People – Quays Life

Dance Consortium - Michael Keegan-Dolan's MÁM, photo - Ros Kavanagh

People

Michael Keegan-Dolan – ‘If what you feel is really strange… that’s really exciting for me’

Diane Parkes

Michael Keegan-Dolan’s dizzying gateway between modern dance and the ancient heartbeat of Ireland, MÁM, comes to Lowry, Salford By Diane Parkes When choreographer and dancer Michael Keegan-Dolan was creating his production MÁM, he turned to the...

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People

Sadiq Ali on using circus to challenge outdated beliefs about HIV

Leslie James Kerwin

When Sadiq Ali was diagnosed HIV+ during his circus training at NCCA, he witnessed the fear and ignorance that still surrounds the virus. He talks to Leslie Kerwin about his new work, ‘Tell Me’, created in consultation with HIV...

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‘If Tarantino was to write a play, this would be it’ – Jason Durr

Carmel Thomason

Actor Jason Durr talks to Quays Life about his role in Murder at Midnight, a brand-new comedy thriller from Torben Betts, writer of smash-hit Murder in the Dark. Could you introduce us to Murder at Midnight? Jason: “It’s a brand new comedy...

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Art People To do & see

Climate change, AI and finding hope in artistic activism

Leslie James Kerwin

AI meets nature in a new interdisciplinary exhibition at Lowry from January which sees artists, John-Paul Brown and Sophy King, look beyond climate grief into a future of possibilities. It is 2076 – the climate crisis is fading, the Earth is...

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Wintering with Samantha Fernando © Mike Skelton

People

Samantha Fernando’s music is balm for winter’s long, cold nights

Leslie James Kerwin

Amid a blizzard of Christmas markets, holiday shoppers, and one of the coldest Novembers in years, composer Samantha Fernando is stepping out to bring a moment of calm to Manchester this winter. Her latest orchestral piece, Wintering, asks: what if...

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Matthew Bourne's production of THE RED SHOES. Glenn Graham (Grischa Ljubov) and Ashley Shaw (Victoria Page). Photo by Johan Persson

People To do & see

Sir Matthew Bourne on the challenges of bringing The Red Shoes to the stage

Carmel Thomason

Double Olivier award-winning ballet The Red Shoes returns to Lowry, Salford on its 10th anniversary tour, which includes 11 of the original cast. The fairytale show, which tells of one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world, is...

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People To do & see

How PhD research is influencing Contact’s festive panto

Thomas Corner

After a two year break, pantomime is back at Contact, Manchester with a fun-packed production of Rumpelstiltskin from The Big Tiny Company that is reinventing the genre. The Big Tiny’s unique approach to pantomime is guided by co-director Ben...

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Em Prendergast, Zoe McWhinney - credit Becky Bailey Photography

People

Actor Zoë McWhinney – “Maybe Some People Will Make That Step To Learn Sign Language”

Carmel Thomason

Actor and poet Zoë McWhinney is coming to Home, Manchester in a new extended production of Eloise Pennycott’s award-winning play, Barrier(s). She talks to Quays Life about breaking barriers as a profoundly deaf actor and what it takes to...

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Centre Rebecca Lock as Caz, Chris Grahamson as Gareth & the cast in HERE & NOW, credit Pamela Raith

Greater Manchester People To do & see

Behind the scenes with the cast of Here & Now the new Steps’ Musical

Carmel Thomason

Returning to the Here & Now musical for the UK and Ireland tour, Rebecca Lock promises that audiences are in for a theatrical treat. “They can expect a rollercoaster of emotion,” she says, “and it’s so joyful, colourful...

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Rachel Moorhouse, Co-Creative Director Art with Heart. Photo by Joe Smith

People To do & see

“If it’s about life in Salford, we want to hear it!” – Rachel Moorhouse on her new podcast celebrating 100 years of the city

Carmel Thomason

Next year Salford celebrates its 100th year as a city. To mark the centenary, Art With Heart, also reaching its own milestone decade of creating accessible art in the city, is launching a new project Salford Voices. Salford Voices is a series of...

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