warnmcr: festival fatigue...


As the festival frenzy threatens to fizzle in Mancunia, the hibernian horror is about to heat up!

In these parts you can still catch Claire Cunningham's Thank You Very Much at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Cheetham Hill (til Sat 20 Jul) and Animals of Manchester at the Whitworth/Whitworth Park on Sat 20 + Sun 21 Jul.

Refract Festival is in full swing at Waterside Arts, Sale (til Sat 27 Jul) including Kapow's Adrifton Sat 20 Jul; Claire Gaydon's See-Through in double bill with Ransack Theatre's Catching Comets on Sun 21 Jul and next week (w/c 22 Jul) Catching Comets with Beach Body Ready on Mon 22 Jul; Meraki Collective on Wed 24 Jul; Nathaniel Hall (with Fulfilment) on Thu 25 Jul and Motionhouse on Sat 27 Jul.

As promised, looking north and ahead, here are my ramblings on Edinburgh Fringe (2-26 Aug) - so if you've no plans in that direction, you can skip to the end! 

2019 is a British Council Showcase year - which is a good place to start - though much of it may have already been to parts Mancunian (in which case I'm not highlighting it here). While most things on my radar are, as ever, at Summerhall, there's more than a smattering at Zoo Southside + Pleasance, plus a lot of interesting-looking dance at DanceBase, which is where I'd be heading if I had more time.

For my own whistlestop daytrip purposes, on the shortlist is: Cade + McAskillEmma FranklandOntroerend GoedScottee + FriendsCatherine Hoffman, Lucy McCormick, Seke Chimutengwende + Alexandrina HemsleyLouise OrwinHarry Clayton-WrightDaniel Hellman, Javaad AlipoorDressedBryony KimmingsMr + Mrs ClarkRidiculusmusConcha Vidal.

If you want to dig a bit deeper, once again I've uploaded WoW's long list below (as both pdf and Excel, sorted by artist name). As ever, it's just my pick for my own purposes, largely from paper, and I don't really focus on internationals as they're beyond our programming paygrade. For a tipster more reliable and with broader tastes, you can now find Lyn Gardner's picks via Stagedoor. Usual tips - check dates carefully as you don't want to fall prey to random days off - and my main tip is to log-in to EdFringe, and use the favourites facility (you can then export them as a spreadsheet and sort it as you please - it's what keeps me sane!)

Unless something major crops up, this Weekly Warning is going to go on break now until late August, when I'll be back with what's coming up in the Autumn. 

On a final sad note, we were truly shocked to hear of the death of Dave Murray (QuietmanDave). His was one of the very few strong supportive critical voices out there - as well as just being a lovely man - he'll be very much missed.

Best
 
Tamsin

Ps. the call for artists is still open for Emergency (21 Sep). Deadline 9 Aug.


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warnmcr: festival fandango...


The steps of this festival dance get ever more intricate as, with a dance-card full of MIF, Refract Festival is hovering ready to step onto the floor...

This weekend is when the MIF programme really reaches crescendo - including Rimini Protokoll's Utopolis Manchester (til 13 Jul) in the City Centre; Philip Glass + Phelim McDermott's The Tao of Glass (til 20 Jul) and the Laurie Anderson's To The Moon (12-20 Jul) both at the Royal Exchange Theatre; plus Trajal Harrell's Maggie The Cat at Dancehouse (11-14 Jul); and Studio Créole at Academy 1 (12-14 Jul).

Liz Richardson's Swim continues at HOME til Sat 13 Jul; while Yara Boustany's Double Bill is at The Lowry on Sat 13 Jul; and Europia Art Collective's kukuryku is at a secret location on Sun 14 Jul. In Liverpool, Dana Dajani's Heroine With A Thousand Dresses is at the Bluecoat also Sat 13 Jul.

Next week (w/c 15 Jul) in MIFworld look out for Claire Cunningham's Thank You Very Much at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Cheetham Hill (17-20 Jul) and Animals of Manchester at the Whitworth/Whitworth Park on Sat 20 + Sun 21 Jul.

Just as MIF is starting to wind down, Refract Festival sparks up at Waterside Arts, Sale (18-27 Jul) including Kapow's Adrift on Sat 20 Jul; while Claire Gaydon's See-Through forms a double bill with Ransack Theatre's Catching Comets on Sun 21 Jul.

The following week (w/c 22 Jul) Refract has the aforementioned Catching Comets in a double bill with Beach Body Ready on Mon 22 Jul; Meraki Collective on Wed 24 Jul; Nathaniel Hall on Thu 25 Jul (double billed with Fulfilment) and Motionhouse on Sat 27 Jul.

Of course it doesn't all stop there - as next-up is Edinburgh, so next week (just in case you haven't had enough) I'll attempt a few Fringe pointers - along with my 'long list'!

Best
 
Tamsin

Ps. the call for artists is open for Emergency (21 Sep).


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warnmcr: festival fever...


So Yoko Ono has officially rung in the start of MIF (til 21 Jul) but there are still other things in the air: 

This weekend Lowri Evans, Renato Bolelli Rebouças & Rodolfo Amorim's Precarious Carnaval takes place along The Bridgewater Canal (5-7 Jul) and Gesturing Refugees is at the Bluecoat on Sat 6 Jul (part of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival).

Next week (w/c 8 Jul) MIF includes Rimini Protokoll's Utopolis Manchester (10-13 Jul) in the City Centre; Philip Glass + Phelim McDermott's The Tao of Glass (11-20 Jul) and the Laurie Anderson's To The Moon (12-20 Jul) both at the Royal Exchange Theatre; plus Trajal Harrell'sMaggie The Cat at Dancehouse (11-14 Jul); and Studio Créole at Academy 1 (12-14 Jul).

Beyond MIF, in Mancunia, Liz Richardson's Swim is at (HOME 9-13 Jul); while Yara Boustany's Double Bill is at The Lowry on Sat 13 Jul; and Europia Art Collective's kukuryku is at a secret location on Sun 14 Jul.
Elsewhere, Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival sees Yara Boustany at the Unity Theatre on Thu 11 Jul and Dana Dajani's Heroine With A Thousand Dresses at the Bluecoat on Sat 13 Jul. Over in Leeds, Live Art Bistro's Newk returns on Wed 17 Jul.

The following week (w/c 15 Jul) MIF has Claire Cunningham's Thank You Very Much at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Cheetham Hill (17-20 Jul) while Animals of Manchester is at the Whitworth/Whitworth Park on Sat 20 + Sun 21 Jul.

Refract Festival is also at Waterside Arts, Sale (18-27 Jul) including Kapow's Adrift on Sat 20 Jul; and Claire Gaydon's See-Through forms a double bill with Ransack Theatre's Catching Cometson Sun 21 Jul.

As a side note, if you've got an idea bubbling for a piece of live art/contemporary performance the call for artists is now open for our twentieth(!) Emergency, which takes place on 21 Sep.

Best
 
Tamsin


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warnmcr: festival frenzy...


So, on the brink of July, with an actual fleeting facsimile of summer, we have moved from festival flurry to full-on frenzy!

This weekend Incoming Festival continues at HOME (until Sun 30 Jun) - with The Pappy Show's Girls catching my eye, tonight Fri 28 Jun; while also tonight, at The Lowry, Mohamed Toukabri's The Upside Down Man also merits investigation.

Next week (w/c 1 Jul) Before the MIF monster becomes all-consuming, spare a thought for Lowri Evans, Renato Bolelli Rebouças & Rodolfo Amorim's Precarious Carnaval along The Bridgewater Canal (5-7 Jul) and Gesturing Refugees at the Bluecoat on Sat 6 Jul (part of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival).

MIF (4-21 Jul) officially kicks off with Yoko Ono Bells for Peace in Cathedral Gardens on Thu 4 Jul; plus Invisible Cities at Mayfield (2-14 Jul); and CYC & Chim Pom A Drunk Pandemic (5-21 Jul).

The following week (w/c 8 Jul) sees Rimini Protokoll's Utopolis Manchester (10-13 Jul); Philip Glass + Phelim McDermott's The Tao of Glass (11-20 Jul) and the Laurie Anderson's To The Moon (12-20 Jul) both at the Royal Exchange Theatre; plus Trajal Harrell's Maggie The Catat Dancehouse (11-14 Jul).

Paddling against the tide of MIF, Liz Richardson's Swim is at HOME 9-13 Jul; while elsewhere, Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival sees Yara Boustany's ēvolvō + One Day and One Night Beirut at the Unity Theatre on Thu 11 Jul and Dana Dajani's Heroine With A Thousand Dresses at the Bluecoat on Sat 13 Jul. 

Pace yourselves well, as after that you've still got a week of MIF to go (with, notably Claire Cunningham + Animals of Manchester) plus Refract Festival at Waterside Arts also entering the festival fray...

Best
 
Tamsin


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warnmcr: the longest day...


On this changeable solstice morning floating in a soggy swamp of June, the mancunian festival vibe trucks on: 

This weekend Co:LAB Festival is at the Royal Exchange Theatre, 21-23 Jun, including Ali Wilson with Amy Lawrence tonight, Fri 21 Jun; and String Lines + YESYESNONO tomorrow, Sat 22 Jun. Meanwhile, Powder Keg's This Is Where It Happened is at Didsbury Arts Festival on Sat 22+ Sun 23 Jun;

Next week (w/c 24 Jun) brings Incoming Festival to HOME (24-30 Jun) - MALAPROP Theatreand The Pappy Show caught my attention. Elsewhere, at The Lowry, Mohamed Toukabri's The Upside Down Man  on Fri 28 Jun looks intriguing.

The following week (w/c 1 Jul) The Bridgewater Canal is the site for Lowri Evans, Renato Bolelli Rebouças & Rodolfo Amorim's Precarious Carnaval (5-7 Jul) while, beyond parts Mancunian, look out for Gesturing Refugees at the Bluecoat on Sat 6 Jul (part of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival).

Manchester sees the start of MIF (4-21 Jul) - actually kicking off on Tue 2 Jul with Invisible Cities at Mayfield (2-14 Jul); followed by the Yoko Ono Bells for Peace official opening in Cathedral Gardens on Thu 4 Jul. CYC & Chim Pom are also in the bowels of the city for the largely sold-out A Drunk Pandemic (5-21 Jul).
The pace of MIF picks up for the second weekend (12-14 Jul).  This is probably when they'll be expecting a travelling audience - so you might want to look ahead and book for anything that takes your fancy. Things that piqued my interest were Rimini ProtokollThe Tao of GlassTrajal Harrell (plus the Laurie Anderson VR project, which keeps running til 22 Jul).

Enjoy the longest day of the year - the miserable cynic in me says it's all downhill from here!

Best
 
Tamsin


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warnmcr: festival flurry...



So I'm back, a bit sooner than intended as I've just spotted a couple of festivals that have snuck in... in fact over the next couple of weeks small festivals abound!

This weekend Contact Young Company + Young Identity's New Masters#New Futures is at Manchester Art Gallery (until Sun 16 Jun); the mysterious HorsLits happens in Levenshulme tonight Fri 14 Jun; and Ockham's Razor's This Time is at The Lowry (until Sat 15 Jun). Horizons Festival is at HOME: and Welcome to the UK on Sat 15; and Cohere on Sun 16 look intriguing.
In Liverpool Physical Fest 2019 has Rowena Gander's Ten Inch Heels tonight Fri 14 Jun and Gandini Juggling Project's Smashed on Sat 15 Jun, both at the Unity Theatre.

Next week (w/c 17 Jun) Horizons continues with Sir Pe Talwa on Mon 17 and Declaration on Tue 17,  then there's Nassim Soleimanpou's Nassim (18-20 Jun), all at HOME. Hannah Buckley + Crystal Zillwood's double bill is at The Lowry on Wed 19 Jun); Fracture Patterns at NIAMOS looks interesting on Thu 20 Jun; and Powder Keg's This Is Where It Happened is at Didsbury Arts Festival on Sat 22+ Sun 23 Jun. Further afield, First Person is at the Arts Centre at Edgehill University (20+21 Jun).
Co:LAB Festival is at the Royal Exchange Theatre 21-23 Jun. 3 days of emerging work, including Ali Wilson with Amy Lawrence on Fri 21 Jun + YESYESNONO on Sat 22 Jun. NB to see the full programme listings open the Event Information tab on their Festival page.

The following week (w/c 24 Jun) sees Incoming Festival at HOME (24-30 Jun). I know nothing beyond the copy, from which I'm kind of surmising that it's largely in territory more theatrical but with 14 shows over 7 nights, there's plenty to pick from. MALAPROP Theatre and The Pappy Show piqued my interest.
Elsewhere, at The Lowry, Mohamed Toukabri's The Upside Down Man looks intriguing.

That festival flurry is just warm-up for the big ones to come as the following week sees the start of MIF (4-21 Jul) - which in turn is training for the usual Caledonian behemoth thereafter! 

Best
 
Tamsin


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warnmcr: final gasp of May...


On this last day of May, this week I can't pretend to be an actual News service - no resignations unfolding before my eyes - nor have I come across an awful lot of performance news to break, so I'll keep it brief...

This weekend Hush Hushis at The Lowry tonight, Fri 31 May and/or you can do a workshop with Igor + Moreno inside the Arboria Luminarium on Salford Quays. 
Next week (w/c  3 Jun) HOME has This Egg's Dressed(4-8 Jun) and the LBT, Huddersfield has Paul O'Donnell's We've Got Each Other on Fri 7 Jun.
The following week (w/c 10 Jun) broadening the artform outlook a touch sees Contact Young Company + Young Identity at Manchester Art Gallery (12-16 Jun) and Ockham's Razor at The Lowry (13-15 June).
In Liverpool, Physical Fest 2019 (10-15 Jun) gets underway including Rowena GanderIzumi AshizawaMeraki Collective and Gandini Juggling Project.
The week after that (w/c 17 Jun) there's Nassim Soleimanpour at HOME (18-20 Jun), Hannah Buckley + Crystal Zillwood at The Lowry (Wed 19 Jun); First Person at the Arts Centre at Edgehill University (20+21 Jun); and Powder Keg at Didsbury Arts Festival on 22+23 Jun.

Since there does seem to be a bit of a lull, unless something unmissable crops up, I might give your inboxes a rest for a couple of weeks - but will be back later in June with a look at Incoming Festival and MIF.

Best
 
Tamsin

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warnmcr: forecasting mayhem...


As I write, the PM has just resigned and the title of this mail could well be even more prophetic than intended! In matters more intentionally performative, make the most of what's on now, as it looks like we might be heading for a bit of a fallow patch.

This weekend in Manchester you can still catch Hofesh Schechter's Grand Finale (til 25 May) and Brian Lobel's BINGE (til 26 May) both at HOME. 
In Preston Derelict Mayhem is tonight Fri 24 + tomorrow Sat 25 May at the Media Factory (it's showing as sold out but, as it's free, there's potential for no-shows resulting in tickets on the door). 
Tonight, Fri 24 May, also sees Avital Raz's My Jerusalem at Sheffield's Festival of Debate and Proto-type Theater's The Audit at Barnsley Civic; while tomorrow, Sat 25 May, sees Jamal Gerald's Idol at Bradford Theatre in the Mill.  

Next week (w/c 27 May) we seem to be hitting half-term/summer lull so make the most of Word of Warning at The Lowry for Amy Bell's The Forecast on Wed 29 May.  The Lowry also has Paula Varjack's The Cult of K*nzo on Thu 30 May + Hush Hush on Fri 31 May. 

The following week (w/c 3 Jun) initial trawling so far has only turned up Dressed at HOME and Paul O'Donnell in Huddersfield.

Enjoy the last bank holiday for a while and hope to see you at the Lowry for Amy Bell's The Forecast.

Best
 
Tamsin


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Wed 29 May, 8pm. PWYD | The Lowry

THE FORECAST

Amy Bell  


(PWYD indicates you Pay What You Decide.)  


warnmcr: the hot ticket...


The cool that today brings comes as some relief, as STUN Studio was a bit of furnace - both actual but more importantly creative for last night's Works Ahead.  Tonight, Fri 17 May, is your second (and last) chance to see Mark Croasdale + Avital Raz's affecting new works in development.

This weekend on Sun 19 May, Contact presents the Raze Up showcase at Sale Waterside; while further afield, today, Fri 17 May (daytime) is Fabiola Santana's A Home for Grief in Lancaster City Centre; and on Sun 19 May Louise Orwin's Oh Yes Oh No is at the Continental in Preston.

Next week (w/c 20 May) HOME has Hofesh Schechter's Grand Finale (22-25 May) and Brian Lobel's BINGE (24-26 May).
This side of the Pennines Emma Decent's I Don't Know What I'm Supposed To Be Doing is at various libraries around Greater Manchester + Lancashire (20-24 May); while Derelict Mayhemis at the Media Factory, Preston on Fri 24 + Sat 25 May.
Across the Pennines, LBT Huddersfield has a Pairs double bill with Lizzie Klotz + Victoria Firthon Tue 21 May. Proto-type Theater's The Audit is at Sheffield Crucible on Wed 22 May + Barnsley Civic on Fri 24 May, while A Machine They Are Secretly Building is at Harrogate Studio Theatre on Thu 23 May. Avital Raz's My Jerusalem is also part of Sheffield's Festival of Debate on Fri 24 May; and Jamal Gerald's Idol is at Bradford Theatre in the Mill on Sat 25 May.  

The following week (w/c 27 May) is a bit quieter - but sees the final outing of the season for Word of Warning with Amy Bell's The Forecast at The Lowry (also giving home to Paula VarjackHush Hush).

I'm off back to fanning the flames (not!) of Works Ahead - hope to see you there!

Best
 
Tamsin


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WORD OF WARNING


Thu 16 + Fri 17 May, 7.30pm. PWYD | STUN Studio

WORKS AHEAD 2019
Mark Croasdale + Avital Raz (double bill)

 

Wed 29 May, 8pm. PWYD | The Lowry

THE FORECAST

Amy Bell  


(PWYD indicates you Pay What You Decide.)  


warnmcr: from the shadows...


As this damp squib of May trickles by, I'm lifting my head momentarily from the shadows of Works Ahead  pre-production in an attempt to look beyond the end of my own nose...

Less myopically, this weekend at HOME there's Bertrand Lesca + Nasi Voutsas's One (tonight Fri 10 May) and Peaches Christ's Drag Becomes Her (until tomorrow Sat 11 May); while at The Lowry, Rhiannon Faith's Smack That is also tomorrow, Sat 11 May.
Leeds International Festival also continues with The Grief Series' All That Lives, Feasts tonight, Fri 10 May at the Merrion Centre and Tommy Cash + Yves Tumor's JUICEBOX tomorrow, Sat 11 May at Brewery Green at The Tetley.

Next week (w/c 13 May) sees Word of Warning in action again with the aforementioned Works Ahead 2019 in STUN Studio at Z-arts on Thu 16 + Fri 17 May: a risky night out or a good night in, two explorations of inner conflict, outer division, and the politics of oppression from Mark Croasdale + Avital Raz.
On Sun 19 May, Contact presents the Raze Up showcase at Sale Waterside; while further afield, also on Thu 16 + Fri 17 May (daytime) is Fabiola Santana's A Home for Grief in Lancaster City Centre

The following week (w/c 20 May) Hofesh Schechter and Brian Lobel are at HOME; LBT Huddersfield has a Pairs doublebillDerelict Mayhem is in Preston and Jamal Gerald is in Bradford

I'm now diving back into a dark box to figure out a world of light and shadow for Works Ahead!

Best
 
Tamsin


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WORD OF WARNING


Thu 16 + Fri 17 May, 7.30pm. PWYD | STUN Studio

WORKS AHEAD 2019
Mark Croasdale + Avital Raz (double bill)

 

Wed 29 May, 8pm. PWYD | The Lowry

THE FORECAST

Amy Bell  


(PWYD indicates you Pay What You Decide.)