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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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
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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. 20
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. 22
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. 27
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