu 17 Nov, 8pm, £12/7 plus post-show chat back on Wed 16
Sonia Sabri Company presents
K AT H A K B OX Sonia Sabri Company is taking the dance world by storm by breathing new life into the Indian dance form of Kathak. Kathakbox introduces Urban Kathak, which explores the dialogue between Kathak and the rhythms and rhymes of Hip Hop.
With a cast including dancers, B-Boys, tabla maestros, spoken word vocalists & beatboxers, Kathakbox has been created with the support of Jonzi D and guest composer, acclaimed spoken word artist Zena Edwards. Suitable for all ages. kathakbox.co.uk • @kathakbox • #kathakbox
Forced Entertainment present
VOID STORY A multi-media fable
Void Story follows a beleaguered pair of protagonists on a rollercoaster ride through the decimated remains of contemporary culture. Forced Entertainment perform this bleak and comical modern fable as if it were a radio play, sitting at tables, turning the pages of the script, ‘doing’ the requisite voices and adding in sound effects. Simultaneously the stage is dominated by a series of projected images, a storyboard for an impossible movie-version of Tim Etchells’ unsettling text. Somewhere between the live dialogue, the recorded sound effects and the collaged images is where Void Story actually takes place. Suitable for ages 16+. forcedentertainment.com #voidstory @ForcedEnts Void Story is a new Forced Entertainment project made for SPILL with support from Tanzquartier, Vienna and Tate Media. Forced Entertainment is regularly funded by Arts Council England and Sheffield City Council.
Insets: Void Story ©Hugo Glendinning
Wed 23 Nov, 7.30pm, £8/5
Ben Mellor
Phrased & Confused presents
PHRASED, CONFUSED AND ANGRY What does it take to get poets and musicians cross? Directed by Stuart Silver and featuring four very personal takes on the theme of protest, from a four-year old refusing to eat her peas to a poem that goes on strike! Exuberant wordplay and lyrical, playful performances from poets Laura Dockrill and Shane Solanki, plus Contact favourites Ben Mellor and Yusra Warsama. UK premiere. Suitable for ages 16+. 20
Kathakbox
#phrasedandconfused • @phrandconfused • phrasedandconfused.co.uk
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NOVEMBER 2011
DECEMBER 2011
Thu 24 Nov, 8pm, £12/8
GINA YASHERE Not content with being one of the most sought after comedians in the UK, Gina decided three years ago to up sticks and move to Hollywood to see if she could grab a piece of the American dream. She’s not done too badly. She’s performed her stand up on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment, as well as being a regular on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Gina is determined to be different and determined to do it her own way. Join her on a rare trip back to the UK.
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
Thu 1 Dec, 7.30pm, £5
Thu 8 to Sat 10 Dec, times TBC, £8/5
Contact presents
Contact Young Actors Company and Coney present
CONTACT PLAYBACK: MANCHESTER STORIES
THE ADVENTURE PRINCIPLE
A night of improvisational theatre celebrating the wild, wonderful, and heart touching stories of Manchester. Bring your own Manchester story and see it transformed into theatre right before your eyes. #contactplayback
What sparks in your mind the moment you hear: do you want to go on an adventure? This is the question now. This is where it starts. What happens next is always up to you. Coney is an award-winning agency making play according to principles of curiosity, loveliness and adventure.
Sat 3 Dec, times TBC, FREE
Supported by Arts Council England.
LARKIN’ ABOUT AT CONTACT Reinventing Manchester’s playtime, Larkin’ About hosts a series of gaming events throughout the year. Players will be chasing and racing, searching and collecting, code-breaking and puzzle-solving in a series of games through the Contact building. Includes the winner of last year’s Playspace commission – Duplex Gaming by Deanna Borland-Sentinella. Come and play! larkin-about.co.uk • @larkinmcr • #larkinmcr
youhavedfoundconey.net @agencyofconey • #CYAC Wed 14 Dec, 7:30pm, £5 Contact and culturehub present
VERBALLY CHALLENGED: DIGITAL DIALOGUE Contact’s regular event for new writing is transformed to become Globally Digital. Two writers and actors from Manchester and two writers and performers from New York will connect across time and space to create short plays directed by Baba Israel in collaboration with Billy Clark director of culturehub. Who wins? You decide — the event will be live-streamed online for international voting! culturehub.org • #VCDigital
Suitable for ages 14+. ginayashere.com • @ginayashere • #ginayashere
Fri 25 Nov, 7:30pm, £5/3 Scriptworks presents
Coney, A Small Town Anywhere, Photographer Briony Campbell
SHORTWORKS 3 Contact’s partner writing group Scriptworks will host a mix of video, performance and script in hand readings by emerging writers. Followed by Q&A’s with the writers, directors and performers. scriptworks.net • #shortworks3 22
Our building will close on Sat 17 Dec and reopen on Mon 9 Jan. See you in 2012! 23
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
FEBRUARY 2012 Peter Grist
D’Lo
Mon 6 to Sat 11 Feb
Q U E E R C O N TA C T 2 0 1 2
The Tiger Lillies
Contact celebrates LGBT History Month 2012 with the best in theatre, cabaret, art, music, and spoken word. #QCMCR lgbthistorymonth.org.uk Mon 6 Feb, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, FREE
Wed 8 Feb, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. £5/3
OUTSPOKEN POETRY SLAM WORKSHOP
OUTSPOKEN
With Dominic Berry & D’Lo. Email outspoken@contactmcr.com to take part. #outspokenMCR
Dominic Berry hosts our alternative poetry slam with headliner D’Lo and a £50 prize. Over 16s. Email outspoken@contactmcr.com for a slot. #outspokenMCR
Mon 6 Feb, 7:30pm. £5/3
Thu 9 Feb, 7:30pm, £8/5
COMEDY PLAYGROUND
Peter Grist & Company and Contact present
Jonathan Mayor, D’Lo, Debs Gatenby. Harry & Lou Pickles, Heena Patel & more. Over 16s. #CPMCR Tue 7 & Wed 8 Feb, 8pm, £5
SHORTCUTS Work-in-progress double-bill of new queer theatre featuring: DawN Crandell + D’Lo (Tue) Chris Hoyle + Hope Theatre Company (Wed) #shortcutsMCR 24
THE WHITE CHALK DIARIES Peter was adopted at a young age into a Christian household. His parents don’t agree with his ‘gay lifestyle’ and he can’t come to terms with his sexuality. White Chalk Diaries is a new dance-work dealing with identity, betrayal and religious beliefs. #petergrist
Jonathan Mayor
Qasim Riza Shaheen
Harry & Lou Pickles
Timberlina
Thu 9 Feb, 9pm. £5/3
Sat 11 Feb, 8pm. £15/10
Contact and Black Sound Series present
Contact in association with Tim Whitehead present
BEYOND DA BOX
THE TIGER LILLIES
Young, gifted and queer. Cutting-edge clubbing from the fringes. Email bdb@contactmcr.com to take part. Over 16s. #bdbMCR
The Grammy nominated Godfathers of alternative cabaret return to Manchester with a brand new show. Over 16s. @Tiger_Lillies • #tigerlillies • tigerlillies.com
Fri 10 Feb, 8pm. £12/7 Cake Tin Foundation and Contact present
Sat 11 Feb, time TBC
MOTHER’S RUIN THEATRICAL SPECTACULAR
Qasim Riza Shaheen and Contact present
Mother pulls out all the stops with a variety spectacular hosted by Timberlina. Over 18s Only. mothersruin.co.uk #mothers_ruin • @mothers_ruin
MISPLACED MEMOIRS
Queer Contact resident artist Qasim Riza Shaheen brings his year-long project to a close by inviting strangers to read and re-enact his declarations of love. #qasim 25
contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
ACCESS
Mon 27 Feb to Sat 3 Mar Contact presents
This guide is available in large print upon request.
THE FLYING SOLO FESTIVAL We have a flat foyer entrance, ground floor access to our main theatre space and Contact Lounge, lift access to our other spaces and accessible toilets on every floor. Guide dogs can stay with you or be looked after by a member of staff. Just let us know when you book. Hearing Aid Infrared System Receivers can be booked with your ticket. We also have BSL interpreted & Audio described performances — check out individual events for details. If you have any access requirements, please call or text the Duty Manager on 07970 094 069 For more information please go to: contactmcr.com/access
GETTING HERE Check out the map on the back cover to see our local area. Buses: run down Oxford Road every few minutes from the town centre, train stations and South Manchester (Rusholme direction). They stop just across the road. Car Park: while Contact doesn’t have a car park, there is one next door that is open to the public from 4pm on weekdays and all day at weekends. It only costs £2 to park. Please allow plenty of time to park, as it can get busy, especially on weekends. For all the latest information to help you plan your visit please go to contactmcr.com/visit
Following a hugely successful premiere, Flying Solo returns in 2012! The ability of a single artist to captivate and hold an audience is one of the great performing traditions. The Flying Solo Festival celebrates this skill with a bold and diverse week of performances including edgy live art, Hip Hop theatre, comedy, spoken word, music and dance.
Each year, new and emerging artists work with established performers to gain the experience and confidence to develop their own solo work, through masterclasses and workshop activity. Artists coming up in 2012…Bryony Kimmings… J.Fergus Evans…Sabrina Mahfouz…Daniel Bye ALSO don’t miss last year’s Flying Solo Artist Pitch winner Nicky Norton, performing a sharing of her new piece, supported by Fuel and MC, Amsterdam. #FS2012
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WHERE WE’RE AT Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA WE ARE OPEN Mon to Fri 10am to 11pm Sat 3pm to late TICKETS contactmcr.com 0161 274 0600 Our box office is open Mon to Fri: 10am to 6pm Sat: 3pm to 6pm (Closes 7:30pm or 8pm on show nights)
THANK YOU
Text CMCR12 £5 to 70070 to donate to Contact and make a difference today.
Registered Charity Number: 501953 All info correct at time of going to print. Check contactmcr.com for up-to-date info.
Design: markbrownstudio.co.uk