Archived Content Warnings


Updated 26 March 2024

Age Advisories/Limits & Content Warnings for past events and archived livestreams on our YouTube channel are available below, including elements that may distress, cause upset, or trigger. Go to → 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 (Please click here for upcoming events.)

If issues raised affect you, these organisations may be of support:  CALM 0800 585858 · Harmless · Mind 0300 123 3393 · No Panic 0300 772 9844 · Samaritans call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org · SupportLine 01708 765 200 · The Survivors Trust 08088 010 818


2024

22 Mar. Company Chameleon Studios | Turn 2024

Age Advisory: 16+ (parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb; specifics follow.
 chris brown — may contain moments of distressing use of human body.
 Fabíola Santana — deals with social construct of race and colonial histories/troubles.
 Isaac Glenister — none.
 Jake Evans — strong language; sexual innuendo; references to homophobic violence; strobing/flashing lights.
 Just_Ina — references mental health.
 Lily Antonia — strobing/flashing lights.
 Lisa Chearles — flashing lights; some gore; use of fake blood.
 Louiseanne Wong — swearing.


2023

30 Sep. Contact | Emergency 23

Age Advisory: 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, specifics follow.
Afternoon, Noon-4pm.
 Chris Brown — performers’ use of their bodies may be distressing; the Afternoon performance uses audience participation.
 E.M. Parry — simulates pins penetrating flesh.
 GOWD — sexual references.
 Hot Storm Productions — themes of death/spirituality.
 ITZATNA — bodily harm, loud noises, distressing video images of migration; references death, violence, threat. Allergy Warning: Aloe Vera juice/sap.
 Kelvin Atmadibrata — use of medical tourniquets (no blood drawn).
 Lauren Greer — includes digital interaction; may include strong language & topics of a sensitive nature.
 Louise Ward Morris — live streams to YouTube (to avoid, please see signage in the space).
 Luisa Amorim — use of strobe; swearing.
 Porcelain Delaney — none.
 Theresa Bradbury — Allergy Warning: unfired porcelain.
 Victoria Bone — physical binding of their body.
Evening, 4pm-10pm.
 Alex Billingham — draws on lived experience of being Trans, Disabled, Neurodiverse.
 Chris Brown — performers’ use of their bodies may be distressing.
 Egan & Pinchbeck — some loud music/noise; contains verbatim text which references amputation & loss of sight.
 Gillian Dyson — female nudity; loud & misophonia-related ‘small’ sounds.
 Gisou Golshani — loud noise.
 Heather Alice — imagery of blood; suicide reference & symbolism; themes of mental illness; flashing projections; loud noise.
 Jana Aizupe & Company — none.
 Kellie Colbert — references anxiety, depression, emotional abuse, trichotillomania.
 Laurie Bayley-Higgins — references violence, death, suicide, depression, drowning; loud noises & flashing lights.
 new func — promenade; involves participation.
 Orla Collier — strong emotions which some may find distressing; partial nudity.
 Raz & Khan — deals with addiction and its causes, impacts, and issues.

22 Jul. Z-arts | Haphazard 2023

Age Advisory: suitable for all ages (parental/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works involved interaction or participation, some may disturb, specifics follow.
 Gemma Lees — use of, and potential interaction with, neon & flashing light.
 Joe Beedles — use of laser & haze.
 Krissi Musiol & Amy Vreeke — loud/sudden bangs or noise, e.g. popping balloons, Allergy Warnings: latex / popcorn.

18+19 May. Contact | Works Ahead 2023

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: works included complex themes that may disturb, specifics follow.
 Jade Williams — included optional audience interaction; references slavery.
 Kellie Colbert — references anxiety, depression, online trolling, trichotillomania.

3 May. The Lowry | Unnatural Cycles — A Ghost Story by Avital Raz

Age Advisory: 14+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: contained some strong language; mentions of rape, war, miscarriage.

10 Mar. Contact | Turn 2023

Age Advisory: 15+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, specifics follow.
 Lizzy Owen — sudden loud noises.
 Matter of Fact — concept covers violence against women, but not depicted in the piece.
 Orla Collier — strong emotions which some may find distressing.


2022

1 Oct. Contact | Emergency 22

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, specifics follow.
Daytime, Noon-5pm.
 Noon-1.30pm, Julie Burrow — body horror.
 Noon-1.40pm, Ursula Troche — none.
 Noon-2pm, Hazel Lam — none.
 Noon-2pm, Tania Camara — a conversation about race.
 Noon-3pm, kane stonestreet — imagery may evoke feelings of drowning.
 Noon-5pm, Clodagh Chapman & James Varney — likely allusions to death; when contributing please be sensitive with label and include warning if needed.
 Noon-5pm, Malandra Jacks — personal conversations about relationships and dementia; partial nudity.
 Noon-5pm, Maya Chowdhry — participatory one-to-one with optional alcohol offered, challenge 25 in operation.
 Noon-5pm, Nicky Murmann — participatory one-to-one with optional food offered which may contain allergens, please check ingredient list before accepting.
 Noon-5pm, Sweætshops® — participatory one-to-one including filming and photography of audience members. In the light of recent national events, certain imagery may be upsetting/disturbing.
 2.30pm-3pm, Charlotte McShane — mild violence, sexual aggression.
 3pm-3.20pm, Ran — none.
 3pm-5pm, leon clowes — references to rape, incest, paedophilia.
 3pm-5pm, Nathan Walker — none.
Evening, 5pm-10pm.
 5pm, DNA Studio — none.
 5.30pm, Jian Yi — none.
 6pm, Kerensa Diball — adult themes, mentions of reproduction, politics, Roe v. Wade.
 6.30pm, Christian Asare — none.
 7pm, Bold Mellon Collective — sudden loud noises.
 8pm, Emergency Chorus — none.
 8.30pm, Josh Coates & Alicia Jane Turner — loud sounds, earplugs available.
 9pm, Kellie Colbert — self-harm, emotional abuse, eating disorders.
 9.30pm, Bitterroot — violence and flashing/strobe.

26+27 May. Contact | Works Ahead 2022

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: included complex themes that may disturb, specific warnings follow.
 Helena Ascough — clown imagery may disturb; discusses violence and discrimination.
 Ross McCaffrey — includes audience interaction, flashing lights, haze, loud noises, swearing, and vocal references to police/state brutality + death.
 Will Dickie — addresses themes of addiction and the social construct of race; makes direct references to the transatlantic slave trade, and gives detailed descriptions of addictive behaviours.

4 May. The Lowry | Dead Cats by Proto-type Theater & Adam York Gregory

Age Advisory: 14+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: included strong swearing & complex themes.


2021

Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
Content Warnings: references to periods of conflict in Israel/Palestine and the current situation that may evoke upsetting memories in some audience members.

15 Oct. STUN Studio at Z-arts | Oreo by Tania Camara

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: included an archive recording of a speech by Diane Abbott MP where she uses a term that may offend (the N-word).

25 Sep. Contact | Emergency 21

Age Advisory: 15+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, some included audience interaction, specific warnings follow.
 Ayzmar — includes Blackface references and mentions of police brutality, rape, and slavery.
 Kellie Colbert & Deborah Newton — exploration of loss, death, and trauma.
 Lydia Cottrell — a one-to-one interactive experience; discussion of sensitive and complex topics.
 Miray Sidhom — includes footage of protest that may be considered violent.
 Mitzee — set within a darkened space, includes flashing imagery.
 Sebastian H-W — includes partial nudity, sharp noises, and possible flashing light.
 Simon Carroll-Jones & Wayne Steven Jackson — set within immersive projected imagery and soundscape; short and flashing screen movement may affect those with photosensitive epilepsy.

26 May. Online | Oreo Prelude by Tania Camara

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warning: includes an archive recording of a speech by Diane Abbott where she uses a term that may offend (the N-word).

10 Mar. Online | Domestic

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, some included audience interaction, specific warnings follow.
 Eleanor May Blackburn — includes reference to self-harm, mental health, drug misuse, medication, strong language, sexual assault, consent, and very minor violence
 TomYumSim — includes live interaction over the phone, with potential for any subject matter to be brought up.

13 Jan. Online | Domestic

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, some included audience interaction, specific warnings follow.
 Avital Raz — mentions of rape and miscarriage.
 Lydia Cottrell — discussion of potentially sensitive and complex topics.
 Mitzee — includes flashing imagery.


2020

7 Oct. Online | Domestic

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, some included audience interaction, specific warnings follow.
 Ali Wilson — includes swearing and themes of grief & loss.

27 Sep. Hulme Community Garden Centre | Botanic

Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
No Content Warnings.

12 Aug. Online | Domestic

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, specific warnings follow.
 Andrew Neil Hayes — includes partial nudity.
 Daniel & Clara — includes flashing imagery.
 Kellie Colbert — deals with issues of social anxiety + panic attacks; includes popping of balloons.
 melissandre varin — includes ingestion + references to eating disorders.
 Sebastian H-W — includes partial nudity.

1 Jul. Online | Domestic

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: some works may disturb, some included audience interaction, specific warnings follow.
 Afreena Islam — includes satirical content, swearing.
 Cheryl Martin — includes mention of abuse, alcohlism, illness, suicide.
 Nathan Birkinshaw — includes nudity, a recording of defecation, taxidermy.

22 May. Online | Works Ahead 2020 — Will Dickie’s White Sun

Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
Content Warnings: none.
 N.B. planned as a sited double bill from Will Dickie + Ross McCaffrey at NIAMOS on 21/22 May in partnership with Contact:
 Will adapted his work for livestreaming; Ross postponed sharing his work until it can be shown to a physical audience.

1 May. Online | Oreo Variations by Tania Camara

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: included simulated gagging/retching.
 N.B. Rescheduled from 23+24 April in STUN Studio at Z-arts to a livestream.

1 Apr. The Lowry | We Are Fucked by Jo Bannon (CANCELLED)

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
No Content Warnings.

19—21 Mar. Royal Exchange Theatre | IDOL by Jamal Gerald (CANCELLED)

Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: includes strong language, sexual references + full nudity; uses haze + flashing lights (not strobe). Please note that candles + joss sticks are lit throughout the show.

27 Feb. NIAMOS | Emergency StopGap

Age Advisory: 18+ (mainly aimed at adults; parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: please note that some works may disturb, specific warnings follow.
 Bethany Mountain — potential audience interaction; includes references to self-harm, depression + suicide.
 Chris Owen — none.
 Kris Canavan — includes blood-letting, nudity + penetration of their body (strobe lighting was not used).
 Krissi Musiol — includes references to pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, exhaustion + well-being; potential for audience interaction.
 Martin Hamblen — none.
 Natalie Wardle — includes nudity.
 Oliver Ford — none.
 Philip Bedwell — includes nudity.
 Powder Keg — potential audience interaction; potential loud noise.
 Shkiesha — none.
 Susanna Amato — includes sounds of a shredder which could be loud/harsh/offensive; includes references to hoarding, holding on + letting go.
 Tink Flaherty — requires audience interaction; audience members need to feel comfortable + aware of the possibility of oversharing.
 TomYumSim — requires audience interaction; audience members need to feel comfortable + aware of the possibility of oversharing.

12 Feb. The Lowry | Sex Education by Harry Clayton-Wright

Age Limit: strictly 18+
Content Warnings: includes themes that some people may find distressing, nudity + explicit sexual content.


2019

6 Nov. The Lowry | I Promise You That Tonight by Tom Cassani

Age Advisory: 14+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warnings: includes mentions of death + description of drowning. During the show, the performer:
 • talks about being close to death and nearly dying;
 • describes what it might feel like to drown;
 • describes a mechanism used in water boarding torture;
 • mentions a person bursting into flames;
 • walks bare foot on broken glass, places his face on the broken glass, and pushes it into the glass;
 • does not cut himself, and no wounds are made to his body;
 • does not intend to harm himself during any of these actions.
A loud drone sound is used multiple times during the show.

23 Oct. NIAMOS | Acephalous Monster by Ron Athey

Age Limit: strictly for those aged 18+
Content Warnings: an intense viewing experience for some, if you are sensitive to any of the following or of a more general sensitive disposition we recommend using discretion before buying tickets.
The show includes:
 • live nudity;
 • live blood-letting;
and on projected film:
 • BDSM (not safe to open at work);
 • depictions of graphic consensual sexual activity;
 • depictions and descriptions of violence (including symbolic beheading).
For context read a review by The Dance Enthusiast (contains spoilers).

2 Oct. The Lowry | Tetra-Decathlon by Lauren Hendry, dir. Jenna Watt

Age Advisory: 12+ (parental/guardian discretion).
Content Warning: includes mild swearing.

21 Sep. Hulme | Emergency 2019

Age Advisory: the overall event is mainly aimed at adults, parental/guardian discretion is advised; some works are not suitable for under 18s.
EVENING at STUN Studio + Z-arts
Helen Sulis Bowie | Smashing It!
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: contains swearing + references to personal + political violence.
Lara Buffard + Gur Arie Piepskovitz | Confessional on The Dance Floor (Madonna’s true vassals)
 — Age Limit: 18+ for one to one participation.
 — Content Warnings: mature content + drinking of tequila.
Rebekka Platt | Do you want fries with that?
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion
 — Content Warning: features nudity.
Ross McCaffrey | Sometimes History Needs a Push
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: mentions political violence + references to genocide.
Shahireh Sharif | I am an orange dot
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: a work about refugees, includes mentions of death, drowning, hanging, dead bodies floating + the taste of blood that some may find upsetting.
Vendetta Vain | Taking the Piss
 — Age Advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warnings: features nudity + bodily functions.
DAYTIME at NIAMOS
Alex Bradley | Almost Everything is Black + White
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warning: features nudity.
Bill Duffy | Scar Tissue / Symmetry
 — Age Advisory: 18+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warnings: features blood-letting, disturbing content + themes of abuse.
Charlotte McShane | Tell Me Lies
 — Age Advisory: 18+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warnings: includes swearing, shouting, mild sexual content; requires active audience participation in a one-to-one setting; audience members need to feel comfortable by themselves + aware of the possibility of oversharing.
Gillian Knox | Everybody Always Tells the Truth
 — Content Warning: discusses aspects of giving birth which some may find upsetting.
Holly Spillar | Hole
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: the work is about sex, sexual problems + Vaginismus, which may be distressing to some.
Jade Williams | An Intimate Confession Cup
 — Age Advisory: 18+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warning: requires active audience participation in a one-to-one setting; audience members need to feel comfortable by themselves.
Kellie Colbert | Bad Feminist
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warning: includes photographic nudity.
Kris Canavan | Back To Basics
 — Age Advisory: 18+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warnings: includes blood-letting, nudity, strobe lighting; insertion of dental retractor into mouth; insertion of fishing hook through tongue; stapling onto forehead; symbolic act of castration by using surgical staples in scrotum.
Pierce Starre | Labels
 — Content Warning: as an interactive piece the artist has no control over what is written on the labels.
rahtattoo | Solvet et Coagula 22
 — Age Advisory: 18+ (parental/guardian discretion).
 — Content Warnings: features blood, needles + live tattooing.
Ross Graham | Making Histry
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: contains food + drink; optional audience discussion + participation; discussion of death.
Tamar + Jo | Unseen Beings
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warnings: includes partial nudity + some sexual movement.
Thomas Mayer | Countless Lives
 — Age Advisory: parental/guardian discretion.
 — Content Warning: features nudity.