Contact (Spring 2013)

February – August 2013 contactmcr.com / 0161 274 0600

TOM ALLEN

HETAIN PATEL DEAN ATTA

platform 0.2

SLAPDASH GALAXY

COMEDY PLAYGROUND CONTACT EDUCATION LEADERS FORUM

BRING BACK THE VIBE

BRYONY KIMMINGS

KRISTINA WONG HOUSE OF NINJA

DAVID TOOLE & LUCY HIND DICKIE BEAU PIECE OF WORK @contactmcr

/contactmcr

LOIS WEAVER

PGB

Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA

we are contact Contact is a dynamic arts charity based in Manchester with young people at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is a world where young people are empowered by creativity to become leaders in both the arts and their communities.

We work locally, nationally, and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities; presenting and producing a diverse mixture of shows and events in our building, surprising places, and virtual spaces.

We redefine theatre for the 21st century, bringing together the best drama, new writing, music, comedy, dance, visual arts and spoken word.

introducing...

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 two theatres and a front of house performance space, exhibitions, our café-bar, Contact Lounge (with great food and FREE WiFi) and our top-of-the-range digital studio, Media Lounge.

RE:CON Contact’s young programming and producing team will be curating Not Another Festival in June.

See p.26 for more details.

‘Re:Con provides us with a great platform to exchange skills and ideas and to develop within a professional venue. Contact’s core values revolve around the empowerment of young people and helping them to realise their potential... it’s definitely working for us.’

a word from our artistic director Re:Con are (L-R): Nicole May, Becca Vafeas, Max Shuell and Jason Archie-Acheampong

BABA SAYS ‘When I first came to Contact on tour with my father in 2005 I was amazed at what I found, a theatre that was so much more. Contact is a dynamic social space full of creativity and diversity where young people hold real influence. Since I became Artistic Director in 2009, I have been proud to see Contact reaching beyond its walls, collaborating virtually and physically across the world.

I:CON The members of our young marketing team are developing skills in arts marketing from PR, design and social media, to creating video promos, blogging and media relations. They will be managing the marketing campaign for Contact Young Actors Company’s Dystopia this April (see p.20).

‘Due to personal circumstances I’ve stepped down as Contact’s Artistic Director and I am returning home to New York. As I embark on a new life as an independent artist, I know that Contact will only grow stronger because of the staff, board, partners, funders and young people who keep Contact’s vision clear and expansive. There is a lot to look forward to both in this coming season and in the future.

‘Contact will continue to be an inspiring place to nurture the creativity of young people...I can’t wait to see what happens next!’

Baba Israel Artistic Director @BabaIsrael

I:Con are (L-R): Bianca Williams, Nathan Crossan-Smith, Bruce Cousins & Amelia Bayliss.

All photos: © Joel Chester Fildes

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visit Check out the map to see our local area.

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For the latest information and maps to help you plan your visit please go to contactmcr.com/visit

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Latecomers may be refused entry once the performance starts. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.

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MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION

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MANCHESTER MUSEUM

Cars: Contact does not have a car park but there are several nearby. Please check our website or call Box Office for details.

Devas Street car park is directly in front of our building and is open to the public after 4pm. This car park is often very busy which has caused customers to be late for shows at Contact, resulting in entry being refused. This car park is owned and operated by the University of Manchester, therefore Contact does not have any control over the availability of spaces or any of its operations.

The automated barrier requires two £1 coins to gain entry.

TICKETS

N TIO STA

Buses: run along Oxford Road every few minutes from the City Centre, train stations and South Manchester (Rusholme direction). They stop just across the road opposite Manchester Academy.

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GETTING HERE

ACCESS

This brochure is available in large print upon request.

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.

SPACES

No booking fees: We don’t charge any booking fees for our tickets.

ART

SPACE 1 (max 330)

Advanced booking is always recommended. Shows often sell out in advance and we cannot guarantee tickets will be available on the door.

COMEDY

SPACE 2 (max 70)

DANCE

SPACE 3 (max 100)

EDUCATION

SPACE 5 (max 300)

FILM

CONTACT LOUNGE

JOIN IN

MEDIA LOUNGE

MUSIC

MEETING ROOM

TELEPRESENCE

BUILDING

THEATRE

ON LOCATION

Ticket collection. Avoid the queues and ask us to post your tickets out to you. Alternatively, please allow plenty of time for collection from Box Office on the night or collect your tickets in advance.

Concessions 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.

Groups — buy 10 tickets and one person goes FREE!

SOCIALISE! Spread the word about Contact. Post your feedback and comments on contactmcr.com using Facebook. Tweet about shows using their #hashtag and @contactmcr. Mark your Instagram photos with #contactmcr.

Go on, we’d love to hear from you!

Guide dogs can stay with you or be looked after by a member of staff. Just let us know when you book.

@contactmcr #contactmcr

Hearing Aid Infrared System Receivers can be booked with your ticket.

/contactmcr

We sometimes have BSL interpreted and Audio described performances — check out individual events for details or contact our Box Office to learn more.

KEY TO EVENTS

WORD

/contactmcr /contactmcr

If you have any access requirements you can discuss them when booking your tickets or call or text the Duty Manager on 07970 094 069.

For more information please go to contactmcr.com/access

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All photos: © Joel Chester Fildes

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education

join in

Tue 29 Jan, 5:30pm to 7pm, FREE

EDUCATION SHOWS & WORKSHOPS

CONTACT EDUCATION LEADERS FORUM

Look for the Education icon beside appropriate education shows and workshops.

Termly forum sessions.

GROUPS

If you work within the education sector and want to discover the many ways your pupils can engage with Contact’s artistic programme, then Contact Education Leaders Forum is for you.

It couldn’t be easier to organise a group visit to Contact. Let us look after you:

Providing information about upcoming events, workshops, and participatory projects, Contact Education Leaders Forum will also be a space for discussion and skill-sharing, enabling you to have direct input into Contact’s educational activity.

EDUCATION NEWSLETTER Contact has recently launched a monthly education e-newsletter, with the latest info about shows, workshops, projects, and ticket offers.

To sign-up for the newsletter or find out more about the Forum, please contact Rachel Moorhouse, Audience Development Officer 0161 274 0602 rachelmoorhouse@contactmcr.com

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

• Receive advance information about shows.

• Get great offers and occasional FREE stuff.

• Groups of 10 or more make great savings on shows — every 10th person comes FREE* • Feedback opportunity: Tell us what you and your group thought of your time at Contact. * 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. Group offer applies on selected shows only — please contact our Box Office for more info.

Fri 25 Jan and Sat 2 Mar, FREE

OPEN CONTACT Two days of FREE workshops, performances and more for KS3 schools and community groups (Fri 25 Jan); and families (Sat 2 Mar) — come get a taste of what Contact has to offer! If you’d like to book or just find out more please contact Abbie Willcox, Creative Projects Officer via abbiewillcox@contactmcr.com #opencontact

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Young people are at the heart of everything we do. Don’t just watch, get involved!

CONTACT YOUNG ACTORS COMPANY (CYAC) Weekly, FREE. Ages 15 to 25.

Auditions: Mon 7 to Wed 9 Jan; and Mon 29 Apr to Wed 1 May, 6pm to 8pm.

CYAC work with renowned directors to produce three amazing shows each year. Explore your creativity, push your abilities, and be part of one of the country’s leading young actors companies. #CYAC

MONDAY DROP Weekly, FREE. Ages 13 to 19. Mon, 7pm to 9pm.

14 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 Feb) and 10 Jun to 29 Jul. Interested in drama skills and acting? Drop in to our regular Monday night sessions and learn from poets, performers, actors and directors. No experience necessary. #mondaydrop

YOUNG IDENTITY Weekly, FREE. Ages 13 to 25.

Tue, 7pm to 9pm, 8 Feb to 20 Aug (not 5 Feb).

Write, create and perform with Manchester’s premiere young spoken word performers. youngidentity.org • #youngidentity

MEDIA DROP Weekly, FREE. Ages 13 to 21.

Mon & Tue, 6pm to 9pm, 14 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 and 5 Feb) and 1 Jul to 20 Aug. MCs, DJs, vocalists, poets and producers!

Collaborate, build skills, and share tracks in person and online. #mediadrop

WORKSHOPS Check out show pages for details about other workshops available.

TECHNIQUE Weekly, FREE. Ages 13 to 19. Mon, 7pm to 9pm.

14 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 Feb) and 10 Jun to 29 Jul. What happens behind the scenes in theatre? Find out about sound and lighting, stage management, design and a lot more in sessions led by our professional technicians. #techniqueMCR

Media Drop All photos: © Joel Chester Fildes

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creative services & space hire

food and drink CONTACT LOUNGE

CREATIVE EXPERTS Contact’s Creative Experts are trained, professional facilitators, recruited by Contact, who can deliver creative projects and creative consultancy through interactive seminars and workshops.

Experts in their fields of specialism, they are also fully CRB checked and trained in health and safety to carry out risk assessments. Our Creative Experts work with schools, businesses and local authorities; recent clients include BBC Learning, Gateley LLP and Virgin Trains.

To find out more about our consultancy and educational packages, please visit contactmcr.com/services Alternatively please email creativeservices@contactmcr.com or call 0161 274 0609. @CCExperts #creativeexperts

MIKE LEIGH-COOPER Creative Expert (Digital & Media Skills) ‘It’s been such a fast-paced, creative ride since my very first day. Working with such a great pool of talent at Contact is such an eye-opener.’

Mon-Fri: 11am ‘til late (Food 12pm to 4pm).

Sat: 3pm ‘til late (Bar only).

A special spot for eating, drinking, chatting, meeting and general lounging. We’ve got FREE WiFi, locally sourced lunches and amazing coffee.

Look out for daily specials and drinks offers. @contactlounge • #contactlounge /contactlounge

ART

Fri 1 Feb to Sat 20 Apr (Queer Contact), FREE.

Our Lounge and public spaces have regularly changing exhibitions from homegrown and international artists.

Malc Stone presents

Fri 1 Feb to Sat 20 Apr (Queer Contact), FREE. Rachel Adams presents

TRANCHESTER Portraits of Manchester’s unconventional club kids. malcstone.tumblr.com • #tranchester Fri 1 Feb to Sat 20 Apr (Queer Contact), FREE. Mon 23 Apr to Sat 8 Sep (Summer), FREE.

THE MODERN LESBIAN A photographic representation of the stories of gay and bisexual women. themodernlesbian.co.uk @photographer77 • #themodernlesbian

BLANK MEDIA COLLECTIVE Two new exhibitions from new & emerging artists as part of our exciting curatorial partnership. blankmediacollective.org @blankmedia • #blankmedia

SPACE HIRE Our building is available to hire for conferences, festivals, filming, showcases, parties, meetings and everything in between!

We offer a wide range of dynamic, professional and high-quality spaces, from our main theatre seating over three hundred people, to our meeting room for ten individuals. We also have video conferencing and telepresence facilities allowing you to connect digitally around the world. Talented staff and excellent catering help make our unique spaces the perfect venue for your event.

For more information, visit our website at contactmcr.com/spacehire or contact our Hires Team on 0161 274 0628 or hires@contactmcr.com 8

Photos: © Joel Chester Fildes

The Modern Lesbian

Tranchester

Blank Media Collective

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

regular events

Verbally Challenged

RAW

COMEDY

MUSIC

THEATRE

Cake Tin Foundation presents

Contact, BPM and Fallacy present

The Larks presents

MOTHER’S RUIN

THE BLACK SOUND SERIES

THE LARKS AT CONTACT

Bi-monthly, Fri. Over 18s.

Quarterly, 8pm ‘til late, £10/6.

Over 18s after midnight.

Sat 18 May: UK Garage vs Grime Fri 12 Jul: BPM and Media Drop Showcase

Quarterly, Sat, 5pm ‘til late, FREE. Over 14s.

8 Feb (Queer Contact), 7:30pm, £12/7.

26 Apr, 21 Jun and 26 Jul, 8pm, £8/5.

Sparkling new variety with talent from across the UK. Hosted by Timberlina. ‘unique, unpredictable’ HHHH The Public Reviews mothersruin.co.uk • @mothers_ruin

DANCE Contact and DawN’s MinD present

MIXED MOVEMENT Quarterly, Sat, eve, FREE. All ages.

20 April (Turn) and 13 Jul. Created by DawN. Hosted by Keisha Thompson (Young Identity).

Manchester’s ONLY open stage event for dancers, with spontaneous solos and duets to improvised music. All styles welcome. Sign up to participate or just watch. Book open-stage slots via dawndusk@me.com #mixedmovement

Programmed by Bass Music Collective BPM (Darka, T Dot, Madam X and Phaze One).

After a sold-out performance in 2012, BPM and Contact team up once again to present the second part in their series of special one-off live music events. #BSS2013 Supported by PRS Foundation For Music.

RADIO Contact and ALL FM present

NOISE GENERATION Last Tuesday of the month, 3pm, FREE. Listen to the latest Manchester arts news and music from Contact’s own radio show broadcast on ALL FM 96.9. Download previous shows from contactmcr.com/noisegeneration #noisegeneration

Mixed Movement

The Larks

11 May. Re-inventing Manchester’s playtime, The Larks invite you to join in their games. the-larks.com • @larkinmcr • #larkinmcr Scriptworks presents

SCRIPTWORKS

WORD RAW (RHYTHM & WORDS) Monthly, Mon, evening, FREE. 28 Jan, 4 Mar (Flying Solo), 25 Mar, 22 Apr, 24 Jun (telepresence) and 22 Jul. An open mic for poets, vocalists, and MCs, also featuring the Freestyle Pyramid Competition with quirky prizes. Hosted by Martin Visceral (Pen-ultimate) with DJ Jomo. #RAWMCR

YOUNG IDENTITY: ONE MIC STAND

Weekly, Mon, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, FREE. Over 18s.

28 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 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

Quarterly. Over 13s.

Fri 1 Mar, 7pm, £5/3.

A boisterous night of word, music and art, with two open Slams — for ages 13-17 and 18+. To take part email youngidentitymcr@googlemail.com youngidentity.org • @YoungIDmcr • #onemicstand

VERBALLY CHALLENGED Quarterly, Wed. Over 12s.

6 Mar, 6pm (Flying Solo), FREE. 3 Jul, 7:30pm, £5.

A script-writing contest where we set the brief, you have two weeks to write the plays, and it’s down to the audience who wins the cash prize.

Email elizabethtait@contactmcr.com to get involved. #verballychallenged

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All photos (excluding Larks) © Joel Chester Fildes

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

february

Bryony Kimmings

Dean Atta

Tom Allen

Eggs Collective

Mon 4 to Sat 9 Feb, various times/prices.

Q U E E RCO N TACT 20 1 3 Contact celebrates LGBT History Month 2013 in style with the best in comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, variety, music and visual art. #queercontact • lgbthistorymonth.org.uk Mon 4 Feb, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 16s.

Wed 6 and Thu 7 Feb, 1pm, FREE. Over 12s.

COMEDY PLAYGROUND

RAW JAM

Stand-up comedy with Paul Sinha, Debra-Jane Appleby, Tom Allen, Heena Patel and more.

Hosted by Jonathan Mayor. #comedyplayground

FREE lunchtime performances from The University of Manchester LGBTQ Society (Wed) and Cheryl Martin with The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (Thu).

Wed 6 Feb, 8pm, £8/5. Over 12s.

Tue 5 Feb, 7:30pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

Contact, CultureHub and DawN’s MinD present

Contact and Apples and Snakes present

THE HOUSE OF CONTACT

OUTSPOKEN Dominic Berry hosts our alternative poetry slam with Dean Atta, Anna Freeman, Keith Jarrett, Jasmine Cooray, Henry Raby and more. Poets!

Book a slam slot via outspoken@contactmcr.com for the chance to win £50.

Tue 5 Feb, 1pm to 3pm, FREE with show ticket.

Thu 7 Feb, 7pm, £5. Over 14s.

Sat 9 Feb, 11:30am to 2:45pm, FREE. Over 16s.

Art with Heart presents

Cake Tin Foundation presents

THE SECRET DIARIES OF A TEENAGE QUEER

THE FUTURE FOR QUEER ARTISTS IN THE NORTH WEST

Work-in-progress coming-out story. Laugh, love and relive your youth with this beautiful and heart-breaking look at life through teenage eyes.

Have your say on the future for queer artists in the region.

Supported by Arts Council England, Royal Bank of Scotland, and LGBT Youth North West.

Sat 9 Feb, 4pm and 5:30pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

@artwith_heart • #secretdiaries

THE POLARI MISSION

Thu 7 Feb, 9pm, £5. Over 14s.

SHORTCUTS

Curated & hosted by DawN Crandell.

Solos, duets, and new danceworks featuring Darren Suarez (House of Suarez), Javier Ninja (House of Ninja), Peter Grist, Joshua Hubbard, Alyx Steele, Genevieve Say and more. Music from The Niallist (House of Tranarchy) and Sarah Selina. #houseofcontact

OUTSPOKEN WORKSHOP Led by Dean Atta and Dominic Berry. #outspokenMCR

Bourgeois & Maurice

Work-in-progress double-bill of new theatre from two of the North West’s best solo female performers — Debs Gatenby and Cheryl Martin. #shortcutsMCR Fri 8 Feb, 7:30pm, £12/7. Over 18s.

Cake Tin Foundation presents

MOTHER’S RUIN: WHO’S GOT THE MAX FACTOR? A talent show like no other as ten North West acts try to win the vote of judges including Bourgeois & Maurice and members of the audience! With special guests Bryony Kimmings and Eggs Collective.

Hosted by Timberlina.

‘Fun night out’ The Public Reviews mothersruin.co.uk @mothers_ruin • #mothers_ruin

Jez Dolan and Joseph Richardson present

Class is in session as artists Jez Dolan and Joseph Richardson invite you to attend a lesson in the language of Polari…who’ll be teacher’s pet? polarimission.com @PolariMission • #PolariMission

Supported by Arts Council England and The Heritage Lottery Fund.

Sat 9 Feb, 8pm, £12/7. Over 14s.

Tim Whitehead presents

BOURGEOIS & MAURICE: WE STARTED A BAND Twisting modern life into some of the catchiest, most peculiar pop songs you’ll hear, award-winning cabaret duo Bourgeois & Maurice bring the festival to a close with their critically-acclaimed four-piece band show.

‘The coolest kids in cabaret’ HHHHH Gay Times ‘Talented to within an inch of their lives’ HHHH Time Out

bourgeoisandmaurice.co.uk @bourgmaurice • #westartedaband

Alyx Steele

Queer Contact 2013 Official Partners

Ending Homophobia,

OUTNORTHWEST

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Empowering People

www.lgf.org.uk

Registered Charity No.1070904

The Secret Diaries of a Teenage Queer

Keith Jarrett

Joshua Hubbard

Cheryl Martin

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

february Thu 14 and Fri 15 Feb, 7:30pm, £10/6. Over 12s.

Plus post-show chat back (Thu 14).

Contact and Word of Warning present

HETAIN PATEL: BE LIKE WATER ‘Have you ever wanted to be somebody else? I always wanted to be Bruce Lee. And sometimes like my dad. What determines who we are anyway?’

Wed 27 and Thu 28 Feb, 8pm, £10/6. Over 14s.

The Drum and Punch Records present

THE SPIRAL

With Deci4Life and Moqapi Selassie

‘An inward spiral decays and dies, an outward spiral grows and thrives!’

After an acclaimed London debut, award-winning artist Hetain Patel brings his new piece of theatre to Contact as part of a UK tour. A visually arresting and witty consideration of culture and identity, with video projection, live music and plenty of Northern factory talk courtesy of Hetain’s dad.

‘clever and charming’ HHHH The Guardian hetainpatel.com @HetainPatel1 • #belikewater Co-commissioned by Royal Opera House (ROH2), London, Dance4 and New Art Exchange, Nottingham. Development supported by Broadway Media Centre, Lakeside Arts Centre and Hatch, Nottingham, and South East Dance, Brighton. Hetain Patel is a Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Artist.

Fri 1 Feb, 4:30pm, FREE. Over 12s.

Sat 23 Feb, 8pm, £8/5. Over 12s.

Abas Eljanabi presents

Outta Place presents

GAME OVER

THE DANCE DIALOGUE

A new work-in-progress from Iraqi-born actor, director and performer, Abas Eljanabi, Game Over uses traditional Arabic storytelling and multimedia to tell the real life stories of recent events across the Arab Spring.

A cross-cultural contemporary dance exchange using telepresence to connect young people in West Yorkshire, Manchester and Jamaica. outtaplace.org • @Outta_Place • #dancedialogue

Supported by Community Arts North West.

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An Outta Place project in collaboration between Dance United Yorkshire, Manifesto Jamaica and The British Council.

Supported by Arts Council England.

This gripping piece of spoken word theatre dramatises a life-changing meeting between Glitzy, an emerging grime artist funded to study on a six-month community arts placement, and his newly appointed development mentor, veteran dub poet and radical cultural activist Leroy ‘Steppin-Razor’ Ujima.

A startling, intense poetic dialogue challenging the assumptions and worldviews of both wordsmiths. the-drum.org.uk • #thespiral

Check out contactmcr.com for details of other events connected to this show.

WORKSHOPS Contact rachelmoorhouse@contactmcr.com for workshop details

UK tour funded by Arts Council England.

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

march Brian Lobel

Kristina Wong

Mon 4 to Sat 9 Mar, various times/prices.

Doublebill ticke ts

FLYING SOLO FESTIVAL 2013 The ability of a single artist to captivate and hold an audience is one of the great performing traditions.

Flying Solo celebrates this skill with performances including live art, spoken word, and theatre. #flyingsolo2013

Fri 8 Mar, 7pm, FREE. Over 14s.

MC Theater AMSTERDAM ARTISTS DOUBLE-BILL

Tue 5 Mar, 9pm, FREE. Over 15s.

Tue 5 and Wed 6 Mar, 7pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

John Berkavitch SHAME

La JohnJoseph BOY IN A DRESS

New work from artists supported by our Flying Solo venue partner in Amsterdam.

Work-in-progress scratch performance.

A new Hip Hop theatre show combining spoken word, dance, animation and music. Do you remember the worst thing you ever did?. @Berkavitch • #ShameJB

Directed by Sarah Chew

Sat 9 Mar, 6pm, FREE. Over 14s.

Autobiographical, raucously political and accidentally profound, Boy in a Dress follows the life story thus far of La JohnJoseph — a third-gendered, fallen Catholic — from the council estates of Merseyside to the strip clubs of New York. ‘incisive, witty, moving and glam’ HHHHH Time Out

‘humourous and touching’ HHHH Gay Times lajohnjoseph.com • @LaJohnJoseph • #boyinadress Wed 6 to Fri 8 Mar, 9pm, £8/5. Over 16s.

Kristina Wong GOING GREEN THE WONG WAY

La JohnJoseph

Flying Solo 2013 Partners

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£12/8

FLYING SOLO COMMISSION: PITCH NIGHT In collaboration with Fuel, LaMaMa and CultureHub (New York), and MC (Amsterdam)

Eight solo performers pitch to win mentoring support, rehearsal space and the opportunity to develop and perform their show in New York and Amsterdam, before bringing it back to Manchester for Flying Solo in 2014.

To apply tell us: Why is it the right time for you to fly solo? and send examples of your work to TeresaEast@contactmcr.com by Fri 1 Feb 2013.

Sat 9 Mar, 7:30pm, FREE. Over 14s.

for two in one nshows ight (limite d offer)

Sophie Willan AN AUDIENCE WITHOUT YOU Work-in-progress scratch performance.

Sophie is determined to find her father. She has a crumpled photo of a faceless man wearing a red beret, a pop album dedicated to her and a very determined, slightly psychic Grandma.

A funny tale that is heart-warming, heart-breaking, ridiculous and sort of true.

Winner of the 2012 Flying Solo Commission. Presented in partnership with Contact (Manchester), MC (Amsterdam), The Albany (London) and LaMaMa (New York). In association with Fuel Theatre.

sophiewillan.com @sophiewillan • #anaudiencewithoutyou Sat 9 Mar, 9pm, £10/6. Over 14s.

Brian Lobel PURGE In 2011 Brian Lobel gave strangers one minute to decide which of his 1300 Facebook friends to keep or delete. Purge the stage show examines how we emotionally and socially interact with digital media.

Kristina Wong overshares — a lot. Join her for a comedic romp through her true-life adventures from her confrontational 6th grade science project, to her wandering years as a missionary of recycling, and her true calling as Los Angeles’ patron martyr of sustainable living. ‘a smart, brazen and raunchy parody of political correctness.’ LA Weekly kristinawong.com • @mskristinawong • #GGTWW

Winner of the Digital Edge Writing Award with dramaturgical support from Edge Hill University, North West Playwrights and Capital Theatre Festival. Developed with support from Arts Council England.

blobelwarming.com @blobelwarming • #purgetheshow

Sophie Willan.

Photo: Roshana Rubin-Mayhew

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

march Tue 19 to Sat 23 Mar, various times/prices.

Preview: Wed 13 Mar, 7:30pm, £5.

Thu 14 to Sat 16 Mar, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 12s.

The University of Manchester presents

DIGGING DEEP: THE ADVENTURES OF SKY THE RELUCTANT HERO Ice cream? Polar bear? Desert? = Messy!

Sky has not slept a wink for six whole months. It’s 3am and yet another sleepless night.

There’s a sound from deep without. The door opens but the world doesn’t look, feel or sound the the same as it used to...

Nikky Norton Shafau leads us on a beautiful immersive adventure touching upon issues of mental health, with incredible sound design by Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) and animation from Emily & Anne.

The adventure has begun. Join in online and see what special rewards await: diggingdeep.co.uk @dig_diggingdeep • #skythereluctanthero Winner of Flying Solo 2011. Presented in association with The Core at Corby Cube, Contact (Manchester) and MC Theater (Amsterdam).

Thu 14 Mar, 1pm to 3pm, FREE with a show ticket.

THE DOOR: SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOP Led by Nikky Norton Shafau.

PALAVER FESTIVAL 2013

#palaver2013

A festival celebrating languages and performance.

Tue 19 Mar, 8pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Performed in Spanish.

Fri 22 Mar, 7:30pm, £8/5. All ages.

The University of Manchester’s Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies Students’ Society presents

THE ORGANGRINDER

LA CASA DE BERNARDA ALBA

by Frederico García Lorca

A new adaptation of Lorca’s famous 1930s play about insanity and sexual repression.

Wed 20 Mar, 7:30pm, £8/5. All ages.

The Satellite State Disko presents

Live concert blending a trans-global mix of beats, rhythms, DJ cuts and multi-lingual vocals. theorgangrinder.bandcamp.com Sat 23 Mar, 3pm, FREE. Over 15s.

The University of Manchester Applied Theatre Department presents

WORKSHOP: THE FABRIC OF LANGUAGE

Opusmalone presents

40 MINUTE WARNING Composed by Kevin Malone, with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet

Improvisational performance workshop about language and non-verbal communication.

A live music / multimedia concert addressing fears around the Cuban Missile Crisis and 9/11. opusmalone.com

Sat 23 Mar, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Performed in German.

The University of Manchester’s German Society presents

Thu 21 Mar, 8pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Performed in French.

DIE DREIGROSCHENOPER (THE THREEPENNY OPERA)

The University of Manchester’s French Studies presents

OCCUPE-TOI D’AMÉLIE

by Georges Feydeau

Amélie has a busy love life! But who will get jealous first in this classic French comedy?

Pre-show curtain raiser Le Petit Mancunian from Chorlton High School, 7:30pm.

Interval entertainment provided by Les Chanteurs.

by Bertolt Brecht

A musical comedy about the infamous Mack the Knife — a classic German tale.

Post-show concert from girl-band Kastanienallee (sung in English and German).

La Casa De Bernarda Alba

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

march / april Thu 28 Mar, 8pm, £10/6. Over 13s.

Plus post-show chat back.

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STORIES

HIGH

PRESENTS

W H O L E

SEXDEATHLOVERELIGIONTHEATREDUBSTEP

What happens when you’re in a hole?

What happens when that hole’s inside you?

What do you fill it with to make yourself feel whole?

Last year, three teenagers emailed 20 Stories High to ask if they could make a play about their friend Holly.

This is the show created with them... WHOLE... with live music and outspoken truths... A gritty, funny and uncompromising new play, exploring sexuality, love, death and religion.

Script by Philip Osment. Directed by Julia Samuels.

Designed by Anna-Marie Hainsworth.

Musical Direction by Keith Saha.

20storieshigh.org.uk @20storieshigh • #wholetheplay Thu 28 Mar, 1pm to 3pm, Free with a show ticket.

IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP Led by 20 Stories High.

Thu 4 to Sat 6 Apr, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 13s.

BSL performance (Fri 5).

Contact presents

DYSTOPIA

DIRECTED BY BENJI REID Starring Contact Young Actors Company Written by Louise Wallwein

What if

your dreams

came true?

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It is one year on from an event that changed the world as we know it, what happened?

What is left? Who has come out on top?

Two nigh t pass

Two nigh t pass

£10/7

£8/5

Fri 19 and Sat 20 Apr, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Thu 2 and Fri 3 May, 7:30pm, £5/3. Over 16s.

Word of Warning and Contact present

Word of Warning and Contact present

TURN 2013

WORKS AHEAD

The Turn micro-festival of dance returns with a stunning line-up of emerging danceworks: explosive, intimate, graceful and challenging. turnmcr.org • @warnmcr • #turnmcr A hÅb, Contact, DiGM, Live at LICA co-production; a greenroom legacy project.

Work that moves you and work that speaks to you — two very different nights of surprising new performance featuring 70/30 Split, Kitty Graham, Ellen Turner, Façade Theatre, Wayne Steven Jackson, and Lena Simic. wordofwarning.org • @warnmcr • #worksahead

Sat 20 Apr, 10pm, FREE. Over 14s Mixed Movement Turn Special with Sound Moves.

A hÅb + Contact co-production; featuring the 2012 Turn Prize, supported by DiGM and Live at LICA. A greenroom legacy project.

Thu 9 May, 8pm, £10/6. Over 14s.

Plus post-show chat back.

Contact and Word of Warning present

IMITATING THE DOG: 6 DEGREES BELOW THE HORIZON

Part French film and part Edwardian vaudeville, 6 Degrees Below the Horizon takes its audience on a delightful and twisted voyage into a shadowy world, in which doing the right thing is seen to have terrible consequences.

A captivating fusion of cinema and theatre. imitatingthedog.co.uk ‘near as dammit a total work of art’ The Observer (on Kellerman) imitatingthedog.co.uk • @imitatingthedog • #6degrees Thu 9 May, 2pm to 4:30pm, FREE with a show ticket.

WORKSHOP Led by imitating the dog.

Told through text and physical theatre, Contact Young Actors Company will immerse you in a world where the rules have changed and things aren’t always as they seem. #CYACDystopia 21

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

may Sat 11 May, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Plus post-show chat back.

Style of Walking

Fri 17 May, 8pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Hip Hop Dance Society presents

DAVID TOOLE & LUCY HIND: EXTRAORDINARY

STYLE OF WALKING

David Toole is acclaimed as an actor and dancer on stage and screen. His credits are numerous (CandoCo, DV8, RSC, National Theatre of Wales, and the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony amongst others); his critics adoring; and his biggest fan about to partner him in a duet. How will naïve Lucy Hind (Slung Low) fare? Will she contain herself in the presence of her idol?

Wed 22 May, 8pm and Thu 23 May, 1pm and 8pm, £10/6.

Over 14s.

Post-show chat back (Thu 23).

A showcase jam packed full of talent featuring singing, dancing, spoken word and much more.

A duet. One with no legs. One with no clue.

Nu Century Arts presents

IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER: The Spirit Of Ubuntu

A funny, moving and poignant production.

‘mesmerising dancing’

The Daily Telegraph (London Paralympics 2012 Opening Ceremony).

Winners of 2010 Standard Bank Ovation award and the 2011 AMI award for Dance.

Written by Don Kinch Choreography by L’Antoinette Stines Music by Soweto Kinch Directed by Cliff Moustache

departsltd.com • @dtoole764 • #extraO

‘What became of the Black people of Sumer?’ the traveller asked the old man, for ancient records show that the people of Sumer were Black. ‘What happened to them?’

‘Ah,’ the old man sighed. ‘They lost their history, so they died.’

Sat 11 May, 2:30pm to 4pm, FREE with a show ticket.

CREATING FROM NOTHING: DANCE MASTERCLASS

Marisol has given up her well-paid job to embark on a quest for self-discovery to Jamaica and find the Jamaican man that will father a child. In Search of My Father delves into the ancient past to examine the modern Black woman through visceral theatre, enchanting dance and evocative music from MOBO award-winner Soweto Kinch.

Led by David Toole and Lucy Hind.

Tue 14 May, 8pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

Manchester Dance Consortium presents

PLATFORM 0.2 Danceworks-in-progress showcase aiming to support new dance by encouraging creative interactions and collaborations between audiences and choreographers. Audience members will be invited to give written feedback to the artists involved.

Supported from public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Presented in partnership with Dance Initiative Greater Manchester, Contact and Z-Arts.

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Tue 14 May, 7:15pm to 7:50pm, FREE with a show ticket.

WORKSHOP: WRITING FEEDBACK FOR DANCE

nucenturyarts.co.uk Tue 21 May, 1pm to 4pm, FREE with a show ticket

watchingdance.org • #platform02

WORKSHOP Led by Don Kinch. (includes film screening of From Margins to Mainstream: The Story of Black Theatre in Britain).

Photo: Zeeshan Edwards 23

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

may Wed 22 May, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 16s.

The Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture, The University of Manchester presents

Fri 31 May, 8pm, £12/10. Over 14s.

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex Management presents

Chair: Jackie Stacey / Monica Pearl (The University of Manchester)

THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE: MORE TAPE

A performance lecture about education and class; high art and popular culture; performance and human rights; feminism and femininity; and sex and aging; from one of the foremost queer performers in the world.

The Boy returns to Contact after his sold-out show in 2012.

LOIS WEAVER: WHAT TAMMY FOUND OUT A Front Line Report from the Back Porch, the Schoolyard and the Dinner Table.

Delivered as part of the Sexuality Summer School’s public event series 2013.

@SSS_Manchester • #whattammyfoundout Fri 24 May, 1pm and 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

UMDS SHOWCASE New theatre from The University of Manchester Drama Society.

Wed 29 and Thu 30 May, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

BEN MELLOR: ANTHROPOETRY

With support from Phil Buckley.

Funny, magical, innovative, spectacular and inspiring, The Boy with Tape On his Face has won the hearts and minds of the critics and public alike. This is stand-up with no talking, drama with no acting and punch lines with no words.

After appearances at last year’s Royal Variety Performance, BBC Comedy Proms with Tim Minchin at the Royal Albert Hall and on ITV’s Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford it would appear the sky is the limit for this utterly unique comedy phenomenon.

[an”thro-po´ê-tre] n. A humorous, musical, spoken word journey around the human anatomy, attempting to get the measure of modern life.

‘simply spectacular’ HHHHH Metro

Written and performed by Ben Mellor (BBC R4 Slam Champion) With music and sound design by Dan Steele.

‘fight for a ticket’ Time Out

benmellor.net • @mellordramatix • #anthropoetry

theboywithtapeonhisface.com @tapefaceboy • #moretape

‘elegantly crafted rhymes… always engaging’

‘this boy is going places’ HHHHH The Times

HHHH The Scotsman

‘a joy to listen to’ HHHH Broadway Baby Ben Mellor

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contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

june Sat 1 to Sat 8 Jun (not Sun), various times, FREE. All ages.

Wed 12 June, 7:30pm, £10/6. All ages.

Contact presents

Bunk Puppets and Scamp Theatre present

NOT ANOTHER FESTIVAL An innovative new community festival celebrating Manchester’s unsurpassed creativity.

Produced by Re:Con - Contact’s Young Programming and Producing Team.

@recon2012 • @NotAnotherReCon • contactmcr.com/notanotherfestival • #notanotherfestival

SLAPDASH GALAXY Using bits of rubbish and household objects, puppeteer Jeff Achtem creates a shadow puppet universe from junk. Tear open your imagination, and soak in his latest puppetry showcase following the award-winning Sticks Stones Broken Bones (Best Puppetry, Adelaide Fringe) and Swamp Juice (Total Theatre Award, Edinburgh 2011).

Thu 6 to Sat 8 Jun, 7:30pm, £10/6. Over 14s.

Post-show chat back (Fri 7).

DICKIE BEAU: LOST IN TRANS— Women of the World: it’s playback time...

‘Touching, bizarre and visually gorgeous… a thing unlike any other… it is the drag show at the end of the world’ Time Out (on Blackouts) HHHH 1/2 The Public Reviews (on Blackouts)

Performance phenomenon and gender disillusionist Dickie Beau returns to Contact after a sold-out run in 2012.

Breathing new life into found sound he continues to re-vision the drag tradition of lip synching using complex spoken word texts and multi-media.

LOST in TRANS is a new provocative performance work that promises to stimulate questions around issues of sexuality and ageing in women, the ethics of drag in queer-feminist discourse, notions of gender identity, agency and the power of transformation. dickiebeau.com @dickiebeau • #LostInTrans A Southbank Centre and Jardin d’Europe co-commission.

Presented at Contact in association with Tim Whitehead.

‘out of this world’ HHHHH

Broadway Baby

‘sheer entertainment that enthralls kids and adults alike’ HHHH British Theatre Guide

Thu 13 and Fri 14 Jun, 7pm (Part 1), £8/5.

Thu 13 and Fri 14 Jun, 9pm (Part 2), £8/5. Over 13s.

Post-show chat back (Fri 14).

Contact and Word of Warning present

ANDY FIELD: ZILLA A disaster movie for the stage. A story of heroism and tragedy told with lego figures, dinosaur slippers, microphones, business cards and Google Street View. An attempt to look from a different perspective at the cities we live in and the cities we dream of.

Doublebill ticke t

£12/8 Parts 1&

(limited o 2 ffer)

‘a strikingly simple but wonderful piece’ A Younger Theatre

lookingforastronauts.wordpress.com @andytfield • #zilla Fri 7 Jun, 1pm to 3pm, FREE with a show ticket.

Fri 14 Jun, 2pm to 3pm, FREE with a show ticket.

WORKSHOP Led by Dickie Beau.

WORKSHOP Photo © Joel Chester Fildes

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Led by Andy Field.

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june

july ‘the larger the crowd, the less likely it is that anyone will intervene...’

Thu 20 Jun, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 16s.

Plus post-show chat back.

Preview: Wed 3 Jul, 8pm, £5.

Thu 4 to Sat 6 Jul, 8pm, £10/6. Over 14s.

Post-show chat back (Fri 5 Jul).

We’ve all seen it happen. We’ve all heard it happen. We’ve all crossed the road to avoid it. We’ve all stood by. We’ve all hoped it would stop. A sweet and poetic show with a powerful message, Flâneurs explores the nature of violence in public spaces.

Contact and Word of Warning present

JENNA WATT: FLÂNEURS

QUARANTINE THE DYAS SISTERS W O R L D

‘a richly thoughtful show’ HHHH The Scotsman

‘utterly charming and surprisingly light-hearted.’ The Stage

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jennawatt.co.uk @thejennawatt • #flaneurs

Contact favourites Quarantine have an international reputation for making theatre where real life doesn’t stop when the performance starts.

Developed with support from The National Theatre of Scotland, Summerhall, Forest Fringe, The Arches, The Basement, The Tron Theatre and Camden People’s Theatre.

‘Quarantine has created a series of shows excavating the lives of real people and we’ve never seen one of these fragile, beautiful performances that wasn’t an outright winner.’ The Guardian

Sat 22 Jun, 3pm to 9pm, £5 (£3 Battling B-Boys/B-Girls).

Thu 27 and Fri 28 Jun, 7:30pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

BRING BACK THE VIBE VOL.3

NEW

Bring Back The Vibe

P R E M I E R E

Dublin sisters Grace and Veronica Dyas are attempting to remember everything that’s ever happened to them.

It’s an impossible task where the banal collides with the beautiful, and moments of fiction inevitably crop up – all set against a backdrop of 35 years of recent history.

Winner of Scotsman Fringe First Award 2012.

Manchester’s international five-on-five B-Boy Jam returns, with music from DJ Rasp and more.

Hosted by Martin Visceral in Manchester and Baba Israel via live link from New York. #bringbackthevibe

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

qtine.com • @QtineMcr • #thedyassisters

Piece Of Work presents

Work-in-progress.

Following their award-winning Edinburgh Fringe show, Script in Hand, Contact’s Key Partner Company present portions of new work, in whatever state they find it.

Tue 9 to Thu 11 Jul, 6:30pm, £15/10. Over 14s.

Unfinished Business presents

ONLY WOLVES AND LIONS

‘Only wolves and lions eat alone, you should not eat, not even a snack, on your own.’ Epicurus

Piece Of Work presents

Unfinished Business host a dinner with a difference. You are invited to this intimate feast with a handful of other guests where you will meet as strangers and eat as friends. Be prepared for an immersive three and a half hour banquet of performance, food and story-telling. Bring one raw ingredient to add to the pot. thisisunfinished.wordpress.com • @leo_kay • #wolveslions

IN BETWEEN DAY

Please note this show runs at approximately 3.5 hours.

A day of shared procastination for theatre makers, artists & practitioners. If you’ve ever felt like the creative seed will never germinate again, this is your day. pieceofwork.co.uk @PieceofWorkCo • #inbetweenday

Thu 4 and Fri 5 Jul, 6pm to 10pm. Sat 6 Jul, 11am to 7pm, FREE with a show ticket.

Sat 29 Jun, 11am to 4pm, FREE. Over 16s.

WORKSHOP Led by Leo Kay.

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july/august

PGB

Rasta Roots

Fri 12 Jul, 7:30pm, FREE. Over 14s.

Contact presents

Mon 15 to Sat 20 Jul, various times/prices.

Over 14s.

PGB WORK-IN-PROGRESS

FLARE FESTIVAL

After a year of being Contact’s Incubator Company, PGB have finally hatched! They’re ready to try out some new ideas on an unsuspecting audience! Are you game?

The Flare International Festival of New Theatre is set to return, bigger and better than ever.

A six-day festival of ground-breaking theatre, plus workshops and discussions, by some of the best new theatre makers selected from across the UK, Europe and beyond. flarefestival.com • @flarefestival

Sat 13 Jul, 7:30pm, FREE. Over 14s.

Hercules Productions presents

RASTA ROOTS A celebration of the roots and origins of Rasta presented through theatre and music. Come and see a re-invention of H.I.M Haile Selassie’s greatest words produced by Manchester’s brightest young performers.

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. @HerculesHQ #rastaroots

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La Biblioteca

Flare Festival

Thu 1 to Sat 3 Aug, times tbc, £8/5. Over 13s.

Contact, Dende Collective and The University of Manchester present

LA BIBLIOTECA Directed by Andre Pink Starring Contact Young Actors Company

Experience the John Rylands Library as you’ve never seen it before in a promenade performance that explores love and hierarchies both past and present using Commedia Dell’Arte. #CYAC

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IMITATING THE DOG

COMEDY PLAYGROUND

BRING BACK THE VIBE

BRING BACK THE VIBE

WHERE WE’RE AT COMEDY Contact, Oxford Road, PLAYGROUND Manchester, M15 6JA WE ARE OPEN Mon to Fri 10am to 11pm Sat 3pm to late

NINJA KRISTINA WONG 24HOUSE HOUR ONLINEOF BOOKING contactmcr.com BOX OFFICE 0161 274 0600 Mon to Fri: 10am to 6pm Sat: 3pm to 6pm (Closes 7:30pm or 8pm on show nights)

DAVID TOOLE & LUCY HIND

THANK YOU

Thank you to all our individual supporters who have donated online and in person.

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