Contact Autumn 2012 & Spring 2013 Brochure

September 2012 – February 2013 contactmcr.com / 0161 274 0600

a word from our artistic directorBABA SAYS Creating new theatre is at the core of Contact’s mission so this year it’s been brilliant to see Maxwell Golden’s CountryBoy’s Struggle embraced by audiences from Cornwall to the Edinburgh Fringe. We’re also devoted to exploring the possibilities of technology and CountryBoy’s Struggle: Online has become a hit on the BBC & Arts Council England’s digital platform The Space (thespace.org) — but we’re not stopping there! The show will soon embark on a new 70-date tour in partnership with the National Rural Touring Forum, supported by Arts Council England.

Our passion for fresh theatre continues this season with new productions such as Fields of Grey, What Am I Worth?, Xenophobadelica, and Fink On Theatre & Contact Young Actors Company’s Runaway Shadows. All highly recommended!

Elsewhere we have the return of Forced Entertainment, Dickie Beau, and the Shakespeare Schools Festival; plus during October’s Black History Month, Contact will be transformed into a South African Township Café, complete with traditional food and drink, and stunning performances from the Afrovibes Festival.

There’s loads more on offer and plenty of ways to get involved. Discover them for yourself in this brochure or via our website contactmcr.com

I look forward to welcoming you to Contact soon!

Baba Israel Artistic Director

@BabaIsrael

2

Contact is a dynamic 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 artistic programme in our building, surprising places, and virtual spaces. We redefine theatre for the 21st century, bringing together the best new writing, music,

comedy, 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 (with great food & FREE WiFi), and our top-of-the-range digital studio, Media Lounge.

Baba Israel Photo by Joel Chester Fildes

we are contact

CountryBoy’s Struggle: Online

3

4

a word from our young people

KEISHA THOMPSON “Contact became my second home when I joined the Young Identity poetry collective founded by Shirley May and Ali Gadema. Contact supported our first theatre production, The Picasso Theory, as part of their Key Partner Company programme in 2011.

“I have received an overwhelming number of opportunities to develop as an artist. Recently I was a facilitator for the national youth poetry slam, Shake The Dust; was one of the selected artists for Flying Solo Festival 2012; and I’m currently a member of Contact Playback and Contact’s Creative Experts.”

@Keke_Thom

FABIAN CHAMBERS “I first became involved at Contact in 2009 with Freestyle Mondays and then Saturday Drop — supporting Sway during I Dream of Fela, and performing as part of the Manchester Science Festival.

“I was a Media Drop participant from the project’s first year, and have since progressed to become one of its facilitators. Media Drop is a buzzing hub of emerging talent and continues to go from strength to strength with each term.”

“Contact is so significant for so many young artists around the world.”

“Contact has given me the opportunity to progress as a person, as well as a performer.” Photo by Joel Chester Fildes

Photo by Joel Chester Fildes

5

SOPHIE WILLAN Bolton performance artist Sophie Willan won Contact’s Flying Solo Commission which includes the opportunity to develop and perform her first solo show An Audience Without You at La MaMa (New York); MC (Amsterdam); and The Albany (London); before returning to Contact as part of Flying Solo Festival 2013.

Sophie has a long history with Contact having previously been part of CYAC, Future Fires, and Contacting the World; and was a founding member of Eggs Collective. She’s since gone on to perform for a variety of high-profile events such as DUCKIE, Mother’s Ruin, Flare Festival, and Camden Comedy Club.

sophiewillan.com • @sophiewillan

POSTGRADUATE BLUESContact’s Incubator Company for 2012 is PostGraduate Blues — Afreena Islam, Chelsea Morgan and Kailum Carolan.

Their friendship began as part of CYAC in 2009, and they participated in Contacting the World 2010 — an experience that inspired them to create their own company, PostGraduate Blues.

“As part of our incubation, we have had the chance to learn from artists like Amy Lamé, Baba Israel, Belarus Free Theatre, Gecko Theatre and Pen-ultimate.”

@Post_Grad_Blues

introducing...

“I’ve really enjoyed developing as an artist at Contact and there’s nowhere I’d rather be to make my first solo show.”

“Contact has helped develop us both as artists and facilitators.”

Photo by Roshana Rubin-Mayhew

6

offers & social media

CHEAP TICKETS!FREEACT is our membership scheme for under 26s. Sign up and you’ll get one FREE ticket for every ticket purchased on selected shows. An amazing deal!To join, email [email protected] or come in and pick up a card.

**NEW** LOYALTY CARDSign up for our new Loyalty Card and get discounts on tickets and food & drink. Pop in to find out more info.

GROUPSIf you’ve never organised a group visit to Contact, it really couldn’t be easier. Sign up and let us look after you:

* Receive advance knowledge on shows.

* Get great offers and occasional FREE stuff.

* Groups of 10 or more make great savings on shows — every 10th person comes FREE!

* Help shape Contact: Tell us what your group thought about your visit.

For more info please call Edward Cox, Sales and Information Manager, on 0161 274 0610 or email [email protected]

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.

LIKE IT! TWEET IT! SHARE IT!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!

@contactmcr #contactmcr

/contactmcr

/contactmcr

/contactmcr

WORD

THEATRE

ART

COMEDY

DANCE

EDUCATION

FILM

FREEACT

JOIN IN

MUSIC

TELEPRESENCE

EVENT KEY SPACES

SPACE 1 (max 290)

SPACE 2 (max 90)

SPACE 3 (max 100)

SPACE 5 (max 250)

CONTACT LOUNGE

MEDIA LOUNGE

MEETING ROOM

BUILDING

ON LOCATION

Photos by Joel Chester Fildes

join in

7

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

YOUNG IDENTITY Tue, 7pm to 9pm, FREE, ages 13 to 25 4 Sep to 11 Dec, 8 Jan to 26 Feb (not 5 Feb)

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

MEDIA DROP Wed & Thu, 6pm to 9pm, FREE, ages 13 to 21 19 Sep to 8 Nov

MCs, DJs, vocalists, poets and producers! Collaborate, build your skills, share tracks and stream material in our state-of-the-art Media Lounge. mediadrop1.blogspot.com • #mediadrop

WORKSHOPS Check out our show pages for other workshops. Call 0161 274 0600 or visit contactmcr.com for more info.

Contact Young Actors Company

CONTACT YOUNG ACTORS COMPANY

FREE, ages 15 to 25

Auditions: Mon 17 to Wed 19 Sep & Mon 7 to Wed 9 Jan, 6pm & 7pm, FREE

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 Mon, 8 Oct to 26 Nov, 14 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 Feb) 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 Mon, 7pm to 9pm, FREE, ages 15 to 25 8 Oct to 26 Nov, 14 Jan to 11 Mar (not 4 Feb)

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

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

regular events

8

COMEDYCake Tin Foundation presents

MOTHER’S RUIN Monthly, Fridays, over 18s

21 Sept, 26 Oct, 30 Nov, 8pm, £8/5

8 Feb (Queer Contact), 7:30pm, £12/7

Sparkling new variety with Christopher Green, Eggs Collective, Lipsinkers, Sophie Willan, The Big Bingo Show & more. Hosted by Timberlina.

“unique, unpredictable” HHHH What’s On Stage

mothersruin.co.uk • #mothers_ruin

DANCEContact and DawN’s MinD presents

MIXED MOVEMENT Monthly, evenings, FREE

Thu 18 Oct (Afrovibes), Sat 3 Nov, Sat 1 Dec

Created and hosted by DawN Crandell.

Manchester’s ONLY open stage event for dancers, with spontaneous solos and duets to improvised music. All styles welcome. Sign up and participate or just watch. Book open-stage slots via [email protected]

#mixedmovement

Verbally Challenged

FILMManchester Literature Festival and Contact present

READ IT, WATCH IT, TALK ABOUT IT

Monthly Saturdays, 4pm, FREE, over 13s age restrictions may apply to some films

20 Oct, 10 Nov, 8 Dec, 19 Jan, 9 Feb, 9 Mar

A film and reading group featuring screenings of adaptations of contemporary novels, followed by discussions, with exciting insights from authors, actors and directors.Funding for this project has been provided by the Clore Duffield Foundation through its Clore Poetry and Literature Awards.

manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

#readwatchtalk

RADIO Contact and ALL FM present

NOISE GENERATION Last Tuesday of the month, 3pm, FREE

Get 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

Mother’s Ruin

9

THEATREScriptworks presents

SCRIPTWORKS Weekly, Mondays, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, FREE, Over 18s

24 Sep to 5 Nov (no sessions 8 & 15 Oct)

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: [email protected] scriptworks.net • #scriptworks

VERBALLY CHALLENGED

Quarterly, Wednesdays, 7:30pm, £5

7 Nov

Got something to say? Theatre showcase where we set the brief, you write the plays and it’s down to the audience who wins the cash prize. Email [email protected] if you’d like to get involved.

#verballychallenged

WORD

RAW (RHYTHM & WORDS)

Monthly, Mondays, evening, FREE

15 Oct (Afrovibes, special guest Zena Edwards) 26 Nov, 28 Jan, 25 Feb

An open mic for poets, vocalists, and MCs, RAW also features the Freestyle Pyramid Competition with quirky prizes. Hosted by Martin Visceral (Pen-ultimate) with DJ Jomo. #RAWMCR

RAW (Rhythm & Words)

Mixed Movement Scriptworks


Photos by Joel Chester Fildes (except Mother’s Ruin, Scriptworks)

10

Mon 15 to Sat 20 Oct

THE TOWNSHIP CAFÉ

For one week only, Contact Lounge will be transformed into The Township Café, the beating heart of the Afrovibes festival (see p16-18).

The Café will serve authentic African food and drink, and be a busy hive of activity with post-show talks, impromptu events, and the chance to meet performers.

Eat, drink, hang out, and relax.

afrovibes2012.co.uk • #afrovibesUK

food & drink

CONTACT LOUNGE

Mon to Fri: 11am until late (Food 12pm to 4pm)

Sat: 3pm until 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. Check out our board for daily specials and drink offers.

@Contact_Lounge

#contactlounge

/contactlounge


11

art

From Tue 16 Oct, FREE

BLANK MEDIA COLLECTIVE For six years, Blank Media Collective has championed emerging artists. This Autumn, Blank Media Collective and Contact are entering into an exciting ongoing curatorial partnership. The first exhibition will be a direct response to the key themes of the Afrovibes Festival (p16-18).

blankmediacollective.org @blankmedia • #blankmedia

Mon 4 Feb to Fri 20 Apr, FREE

Rachel Adams and Queer Contact present

THE MODERN LESBIAN A photographic representation of the stories of gay and bisexual women who have helped shape the cultural, commercial and social history of the UK.

themodernlesbian.co.uk @photographer777 • #themodernlesbian

Mon 4 Feb to Fri 20 Apr, FREE

Malc Stone and Queer Contact present

TRANCHESTER Portraits of Manchester’s unconventional club kids featuring Zsa Zsa Noir, Dave Tester, Israel Delgado and more, from Homoelectric photographer Malc Stone.

malcstone.tumblr.com @MalcStonePhoto • #tranchester

Rachel Adams: The Modern Lesbian

Malc Stone: TranchesterBlank Media Collective


12

creative services & space hire

SPACE HIREOur Spaces are 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 290-capacity main theatre to our meeting room for ten people. We also have video conferencing and telepresence facilities allowing you to connect digitally around the world. Talented staff and excellent catering help make these 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 [email protected]

“We absolutely loved spending the day and evening at Contact. The students were made to feel so welcome by all of your staff and the technical and front of house support provided was excellent. Thank you” Salford City College

CREATIVE EXPERTS

Contact’s Creative Experts provide creative business solutions to help you and your organisation work more effectively with young people. Our bespoke packages include creative workshops, motivational speaking and interactive seminars, all designed to suit your goals and needs.

Previous business clients include the BBC, Greater Manchester Police and The British Council. We also work extensively with school and colleges.

To find out more about our consultancy and educational packages, please visit contactmcr.com/services

Alternatively please email [email protected] or call 0161 274 0609.

#creativeexperts

Creative Experts Photo by Joel Chester Fildes

13

septembercontactmcr.com

tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

F E S T I V A L 2 0 1 2

Lost & Found returns for its second year hosting FREE performances by emerging artists in unexpected locations throughout Manchester City Centre…

Get lost in a game of truth or dare; take up wildlife watching from the window of a Metrolink tram; step inside someone else’s living room; get caught up in a bridal party with a difference; and much more…

Keep your eyes peeled: Lost & Found appears when you least expect it.

@lostfoundfest • #lostfoundfest

Lost & Found is supported by Contact, Arts Council England, O2 Think Bigger, Manchester City Council and Metrolink. Lost & Found is a Re:Con legacy project.

LOST & FOUNDWed 26 to Fri 28 Sep, various times/locations, FREE

Rocket and Contact present

Lose yourself. Find art.

Discover Manchester.

Photo by Lani Irving

Previews: Wed 3 to Sat 6 Oct, 7:30pm, £5 Tue 9 to Sat 13 Oct, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 14s.

Post-show chat-back Thu 4 Oct

Contact and Avaes Mohammad present

AN AMERICAN SOLDIER. A BRITISH MUSLIM MUJAHID.

TWO MEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WAR...

Locked in a room together, amidst an assembly of watchers, they’re forced to face

their actions as all that was once black and white turns increasingly grey.

Written by and starring New York-based actor and MC Mtume Gant (HBO’s Oz) and award-winning British

poet, playwright and performer Avaes Mohammad, Fields of Grey is a bold and powerful new play that

combines hard-hitting text with multimedia to create a unique immersive experience.

Developed with the support of Contact Written by Avaes Mohammad and Mtume Gant

Directed by Baba Israel Sound design by Jason Singh

Visual design by AlbinoMosquito

#fieldsofgrey

Tue 9 & Thu 11 Oct, 4pm to 6pm, FREE with a show ticket

WORKSHOP

14

october


Stumble danceCircus presents

B O X O F F R O G S

Sat 6 Oct, 8pm, £8/5. All ages.

BSL interpreted & Audio Described. Plus post-show chat back.

Stumble danceCircus brings an exhilarating blend of colourful performance, showcasing a deluge of circus skills including trick-cycling, hula hoop, rope work and acrobalance, all engulfed in a reservoir of film and driven by evocative live music.

This performance will be BSL interpreted and Audio Description is also available. If you would like to experience a Touch Tour prior to the performance please indicate by calling our Box Office on 0161 274 0600.

“Fantastic and scarily accurate.” Bipolar UK

stumbledancecircus.com @stumbledc • #bofcircus

Box of Frogs has been commissioned by the Unlimited programme, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Box of Frogs is produced by XTRAX and supported by Jacksons Lane.

Wed 10 Oct, 8pm, £10/6. Over 12s.

Manchester Literature Festival and Tilt in association with Contact present

AMIRI BARAKA Supported by Young Identity’s Inna Voice & Sanctum ensembles

Amiri Baraka is a leading figure in the evolution of spoken word, who has influenced politics, artistic practice and cultural change on an international scale. He will be reading from his rich collection of work and talking with Dr Corinne Fowler about his career and influences.

ontilt.org • manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk • @McrLitFest • #McrLitFest.

15


Illustration by Keeler/Tornero

16

october

Tue 16 Oct, 8pm, £10/6. Over 11s. Plus post-show chat back

Sonia Radebe and Qudus Onikeku present

INCEPTION/ MY EXILE IS IN MY HEAD A dance double-bill with a blistering soundtrack — Inception is an intense physical solo examining the female artist’s psyche, while My Exile Is In My Head explores solitude and exile, combining traditional and contemporary dance, Hip Hop, Tai Chi, Capoeira, and acrobatics.

Wed 17 & Thu 18 Oct, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 11s. Post-show chat back (Wed 17)

The Market Theatre Johannesburg in association with Tick Tock Productions present

AND THE GIRLS IN THEIR SUNDAY DRESSES Starring Lesego Motsepe and Hlengiwe Lushaba Directed by Princess Mhlongo

The story of two women who meet during a long wait in a queue to buy cheap rice, exchanging life-stories and heartbreaks, And The Girls… finely balances drama and comedy, with stand-out performances from two of South Africa’s most acclaimed comediennes.

HHHH The Public Reviews

Challenging, stimulating, thought-provoking: a festival of contemporary theatre, dance, spoken word and music from South Africa and beyond.

Experience stunning performances onstage or hang out in the Township Café (see p.10), with African food and drink plus a host of festival fringe events. Afrovibes is more than just a show — it’s an experience!

Mon 15 to Sat 20 Oct, various times/prices

UK Arts International in association with Afrovibes Netherlands presents

F E S T I V A L 2 0 1 2A F R O V I B E S

afrovibes2012.co.uk • @afrovibesUK • #afrovibesUK

And The Girls in Their Sunday Dresses

Inception


Thu 18 Oct, 8pm, £8/5. Over 7s.

THIRST Written and directed by James Ngcobo Choreography by Gregory Maqoma

Drawing on Nguni mythology, Thirst depicts the fortunes and misfortunes of three water carriers from a village that is desperate for water. A stunning production enriched by dance, song, and African storytelling.

Fri 19 Oct, 7:30pm, £8/5 Over 14s. Plus post-show chat back

FreeVoice Productions presents

MOTHER TO MOTHER

Based on the novel written by Sindiwe Magona

Performed by Thembi Mtshali-Jones

Directed by Janice Honeyman

The tale of two mothers bound together by the senseless act of murder in a Cape Town township, Mother to Mother delivers a tour-de-force solo performance from actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones.

The Public ReviewsMy Exile is in my Head

Mother to Mother

Thirst Photo by Ruphin Coudyzer FPPSA

17

october

Mon 15 to Sat 20 Oct, various times, FREE

Contact presents

THE AFROVIBES FRINGE

Workshops, performances, discussions, and more to complement the main Afrovibes events featuring RAW, Mixed Movement, Zena Edwards, and Contact’s festival micro-commissions with an array of local artists.

Check out contactmcr.com/afrovibes for full info.

18

A special one-off performance celebrating Black music & culture as part of Black History Month. Featuring Elizabeth Troy, Kaleidoscope Orchestra & more alongside Sibikwa African Indigenous Orchestra.

Programmed by Manchester’s Bass music collective BPM (Phaze One – Madam X – Darka – T.dot).

Sat 20 Oct, 8pm, £10/6. Over 13s. After-party, 10pm, FREE. Over 18s only after midnight.

Contact and BPM in association with Afrovibes present

THE BLACK SOUND SERIES

Sibikwa African Indigenous Orchestra. Photo by Ruphin Coudyzer FPPSA

Kaleidoscope BPM Elizabeth Troy

Zena Edwards


19

Wed 24 & Thu 25 Oct, 8pm, £10/6. Over 14s. Pre-show performance, 6:30pm (Wed 24) Post-show chat back (Wed 24 & Thu 25) BSL interpretation (Thu 25)

ThickSkin presents

THE STATIC By Davey Anderson. Directed & Choreographed by Neil Bettles.

‘Most people’s thoughts stay inside their head. Not mine. My thoughts travel. My thoughts do things.

Don’t believe me? Just watch.’

Meet Sparky, a bright but volatile 15-year-old boy, who is written off at school as a disruptive influence and a lost cause, but when he falls in love with a strange girl called Siouxsie he discovers a newfound superpower...

Scottish Fringe Theatre Award Winner 2012

“Really, really, amazing.” HHHHH Three Weeks

“Dramatic, dynamic and suspenseful to the last” HHHHH The Public Reviews

Developed in association with The Core at Corby Cube, in partnership with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and with support from National Theatre of Scotland and The Arches. Part of Made in Scotland 2012.

thickskintheatre.co.uk @ThickSkinTwit • #TheStatic

Thu 25 Oct, 2pm to 4pm & 5pm to 7pm Free with a show ticket

PHYSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP

Sat 27 Oct, 8pm, £10/6. Over 14s. Pre-show open cypher from 7pm.Rationale Productions presents

IN MY SHOES In a desperate bid to overcome their problems, five very different people attend an extreme ‘Hip Hop therapy’ session. Expect high energy, lots of laughter, gravity-defying b-boying, slick popping, and a ton of Hip Hop moves that will blow you away!

rationale.org.uk • @RationaleP • #RPInMyShoes

20

Are you truly more than the sum of your parts? Transplanted or otherwise...

Ever felt like a million dollars? Your black market price is $45,000,000. Organ recipients would say more. Does race influence transplant survival? What price is fair?

The Mad Hatter of Medicine tackles this and more. Join us on a heart-warming journey through transplant medicine, guided by your very own doctor.

Part of Manchester Science Festival 2012.

Wed 31 Oct to Fri 2 Nov, 7:30pm. £5. Over 15s. Post-show chat back on Thu 1 Nov

W H A T A M I WO RT H ?

WRITTEN BY AND STARRING DR. TUHEEN HUDA DIRECTED BY MONTSERRAT GILI

Wed 31 Oct & Thu 1 Nov, 7pm, £10 (food not included). Over 14s.

Yellow Earth Theatre presents

D I M S U M N I G H T S Treat yourself to some tasty new theatre…

Fresh bite-sized pieces of theatre from talented British East Asian writers served up at Gordon Ramsay’s Best Local Chinese Restaurant in the UK, Sweet Mandarin, Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Supported by Arts Council England.

yellowearth.org • @yellowearthUK • #dimsumnights

Contact and Manchester Science Festival present

manchestersciencefestival.com • whatamiworth.org.uk • @whatworth • #whatworth

october / novemberPhoto by Roshana Rubin-Mayhew

21

Sat 3 Nov, 6:30pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

Léonie Higgins presents

I MAY NOT BE WHERE I INTENDED TO GONew work-in-progress exploring identity, uncertainty, the false gods of X Factor and ambition, and what happens when you accidentally audition for a girl band.

“extremely talented singer and storyteller” EdFringe Reviews

leoniekate.com • @leoniekate • #imaynotbewhere

Supported by Contact. A Flying Solo legacy project.

Mon 5 to Sat 10 Nov, 7pm, £8/6. All ages.

S H A K E S P E A R E S C H O O L S F E S T I VA LPresented in association with the National Theatre

The largest youth drama festival in the UK returns to Contact, working with local schools to stage four youthful half-hour productions of different Shakespeare plays each night.

“What a fantastic organisation...it was truly inspiring to see local children engaging with Shakespeare and clearly benefiting from the experience” Participant’s parent, 2011

ssf.uk.com • #ssf_2012 • @ssf_2012

Sat 3 Nov, 8pm, £5/3. Over 13s.

Young Identity presents

ONE MIC STAND A boisterous night of word, music and visual art with two open slams — for ages 13-17, and 18+. See contactmcr.com for how to apply.

youngidentity.org • @YoungIDmcr • #onemicstand


Photo byJoel Chester Fildes

22

november

THE COMING STORM

Wed 14 to Fri 16 Nov, 8pm, £12/7. Over 16s. Post-show chat back on Thu 15.

International innovators Forced Entertainment tangle and cross-cut multiple stories to make a comical, contradictory and poignant performance.

From love and death to sex and laundry, from shipwrecks to falling snow, personal anecdotes rub shoulders with imaginary movies, and half-remembered novels bump into distorted fairy tales. Six performers create, collaborate, ambush and disrupt this epic saga that is resolutely too big for the stage.

Under the artistic direction of Tim Etchells, The Coming Storm is Forced Entertainment at its best – trademark black humour, a collage of arresting images and an anarchic performance style.

forcedentertainment.com @ForcedEnts • #thecomingstorm

The Coming Storm is co-produced by PACT Zollverein, Essen; Festival Avignon; Theaterhaus Gessneralle, Zurich; Tanzquartier, Vienna; Les Spectacles Vivants - Centre Pompidou, Paris; Festival d’Automne à Paris; LIFT, London; Battersea Arts Centre, London; Sheffield City Council.

Forced Entertainment is regularly funded by Arts Council England.

F O R C E D E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Photo by Hugo Glendinning

“A powerful and important piece of theatre” HHHH What’s On Stage

“I could watch these performers for hours” The Guardian

23


After wowing Manchester audiences as part of Eat Your Heart Out and Mother’s Ruin, drag fabulist Dickie Beau returns to shape-shift through a soundscape of lost souls, in this solo theatrical trip to an underworld of icons in exile.

An adventure in found sound, Blackouts brings to life extraordinary audio artifacts to tell the story of the dark sides of stars — including Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe — estranged not only from society, but also from themselves....

dickiebeau.com • @dickiebeau • #DBBlackouts

Thu 15 to Sat 17 Nov, 7:30pm, £10/6.

Over 14s. Post-show chat back on Fri 16

T I M W H I T E H E A D P R E S E N T S

D I C K I E B E A UB L A C K O U T STWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS

Photo by Darrell Berry

“Touching, bizarre and visually gorgeous… a thing unlike any other… it is the drag show at the end of the world” Time Out

“Sublime, funny, moving, tragic and darkly poignant.” Attitude

Image by Joao Braz

Fri 23 Nov, 1pm to 4pm, FREE with a show ticket

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE A POLITICAL PIECE? WORKSHOP Led by DawN Crandell

24

X E N O P H O B A D E L I C A

Preview: Thu 22 Nov, 7:30pm, £5 Fri 23 & Sat 24 Nov, 7:30pm, £8/5 Over 14s. Post-show chat back on Thu 22

Not Black enough, Queer enough, sweet enough, sexy enough... all mixed up?

What happens when you find hypocrisy in the heart of your community?

DawN Crandell mixes poetry, movement, storytelling, burlesque, audience participation and a life-long love of Prince, to sculpt a show that’s tons of fun…examining where you are, and where you ought to be…

A Queer Contact Commission.

@DawnsMind • #xenophobadelica

Contact and DawN’s MinD presents

Written by and starring DawN Crandell. Developed with the support of Bryony Kimmings. Directed by Rachel Brogan

Photo by Joel Chester Fildes, treatment by Alexander 6.

Fri 23 Nov, 9:30pm, £5. Over 12s.

Contact, CultureHub and Global Bass/Sur Soul present

AV MEDITATIONS MEETS GLOBAL BASS/SUR SOUL Cutting edge transnational sounds as musicians and visual artists jam across continents live from Manchester and New York.

november

“Great charisma, impeccable comic timing & a tangible vulnerability” What’s On Stage

“Chaotic and hilarious” The Public Reviews

25

Illustration by James Allen

Thu 29 Nov, 8pm, £10/6. All ages. Plus post-show chat back

BAC Take Out presents

THE

PAPER CINEMA’S ODYSSEY

Sat 1 Dec, 3pm, FREE. Over 14s.

LARKIN’ ABOUT AT CONTACT Reinventing Manchester’s playtime, Larkin’ About invite you to join in their games. Come and play!

larkin-about.co.uk • @larkinmcr • #larkinmcr

Raging storms and supernatural forces prevail over one man’s almighty quest to get home. Immerse yourself in a journey through the high seas, soak up the adventure and encounter danger and exhilaration.

Fresh from Latitude, Homer’s cornerstone of literature is vividly told with beautiful illustration and masterful puppetry. Cinematic projection and cunning tricks transform a suitcase full of cut-out paper puppets into an array of living characters and striking landscapes. A silent film is created before your eyes, set to a captivating live score from exceptional musicians.

“An epic, imaginative voyage” HHHH Time Out

“A wild journey into live animation” The Guardian

A Paper Cinema and BAC co-production.

Co-Commissioned by Parabola Arts Centre.

thepapercinema.com @thepapercinema • #theodyssey


Sat 1 Dec, 7pm, FREE. All ages.

Contact and the Royal Shakespeare Company present

RSC OPEN STAGES: COLLABORATIVE PROJECT Following the success of the RSC Open Stages Shakespeare Festival in May, the next part of the project will see a new company formed, with amateur performers selected to work alongside Eggs Collective to devise a fresh and exciting Shakespearean influenced work-in-progress.

Who will be chosen? Find out at contactmcr.com/rscopenstages

rsc.org.uk • eggscollective.com • @TheRSC • @EggsCollective • #RSCopenstages

26

december

Sat 1 Dec, 8pm, FREE. Over 12s.

Contact and The Space present

COUNTRYBOY’S STRUGGLE: ONLINE Written by and starring Maxwell Golden. Directed by Baba Israel and Richard Ramchurn

A chance to see Contact and AlbinoMosquito’s amazing animated adaptation of CountryBoy’s Struggle on the big screen for the first time.

Originally developed in episode form for The Space - Arts Council England and the BBC’s digital platform.

thespace.org • maxwellgolden.com • @CBScontactmcr • #countryboysstruggle

Fri 7 Dec, 2:30pm & 7:30pm, £5. Over 14s.

Contact Playback & Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust present

NHS YOUNG FATHERS PROJECT Written by Martin Stannage and Tony Sheppard

Two new short plays exploring themes surrounding young fathers and the issues they face in society today, developed from workshops led by Contact Playback. Be part of the audience and share your story.

‘great improvisors, adept at physical comedy and quick thinking’ HHHH The Public Reviews (about Contact Playback)

The Public Reviews (on Contact Playback)

december / januarycontactmcr.com

tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

27

R U N AWAY SHADOWS

Thu 13 to Sat 15 Dec, 7:30pm, £10/6. Over 14s. Post-show chat back on Thu 13 BSL interpretation (Fri 14)

D I R E C T E D B Y N I C K C L A R K E

Contact Young Actors Company and Fink On Theatre present

A hard-hitting, touching and magical tale set against the backdrop of Manchester’s young homeless community…

It is three days until Christmas and the coldest time of the year. Jack Frost is at the top of his game, making toes tingle and causing finger-nipping mischief. When he’s discovered and confronted, he goes one step further, freezing shadows, and separating them from their owners…

It’s difficult enough to hold on to your identity when you have no home, no family or friends, but when you find you have no shadow isn’t it time to stand up and take action? This year, maybe, just maybe, Christmas could be something worth celebrating after all...

finkon.co.uk • @finkontheatre • #runawayshadows • #CYAC

Fri 25 Jan, times tbc, FREE

OPEN CONTACT We throw our doors wide open to local schools and community groups from across Greater Manchester for a day of free workshops, performances, and building tours. If you would like to book in your school or group please contact Abbie Willcox at [email protected]

#opencontact

Image by Jason Crouch

Mon 4 Feb, 7:30pm, £8/5. Over 16s.

COMEDY PLAYGROUND Jonathan Mayor hosts a special edition of Contact’s infamous comedy lab with Paul Sinha, Debra-Jane Appleby, Tom Allen, and Heena Patel.

#comedyplayground

Tue 5 Feb, 7:30pm, £5/3. Over 14s.

Contact & Apples and Snakes present

OUTSPOKEN Dominic Berry hosts our alternative slam event, with special guests Dean Atta, Anna Freeman, Keith Jarrett and Jasmine Cooray.

Poets! Email [email protected] for a slam slot & the chance to win £50.

#outspokenMCR

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

OUTSPOKEN WORKSHOP Led by Dean Atta and Dominic Berry

Wed 6 Feb, 8pm, £8/5. Over 12s.

Contact, CultureHub and DawN’s MinD present

THE HOUSE OF CONTACT Curated by DawN Crandell

Improvised solos and duets, alongside new danceworks from North West talent. PLUS a very special Vogue exhibition battle between Darren Suarez in Manchester and Javier Ninja in New York.

@culturehubnyc • #houseofcontact

Bourgeois & Maurice28

february

Mon 4 to Sat 9 Feb, various times/prices

Q U E E R C O N T A C T 2 0 1 3


Contact celebrates LGBT History Month 2013 with the best in theatre, variety, art, music, dance, and spoken word. #queercontact • lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

The Secret Diaries of a Teenage Queer

Darren Suarez

Heena Patel Dean AttaTimberlina

Javier Ninja Debra-Jane Appleby Paul Sinha Jasmine Cooray29


Thu 7 Feb, 7pm, £5. Over 12s.

Art with Heart and Lesbian & Gay Youth North West present

THE SECRET DIARIES OF A TEENAGE QUEER Work-in-progress coming out story. Laugh, love and relive your youth with this beautiful and heart-breaking look at life through teenage eyes.

@artwith_heart • #secretdiaries

Thu 7 Feb, 9pm. £5. Over 14s.

SHORTCUTS Work-in-progress double-bill from Debs Gatenby & Cheryl Martin — mothers & daughters, coming out in your 40s, and the menopause...

#shortcutsMCR

Fri 8 Feb, 7:30pm, £12/7. Over 18s.

Cake Tin Foundation and CultureHub present

MOTHER’S RUIN THEATRICAL SPECTACULAR

Mother pulls out all the stops with new variety from the UK and USA. Hosted by Timberlina.

“Fun night out” The Public Reviews

mothersruin.co.uk @mothers_ruin • #mothers_ruin

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

Jez Dolan and Joseph Richardson present

THE POLARI MISSION

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.

Sat 9 Feb, 8pm, £12/7. Over 14s.

Tim Whitehead presents

BOURGEOIS & MAURICE: WE STARTED A BANDTwisting modern life into some of the catchiest, most peculiar pop songs you’ll hear, Bourgeois & Maurice bring the house down with their 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

30

february

Wed 13 to Fri 15 Feb, 8pm. £12/7. Over 15s. Post-show chat back on Thu 14

Volcano Theatre presents

A CLOCKWORK ORANGEB Y A N T H O N Y B U RG E SS

Five horrorshow actors tackle Burgess’s inventive, disturbing little masterpiece with choreographic skill and linguistic exuberance.

Beautifully designed, with extraordinary performances, Volcano’s production stays true to the original both in its cut-throat inventiveness and in its insistence on the question of whether it is better to be forced to be good or to be free to do evil.

What’s it going to be then, eh?

volcanotheatre.co.uk @Volcano229 • #clockworkorange

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

PHYSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP

“Viciously sharp. Bleak yet funny, horrific and uncomfortably attractive.” HHHH The Guardian

GETTING HERE

Check out the map 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.

Cars: 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

ACCESS

This guide 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.

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

contactmcr.com tickets & info: 0161 274 0600visit

31

RNCM

MANCHESTERMUSEUM

M15 6JA

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITYSTUDENTS UNION

UNIVERSITY OFMANCHESTER

BOOTH ST WEST

MANCHESTERACADEMY

DEVAS ST

DOVER ST

PORTSMOUTH ST

BLYTON ST

BRISBANE ST

SPA ST

DILWORTH ST

GRAFTON ST

DILWORTH ST

CECIL ST

OXFORD ROAD STATION /CITY CENTRE OXFORD RD

RUSHOLME/FALLOWFIELD

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

THANK YOU

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

WHERE WE’RE AT

Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA

WE ARE OPEN

Mon to Fri 10am to 11pm Sat 3pm to late

24 HOUR ONLINE 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)

Documents

Contact Autumn 2012 & Spring 2013 Brochure