Works Ahead 2025
A sample of new performance.
→ works · entry · access · about · credits · websites Updated 6 May 2025
Presented by Word of Warning + Contact
Our annual sampler evening of new performance returns to Contact on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 May at 7.30pm with a double bill of new works-in-development from Adèle Le Gallez and Martha Pailing…
Works
A missing church on Orkney.
An only child in Oldham.
A relief for those in free-fall, and a retreat for those in crisis.
Live sound experiment, demonstration, and storytelling.
Adèle is a writer, sound-artist, and performer.
Failure To Thrive by Martha Pailing
“Touch is the first sensory system to develop in the foetus.”
What does it mean to be held, to be nurtured, to be known?
Part-story, part-discovery, part-surrender: an investigation into touch and regression. This work unpacks the strange contradiction of being a fully grown adult who is still learning how to thrive.
Martha is a spoken word and performance artist.
Entry
Pay What You Decide: £15/£10/£5/£0 (advance booking recommended).
Tickets: now available online via Contact for Thursday/Friday.
Times: Thursday 15 and Friday 16 May 2025, 7.30pm (both nights: a double bill with an interval, ending about 9pm).
Location: Contact, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA.
Access
Age Advisory: 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).
Content Warnings: please click here.
Features: two solo contemporary performance works, spoken English with varied content including amplified audio and music; occur in Space 2 on the second floor, a studio space with raked seating.
Queries: please contact Contact via boxoffice@contactmcr.com
About
Each year since 2012, Works Ahead has invited artists to dig deeper into work presented at the previous year’s Emergency or other platform event.
A project developed out of the old Method Lab & SeedFund schemes which hÅb ran with greenroom until 2011; Works Ahead has offered 36 small, supported, work-in-development commissions for artists over the past fourteen years — often in partnership with Contact.
Credits
Works Ahead 2025 commissioned by hÅb and Contact; produced by hÅb; supported using public funding by Arts Council England. With thanks to Manchester School of Theatre at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Project Mentor: Peader Kirk
Websites
WorksAhead.org
Adèle Le Gallez — adelegallez.wixsite.com · Insta @adele.legallez
Martha Pailing — marthapailing.com · Insta @marthapailing