North West youngsters make Contact with all

The programme sees collaborations with regional and national partners including The Lowry, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Literature Festival and Southbank Centre.

October highlights include a new show from Hetain Patel, American Boy, co-produced by Sadler’s Wells which explores movie and TV culture, the return of Under the Covers, Contact Young Company’s acclaimed show examining youthful attitudes to sex, one–man musical phenomenon Le Gateau Chocolat and the innovative Forced Entertainment present The Notebook, set during the Second World War.

Later in the month New Art Club bring their dance cabaret version of Hercules, just one of several family friendly shows in the programme.

In an important new festival Contact and London’s Southbank Centre will join forces to present WHY? What’s Happening for the Young, taking place in both London and Manchester.

November has a line-up of diverse comedy, while aerial circus troupe Ockham’s Razor perform Tipping Point (co-presented at the Lowry). Olivier Award-winning performance provocateur Ursula Martinez brings her new show Free Admission and the Uninvited Guests company present This Last Tempest, a theatrical take on Shakespeare’s iconic last play.

Artistic director Matt Fenton said: “Contact’s autumn season is one of the most diverse and provocative performance programmes anywhere in the country.

“Local young people aged 13-30 play a central role in deciding what’s on stage, resulting in an exciting autumn programme for all ages.”

Box office: 0161 274 0600 or www.c ontactmcr.com