Contact joins United We Stream effort

Tony Walsh, courtesy of Contact Theatre

Manchester’s nightlife came to an end when performance venues closed down along with theatres, cinemas and other institutions two months ago.

But the party has continued online via United We Stream – a nightly free streaming of live bands, DJs, singers and performers, live every day from 7pm (donations accepted).

The shows are streamed from a specially-created studio on the stage of The Met, Bury.

Manchester’s Contact theatre joins the mix on May 31 with a night of the city’s best poets and spoken-word artists, hosted by Reece Williams and headlined by Keisha Thompson, with an appearance by Tony “Longfella” Walsh, whose emotional reading of his poem This is the Place – a tribute to the Manchester Arena victims – added extra heart to a special vigil in their honour three years ago this month. The trio will be joined by at least 10 other city-based poets.

The performances can be found from United We Stream’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Donation contributions provide aid for the city’s entertainment venues, bars and restaurants and artists during the COVID-19 pandemic.