Theatre through the eyes of a Manc
Since 1973, 165 people have been released from death row, with evidence of their innocence. The Exonerated tells the true stories of six of these people, wrongfully sentenced for up to 22 years on death row. The play is written by Jessica Blank and Eric Jensen, and is meticulously researched. Constructed from case files, interviews,... Continue Reading →
There is a revolution happening in Manchester's theatres. Young creatives are producing extraordinary work that is political, provocative, and hugely inspirational. Contact Theatre have been a main contributor to this exciting surge in youth theatre, with their drive towards providing opportunities for emerging young artists. Their recent collaboration with Brazilian activists, ColetivA ocupação, proved that... Continue Reading →
A year ago, I would never have considered going to watch an opera. I had many ingrained preconceptions about it. Being a working-class Mancunian, having grown up on a council estate, I saw opera as something that only wealthy people could enjoy. I thought I would hate the experience of going to see one. Being... Continue Reading →
On 14th February 1895, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest opened to triumphant success at St James' Theatre in London. Within 100 days, Wilde found himself bankrupted, disgraced and sentenced to two years imprisonment for "committing acts of gross indecency with a male". He suffered a tragic fall from being a successful playwright to... Continue Reading →
It's June! Summer has officially arrived, although somebody should tell that to the British weather! Festival season has kicked off, with Glastonbury, Download, and the Isle of Wight Festival all happening within the coming weeks. If camping in a muddy field isn't your idea of fun, you can always visit the theatre instead. At least... Continue Reading →
The world was outraged when Brunei announced that it would make homosexuality punishable by stoning to death. LGBTQ+ activists protested, pleading with leading global businesses to boycott dealings with Brunei companies. Thankfully, this led to the country deciding to reverse their decision. The headlines exposed the shocking number of countries where homosexuality is still criminalised,... Continue Reading →
Moira Buffini's political satire, Handbagged, invents what happened during the infamous meetings between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher, during her term as Prime Minister from 1979 - 1990. We still feel the ramifications of Thatcher's hugely divisive policies today. The closure of coal mines and the introduction of poll tax devastated working-class families. With strikes... Continue Reading →
Over four centuries, Shakespeare's Hamlet has been performed on stage countless times. It is rare to find a production that defies tradition; one that feels different to the plethora of other Hamlets out there. Girl Gang Manchester and Unseemly Women collaborate together to bring an all-female version of Shakespeare's iconic play to Manchester's Hope Mill... Continue Reading →
The inaugural Pride in Trafford festival kicks off this week, offering a host of events at Sale Waterside Arts. The event will celebrate and explore LGBTQ+ life in Trafford. There is a scratch night on Thursday 16th May. Trans Creative: Breaking Ground encourages transgender artists to break ground by providing them a platform to perform... Continue Reading →
