Contact Interactive Autumn 2010

CONTACT

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER

WWW.CONTACT-T H EATRE.ORG 01 61 274 06 00

A WORD FROM

THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BABA SAYS Contact continues to inspire as we welcome artists from South Africa, USA and Europe to experience our building and join Manchester artists in creating amazing work in all of our spaces and beyond.

With returning favourites like Forced Entertainment, and Pen-ultimate; festivals like The Black Sound Series, Afrovibes and Process; plus reinventions of Shakespeare alongside powerful new theatre like Crystal Kisses; this season promises to surprise, move, challenge, and make you dance!

But what happens on our stages is just the beginning...

Our Future Fires lead projects throughout Greater Manchester, and our Creative Consultants help train companies and organisations nationwide. We nurture talent and develop new skills — onstage and off. This season we launch our new Media Lounge and partnership with BBC Connect and Create.

So come on down, have a great time, and remember...every time you buy a ticket for our events, you help to enrich and empower the lives of young people.

Baba Israel Artistic Director/Chief Executive PS Don’t forget to check out my regular video blogs by signing up to our e-list at www.contact-theatre.org and you can follow me on Twitter @BabaIsrael

WE ARE CONTACT We are a unique creative arts space in the heart of a vibrant area of Manchester on Oxford Road.

You’ve probably seen our building before. It’s the one that looks like a castle with turrets, next door to Manchester Academy.

If you’ve always wondered what’s inside, come in and say hello!

You could discover anything from theatre performances, artists at work, exhibitions, music and comedy; to DJs, beat boxing crews, open mic events, and workshops.

We’re also really proud of our café bar — Contact Lounge — which has free WiFi, fabulous food, amazing coffee and space to meet friends and relax.

Buses: run every few minutes from the town centre, train stations and South Manchester (Rusholme direction). They stop just across the road.

Cars: the car park next door 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.

Sometimes we host events outside the building too…in secret spaces, warehouses, hotels, and other venues across Manchester.

ART / EXHIBITION

FREE ACT

OPEN MIC

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DANCE

GET INVOLVED!

PERFORMANCE

EARLY BIRD OFFER

MUSIC

REGULAR EVENT

FILM

NEW WRITING

Did you know our spaces are also available to hire for conferences, parties and meetings?

For more information and prices, contact FergusEvans@contact-theatre.org

WE ARE A CHARITY Our work with young people is at the heart of everything that we do, and is internationally acclaimed. We support and develop young people through creative activity; increasing confidence, growing skills, and changing lives.

SUPPORT US The current arts funding cuts mean we now need your support more than ever. You can help us by donating at justgiving.com/contact-theatre/donate or call our Head of Development on 0161 274 0657 if you would like to know more.

Charity number 501953

WE ARE ONLINE Check out our photos, videos, Audioboos, offers and more at: www.contact-theatre.org Follow us @contactmcr

QR CODES EVENT KEY

SPACE HIRE

The black & white panels that you can see on the cover are QR Codes. If you have an i-Phone or smart phone you can use these to access more info about us online. All you need is the correct software. Go to mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software to find out what the best QR reader is for your phone.

Become a fan at Facebook.com/contactmcr MySpace.com/contactmcr Flickr.com/contactmcr YouTube.com/contactmcr

Check in for special offers at Foursquare.com/venue/201073

SPOKEN WORD

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ART, FOOD & MUSIC

IT’S YOUR TURN

CONTACT LOUNGE Our bar is a special spot for eating, drinking, chatting, creating, meeting and general lounging. We serve up late breakfasts, chilled lunches and evening beats. We’ve got interesting beers, amazing coffee, homemade soup, salads, ciabattas, burgers, curries and pastas. And we reckon our prices are pretty good too.

Our kitchen is open 10am—4pm, Mon—Fri.

ART

ACTIV: BE!AWARE

Our Lounge and foyer spaces have regularly changing exhibitions by homegrown and international artists.

Our ACTIV:POOL artists hit the streets with a series of provocative yet playful interventions. Watch out for viral verbals, renegade street projections and indiscriminate installations outside the building.

Info: activ@contact-theatre.org / 0161 274 0621

Thu 30 September to Fri 21 January 2011

BLACK STYLES UK BY PYMCA An exploration of the immeasurable impact of Black subculture on all aspects of British life from PYMCA (Photographic Youth Music Culture Archive).

Launching as part of The Black Sound Series (see p10). www.pymca.com Fri 3 December to Fri 04 February 2011

FUTURE FIRES: REDISCOVERING THE FACES OF BOLTON A photographic exhibition by Sophie Willan exploring the personal heritage of twenty Boltonians.

Part of Future Fires (see p7).

AIR: CONTACT 2011 Following our pilot Artists In Residency (AIR) programme in 2009 featuring David Hoyle, caro snatch and The Kings Arms Knitting Club, we are excited to invite proposals for 2011. Interested? Make us an offer we can’t refuse via search@contact-theatre.org / 0161 274 0621

MUSIC Our resident DJ Jomo is on the decks every Thursday & Friday. We also host club nights including Community, and **new** this Autumn, Dub N Bass.

Don’t forget to check out our monthly jam session, Improvise.

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

CONTACT YOUNG ACTORS COMPANY (CYAC) CYAC work with renowned directors to produce three amazing shows every year. If you’re 15–25 this is your chance to explore your creativity, push your abilities and be part of one of the country’s leading young actors companies. Auditions are held three times a year. This season’s are: Mon 20, Tue 21 & Thu 23 September, 6pm–9:30pm.

MONDAY DROP Mondays from 11 October to 29 November, 7pm-9pm, FREE Aged 13-19? Want to get on stage but not sure what it’s all about or how to get involved? Then drop in to our regular Monday night sessions and learn from poets, performers, actors and directors.

No experience necessary.

TECHNIQUE Mondays from 1 November to 6 December, 7pm-9pm, FREE Aged 15–25? Want to get under the skin of a performance and find out what happens behind the scenes? Then come along to our regular Monday night sessions led by our team of professional technicians.

SATURDAY DROP Saturdays from 9 October to 20 November, 4pm–8pm, FREE (Performance on 27 November, 7:30pm, FREE) MCs, DJs, rappers, poets and producers — drop in, share your skills, share tracks or showcase material, in person or online. Auditions take place on 29 & 30 September, 6pm–9pm.

Sharpening SAWDS & Contact present

FREESTYLE MONDAYS Every Monday, evening, FREE (Includes RAW performance every fourth Monday) Freestyle Mondays is a free session where MCs, beat boxers, poets, and vocalists jam together.

It’s a night of ciphers, freestyle games, and lyrical dexterity. Come and freshen up your freestyle flow!

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

Call 0161 274 0600 for more info and to book any of the above.

Fri 3 September to Sat 25 September

JAMIE HEWLETT’S UNDER WATER COLOURS Jamie Hewlett’s enchanting Under Water Colours makes its Manchester debut this September.

The artist behind Gorillaz, Tank Girl and Monkey created this tender large scale collection after a trip with Oxfam to Bangladesh. www.oxfam.org.uk Jamie Hewlett’s Under Water Colours

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Background image: PYMCA

Contact Young Actors Company

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REGULAR EVENTS

FUTURE FIRES

SCRIPTWORKS

VERBALLY CHALLENGED

Every Monday, 6pm-8.30pm, FREE 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

1st Wednesday of the month 3 Nov and 1 Dec, 7:30pm, £5 Each month we set a new group of writers a different creative challenge. Who wins? YOU decide.

IMPROVISE 2nd Monday of the month 8 Nov and 13 Dec, evening, FREE A jam night with a difference as singers, musicians, MCs and beat boxers jam with our house band.

Hosted by Jason Singh.

RAW (RHYTHM & WORDS) 4th Monday of the month 27 Sept, 25 Oct, and 22 Nov, evening, FREE Bring your beats, rhythms and words, and rock up for our regular open mic and freestyle pyramid competition.

RAW JAM 3rd Wednesday of the month 15 Sept, 20 Oct, 17 Nov and 15 Dec, 1pm, FREE Grab some lunch, grab a seat and experience the best in new writing, spoken word and music.

MIXED MOVEMENT 1st Saturday of the month 2 Oct, 8pm, £5 (Black Sound Series) 6 Nov, and 4 Dec, evening, FREE Created and hosted by DawN Crandell.

Manchester’s ONLY open stage event for dancers, with solos to improvised music and spontaneous duets. All styles welcome. Book slots via dawndusk@me.com

Our Future Fires programme provides opportunities to young and emerging artists from across Greater Manchester to design, plan and deliver their own community arts projects.

Over the course of a year, the programme provides tailored training, mentoring, support and funding.

Mon 15 November, 7:30pm, FREE

Wed 24 November, 8pm, FREE

FUTURE FIRES FILMWORKS

LES NOCES (THE WEDDING)

A documentary exploring the mixed identities which young Muslims face in the UK today and a short that tackles the subject of suicide amongst young men.

Directed by Billy Sarfraz and Aaron Cunningham.

An exploration of Stravinsky’s ballet-cantata Les Noces (The Wedding) through the eyes of young people from Salford, performed alongside musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. Directed by Katherine Wilde.

Mon 22 November, evening, FREE

RAW: OUTSIDE THE BOX Spoken word performance from a group who have had some RAW experiences. Produced and directed

by Banji Ojo as part of the Outside the Box project.

COMMUNITY 1st Saturday of the month 2 Oct, 10pm–late / 6 Nov, 4 Dec, 11pm–late, £10/7 A monthly New York influenced dance music party combining House Music with Soul, Funk, Jazz, African, Latin, Dub & Electronic. Hosted by DJ Irfan Rainy, featuring guest DJs Phil Asher (Nov) and Sean McCabe (Dec). Over 18s only after midnight.

An evening of theatre, movement, and film featuring: A performance created by, and starring, some of Manchester’s homeless young people. Directed by Quina Chapman, as part of the City Drama Project.

New dance devised by young people from East Manchester, about how the different roles we play in a community can cause conflict and harmony.

Directed by Dee-Anne Donalds.

A documentary raising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases among young people in Greater Manchester, developed as part of the Act Safe project. Directed by Jonathan Sutton.

Wed 1 December, 8pm, FREE

A celebration of this year’s Future Fires projects.

FUTURE FIRES 2011

*New* 4th Saturday of the month 23 Oct and 27 Nov, 11pm–late, £8/6 Dub n Bass is a reggae and dub night hosted by the Dub Smugglers, with special guests. Over 18s only.

Supported by Improvise

FUTURE FIRES TRIPLE BILL

FUTURE FIRES SHOWCASE

DUB N BASS

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Tue 30 November, 7:30pm, FREE

We are looking for Future Fires for 2011. If you’re 18-30, have experience of creative projects, are interested in working with a specific community, and feel you are ready to lead a project, this could be your perfect opportunity.

Contact Neil on 0161 274 0651 or email neilalexander@contact-theatre.org for more info.

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

SEPTEMBER

Sonic Maze

Sat 25 September, 3pm and 4pm, FREE Mind the Gap presents

SCHO & GRO OLS UP DISCO S! VER CONTA CT FOR

FREE! Wed 22 September, 9:30am-12pm & 1pm-3:30pm (schools) 6:30pm-8:30pm (community groups) FREE

SONIC MAZE Join us to test out an exciting new gaming concept in this fully accessible interactive experience. Using the latest GPS technology, find your way through a maze of invisible sound walls. Will you be the first to make it out of the Sonic Maze?

Mind the Gap is an award-winning theatre company that makes high quality performance with learning disabled and non-disabled artists. Sonic Maze is a work in progress, experimenting with Pervasive Media to create a unique experience for all the players involved. www.mind-the-gap.org.uk

Contact presents:

O P E N C O N TA C T Contact throws its doors wide open to young people from schools (years 8 & 9) and community groups from across Greater Manchester.

Discover the best of what we can do! Includes workshops, a building tour, a short performance by a Contact company and tasters of our regular events. Info/booking via 0161 274 0625 / KellyMorgan@contact-theatre.org

Sonic Maze is a Theatre Sandbox Commission in partnership with Contact.

Theatre Sandbox is produced by iShed in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic, Soho Theatre, Lyric, Hammersmith, mac, Contact and The Junction. Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Wed 29 September, 8pm, £5

THE SAFIRES: EPIC IN THE ORDINARY LIVE An inspiring musical journey, with the rich vocals of Bex Mather, the atmospheric beats of human beat boxer Jason Singh, guitar melodies by Kirk McElhinney, and solid basslines from Plan B’s co-producer, David McEwan. “...this album www.thesafires.com has the potential to be a huge cross-genre hit” Acoustic Magazine

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Contact Playback

The Safires

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER Ty

Fri 1 October, 10pm, £8/5

DNB VS UKG VS THE FUTURE SOUNDS OF THE UK A soundclash between some of the UKs most influential artists across Drum and Bass, Garage, Dubstep, Funky and Grime. Hosted

by Broke N £nglish, and featuring: Marcus Intalex, DRS, Zed Bias, Fallacy, and the Murkage Cartel.

Thu 30 September to Sat 2 October

Marcus Intalex

Contact and Community present the launch of

THE BLACK SOUND SERIES

A celebration of Black music and culture and its influence on the UK at the opening of Black History Month.

The Afronaught

Spoken Word All-Stars

Lati Saka

Fallacy

DRS

Thu 30 September, 8pm, £8/5

Sat 2 October, 8pm, £5

Sat 2 October, 10pm, £10/7

Poet in the City and Apples & Snakes present:

Contact in association with Culturehub NYC and ADAD present:

Community presents:

SPOKEN WORD ALL-STARS

MIXED MOVEMENT: THE DIGITAL DUETS

DANCE AFRICA & REMEMBA FELA

Dancers from Manchester and New York jam in real-time across digital space to celebrate the diversity of Black dance. Hosted by DawN Crandell in NYC. Featuring dancer/choreographer Lati Saka and Manchester’s own Shock Out. www.culturehub.org

A night dedicated to the legend of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and today’s contemporary Afro-influenced dance music. Featuring: Zepherin Saint (Tribe Records, London), Irfan Rainy (Rainy City Music), and The Afronaught (Bugz in the Attic). Hosted by Ty.

A stellar cast of talent from the UK’s live poetry scene interweave their words with live loops, beats and melodies. Featuring: Kate Tempest, El Crisis, OneNess and Jason Yarde. Plus support from Contact Key Partner Company Young Identity’s Inna Voice Ensemble.

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Murkage Cartel

The Black Sound Series has been produced by Irfan Rainy, Baba Israel and Danny Fahey. Supported by PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Plus… an initiative developed in association with the hub, with funding from by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England and Sound and Music.

Part of the Manchester Weekender.

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

OCTOBER Mon 4 October, 7pm, FREE

Mon 11 to Sat 16 October, 7pm, £8/5

Free For Arts Festival 2010 and Akemi present

Shakespeare Schools Festival in association with the National Theatre & the National Youth Theatre present

LIVE ART A talent showcase featuring performance, comedy, poetry, video, and interactive installations.

Thu 7 & Fri 8 October, 8pm, £10/6 Birmingham Repertory Theatre presents

8SIXTEEN32

8Sixteen32

A breath-taking, tongue-twisting tale of life and lyrics where four MCs clash with their biggest competitor yet. Created by the Decypher Collective (Evoke, Professor D, LCB & RT Kel), with the cream of UK spoken word, poetry and music talent including Polarbear and Charlie Dark. This is pioneering Grime Theatre not to be missed. Directed by Leo Kay. Tour presented in association with the Albany.

THE SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL Celebrating its 10th anniversary as the UK’s largest youth drama festival, The Shakespeare Schools Festival comes to Manchester. Each night will feature local schools staging four half-hour plays.

Featuring new versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and much more. www.ssf.uk.com

The Shakespeare Schools Festival

Tue 12 October, 7:30pm, £5 Preview Wed 13 to Sat 16 October, 7:30pm, £8/5 Plus Wed 13 & Thu 14, 1:30pm BSL interpreted performance Thu 14 Oct, 7:30pm Contact presents

Sat 9 October, 8pm, £12/8

CRYSTAL KISSES

David Hoyle and Club Brenda present

By Avaes Mohammed and Sabrina Mahfouz

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

Toyah — young, vulnerable and in care — protects herself with her spitfire tongue, but her world is rapidly crumbling; Ally is the ‘golden girl’ behind a perfect façade lies a mess of confusion, sex and loss; young runaway Jay, meanwhile, has finally found the care he craves in the arms of a stranger — but what price will he have to pay?

The grand finale to an inventive series of shows from acclaimed avant-garde performer David Hoyle. Join David and his very special guests Bourgeois and Maurice, and Gerry Potter Poet for a surreal & ribald debate examining culture and politics. Over 18s only. www.davidhoyle.info

‘Quite the scariest, funniest, smartest, truest, noblest thing you can see’ The Guardian

Not shying away from the difficult and complex realities surrounding the issue of child sexual exploitation, Crystal Kisses explores the subject with sensitivity, empathy and insight.

Directed by Benji Reid.

Produced by Contact in partnership with PROTECT team, Brook and NHS Fresh.

Funded by Lankelly Chase, Greater Manchester Sexual Health Network, and Awards for All.

Wed 27 to Sat 30 October, 7:30pm, £10/6

The Fragility of X

Coal presents

THE FRAGILITY OF X Bourgeois and Maurice

When a woman and her autistic, teenage son reach breaking point, they set off on an extraordinary journey. A heart-warming and sometimes surreal story directed by John Wright (co-founder of Told By An Idiot). www.coal-theatre.co.uk

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David Hoyle

The Fragility of X was developed and produced in association with The Studio Royal Exchange Theatre.

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

OCTOBER

Mzobane

Welcome to Roksburg

AL FESTIVS! PAS L SEE ALFOR S W SHO 20/15 ONLY £

Tue 19 to Sat 23 October Contact in association with The Albany, The Drum and UK Arts International presents

AFROVIBES FESTIVAL: NO BORDERS After an international summer of football, experience a week-long festival of cutting edge and confronting theatre, dance and visual arts from South Africa.

Tue 19 & Wed 20, Fri 22 & Sat 23 October, 7:30pm, £8/5 Post-show chat back Tue 19 October

NCAMISA! KISS THE WOMEN Emotional and humorous one-woman show dealing with the fallout of being a lesbian in a township.

A world of casual violence and serious relationships, woven together with soccer and song and a soundtrack including Antony and the Johnsons.

Wed 20 to Fri 22 October, 8pm, £10/6 Plus Thu 21 October, 2pm Post-show chat back Wed 20 October Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom presents

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Check out www.contact-theatre.org for full details of the Afrovibes Festival fringe events, including opportunities to meet the artists, workshops, panel discussions and more.

Sat 23 October, 8pm, £10/6

Wed 20 October, 6pm, FREE

Fri 22 October, 5pm, FREE

Via Volcano and Breaking Cycles present

Manchester Literature Festival and Commonword present

Young Identity, Contact, Speakeasy, Manchester Literature Festival, Commonword & Amazing Heights present

MZOBANE

CHUCK PERKINS: Q&A

Via Volcano are dancers from the Kagiso township outside Johannesburg. Together with Manchester Hip Hop icon Benji Reid, they fuse the traditional township dance of Pantsula with breaking, Hip Hop and tap.

A rare opportunity to converse with one of America’s premier spoken word artists, dubbed the Poet Laureate of New Orleans. Part of Manchester Literature Festival.

TOWNSHIP CAFÉ

British Council, in association with Sustained Theatre, Speakeasy and Verse in Dialog present

Meet friends, grab a drink and sample our South African inspired menu, as Contact Lounge is transformed into The Township Café for the duration of the festival.

WELCOME TO ROCKSBURG From the pen of the ‘Township Tarantino’ Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom (Township Stories), a cat and mouse heist story that provides a gritty, unsentimental view of life in the townships today.

AFROVIBES FRINGE

Ncamisa! Kiss the Women

Thu 21 October, 10:30pm, FREE

VERBALIZED A dynamic journey through the streets of Johannesburg, Leeds, London & Capetown.

Ten poets from the UK and South Africa create a unique one-off performance full of rich soul stirring song & explosive lyrical injection.

THE SAUL WILLIAMS EXPERIENCE: Q&A Saul Williams, one of the most outstanding Slam poets of his generation, makes a one-off visit to Manchester. Part of Manchester Literature Festival.

Fri 22 October, 10pm ‘til late, FREE

POST SHOW PARTY WITH DJ LEVI LIVE South African DJ Levi Live (Community) spinning Kwaito and African Roots Music.

Over 18s only after midnight.

Verbalized

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

NOVEMBER

Tue 2 November, 8pm, £5 Preview Wed 3 to Sat 6 & Tue 9 to Sat 13 November, 8pm, £10/6 Plus Thu 4 & Thu 11, 2pm

WELCOME TO A SEEDY SPOKEN-WORD UNDERWORLD WHERE GANGSTERS, HIGH-ROLLERS AND CON-MEN COMPETE IN A HIGH STAKES SCRABBLE GAME TO END THEM ALL.

Contact, Pen-ultimate and The Albany present

A NIGHT ON THE TILES Re-launching bigger and better before a national tour, A Night on the Tiles mixes tightly woven wordplay with send ups of heist, caper and kung fu movies. An epic tale of revenge and Devonshire cream teas presented by homegrown company Pen-ultimate, prepare for a thrilling combination of black comedy, physical theatre and digital animation. www.pen-ultimate.net “Packed with wordy wit…laced with sharp physical comedy” METRO **** Four Stars

Fuel and Soho Theatre present

Fri 12 & Sat 13 November, 7:30pm, £8/5 BSL interpreted performance Sat 13, 7:30pm

INUA ELLAMS’ UNTITLED A magical realist story spanning Nigeria and England.

Untitled is the tale of identical twin boys separated at the moment of their naming ceremony. After his mother is forced to flee with his brother, the nameless son is left to lead a chaotic existence, until the spirits of the land make their stand. www.phaze05.com ‘Ellams’ poetry is smooth enough to melt in the ear, yet packed full of snap, crackle and pop.’

Mon 8 November, 7pm-9pm, FREE with show ticket

WORKSHOP: WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE Catch up with the cast and explore how to create entertaining characters using poetic writing techniques and physical exercises.

Time Out on The 14th Tale

Sat 13 November, 3pm–5pm, FREE with show ticket

WORKSHOP: FLYING SOLO Discover how to craft your own life experience through poetry and storytelling to create your own solo show.

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A Night On The Tiles

Untitled

Co-commissioned by Soho Theatre, Fuel and Contact. Developed as part of Fuel at the Roundhouse and at Cove Park. Funded by Arts Council England.

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

NOVEMBER The Thrill Of It All

Remember Me

Tue 16 to Sat 20 November, 8pm, £12/8 Post-show chat back Thu 18 & Fri 19.

FORCED ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS THE THRILL OF IT ALL

It’s bright under the lights, and hot, and frightening.

Nine performers in grubby tuxedos and tarnished sequins play out a comical and disconcerting vaudeville to the strains of Japanese lounge music.

After the minimalism of Spectacular, internationally renowned innovators Forced Entertainment return with a large cast of deranged dancing girls and derelict comedians. Dances turn into fights and jokes end in confusion as the show itself starts to unravel… www.forcedentertainment.com

‘Shockingly brilliant’ The Guardian

Tue 23 to Fri 26 November, 7:30pm, £8/5 Hooligans present

REMEMBER ME Remember Me flashes back to heady days of the Hacienda, thrills, pills and ciggie breaks.

A time when responsibilities were shunned, and nothing mattered ‘til the morning came.

Fast forward to now, Jessica is piecing together her parents’ past, and finds a tale of love, loss, and music. www.heaven.co.uk Post-show party on Fri 26 with special guest mystery Manchester DJs. Check out www.contact-theatre.org for more news.

Fri 19 & Sat 20 November, 7:30pm, £8/5

Fri 26 November, 7pm, £5

Manchester Amnesty International presents A Northern International Theatre production

Community Arts Northwest presents

THE BURMA PLAY A story told with flair, biting humour, virtuoso performances and original live music, The Burma Play sprints through the long history of the 20th century to bring the nightmare of Burma bang up to date. www.theburmaplay.com Supported by The co-operative.

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Co-producers Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Hebbel am Ufer (Berlin), PACT Zollverein (Essen), Theatre Garonne (Toulouse) Les Spectacles vivants — Centre Pompidou in collaboration with Festival d’Automne (Paris).

Forced Entertainment is regularly funded by Arts Council England. This production is supported by Sheffield City Council.

EXODUS ONSTAGE: NU BRITANIA Exodus Onstage is a theatre season running across Greater Manchester throughout November, exploring narratives of refuge, war, diaspora and cultural identity.

Nu Britannia is a provocative and playful series of new mixed-media performances created by diverse young people from Manchester, Rochdale and Wigan. www.can.uk.com

Exodus Onstage Remember Me

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www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

DECEMBER

Benji Reid

Thu 2 December, 8pm, £5

YOUNG IDENTITY SHOWCASE An evening of original and quirky spoken word and poetry from our Key Partner Company of local young artists. www.youngidentity.org Young Identity

Sat 4 December, All Day, FREE

Play Space

Contact presents

PLAY SPACE A space for digital innovation in the arts - come along and play, share, create and learn.

A mix of performance, workshops, and installations including MadLab, Comixed meets Contact Playback, BBC Connect and Create and more.

Stay tuned for more info from #playspace on Twitter.

Breaking Cycles and Contact present

PROCESS 2010

Mon 6 to Sat 11 December, All Day. Course Fee: £100 full / £50 concessions

A week of intensive master classes and workshops for DJs, MCs, actors, writers, dancers and designers led by Hip Hop theatre pioneer Benji Reid, award-winning director Toby Wilsher and movement specialist Rennie Harris. Register your interest at: process@breakingcycles.co.uk Maxwell Golden

Mon 6 to Wed 8 December, 7:30pm, £5

TASTER WORKSHOPS Just starting out? If you’re a new artist or just curious Process’s evening workshops sample a few of the skills from Process 2010. Led by Benji Reid (6 Dec), Toby Wilsher (7 Dec) and Rennie Harris (8 Dec).

Thu 9 & Fri 10 December, 7:30pm, FREE

AN AUDIENCE WITH… Come and hear the Process tutors discuss and debate about their work and inspirations. Guests: Benji Reid (9 Dec) and Rennie Harris (10 Dec).

Frisko Dan

Sat 11 December, 7:30pm, £8/5

FINALE Produced in collaboration with Re:Con Contact’s Young Programming Team.

Supported by

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Process 2010 culminates in a double-bill of extracts from shows by former participants Maxwell Golden (Countryboy’s Struggle, directed by Baba Israel) and Frisko Dan (Contradictions). www.breakingcycles.co.uk 21

DECEMBER

Do We Ever See Grace?

People In Glass Cases Shouldn’t Throw Stones

ACCESS & OFFERS

www.contact-theatre.org tickets & info: 0161 274 0600

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.

Thu 16 to Sat 18 December, 8pm, £10/6

Contact Young Actors Company presents

A CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL

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

Contact Young Actors Company parades the stage with a Christmas masquerade.

Chase the Manchester winter blues away with a Soul Calypso Christmas Carol.

Directed by Marvin George & Camille Quamina, Arts-in-Action, Trinidad.

SAVE YOUR CASH We are committed to keeping our ticket prices as low as possible. Most shows cost less than a visit to the cinema and we don’t charge any booking fees!

Some shows have an Early Bird ticket offer….book your ticket one calendar month before the event and get it HALF PRICE. Check out individual event details to see if they are part of the deal.

We also offer group discounts (book ten tickets and get one of them free), concessions (for anyone: under 18, with a disability, unemployed, full-time students or pensioners) AND if you’re under 26 and registered to FREEACT, you’re eligible for free tickets for many shows.

If you’ve not registered already, get on it…email us at info@contact-theatre.org or pop in and pick up a form.

www.freeact.co.uk

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Memoria Da Chuva

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WHERE WE’RE AT Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA

TICKETS

WE ARE OPEN Mon–Fri 10am–11pm Sat 3pm–late

In person: Our box office is open Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, 3pm-6pm (Closes 7:30pm or 8pm on show nights)

24hr booking: www.contact-theatre.org On the phone: 0161 274 0600

WE ARE SUPPORTED BY

Registered Charity Number: 501953 All info correct at time of going to print. Check contact-theatre.org for up-to-date info.

Design: www.markbrownstudio.co.uk