Unbelievably Word of Warning enters its second year of programming… so welcome to Spring 2013. To all those who’ve come with us thus far – thank you. To anyone new – we hope to give you a truly different 2013!

Predictably, and completely in character, we’ve gone a bit over-the-top this season, to the extent that we’ve had to split it in two – so look out for Spring/Summer 2013 coming sometime after Easter.

No theme this time – just an awful lot of good work and a bit of idiosyncrasy thrown in for good measure. We are also really pleased to be collaborating for the first time with The Lowry’s Studio – and returning to Contact… lots! Plus, of course, our ongoing WoW nights at Z-arts.

Spring sees a new work by Lowri Evans, visits from Hetain Patel and Michael Pinchbeck, a showcase of new work from local luminaries Plane Performance and Pigeon Theatre, the fifth Turn and the third ‘Poolside Emergency. Plus a bit of an experiment – a live art day for all ages – Haphazard (and it will be!). Big images, silly sounds, random characters – it’s a chance for those with little ones to share a day out for all – and for the rest of us to watch the work through fresher eyes.

####What is Word of Warning and where did it come from? Simply put, Word of Warning is a one-stop shop for the bonkers, the beautiful and the bizarre of live performance: an attempt to keep alive the best of the 25 year greenroom legacy and to introduce new people to the possibilities of seeing live work in Manchester.

We take live work very seriously – but we don’t take ourselves seriously at all. In 2012, alongside funny, thought-provoking, beautiful work by the likes of Third Angel, Ellie Harrison, GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN, Levantes Dance Theatre, Action Hero, Richard DeDomenici, Made In China and many more, we served the audience gin and satsuma jello shots, played bingo, apple-bobbing, drenched them in confetti and reinvented St Andrews Day with snowballs and whisky macs.

####Who’s it for? Anyone looking for a different night out.

We don’t want to put you off by talking labels – yes there’ll be theatre, live art, dance – but the aim is to be anything but elitist or po-faced. So if you like comedy, music, gaming or just a friendly, stimulating evening – there’ll be something you might want to take a chance on.

What people have said about the shows (audience 2012).

Very engaging, beautiful & thought provoking.
Great combination of new and established work, really impressed with the format of the night and venue.
Thoroughly enjoyed the show, unexpected joys. More of this please.
Absolutely amazing. Seamless, extremely interesting, engaging AND thought provoking.
Fantastic! Really original and engaging while presenting stories & issues relevant now.
A brilliant night out.

What people have said about us (audience 2012).

Constantly provocative and exciting.
The work was engaging and evocative and it has re-lit my creative fire.
Varied programme which always takes me by surprise (my favourite way to be taken!)
Feels like a full night out in a couple of hours xxx - Loved it … Will be back!!!
Love it. So glad to have this developing as a brand I’d trust without knowing any of the work you’re programming.

####Who is Word of Warning? My name’s Tamsin Drury and I run an organisation called hÅb, which was greenroom’s partner for over a decade. You might not know hÅb but you might know some of our events – like Emergency (Manchester’s free marathon of live work with 40 shows in 3 venues) and Hazard (random sprees of eccentricity in Manchester’s City Centre).

I’ve been around a while, a really long while… and in that time, I’ve been responsible for making the Arndale Tower flash, wrapping Cathedral Gardens in 7km of hazard tape and encouraging a mass audience conga and a glitter-cannon Hallelujah chorus!

On the less eccentric side over the years, hÅb has also worked with literally hundreds of young north west artists to help them create new pieces of theatre and dance.

Please send programming enquiries to me at info@habarts.org

I’m joined in this lunacy by John Franklin, greenroom’s long time programme coordinator. Often spotted in a hat or proffering a variety of bizarre refreshments, John is the friendly face greeting you and eliciting your feedback at many of our events.