Haphazard 2025
A free day out for the curious of all ages.
→ artists · programme · entry · access · about · credits Updated 7 August 2025
Presented by Word of Warning + Z-arts
Playful, quirky, engaging, and sometimes plain daft: Haphazard is for kids and their adults, adults and their adults — anyone looking for a different day out!
From Frankendiva to Nigel Cabbage, a giant mushroom to a flying witch, and a haphazard attempt to find balance — look at some of our artists’ images and read their programme notes. Now it’s over, see images from the event.
A free Live Art takeover of Z-arts on Saturday 2 August from 1pm to 4pm. Turn up at any time, come and go as you please… and expect the unexpected!
Artists
Aimee Williamson · Madame Zucchini · Orla Collier · Pascaline Ruhana · Puppetfingers · Shannon Mulvey · the institute for crazy dancing · TurnAround Dance Theatre Participating artists subject to change.
Entry
FREE: there’s no need to book… just turn up!
Time: Saturday 2 August 2025, from 1pm to 4pm (turn up at any time).
NB artists will take breaks on an ad hoc basis and some works have a short duration. Although some works repeat you may not get a chance to see everything.
Location: Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester, M15 5ZA
Access
Age Advisory: suitable for all ages (parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: some works involve interaction and/or participation; there are no specific warnings.
Features: nine Live Art, contemporary performance, and participatory works with varied content.
NB multiple spaces are in use on the ground & first floors, and works are varied in format — some roaming, some seated, some standing, some spoken word, some visual, some participatory.
Queries: please contact Z-arts via 0161 226 1912 or boxoffice@z-arts.org
About
Haphazard is our frequent foray into ‘all ages’ Live Art, with intriguing images and offbeat oddities dotted around and about Hulme’s historic Z-arts building.
This eighth edition will present nine works — Haphazard has previously seen ping pong balls & squeaky toys; a singing fish & a sax-playing bear; paintball golf & human quoits; a giant periscope, a lonely wookie, a golden toilet, clown-dancing, and a tiny bee-shaped world…
Get a feel for it by looking at image galleries from 2024, 2023, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013 — and programmes from 2024, 2023, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013.
Credits
Haphazard 2025 produced by hÅb with Z-arts; supported using public funding by Arts Council England, and by Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Image: Puppetfingers
Websites
haphazardmcr.org
Aimee Williamson — Insta @aimeelilywilliamson
Madame Zucchini — Insta @madamezucchini
Orla Collier — Insta @orla.collier
Pascaline Ruhana — Insta @niartthene
Puppetfingers — Insta @puppetfingers
Shannon Mulvey — Insta @smperformanceart
the institute for crazy dancing — Insta @icdancing
TurnAround Dance Theatre — Insta @turnarounddance