Contact has announced its autumn season of shows with a thrilling programme of home-grown and international shows. Running from September to December the season includes theatre, dance, comedy, spoken word and spectacle.

 

Spymonkey perform The Complete Deaths, a riotous romp through the 75 onstage deaths in the works of Shakespeare; Belarus Free Theatre combine forces with Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina for Burning Doors, as part of Journeys Festival International; Peaches Christ and Ru Paul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon star in the UK premiere of  Return to Grey Gardens, a theatrical comedy spoof paying homage to the acclaimed documentary film of 1975; and the award winning Open Clasp Theatre Company bring their acclaimed prison drama Key Change, created in collaboration with female prisoners.

 

In December, Contact and Slung Low present The Siege of Christmas. Devised and performed by Contact Young Company and directed by Slung Low’s Alan Lane, this festive treat will be an interactive theatrical adventure for ages five plus, as they try to save the Spirit of Christmas trapped inside the Contact castle.

 

Other highlights for families include Fun Palaces, a free activity-packed open day, and Bedtime Stories, from circus theatre pioneers Upswing, which will dazzle young audiences with circus, theatre, dance and projections, all while being cosy under the covers of a bedroom installation.

 

This season sees the return of Black Gold Arts Festival, a celebration of northern black performance aiming to change the face of theatre, with a programme of events taking place at Contact and the STUN studio at Z Arts. In the same week, long-time friend of Contact and current Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Lemn Sissay performs as part of The 8th Black and Asian Writers Conference.

 

Later in the season, Contact presents two dance shows, with the cutting edge company of disabled and non-disabled dancers Candoco presenting a double bill in November and the Gary Clarke Companybringing the acclaimed COAL in December, a powerful and emotional dance theatre show created to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the 1984/5 British miners’ strike.

 

The autumn season is now on sale with tickets available via contactmcr.com or by calling 0161 274 0600.

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