Between Haphazard and Ageless, from tot to timeworn, this weekend seems remarkably unconvinced that curiosity comes with age limits…

This weekend, for us it's all about Haphazard at Z-arts on Sat 11 July (1-3pm):
From whispered constellations to dissolving homes, paper wishes to impossible time machines, and holiday camp clowning to becoming a dog – a haphazard exploration of how we move through the world together featuring Claire Leith & Lucy Fegan, Hyde N Seek, In Between Time, Lesya Tyminska, Liv Loupe, Lizzy Margereson, Matt Girling, Miranda Prag, Scrapheap Collective, Shynara Nygmetova & Zixuan Hong.

At Aviva Studios Ai Weiwei's Button Up! continues until 6 Sep. 

In Leeds, on Fri 10 and Sat 11 July, Ageless Festival 2026 has Flexer and Sandiland, Jerôme Bell, TC Howard + Co, Marie-Louise Flexen and Susan Kempster.
July also sees Greater Manchester Fringe 

The remainder of July is very much quieter:
Coming up at HOME is The Road To Edinburgh (22-25 July) and at Sale Waterside there's House of Life on Sat 25 Jul and Refract Festival (21-26 Jul) 
On GM Fringe a few things that caught my eye are The Chubby Northerner, Dylan Ward, Wallflower Theatre Co and Ryan Sinclair. 

Unity, Liverpool has a Scratch Night on Fri 17 Jul;  Bradford Festival is on Sat 18 + Sun 19 Jul. 
Elsewhere at the end of the month, Bryony Kimmings's Bog Witch is at Storyhouse, Chester on Thu 30 Jul. 

Thereafter the behemoth that is Edinburgh hits - UPDATE - having had more of a look, Shedinburgh and particularly the Forest Fringe takeover on 25-26 Aug, is what has jumped out at me, and may just get me up the motorway! Details, plus the Edinburgh producer recommendations below.

This mail is going to take a bit of a break for the summer lull... unless something exciting crops up!

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition.
The call for proposals for Emergency 26 is open - deadline 7 Aug! 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

From Button Up to Haphazard in the space of a week. Manchester rarely does just one mood…

This weekend, Didsbury Arts Festival continues with Ben Hodge's Can I Join You?; and a Contemporary Dance Mixed Bill** both on Sat 4 Jul. **Special offer code: EMERGE5 for £5 ticket. 

Waterside Arts has You Are Witnessing My Villain Era on Fri 3 Jul. 
Ai Weiwei's Button Up! conitnues until 6 Sep at Aviva Studios including the 24 hour Sewing A Button (Fri 3 - Sat 4 Jul ).

July also sees Greater Manchester Fringe including Natalie Patuzzo's Every Single Sound In The World at The Kings Arms on Sat 4 Jul.

Next week (w/c 6 Jul) for us it's all about Haphazard at Z-arts on Sat 11 July. 
From whispered constellations to dissolving homes, paper wishes to impossible time machines, and holiday camp clowning to becoming a dog – a haphazard exploration of how we move through the world together featuring Claire Leith & Lucy Fegan, Hyde N Seek, In Between Time, Lesya Tyminska, Liv Loupe, Lizzy Margereson, Matt Girling, Miranda Prag, Scrapheap Collective, Shynara Nygmetova & Zixuan Hong

There's also a Bunker Talk at the Salutation - with Deborah Pearson on Tue 7 July. 

In Leeds, on Fri 10 and Sat 11 July, Ageless Festival 2026 has Flexer and Sandiland, Jerôme Bell, TC Howard + Co, Marie-Louise Flexen and Susan Kempster.

The remainder of July is very much quieter:
Coming up at HOME is The Road To Edinburgh (22-25 July).
On GM Fringe a few things that caught my eye are The Chubby Northerner, Dylan Ward, Wallflower Theatre Co and Ryan Sinclair. 

Elsewhere at the end of the month, Bryony Kimmings's Bog Witch is at Storyhouse, Chester on Thu 30 Jul. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition. The call for proposals for Emergency 26 is now open! 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

With temperatures and expectations soaring, it's worth remembering he's not the Messiah…

This weekend, on Sat 27 Jun at SeeSaw, Divided Culture Co's 5:100 has Maddie Maycock's TORSO, Bitteroot's The Well and Wisteria Theatre's Small Hours.
Didsbury Arts Festival (27 Jun - 5 Jul) includes Quarantine; Choe Smith; Greta Zapettini on Sat 27 and Ontroerend Goed** on Sun 28 Jun. 
The Surge. An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor continues at Aviva Studios (until 27 Jun). 

Next week (w/c 29 June) Didsbury Arts Festival continues with Less than three collective's Doyo Uwan Tacu Poft Ea? and Andy Smith + Lynsey O'Sullivan's A Citizen's Assembly** both on Tue 30 Jun; Victoria Melody's Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak** on Thu 2 Jul plus Ben Hodge's Can I Join You?; and a Contemporary Dance Mixed Bill** both on Sat 4 Jul.
**Special offer code: EMERGE5 for £5 ticket. 

Waterside Arts has You Are Witnessing My Villain Era also on Thu 2 + Fri 3 Jul. 
The week also sees the opening of Ai Weiwei's Button Up! at Aviva Studios (1 Jul - 6 Sep) including the 24 hour Sewing A Button (Fri 3 - Sat 4 Jul ).

July also sees Greater Manchester Fringe including Natalie Patuzzo's Every Single Sound In The World at The Kings Arms on Sat 4 Jul. 

The following week (w/c 6 July) for us it's all about Haphazard at Z-arts on Sat 11 July.
There's also a Bunker Talk at the Salutation - with Deborah Pearson on Tue 7 July. 

In Leeds, on Fri 10 and Sat 11 July, Ageless Festival 2026 has Flexer and Sandiland, Jerôme Bell, TC Howard + Co, Marie-Louise Flexen and Susan Kempster.

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition. The call for proposals for Emergency 26 is now open! 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Passengers departing Manchester for Westminster are advised to check they have all their ambitions with them. Meanwhile for those of us staying...

This weekend, Emergence 26's Triple Bill is also at New Adelphi on Fri 19 Jun. 

In Leeds, Roadhouse 23 is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 19 Jun and Selene is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 20 Jun. 

Next week (w/c 22 June) gets busy again. There's Wisteria Theatre's Small Hours at SeeSaw on Wed 24 + Sat 27 Jun; The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor at Aviva Studios (25-27 Jun) and Didsbury Arts Festival (27 Jun - 5 Jul) including Quarantine; Choe Smith; Greta Zapettini on Sat 27 and Ontroerend Goed on Sun 28 Jun. 

In Leeds, Sharon Watson + Khadijah Ibrahim's In The Front Room - is at the Riley Theatre and Fireflies at Dawn is at Leeds Playhouse on Wed 24 + Thu 25 Jun. 

The following week (w/c 29 June) Didsbury Arts Festival continues with Less than three collective's Doyo Uwan Tacu Poft Ea? and Andy Smith + Lynsey O'Sullivan's A Citizen's Assembly both on Tue 30 Jun; Victoria Melody's Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak on Thu 2 Jul plus Ben Hodge's Can I Join You?; and a Contemporary Dance Mixed Bill both on Sat 4 Jul.  Waterside Arts has You Are Witnessing My Villain Era also on Thu 2 + Fri 3 Jul. 

This week also sees the opening of Ai Weiwei's Button Up! at Aviva Studios (1 Jul - 6 Sep) including the 24 hour Sewing A Button (Fri 3 - Sat 4 Jul ).

July also sees Greater Manchester Fringe including Natalie Patuzzo's Every Single Sound In The World at The Kings Arms on Sat 4 Jul. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition.  The call for proposals for Emergency 26 is now open!

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As one Census reaches its conclusion and another count looms, attention turns to the arithmetic of consequences, as local numbers acquire national significance…

This weekend, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Wythenshawe Library on Sat 13 Jun. 
In Liverpool Nicola Hardman's Final Curtain Call is at Unity on Sat 13 Jun. 

Next week (w/c 15 June) could be your last chance to catch Malandra Jacks' Census in a homecoming gig at NWTAC in Moston on Thu 18 Jun. Emergence 26's Triple Bill is also at New Adelphi on Thu 18 + Fri 19 Jun. 

In Leeds, Roadhouse 23 is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 19 Jun and Selene is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 20 Jun. 

The following week (w/c 22 June) gets busy again. There's Wisteria Theatre's Small Hours at SeeSaw on Wed 24 + Sat 27 Jun; The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O'Connor at Aviva Studios (25-27 Jun) and Didsbury Arts Festival (27 Jun - 5 Jul) including Quarantine; Choe Smith; Greta Zapettini on Sat 27 and Ontroerend Goed on Sun 28 Jun. 

In Leeds, Sharon Watson + Khadijah Ibrahim's In The Front Room - is at the Riley Theatre and Fireflies at Dawn is at Leeds Playhouse on Wed 24 + Thu 25 Jun. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition; look out for Emergency proposal call coming soon. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As the race to generate content continues, whether we're actually content still hangs in the air…

This weekend, seems very quiet - but you could check out We Invented The Weekend on Sat 6 + Sun 7 June at Lowry; or in Leeds, Pickled Republic at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 6 Jun.

Next week (w/c 8 June) on Thu 11 Jun we are back in action again at Contact with Social Experiment with Ash Cox, Blood Bones Jones + Lauren Temple from 6pm plus, at roughly 8pm, Nathan Birkinshaw's How To Be Content - an exploration of contentment, led by a man brimming with mediocrity.

Since I seem to be attempting to be in two places at once, Malandra Jacks' Census is also back out in Greater Manchester Libraries - Urmston on Thu 11 Jun and Wythenshawe on Sat 13 Jun. 

In Liverpool Nicola Hardman's Final Curtain Call is at Unity on Sat 13 Jun. 

The following week (w/c 15 June) could be your last chance to catch Malandra Jacks' Census in a homecoming gig at NWTAC in Moston on Thu 18 Jun. Emergence 26's Triple Bill is also at New Adelphi on Thu 18 + Fri 19 Jun. 

In Leeds, Roadhouse 23 is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 19 Jun and Selene is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 20 Jun. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition; look out for Emergency proposal call coming soon. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As the global mess sinks deeper into its own oily residue, our week has likewise turned dark and viscous…

This weekend, tonight, Fri 29 May you can still join us for n:u (melissandre varin)'s Evil Eyes at Contact.  For a full evening, you can also team it with SICK!'s screening of Hannah Ballou's (I) Miss America and In Bed With My Brother's Philosophy of the World  (both continuing at Contact until Sat 30 May). 

HOME has Shechter II's In The Brain and YES YES NO NO's Nation; while Lowry has Le Gateau Chocolat's Spirituals  - all until Sat 30 May. 

Beyond Mancunia, Leeds Playhouse has Perfect Show for Rachel (28 May - 6 June). 

Next week (w/c 1 June) things seem pretty quiet but ther's Cie. Modo Grosso's Tout/Rien on Mon 1 + Tue 2 June (use this link and code CIRCUS08 for an £8 ticket); plus We Invented The Weekend on Sat 6 + Sun 7 June - all at Lowry. 

In Lancaster, The Duke's has Blast Fest on Thu 4 Jun; while Pickled Republic is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 6 Jun.

The following week (w/c 8 June) we are back in action again with Social Experiment with special guest Nathan Birkinshaw on Thu 11 Jun at Contact. Malandra Jacks' Census is also back out in Greater Manchester Libraries - Urmston on Thu 11 Jun and Wythenshawe on Sat 13 Jun. 

In Liverpool Nicola Hardman's Final Curtain Call is at Unity on Sat 13 Jun. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - Social Experiment remains open for proposals for the November edition; look out for Emergency proposal call coming soon. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Not the latest internecine staring contest, but an invitation to a contemplative performance ritual. But before that...

This weekend, it's all about Yorkshire: in Leeds, Toussaint to Move's Windows of Displacement is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 22 May and Bobak Champion's I'm Muslamic Don't Panik! is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 23 May. Meanwhile Matthew Hawkins's Ready is at Wainsgate Chapel, Hebden Bridge on Sun 24 May. 

Next week (w/c 24 May) the pace in Mancunia really picks up:
Please do join us for the first of two Works Ahead outings: n:u (melissandre varin)'s Evil Eyes at Contact on Thu 28 + Fri 29 May - a performance-ritual experimenting with ancient cosmologies: Vodún figures of the twins, Celtic folklore, and African knowledge systems.

Meanwhile, Lowry has Double Bill: Voyage & Hakkõ on Tue 26 and Wed 27 May. 
HOME has Shechter II's In The Brain (27 -30 May) and YES YES NO NO's Nation (28-30 May).
SICK! has Krishna Istha + Geetha Shankar's Second Trimester at Lowry Wed 27 + Thu 28 May;  and on Fri 29 + Sat 30 May, a screening of Hannah Ballou's (I) Miss America and In Bed With My Brother's Philosophy of the World at Contact.  Come on Friday and you can catch those AND n:u (melissandre varin)'s Evil Eye all in one go! 
Also on Fri 29 + Sat 30 May Le Gateau Chocolat's Spirituals is at Lowry.

Beyond Mancunia, Leeds Playhouse has Perfect Show for Rachel (28 May - 6 June). 

The following week (w/c 1 June) maybe I'm missing something but all seems a bit quiet - on my radar is just Cie. Modo Grosso's Tout/Rien on Mon 1 + Tue 2 June and We Invented The Weekend on Sat 6 + Sun 7 June - all at Lowry. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the cut-off for the next Social Experiment (11 June) is Mon 25 May.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

... Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me! As Starmerdrama slips from briefing war into leadership contest, “not now, Andy” hasn’t aged well…

This weekend, Aviva Studios has ENO's Angel's Bone until Sat 16 May; and Sale Waterside has Sanjay Lago's Love Me Like a Chai Tea Latte on Fri 15 May; while on Sat 16 May 53Two has Funeral Teeth; and New Adelphi has VERVE.

Next week (w/c 17 May) Contact has Split Ends on Tue 19 and Wed 20 May.

Further afield, Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool has its homecoming gala at Blackpool Grand on Wed 20 May.  In Leeds, Toussaint to Move's Windows of Displacement is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 22 May and Bobak Champion's I'm Muslamic Don't Panik! is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 23 May. 

The following week (w/c 24 May) Pace in Mancunia really picks up!
Our focus is on the first of two Works Ahead outings: n:u (melissandre varin)'s Evil Eye at Contact on Thu 28 + Fri 29 May.
Meanwhile, Lowry has Double Bill: Voyage & Hakkõ on Tue 26 and Wed 27 May. 
HOME has ShechterII's In The Brain (27 -30 May) and YES YES NO NO's Nation (28-30 May).
SICK! has Krishna Istha + Geetha Shankar's Second Trimester at Lowry Wed 27 + Thu 28 May;  and on Fri 29 + Sat 30 May, a screening of Hannah Ballou's (I) Miss America and In Bed With My Brother's Philosophy of the World at Contact.  Come on Friday and you can catch those AND n:u (melissandre varin)'s Evil Eye all in one go! 
Also on Fri 29 + Sat 30 May Le Gateau Chocolat's Spirituals is at Lowry.

Beyond Mancunia, Leeds Playhouse has Perfect Show for Rachel (28 May - 6 June). 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the cut-off for the next Social Experiment (11 June) is Mon 25 May.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As last night's voting picture emerges, the morning round of face-saving begins - could no overall control be both outcome and metaphor?

This weekend, at Lowry is Nine Sixteenths on Fri 8 May (and at Slung Low, Leeds on Sat 9 May) and Period Drama on Sat 9 May. Also on Sat 9 May Manchester Collective x Thick & Tight's Papillons is at RNCM; while Chorlton Arts Festival (9-21 May) kicks off including The Potato War at The Royal Oak. 

Elesewhere it's still all dance with Phoenix Dance's Interplay at Liverpool Playhouse on Fri 8 May; Emergence's Triple Bill at The Dukes, Lancaster on Sat 9 May; LEAP has a Takeover: Scratch at Shakespeare North on Sat 9 May and Hofesh Schechter's In The Brain is at the Riley Theatre, Leeds on Sun 10 May.

Next week (w/c 11 May) focus seems to be on Greater Manchester: Aviva Studios has ENO's Angel's Bone 12-16 May; Oldham Coliseum has P Burton Morgan's Running Commentary at George St Chapel on Wed 13 May; Sale Waterside has Johnny Woo's Suburbia on Thu 14 May and Sanjay Lago's Love Me Like a Chai Tea Latte on Fri 15 May; while 53Two has Funeral Teeth on Sat 16 May

The following week (w/c 17 May) Contact has Split Ends on Tue 19 and Wed 20 May.

Further afield, Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool has its homecoming gala at Blackpool Grand on Wed 20 May.  In Leeds, Toussaint to Move's Windows of Displacement is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 22 May and Bobak Champion's I'm Muslamic Don't Panik! is at Slung Low's Warehouse on Sat 23 May. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open (deadline 5pm today, 8 May) and the rolling call for Social Experiment (next edition 11 June, deadline Mon 25 May) remains open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

With the arrival of Mr Blackpool, you might think conference season has come early, when really it’s just the run-up to the local elections…

This weekend, for us it's all about the extraordinary Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool at Lowry on Sat 2 May - 'cabaret, magic, dance, and drag, this is cultural archaeology and satire at its campiest, presented in lurid technicolor and garish seaside spectacle'.

Further afield, in Liverpool LEAP has Queer Moves on Fri 1 May and Akeim Toussaint Buck's Windows of Displacement on Sat 2 May all at Unity. Also in Liverpool Roy Claire Potter's Comms Fail is at Bluecoat on Sat 2 May.
Much further afield GIFT is in Gateshead 1-3 May. 

Next week (w/c 4 May) SICK! has Dan Dawes's Exxy at Lowry on Wed 6 + Thu 7 May. Also at Lowry is Nine Sixteenths on Fri 8 May (and at Slung Low, Leeds on Sat 9 May) and Period Drama on Sat 9 May. Also on Sat 9 May Manchester Collective x Thick & Tight's Papillons is at RNCM; while Chorlton Arts Festival (9-21 May) kicks off including The Potato War at The Royal Oak. 

Elesewhere it's all dance: Verve's Triple Bill at Leeds Playhouse on Wed 6 May; Phoenix Dance's Interplay at Liverpool Playhouse on Fri 8 May; Emergence's Triple Bill at The Dukes, Lancaster on Sat 9 May; LEAP has a Takeover: Scratch at Shakespeare North on Sat 9 May and Hofesh Schechter's In The Brain is at the Riley Theatre, Leeds on Sun 10 May.

The following week (w/c 11 May) focus seems to be on Greater Manchester: Aviva Studios has ENO's Angel's Bone 12-16 May; Oldham Coliseum has P Burton Morgan's Running Commentary at George St Chapel on Wed 13 May; Sale Waterside has Johnny Woo's Suburbia is at Waterside Arts on Thu 14 May and Sanjay Lago's Love Me Like a Chai Tea Latte on Fri 15 May; while 53Two has Funeral Teeth on Sat 16 May

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open (deadline 8 May) and the rolling call for Social Experiment (next edition 11 June) remains open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Information for artists: habmcr.org
No. 572/ FY 4

With shortages mooted, the powers may be dusting off the old ‘stay at home’ advice. Will the return of the streamed show follow? 

If, however, you’re not a fan of governmental directive, here are your options…

This weekend, Leila Navabi's Relay is at Lowry on Fri 17 Apr; while for younger viewers, Z-arts has Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and the Polar Bear on Sat 18 Apr.

Further afield, on Sat 18 Apr, in the afternoon, Malandra Jacks' Census is at 3B Systems in Nelson; while that evening Burrows & Fargion's The Quiet Dance & The Unison Piece are at Wainsgate Chapel in Hebden Bridge.  

Much further afield, Buzzcut is happening in Glasgow (until 18 Apr).

Next week (w/c 20 Apr) seems pretty quiet in Mancunia - but you might want to check out. Mole Wetherell, Teresa Brayshaw & Hannah Butterfield's Mob at New Adelphi on 23 + 24 Apr. 

Beyond parts Mancunian, on Fri 24 Apr Markéta Stránská and Charlie Morrissey's Scáling is at Wainsgate Chapel; and, with the start of LEAP 26 (24 Apr-26 May) Cathy Waller Company's You and Us is at Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. On Sat 25 Apr, Northern Rascals' Sunny Side is at the Riley Theatre, Leeds. 

The following week (w/c 27 Apr) for us it's all about the extraordinary Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool at Lowry on Sat 2 May. Also at Lowry Circa's Wolf is on Wed 29 + Thu 30 Apr (£15 with promo code CIRCUS15).

Before that, on Tue 28 Apr Building,Tearing Repairing is at SeeSaw; ; The Dreamtime Fellrunner is at The Edge in Chorlton on Thu 30 Apr; and on Fri 1 May Emergence Dance 2026 is at Sale Waterside

Further afield, in Liverpool LEAP has Liverpool Dance Prize on Thu 30 Apr; Queer Moves on Fri 1 May and Akeim Toussaint Buck's Windows of Displacement on Sat 2 May all at Unity. Also in Liverpool Roy Claire Potter's Comms Fail is at Bluecoat on Sat 2 May.
Meanwhile, It's the Economy Stupid is at Barnsley Civic on Thu 30 Apr. 

Much further afield GIFT is in Gateshead 1-3 May. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open (deadline 8 May) and the rolling call for Social Experiment (next edition 11 June) remains open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

After glimpsing the dark side of the Moon, re-entry approaches for Integrity; whether its namesake lands in certain dire Straits hangs in the balance...

This weekend, having joined us at Social Experiment last night, Matt Miller's Fixing comes to Lowry on Fri 10 Apr and to Slung Low's Warehouse in Leeds on Sat 11 Apr. 

Next week (w/c 13 Apr) Leila Navabi's Relay is at Lowry on Fri 17 Apr; while for younger viewers, Z-arts has Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and the Polar Bear on Sat 18 Apr.

Further afield, in Huddersfield, RONiN is at the LBT on Wed 15 Apr. On Sat 18 Apr, in the afternoon, Malandra Jacks' Census is at 3B Systems in Nelson; while that evening Burrows & Fargion's The Quiet Dance & The Unison Piece are at Wainsgate Chapel in Hebden Bridge.  

Much further afield, Buzzcut is happening in Glasgow (15-18 Apr).

The following week (w/c 20 Apr) seems pretty quiet in Mancunia.

Further afield, on Fri 24 Apr Markéta Stránská and Charlie Morrissey's Scáling is at Wainsgate Chapel; and, with the start of LEAP 26 (24 Apr-26 May) Cathy Waller Company's You and Us is at Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. On Sat 25 Apr, Northern Rascals' Sunny Side is at the Riley Theatre, Leeds. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open (deadline 8 May) and the rolling call for Social Experiment (next edition 11 June) remains open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Information for artists: habmcr.org
No. 570/ FY 2

WORD OF WARNING PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME 2026

Sat 2 May, 8pm. £15/£12 | Lowry
MR BLACKPOOL
Harry Clayton-Wright

Thu 11 Jun, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT
A gathering for Live Art and performance.

After a few laps inspecting Earth from above, Integrity has now officially left the planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth we look for Easter eggs and other rarities, perhaps even integrity...

This weekend is predictably quiet but fish in a dress's The City For Incurable Women is at HOME (2-4 Apr).

Next week (w/c 6 Apr) On Thu 9 Apr we're back in action with another Social Experiment at Contact featuring Daniel Nicholas, Gin Niemtus, Kathy Rivett, Lisa Ford, Orla Collier and special guest Natalie Spanner.
Sale Waterside also has the Breaking Ground Scratch on Thu 9 Apr; then Matt Miller's Fixing comes to Lowry on Fri 10 Apr.

Malandra Jacks' Census is at Wortley Hall, nr Sheffield on Tue 7 Apr; Motionhouse's Hidden is at Chester Storyhouse on Thu 9 Apr and Matt Miller's Fixing is at Slung Low's Warehouse in Leeds on Sat 11 Apr. 

The following week (w/c 13 Apr) Leila Navabi's Relay is at Lowry on Fri 17 Apr; while for younger viewers, Z-arts has Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and the Polar Bear on Sat 18 Apr.

Further afield, in Huddersfield, RONiN is at the LBT on Wed 15 Apr, and in Hebden Bridge, Burrows & Fargion's The Quiet Dance & The Unison Piece are at Wainsgate Chapel on Sat 18 Apr.

Much further afield, Buzzcut is happening in Glasgow (15-18 Apr).

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open (deadline 8 May) and the rolling call for Social Experiment (next edition 11 June) remains open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

On this World Theatre Day, certain powers seem to have misinterpreted it as theatre of war.  Meanwhile, as we spring forward:

This weekend, Bryony Kimmings's Bog Witch and Renad's A Grain of Sand are both at HOME (until 28 Mar) and Emergence 26 is at New Adelphi on Fri 27 + Sat 28 Mar. Look out for Get-in! to Eccles which has Lowri Evans's Train Dreaming at Eccles station over the weekend and, in Wigan, Victoria Melody's Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak is at Wigan & Leigh College on Sun 29 Mar. 

Further afield, Lancaster Arts has Annie Hanauer Dances' A Space For All Our Tomorrows on Fri 27 Mar.  Leeds Playhouse has Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds (until 28 Mar) and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care on Fri 27 + Sat 28 Mar; while Yorkshire Dance has Roadhouse 22 on Fri 27 Mar. At the Unity in Liverpool, Up Next Festival runs  until 28 Mar, including Spinster on Fri 27 Mar and Mr Chubba Chubba on Sat 28 Mar.

Next week (w/c 30 Mar) It's all a touch quite but on Tue 31 Mar Joe Kiney Whitmore's The Weight of the Light is at Pier 4 in Wigan; while Payal Ramchandani + Chandenie Gobardhan's Just Enough Madness & Caught In The Net Of Rebirth is at Lowry. fish in a dress's The City For Incurable Women is at HOME (2-4 Apr).

The following week (w/c 6 Apr) On Thu 9 Apr we've got another Social Experiment at Contact; while Sale Waterside has the Breaking Ground Scratch. Matt Miller's Fixing comes to Lowry on Sat 10 Apr.

Malandra Jacks' Census is at Wortley Hall, nr Sheffield on Tue 7 Apr; Motionhouse's Hidden is at Chester Storyhouse on Thu 9 Apr and Matt Miller's Fixing is at Slung Low's Warehouse in Leeds on Sat 11 Apr. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the call for Haphazard - all ages Live Art - is open and we have an online info session for prospective artists on Tue 31 Mar. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Today's equinox marks the Earth’s annual turn towards spring, while the rest of the world continues its own gyrations...

This weekend,  therefore, it's truly all about Turn 2026 tonight, Fri 20 Mar at Contact - 9 pieces of North West dance in 3 spaces across the building, featuring Alice Robinson Moves, Blood Bones Jones,  Clara Selberg, Emmy Jax & Sophia Egan, Hui-Hsin Lu, Joseph Adamson, Joseph Lau & friends, printerror, Sap Dance. Read the programme notes here.

Elsewhere Wigan Arts Festival runs until 31 Mar; and in Leeds, alongside the ongoing Punchdrunk collab (until Sat 21 Mar), Don't Call Me China Doll is at Stage@Leeds on Fri 20 Mar.

Next week (w/c 23 Mar) there's VAMPYR at Gulliver's Lounge on Wed 25 Mar; Bryony Kimmings's Bog Witch and Renad's A Grain of Sand both at HOME (26-28 Mar) and Emergence 26 at New Adelphi on Fri 27 + Sat 28 Mar. 

Get-in! to Eccles has Lowri Evans's Train Dreaming at Eccles station over the next couple of weeks. 

In Leeds, alongside the ongoing Punchdrunk collab (until Sat 21 Mar), Don't Call Me China Doll is at Stage@Leeds on Fri 20 Mar.

Further afield, Lancaster Arts has Verve on Tue 24 Mar and Annie Hanauer Dances' A Space For All Our Tomorrows on Fri 27 Mar and Shakespeare North has a Scratch on Tue 25 Mar.  Leeds Playhouse has Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds (25-28 Mar) and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care on Fri 27 + Sat 28 Mar; while Yorkshire Dance has Roadhouse 22 on Fri 27 Mar. At the Unity in Liverpool, Up Next Festival runs 26-28 Mar, including Spinster on Fri 27 Mar and Mr Chubba Chubba on Sat 28 Mar.

The following week (w/c 30 Mar) sees the Easter slow down, but on Tue 31 Mar Joe Kiney Whitmore's The Weight of the Light is at Pier 4 in Wigan; while Payal Ramchandani + Chandenie Gobardhan's Just Enough Madness & Caught In The Net Of Rebirth is at Lowry. fish in a dress's The City For Incurable Women is at HOME 2-4 Apr

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the rolling call for Social Experiment (April 9 next edition) is open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

While today may be the second unlucky Friday 13th in a row, here's hoping that next Friday brings a better Turn. Before that...

This weekend, Mancunia seems a bit quiet, while elsewhere, in Prescot, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Shakespeare North today Fri 13 Mar (2+6pm).

Leeds is busy with IDP X Punchdrunk's The Ministry (13,14 + 19-21 Mar); and Terrarium at Stage@Leeds on Fri 13 Mar; plus Area Jeune Ballet at the Riley Theatre on Sat 14 Mar.

Next week (w/c 16 Mar) For us, it's all about Turn 2026 on Fri 20 Mar at Contact - 9 pieces of North West dance featuring Alice Robinson Moves, Blood Bones Jones,  Clara Selberg, Emmy Jax & Sophia Egan, Hui-Hsin Lu, Joseph Adamson, Joseph Lau & friends, printerror, Sap Dance.

Elsewhere in Mancunia, RNS Moves with Candoco Dance Co is at RNCM on Tue 17 Mar; The Other Neville is at New Adelphi on Wed 18 + Thu 19 Mar and Wigan Arts Festival kicks off (until 31 Mar). 

In Leeds, alongside the ongoing Punchdrunk collab, Don't Call Me China Doll is at Stage@Leeds on Fri 20 Mar. 

The following week (w/c 23 Mar) there's VAMPYR at Gulliver's Lounge on Wed 25 Mar; Bryony Kimmings's Bog Witch and Renad's A Grain of Sand both at HOME (26-28 Mar) and Emergence 26 at New Adelphi on Fri 27 + Sat 28 Mar. 

Further afield, Lancaster Arts has Verve on Tue 24 Mar and Annie Hanauer Dances' A Space For All Our Tomorrows on Fri 27 Mar and Shakespeare North has a Scratch on Tue 25 Mar.  Leeds Playhouse has Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds (25-28 Mar) and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care on Fri 27 Mar; while Yorkshire Dance has Roadhouse 22 on Fri 27 Mar. At the Unity in Liverpool, Up Next Festival runs 26-28 Mar, including Spinster on Fri 27 Mar and Mr Chubba Chubba on Sat 28 Mar,

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the rolling call for Social Experiment (April 9 next edition) is open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Against a backdrop best left to the headlines, Westminster discovered dance therapy, musicians discovered politics, and artificial intelligence discovered the national grid.

This weekend, beyond Mancunia, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at Liverpool Playhouse (untl 7 Mar); while Verve 26 is as Riley Theatre and Motionhouse's Hidden is at Leeds Playhouse on Fri 6 + Sat 7 Mar.

Next week (w/c 9 Mar) Mancunia seems a bit quiet, though Lowry has Vortex's Humanhood on Tue 10 + Wed 11 Mar.

Elsewhere, Leeds is busy with IDP X Punchdrunk's The Ministry (12-14 + 19-21 Mar); and Terrarium at Stage@Leeds on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Mar; plus Area Jeune Ballet at the Riley Theatre on Sat 14 Mar.

In Prescot, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Shakespeare North on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Mar.

The following week (w/c 16 Mar) For us, it's all about Turn 2026 on Fri 20 Mar at Contact. 
Elsewhere, RNS Moves with Candoco Dance Co is at RNCM on Tue 17 Mar; The Other Neville is at New Adelphi on Wed 18 + Thu 19 Mar, Dry Bits is at Lowry on Fri 20 and Wigan Arts Festival kicks off (until 31 Mar). 

In Leeds, alongside the ongoing Punchdrunk collab, Don't Call Me China Doll is at Stage@Leeds on Fri 20 Mar. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the rolling call for Social Experiment (April 9 next edition) is open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

WORD OF WARNING PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME 2026

Fri 20 Mar, 7pm. PWYD | Contact
TURN 2026
A night of new North West dance.
Thu 9 Apr, 6pm–9pm. FREE | Contact

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT
A gathering for Live Art and performance.

MR BLACKPOOL
Harry Clayton-Wright
Sat 2 May, 8pm. £15/£12 | Lowry

(PWYD are Pay What You Decide events)

As the BRITs March into town, the city breathes a sigh of relief at the first Green shoots of Spring...

This weekend, Lowry has Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds (until Sat 28 Feb) and Lydia de La Murray's Closure? on Fri 27 Feb. HOME has Kate Ireland's Golden Time (until Sat 28 Feb) and Dance With Us is at New Adelphi on Fri 27 Feb

Next week (w/c 2 Mar) Malandra Jacks's Census is at Billingtons, Oldham on Thu 5 Mar and there's a Bunker Talk with Jamal Gerald at The Salutation on Tue 3 Mar.

Beyond Mancunia, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at Liverpool Playhouse (4-7 Mar); Matt Miller's Fixing is at Barnsley Civic on Thu 5 Mar; and at Slung Low in Leeds on Fri 6 + Sat 7 Mar; while Verve 26 is as Riley Theatre and Motionhouse's Hidden is at Leeds Playhouse.

The following week (w/c 9 Mar) Mancunia seems a bit quiet, though Lowry has Vortex's Humanhood on Tue 10 + Wed 11 Mar.

Elsewhere, Leeds is busy with IDP X Punchdrunk's The Ministry (12-14 + 19-21 Mar); and Terrarium at Stage@Leeds on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Mar; plus Area Jeune Ballet at the Riley Theatre on Sat 14 Mar.

In Prescot, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Shakespeare North on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Mar.

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the rolling call for Social Experiment (April 9 next edition) is open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Just when the headlines felt peak-lurid, a royal brush with handcuffs suggests a form of bondage not entirely by choice. Meanwhile, in parts more whoesome...

This weekend, on Sat 21 Feb, Queer Contact has Graham Clayton-Chance's Less Like Ourselves and More Like Each Other (11-1700) plus, in the evening, Hunter King's A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny. 

 In Lancaster, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at the Duke's; while in Sheffield, Perfect Show For Rachel is at Sheffield Theatres (both until Sat 21 Feb).

Next week (w/c 23 Feb) Lowry has Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds (25- 28 Feb) and Lydia de La Murray's Closure? on Fri 27 Feb. HOME has Kate Ireland's Golden Time (26-28 Feb) and Dance With Us is at New Adelphi on Fri 27 Feb

In Chester, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Storyhouse on Mon 23 Feb. 
In Sheffield, Dry Bits is at Sheffield Theatres Tue 24 + Wed 25 Feb; while Stage@Leeds has If Words Had Wings on Wed 25 Feb

The following week (w/c 2 Mar) Malandra Jacks's Census is at Billingtons, Oldham on Thu 5 Mar and there's a Bunker Talk with Jamal Gerald at The Salutation on Tue 3 Mar.

Beyond Mancunia, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at Liverpool Playhouse (4-7 Mar); Matt Miller's Fixing is at Barnsley Civic on Thu 5 Mar; and at Slung Low in Leeds on Fri 6 + Sat 7 Mar; while Verve 26 is as Riley Theatre and Motionhouse's Hidden is at Leeds Playhouse.

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - last call for participants for LADA's DIT (formerly DIY)including Jo Hellier's Birth The Musical, which we are co-hosting with Lowry. Deadline is Mon 23 Feb. 
For those of you fresh from last night's Social Experiment, who might want to get involved, the call for the April 9 edition is open. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

…as queer as a Social Experiment joining the Queer Contact programme, with a bill running from line dancing to Cats. But before that: 

This weekend, Queer Contact has Main Character Energy on Fri 13 Feb and You're Not Getting Any Younger on Sat 14 Feb.

In Leeds, at Riley Theatre, Co-Lab 2026 is on Fri 13 Feb and Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and The Polar Bear is on Sat 14 Feb.  

Next week (w/c 16 Feb) Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition is on Thu 19 Feb featuring Ariel Hebditch, Ben Hodge, Failed Artist Society, lucy, Maddie Maycock, PHOBIA; and guest Graham Clayton-Chance with a preview of his Less Like Ourselves and More Like Each Other - also 11-1700 on Sat 21 Feb.

Further afield, in Lancaster, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at the Duke's (18-21 Feb) and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care is at Lancaster Arts on Thu 19 Feb. In Sheffield, Perfect Show For Rachel is at Sheffield Theatres (18-21 Feb).

The following week (w/c 23 Feb) HOME has Kate Ireland's Golden Time (26-28 Feb) while Lowry has Lydia de La Murray's Closure? on Fri 27 Feb.

In Chester, Malandra Jacks' Census is at Storyhouse on Mon 23 Feb. In Sheffield, Dry Bits is at Sheffield Theatres Tue 24 + Wed 25 Feb

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - The call for participants for LADA's DIT (formerly DIY) workshop programme remains open until 23 Feb, including Jo Hellier's Birth The Musical, which we are co-hosting with Lowry. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

WORD OF WARNING PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME 2026

Thu 19 Feb, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT: QUEER CONTACT EDITION
A gathering for Live Art and performance.

Fri 20 Mar, 7pm. PWYD | Contact
TURN 2026
A night of new North West dance.

Thu 9 Apr, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT
A gathering for Live Art and performance.

Sat 2 May, 8pm. £15/£12 | Lowry
MR BLACKPOOL
Harry Clayton-Wright

(PWYD are Pay What You Decide events)

With any luck, next week may see us move away from global sleaze and skulduggery towards people-powered Digging for land. Trouble and struggle in the best way - though the squealing may inevitably continue...

This weekend, Lowry has Ockham's Razor's Collaborator until 7 Feb; while HOME has Company Chameleon's Obscura on Fri 6 Feb.

In Leeds, Ebnflõh's La Probabilité du Néant is at Riley Theatre on Sun 8 Feb.

Next week (w/c 9 Feb) Dickson Mbi's Tell Us is on Mon 9 + Tue 10 Feb at Lowry; where Word of Warning also returns on Wed 11 Feb with Victoria Melody's Trouble, Struggle, Bubble & Squeak, directed by Mark Thomas (Pay What You Decide).

Queer Contact returns with has Main Character Energy on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Feb and You're Not Getting Any Younger on Sat 14 Feb.

In Leeds, at Riley Theatre, Co-Lab 2026 is on Thu 12 and Fri 13 Feb and Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and The Polar Bear is on Sat 14 Feb.  

The following week (w/c 9 Feb) We're once more in action with Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition on Thu 19 Feb, while, also at Contact, Graham Clayton-Chance's Less Like Ourselves and More Like Each Other runs 11-1700 on Sat 21 Feb.

Further afield, in Lancaster, Imitating the Dog's War of the Worlds is at the Duke's (18-21 Feb) and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care is at Lancaster Arts on Thu 19 Feb.
Perfect Show For Rachel is at Sheffield Theatres (18-21 Feb).

Not content with shows in Mancunia on consecutive weeks, from 23 Feb Word of Warning also has a hand in the tour of Malandra Jacks' Census - coming to Chester, Oldham, Prescot and more very soon. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - The call for participants for LADA's DIT (formerly DIY) workshop programme remains open until 23 Feb, including Jo Hellier's Birth The Musical, which we are co-hosting with Lowry. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As January draws to a close, it’s been a week thick with documentaries, from Take That to Paris, the monarch to Melania, life paused, framed, and narrated. Meanwhile, pressing play on the live world:

This weekend, HOME x Malandra Jacks' The Home We Made runs until Sat 31 Jan. Lowry has Motionhouse's Hidden on Fri 30 Jan; and The Kings Arms has Under The Lamp Post on Sat 31 Jan.

Further afield at Lancaster Arts, Adam York Gregory + Gillian Jane Lees's BALANCE is on Sat 31 Jan (daytime).

Next week (w/c 2 Feb) Lowry has Dance Consortium's MÁM on Tue 3 + Wed 4 Feb and Ockham's Razor's Collaborator 5-7 Feb. HOME has Company Chameleon's Obscura on Fri 6 Feb.

Beyond Mancunia, Matt Miller's Fixing is at Storyhouse, Chester on Wed 4 Feb; while Ebnflõh's La Probabilité du Néant is at Riley Theatre, Leeds on Sun 8 Feb. 

The following week (w/c 9 Feb) Dickson Mbi's Tell Us is on Mon 9 + Tue 10 Feb at Lowry; where Word of Warning also returns on Wed 11 Feb with Victoria Melody's Trouble, Struggle, Bubble & Squeak, directed by Mark Thomas (Pay What You Decide).

Queer Contact returns with has Main Character Energy on Thu 12 + Fri 13 Feb and You're Not Getting Any Younger on Sat 14 Feb.

In Leeds, at Riley Theatre, Co-Lab 2026 is on Thu 12 and Fri 13 Feb and Coalesce Dance Theatre's Mika and The Polar Bear is on Sat 14 Feb.  

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - last call for Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition (19 Feb) call (closes on 2 Feb).
Just launched is the call for participants for LADA's DIT (formerly DIY) workshop programme, including Jo Hellier's Birth The Musical, which we are co-hosting with Lowry. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Information for artists: habmcr.org
No. 560 / FY 31

WORD OF WARNING PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME 2026

Wed 11 Feb, 8pm. PWYD | Lowry

TROUBLE, STRUGGLE, BUBBLE & SQUEAK

Victoria Melody (dir. Mark Thomas)

Thu 19 Feb, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT: QUEER CONTACT EDITION

A gathering for Live Art and performance.

Fri 20 Mar, 7pm. PWYD | Contact

TURN 2026

A night of new North West dance.

Thu 9 Apr, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT

A gathering for Live Art and performance.

(PWYD are Pay What You Decide events)

It’s been a week of ‘family’ fall-outs: the Beckhams playing it out via gossip and pop charts, NATO soothing a toddler tantrum, and a Westminster whisper of the return of a prodigal son...

This weekend, you can catch the final pieces in Future Flares, this afternoon (Fri 23 Jan) with Pinchbeck & Smith and Arts and Humanities students, alumni, Jenny Baines & Brigid McLeer.

Also tonight, Fri 23 Hope Mill Theatre has Marm's Spotlight.

Further afield, in Leeds, the Riley Theatre has PCK Dance's Into The Light on Sat 24 Jan.

Next week (w/c 26 Jan) The End Times is at RNCM on Tue 27 Jan; then HOME x Malandra Jacks' The Home We Made runs 28-31 Jan. Lowry has Motionhouse's Hidden on Fri 30 Jan; and The Kings Arms has Under The Lamp Post on Sat 31 Jan.

Further afield at Lancaster Arts, Adam York Gregory + Gillian Jane Lees's BALANCE is on Sat 31 Jan (daytime).

The following week (w/c 2 Feb) Lowry has Dance Consortium's MÁM on Tue 3 + Wed 4 Feb and Ockham's Razor's Collaborator 5-7 Feb. HOME has Company Chameleon's Obscura on Fri 6 Feb.

Beyond Mancunia, Matt Miller's Fixing is at Storyhouse, Chester on Wed 4 Feb; while Ebnflõh's La Probabilité du Néant is at Riley Theatre, Leeds on Sun 8 Feb. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Notes for Artists - the Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition (19 Feb) call closes on 2 Feb.
Just launched is the call for participants for LADA's DIT (formerly DIY) workshop programme, including Jo Hellier's Birth The Musical, which we are co-hosting with Lowry. 

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As 2026 ‘normality’ struggles to establish itself, ten years after David Bowie’s death The Man Who Fell to Earth reads less like metaphor and more like a CV — an unpredictable billionaire dominating the news cycle with a platform in meltdown, AI embarrassment and a spacecraft forced back to Earth — while elsewhere loyalty collapses into spectacle, Westminster running its own season of The Traitors...

This weekend, for fans of contemporary circus, Sadiq Ali Company's Tell Me is at Lowry tonight Fri 16 and tomorrow Sat 17 Jan. 

Next week (w/c 19 Jan) things pick up in earnest with Future Flares  (21-23 Jan) including Will Dickie, Anemone Valcke & Verona Verbakel, Brigitte Jurack, Peader Kirk, Jérémie Cyr-Cooke, Pinchbeck & Smith and Arts and Humanities students, alumni, Jenny Baines & Brigid McLeer.

Also on Fri 23 Hope Mill Theatre has Marm's Spotlight; and The Kings Arms has Varnish (also on Sat 24 Jan).

Further afield, to the West, Unity has Sober Scribbles: Scratch Night on Wed 21 Jan and The Old Electric, Blackpool also has a Scratch Night on Thu 22 Jan. To the East, in Leeds, the Riley Theatre has PCK Dance's Into The Light.

The following week (w/c 26 Jan) The End Times is at RNCM on Tue 27 Jan; then HOME x Malandra Jacks' The Home We Made runs 28-31 Jan. Lowry has Motionhouse's Hidden on Fri 30 Jan; and The Kings Arms has Under The Lamp Post on Sat 31 Jan.

Further afield at Lancaster Arts, Adam York Gregory + Gillian Jane Lees's BALANCE is on Sat 31 Jan (daytime).

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Artists take note - the Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition call closes on 2 Feb.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

With the cold settling in and another social experiment in dickensian hardship unfolding, there's a faint whiff of seasonal humbug in the air...

This weekend, Malandra Jacks' (award-winning) Census continues tonight, Fri 21 Nov and tomorrow Sat 22 Nov at HOME. 
Elsewhere in Mancunia, Perfect Show for Rachel is at Contact (until Sat 22 Nov); Night People's Bloom After Dark is at Sale Waterside (until Sat 22 Nov); and Uplift is at Company Chameleon tonight, Fri 21 Nov. For something a bit different, in the afternoon of Sat 22 Nov, Graham Clayton-Chance's Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede premieres at Aviva Studios, along with a talk and social country and western dancing. 

In Sheffield, Imogen Reeve & Co's We Are The World is at the Drama Studio on Fri 21 Nov. Also on Fri 21 Nov, in Leeds, there's the No Dress Code Scratch at Yorkshire Dance; while in Lancaster, Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at Lancaster Arts. In St Helens, Ugly Bucket's Good Grief is at Chester Lane Library on Sat 22 Nov. 

Next week (w/c 24 Nov) Things look like they're quietening down for the festive lull, but we're still active for our final burst of the year - this time at Contact on Thu 27 Nov for another Social Experiment.
Elsehwere, trialled at July's Social Experiment, now developed, Rachel Smith's Mother Dark is at 53Two on Wed 26 Nov; or for something more discursive, Roberto Sifuentes of La Pocha Nostra is giving a presentation at MMU, also on Wed 26 Nov (afternoon). 

Further afield, Unity has a Scratch Night on Wed 26 Nov, and Main Character Energy is at Sheffield Theatres on Fri 28 + Sat 29 Nov. 

Thereafter we really do dive towards the December deadzone — and, as the original Scrooge, I’m all for hibernation… If, however, you fancy a twisted take on Dickens, there's Uncurbed Collective's Tiny Tim (formerly Proud & Loud Arts) at Contact on 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13 + 16 Dec; or in Salford, there's Debut Festival at New Adelphi on Tue 9 Dec.

Further afield, on Fri 12 Dec Eggs Collective's Dark Nights is at Bradford's Loading Bay and Eleanor Sikorski + Lewys Holt's Roadhouse #21 is at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds. 

This mail is going to go into seasonal hibernation now until probably mid January - but you might want to put a 'save the date' in your diaries for Future Flares  (21-23 Jan).

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances. 

Artists take note -  the Turn 2026 call is now open (deadline 16 Jan), and the Social Experiment: Queer Contact Edition call closes on 2 Feb.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

As the Traitors reach No10 and selective editing trends, closer to home Census finds quieter change — unspun and human...

This weekend, tonight, Fri 14 Nov Lowry also has Corinne's The Severed Wing; while Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at New Adelphi. On Fri 14 and Sat 15 Nov, Seren Marimba's Letsby Avenue is at NIAMOS. Also on Sat 15 Nov, in Heywood, Rowland Hill's SET YOU FREE: A Eurotrance Deep Listening Event is at St Luke's Church as part of the Xmas Lights Switch on!

To the east, Rhythmosaic Dance Company's Shattered Silence is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 14 Nov and Nyako's Roots of Lives is at Riley Theatre on Sat 15 Nov. In Bradford, Theatre in the Mill has New Work Festival (until 15 Nov). 

To the west, in Liverpool at Homotopia, Unity has Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool's Seaside Spectacular on Fri 14 Nov and An Evening With Dross on Sat 15 Nov.  In Southport, Rowena Gander's Woman | Women is at The Atkinson on Fri 14 Nov; while in Huyton, Ugly Bucket's Good Grief is at Huyton Library on Sat 15 Nov (and Sat 22 Nov)

Next week (w/c 17 Nov) We find ourselves at HOME for 3 days with Malandra Jacks' (award-winning) Census (20-22 Nov).

It's a busy week as, elsewhere in Mancunia, Perfect Show for Rachel is at Contact (19-22 Nov); Hasbian is at the New Adelphi on Wed 19 Nov; Night People's Bloom After Dark is at Sale Waterside (20-22 Nov); and Uplift is at Company Chameleon on Fri 21 Nov.

In Sheffield, Matt Miller's Fixing is at the Playhouse on Wed 19 Nov and Imogen Reeve & Co's We Are The World is at the Drama Studio on Fri 21 Nov. Also on Fri 21 Nov, in Leeds, there's the No Dress Code Scratch at Yorkshire Dance; while in Lancaster, Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at Lancaster Arts. 
 
The following week (w/c 24 Nov) Things look like they're quietening down for the festive lull, but we're still active - this time at Contact on Thu 27 Nov for another Social Experiment. Trialled at July's Social Experiment, now developed, Rachel Smith's Mother Dark is at 53Two on Wed 26 Nov; or for something more discursive, Roberto Sifuentes of La Pocha Nostra is giving a presentation at MMU, also on Wed 26 Nov (afternoon). 

Elsewhere, Unity has a Scratch Night on Wed 26 Nov, and Main Character Energy is at Sheffield Theatres on Fri 28 + Sat 29 Nov. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances.  

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

On screen or off, everyone’s performing: The Traitors triumphs, the Duchess reclaims her close-up, and the Captain of Culture scores an own goal...

This weekend, on Sat 8 Nov TS DÆMON's No Silence, No Saints is at New Adelphi; while further afield, in Sheffield Bad Immigrant is at the Drama Studio; and in Leeds, ACE Dance's TWASI is at the Riley Theatre. 

Next week (w/c 10 Nov) sees the start of another hectic 3 week run for Word of Warning, starting at Lowry with Hetain Patel's Mathroo Basha on Wed 12 Nov.  

On Fri 14 Nov Lowry also has Corinne's The Severed Wing; while Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at New Adelphi. On Fri 14 and Sat 15 Nov, Seren Marimba's Letsby Avenue is at NIAMOS. Also on Sat 15 Nov, in Heywood, Rowland Hill's SET YOU FREE: A Eurotrance Deep Listening Event is at St Luke's Church as part of the Xmas Lights Switch on! 

To the east, in Leeds Hetain Patel's Mathroo Basha is also at Stage@Leeds on Tue 11 Nov; Rhythmosaic Dance Company's Shattered Silence is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 14 Nov and Nyako's Roots of Lives is at Riley Theatre on Sat 15 Nov. In Bradford, Theatre in the Mill has New Work Festival (13-15 Nov). 

To the west, in Liverpool at Homotopia the Playhouse has Grace Tompkins's Scrambled on Thu 13 Nov; and Unity has Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool's Seaside Spectacular on Fri 14 Nov and An Evening With Dross on Sat 15 Nov.  In Southport, Rowena Gander's Woman | Women is at The Atkinson on Fri 14 Nov; while in Huyton, Ugly Bucket's Good Grief is at Huyton Library on Sat 15 Nov (and Sat 22 Nov). 

The following week (w/c 17 Nov) We find ourselves at HOME with Malandra Jacks' (award-winning) Census (20-22 Nov).
It's a busy old week as, elsewhere in Mancunia, Perfect Show for Rachel is at Contact (19-22 Nov); Hasbian is at the New Adelphi on Wed 19 Nov; Night People's Bloom After Dark is at Sale Waterside (20-22 Nov); and Uplift is at Company Chameleon on Fri 21 Nov.

In Sheffield, Matt Miller's Fixing is at the Playhouse on Wed 19 Nov and Imogen Reeve & Co's We Are The World is at the Drama Studio on Fri 21 Nov. Also on Fri 21 Nov, in Leeds, there's the No Dress Code Scratch at Yorkshire Dance; while in Lancaster, Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at Lancaster Arts. 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances.  The call for the 27 November edition of Social Experiment remains open until Wed 12 Nov 12 noon.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT

Skeletons in closets, ghouls at the gates, and a familiar chill in the headlines — must be autumn at the Palace. Meanwhile, the ghost of Grantium continues to haunt us with the latest ACE developments...

This weekend, seems pretty quiet - but on Sat 1 Nov Lowri Evans + Martina Coggins's Ghost Store is at Middleton Shopping Centre; and on Sun 2 Nov, Aviva Studios has Street Symphony x Krump.

Further afield in Blackpool Lightbox continues until Sat 1 Nov; and in Liverpool November sees the start of the month-long Homotopia in Liverpool - though most performance seems to be between 12+21 Nov.

Next week (w/c 3 Nov) Lowry has Sung Im Her's 1 Degree Celsius on Tue 4 Nov and Ontroerend Goed's Handle With Care on Wed 5 Nov. For something more discursive there's Rachel Smith's Bunker Talk on Tue 4 Nov.

In Huddersfield, Matt Miller's Fixing is at the LBT on Wed 5 Nov. In Sheffield the Drama Studio has Casson + Friends' Shed Stories on Thu 6 Nov and Bad Immigrant on Sat 8 Nov. In Leeds ACE Dance's TWASI is at the Riley Theatre also on Sat 8 Nov. 

The following week (w/c 10 Nov) we are back Lowry with Hetain Patel's Mathroo Basha on Wed 12 Nov. On Fri 14 Nov Lowry also has Corinne's The Severed Wing; while Ali Matthews's Mushroom Language is at New Adelphi. On Fri 14 and Sat 15 Nov, Seren Marimba's Letsby Avenue is at NIAMOS.

To the east, in Leeds Hetain Patel's Mathroo Basha is also at Stage@Leeds on Tue 11 Nov; Rhythmosaic Dance Company's Shattered Silence is at Yorkshire Dance on Fri 14 Nov and Nyako's Roots of Lives is at Riley Theatre on Sat 15 Nov. In Bradford, Theatre in the Mill has New Work Festival (13-15 Nov). 

To the west, in Liverpool at Homotopia the Playhouse has Grace Tompkins's Scrambled on Thu 13 Nov; and Unity has Harry Clayton-Wright's Mr Blackpool's Seaside Spectacular on Fri 14 Nov and An Evening With Dross on Sat 15 Nov.  In Southport, Rowena Gander's Woman | Women is at The Atkinson on Fri 14 Nov; while in Huyton, Ugly Bucket's Good Grief is at Huyton Library on Sat 15 Nov (and Sat 22 Nov). 

Keep checking our News + Information page for more pointers to opportunities and show videos online, and @WarnMcr on Twitter (X if you must) for short-notice performances.  The call for the 27 November edition of Social Experiment remains open until Wed 12 Nov 12 noon.

Best

Tamsin

@WarnMcr: Bsky | Fb | Insta | X | YT