Presented by Word of Warning + Contact

Friday 3 + Saturday 4 June 2016

Different stages, different scales, still Works Ahead…
Two very different double bills make up our annual sampler of what’s next in contemporary performance and live art — pushing the boundaries of form and content. Autumn 2015 saw Word of Warning show over 40 emerging performances in spaces ranging from a building site to a theatre… From this enormous variety of work we have invited four artists at different stages in their careers to further develop their shows for Works Ahead 2016. They’re all at the very beginning of their explorations…

Compact Edition, 5pm + 6pm. £4/2 (limited capacity, repeats)
Two extra shows added due to demand: 4pm (both dates)
Hidden stories and half-remembered truths from Terri Donovan + Afreena Islam.

Evening Edition, 7.30pm. £6/3
From Dyson to the Passion — an unpredictable double bill from Top Joe + Lucy McCormick.

Now that its over, read a review by Quiet Man Dave.

Artists

Terri Donovan (Compact Edition, first part)
“Finding Elsie is about me, my Dad, my Gran… and dementia. This is my exploration of how relationships change and continue to change in my attempt to find a true reflection of my Elsie.”

Afreena Islam (Compact Edition, second part)
“When I was little, I used to hang out at my dad’s restaurant most weekends, back when they used to stay open until 5am. After a hard days toil running round like I owned the place I would fall asleep to the CCTV, my body on the chest freezer and my head resting on a pile of tablecloths.”

Daughters of the Curry Revolution is an exploration into her dad’s life; from his journey to this country, to his journey to this day.

Top Joe (Evening Edition, first part)
Top Joe is a timid character who wears a hi-vis jacket and only comes out at night. He occasionally braves leaving the house in order to meet people and give his thoughts on life, vouchers and pistachios.

For Works Ahead he is developing a piece that explores the nature of Ross Kemp, Dyson vacuum cleaners, identity, comedy, and childhood.

Lucy McCormick (Evening Edition, second part)
Post-popular prodigy Lucy McCormick and her Girl Squad present a trashstep-dubpunk morality play for the modern age. Casting herself in all the main roles, Lucy will attempt to re-connect to her own moral conscience by re-enacting old biblical stories via a nu-wave holy trinity of dance, power ballads and performance art. With trademark absurdism and enthusiasm, Lucy puts her best foot forward in the face of existential deadlock.

Venue + Booking Details for Compact Edition

Dates: Friday 3 + Saturday 4 June 2016, 5pm + 6pm (limited capacity, repeats)
Two extra shows added due to demand: 4pm (both dates)
Venue: Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
Tickets: £4/2
Box Office Tel: 0161 274 0600

Venue + Booking Details for Evening Edition

Dates: Friday 3 + Saturday 4 June 2016, 7.30pm
Venue: Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
Tickets: £6/3
Box Office Tel: 0161 274 0600

What people have said about Works Ahead

• Brilliant works in progress, varied and interesting.
• Good to see a space for something a bit different.
• I enjoyed both shows even though they were very different. I look forward to seeing how they develop.
Audience feedback from 2015

Access Information

Age advisory: Compact Edition 14+ (parental/guardian discretion); Evening Edition strictly 18+. For specific age and access information please email info@habarts.org or call 0161 232 6086.

Credits

Works Ahead 2016 is commissioned and produced by hÅb and Contact; supported using public funding by Arts Council England + funded by Manchester City Council. Project Mentor: Peader Kirk
worksahead.org | #WorksAhead