Social Experiment


A new gathering for Live Art 
 and contemporary performance.

artists · entry · access · apply · creditsUpdated 15 May 2025

Presented by Word of Warning + Contact as a semi-regular evening event.

Social Experiment is a new gathering at Contact for anyone interested in Live Art and contemporary performance to meet, chat, and try ideas out…

A free and informal, semi-regular evening event with the next on Thursday 22 May from 6pm to 9pm. Subsequent dates are Thursdays 17 July and 27 November. The first event was held on Thursday 6 February, see some images.

If you’re a Greater Manchester artist — this is your chance to test out a short performance, intervention, or durational work, in front of an informal audience.

If you’re an audience member looking for something a little bit different — this is your chance to take a few risks & meet some artists in our social experiment.

(And if you’re an HE Student artist based in the North West — there’s an extra Student Edition on Thursday 5 June at Contact, please go here for info.)

Artists

22 May
Ben Hodge · Bitterroot · Joely Mae Greally & Jasmine Naila Burt · Julie Burrow · Lizzy Owen · Paper People Theatre · Secret Location Theatre Company
Participating artists subject to change.

NB participating artists are announced about a week before each event — the call for proposals is open on a rolling basis at socialexperiment.posthaven.com

Entry

FREE: there’s no ticketing… just turn up!

Dates: Thursdays 6 February, 22 May, 17 July, and 27 November 2025.
Time: 6pm onwards (each event ends by about 9pm).

Location: Contact (space 0 & bar), Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA.

Access

Age Advisory: 16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion).

Content Warnings: some works may involve interaction and/or participation; specific warnings will be listed here about a week before each event.

Features: a small number of Live Art & contemporary performance works with varied content — to be confirmed about a week before each event.

NB works will occur on Contact’s step-free ground floor in space 0 & bar, and will vary in format — they could be immersive, participatory, roaming, seated, standing, spoken word, visual, etc.

Queries: please contact Contact via boxoffice@contactmcr.com

Apply

Greater Manchester artists (aged 18+) are invited to submit proposals of: short performances, interventions, or durational works, for inclusion in these events.

For details & to apply please go to socialexperiment.posthaven.com
(Direct link to proposal form is here in case of issues with posthaven.)

Proposal Deadline: open on a rolling basis, closing a fortnight before each event — i.e. deadline for 17 July is 3 July, 5pm; deadline for 27 Nov is 13 Nov, 5pm.

Credits

Social Experiment produced by hÅb; supported by Contact and using public funding by Arts Council England.

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2025

Thu 15 – Fri 16 May, 7.30pm. PWYD | Contact
Works Ahead 2025
Thu 22 May, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact
Social Experiment
Thu 29 May, 7.30pm. PWYD | Company Chameleon
We're Here Because They Were
(PWYD are Pay What You Decide events.)

Earlier Events
Thu 6 Feb, 6pm-9pm. FREE | Contact
Social Experiment
Thu 13 Mar, 7.30pm. PWYD | Contact
Dedicated to the One I Love
Fri 4 Apr, 7pm. PWYD | Contact
Turn 2025