Now fully refurbished and fully functioning for everything from theatre performances and weddings to office hire, conferences and admin services, the enterprising and always-surprising Contact Theatre in Manchester offers an autumn season unlike any other.
Combining with Black Gold Arts Festival, a series of live and on-line events from October 19 includes discussions, movement classes, podcasts and theatre shows.
A highlight is the live premiere of As British as a Watermelon – four nights of performances (Oct 23, 25-27) from mandla rae (sic), the queer Zimbabwean writer, performer and curator who typically “explores an intersectional existence enforced on the artist’s body as a result of the world we live in”.
Ergon Theatre’s The Wicked Problem (November 3-6), looks forward to 2061, when the world as we know it has changed and audiences are part of the first-ever trial to decide the fate of an individual who has broken climate law. Bringing together art and science, the project explores themes of climate change and sustainability and offers audiences an interactive experience in an investigation of the future of Greater Manchester.
Mika Onyx Johnson’s 2019 Edinburgh Fringe hit The Queer House: Pink Lemonade (November 23-24) offers original beats in collision with with poetry and movement in an autobiographical piece of storytelling.
Dibby Theatre's First Time (November 30-December 4) is conceived, written and performed by theatre-maker and HIV-activist Nathaniel Hall. It's a critically-acclaimed autobiographical show about growing up positive in a negative world.
And Eight-Freestyle's Dick Whittington and his Amazing Cat (December 11, 12, 21-24, 27-31, Jan 2-3) is an upbeat modern production of the classic rags-to-riches story.
And unlike much of the rest of the season, the age guidance on this one is from two upwards!
More information and tickets here