
Word of Warning...
Still beavering away on Hazard(Sat 21 July), yesterday was 'tell the powers-that-be-day', always amusing when you try to explain why someone's building a full size lego post box or turning themselves into a beach... Things are definitely slowing down and heading into festivals mode for Summer - so, until we start bombarding you with Hazard information, I might go a bit quiet - so I thought it worth a quick re-cap and a glance ahead. In Manchester, there's still time to catch Ben Mellor's Everything We Need at the Royal Exchange Studio (Thurs 28-Sat 30 June); a pre-Edinburgh showing of Gag Queens at the Black Lion tonight Fri 29 June or Verve 2012 at the Lowry.Word of Warning...
Parts Mancunian in the week ahead see the AND Preview Event at Cornerhouse on Fri 22 and Sat 23 June; Ben Mellor's Everything We Need at the Royal Exchange Studio (Thurs 28-Sat 30 June); a pre-Edinburgh showing of Gag Queens at the Black Lion on Fri 29 June, and also on Fri 29th, for the dance inclined: Verve 2012 at the Lowry. Looking a little further ahead and sensing that the season's slowing down and Word of Warning might become a bit more sporadic, a quick mention for two events at Z-arts by WoW friends and associates: Pigeon Theatre, who have a book launch on Tues 3 July for The Rehearsal, their trilogy of performance works, at Z-arts; and Ellie Harrison and Roshana Rubin-Mayhew's What is left - Grief Series Pt 3 on Tues 10 July. Also, on Sundays 1 + 8 July, at 3-Minute Theatre, Fighting Fit Productions' launch June Bride, a gay wedding cabaret. Back to the coming week and Leeds continues its festival spree, with Daniel Bye's Six O'clock News at Carriageworks on Sat 23 as part of the Emerge 2012 festival; followed straight on by the Ludus Festival(25 June-1 July). Thurs 28, Fri 29 or Sat 30 look like really good days to visit with a range of installations and interactions, and shows like Bobby Baker's Mad Gyms and Kitchens, Ontroerend Goed's Audience, Balbir Singh's Synchronised and for families, Unlimited Theatre's The Giant and the Bear. Also in Leeds, InXclusion are active with Achtung You Wayward Skies We meanwhile are in full HAZARD planning mode ahead of Sat 21 July - so look out for programme announcements at hazardmcr.org! Thanks for the Edinburgh suggestions - please do keep them coming here! Best TamsinWord of Warning...
Having said I wouldn't send a WoW this week... a bit of digging around has uncovered that Leeds seems to be turning into festival city - just not shouting loudly about it this side of the border!! But first, closer to home, a quick reminder that today, Fri 15 is Greg McLaren's Doris Day Can F__K Off is at the Lowry Studio and Mother's Ruin is at Contact that same evening... it's probably just possible to squeeze the both in as long as you plan on making a suitably dramatic entrance into Mother's Ruin!Just wondering if anyone had any tips or thoughts - or even blatant plugs - for the forthcoming Edinburgh jamboree... if so, and they'd like to share them, please comment below.
Word of Warning...
Back at Z-arts now and writing as the Flare Weekender (tonight Fri 8 and tomorrow Sat 9 June) gathers pace all around me. Tonight sees Katheringa Radeva and Sleepwalk Collective amongst others, tomorrow includes Club Reckless, Jodean Sumner and many more plus workshops, cabaret and a party. Also on Saturday at the Bluecoat, Liverpool is Mary Pearson's Failure. Next week anyone fancying a trip to Yorkshire can catch Dark Horse's Harvest on Weds 13 and Thurs 14 at The LBT, Huddersfield and Oui Performance's Action Art now featuring Alastair MacLennan at York St John's University on Sat 15. Closer to home, Greg McLaren's Doris Day Can F__K Off is at the Lowry Studio on Fri 15 and Mother's Ruin is at Contact that same evening... The following week is looking a little on the quiet side, so, unless I come across something more to talk about in the interim, I might give WoW a break - so a little note that anyone fancying excercising their laughter muscles can do so at artist Robin Graham's UK National Laughter Championships (17-24 June)Just to let you know that this info filtered into my conscious just too late for the last mailer - Francesca Millican-Slater's Me, Myself and Miss Gibbs at the Lowry Studio tonight Thurs 7 June.
And, of course, not to forget that the Flare Weekender kicks off tomorrow Fri 8 and continues Sat 9 June at Z-Arts - with ten pieces including Sleepwalk Collective, A Smith, Katherina Radeva and lots more plus cabaret, live music and a party.
Word of Warning - still working ahead... This week's mail comes to you from the depths of Contact as we gear up for the second day of Works Ahead. It was great to see so many here for last night's shows - please join us again from 4pm today, Fri 1 June for a backstage exploration, with four installations and interactions by: Julieann O'Malley, Angel Club (north), Small Acts and Fallen Wall Arts - more info here. A very rushed mailer - as we're in full production mode, so please forgive omissions and erros.- but a reminder of the Trace Theatre and the University of Salford doublebill including Nicki Hobday Conquers Space at the Lowry Studio tonight and The Allery ~ A Large Scale ~ Pop-Up Gallery from Fri 1- Tues 5 June. Following immediately on (and we mean immediately) from Works Ahead is Re: Con's 24 Arty People - taking over the whole of Contact for 24 hours - culminating in performances on Sat 2 June. Next week brings the final SEVEN SITES project from 6-9 June - this time share a meal with Quarantine..! And, at Contact, Belarus Free Theatre - Minsk 2011 on Weds 6 and Thurs 7 June And of course next weekend sees the full-on onslaught of the Flare Weekender Fri 8 and Sat 9 June at Z-Arts - with ten pieces including Sleepwalk Collective, A Smith, Katherina Radeva and lots more plus cabaret, live music and a party. Produce in conjunction with our humble selves - we hope to see you back at Z-Arts for the final indoor blow-out of the season!
Best Tamsin Standing reminders:Word of Warning - works ahead... I think I was tempting fate calling a project Works Ahead... the work level is pretty intense: we've been stuck in a darkened room while everyone else is enjoying the sunshine..! Nevertheless next Thurs 31 May and Fri 1 June see the climax of the project at Contact. On Thursday, three performances in development by Lowri Evans, Gareth Cutter and Krissi Musiol and, on Friday, explore backstage at Contact with four installations and interactions by: Julieann O'Malley, Angel Club (north), Small Acts and Fallen Wall Arts. Book here: Works Ahead or, follow these links for more info about Thursday and Friday's programmes. At the risk of decimating our own audience - Friday 1 June also sees a collaboration between Trace Theatre and the University of Salford in a doublebill including Nicki Hobday Conquers Space at the Lowry Studio. Given that Works Ahead: interactions run from 4pm and the Lowry shows run from 7.30pm YOU CAN DO BOTH! Made in Art, Michael Mayhew's space, also sees The Allery ~ A Large Scale ~ Pop-Up Gallery
from Fri 1st - Tues 5 June. And finally... gear yourselves up as the following week is a busy one - particularly as the Flare Weekender takes place here at Z-arts...