WHAT'S ON AT CONTACT, MANCHESTER
What's On at Contact, Manchester
Contact Manchester is a diverse multi arts venue that boasts theatres, rehearsal rooms, contemporary studios, a media lounge, and conference rooms for productions, shows, events, premieres, workstations and even weddings! Their main theatre has a capacity of 300, and their studio holds around 76. Originally built in 1972, a recent refurbishment provides further opportunity to engage with the local community and the next generation of theatre.
Contact Theatre is known for hosting dance, music, poetry, spoken word, hip hop, alternative art and traditional theatre. As well as touring companies, it also produces inhouse work through partnerships with local emerging artists. Contacts building is distinctive and often referred to locally as The Castle.
With a mixture of events from skill building workshops to Queer Contact Festival, many stars grace their stage every year, from comedians to drag Queens and spoken word artists. Contact has shows, events and productions to look forward to including Perfect Show For Rachel, the return of their pantomime, this year - Rumpelstiltskin, and Trompe L'Oeil The Musical. See what's on at Contact Theatre Manchester below and book tickets online.
Contact Manchester is a diverse multi arts venue that boasts theatres, rehearsal rooms, contemporary studios, a media lounge, and conference rooms for productions, shows, events, premieres, workstations and even weddings! Their main theatre has a capacity of 300, and their studio holds around 76. Originally built in 1972, a recent refurbishment provides further opportunity to engage with the local community and the next generation of theatre.
Contact Theatre is known for hosting dance, music, poetry, spoken word, hip hop, alternative art and traditional theatre. As well as touring companies, it also produces inhouse work through partnerships with local emerging artists. Contacts building is distinctive and often referred to locally as The Castle.
With a mixture of events from skill building workshops to Queer Contact Festival, many stars grace their stage every year, from comedians to drag Queens and spoken word artists. Contact has shows, events and productions to look forward to including Perfect Show For Rachel, the return of their pantomime, this year - Rumpelstiltskin, and Trompe L'Oeil The Musical. See what's on at Contact Theatre Manchester below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Contact, Manchester
What's On at Contact, Manchester
Trompe l'Oeil - The Musical
Space 1
Tuesday 28 April - Saturday 2 May 2026
Trompe l'Oeil is an American drag queen's journey through a surreal Wizard of Oz / 2016 American landscape - with drag kings and queens, jaw-dropping sex fiends and flying bats and trampolines! Not to be overlooked is the show's lyri...Sofie Hagen
Space 1
Thursday 30 April 2026
Sofie won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015 and she thinks you all stopped talking about it too soon. Remember TV? Yeah, she did that too. You may know her from that, but it's more likely you know her from the internet, where ...Them Next Door
Contact, Manchester
Saturday 2 May 2026
A block of flats in a city. Today. Two neighbours cross in silence in the stairwell. They both know who the other is, but they do not know who?they?are: ?the boy finds it hard to feel at home; the man?doesn?t recognise where he grew up anym...Bears Bears Bears
Space 2
Wednesday 6 - Saturday 16 May 2026
An explosive world premiere of Bears Bears Bears, a wild and electric drama that explores power dynamics within relationships, nature vs nurture, and what it means to be a feminist. If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big su...Griot Gang Collective - The Poetry Place Slam
Space 0
Saturday 16 May 2026
Poets from The Griot Gang Collective come together for a night of live spoken word, where each person steps up to share their craft and compete for the Poetry Place Slam Championship. Each poet will have 3 minutes in front of a live audienc...Split Ends
Space 2
Tuesday 19 - Wednesday 20 May 2026
Critically acclaimed tragi-comedy SPLIT ENDS (transferring from Brighton, Camden and Edinburgh Fringe) follows the story of a woman who falls in love with a Vacuum. Using physical theatre, puppetry and multi-media, this 'Sarah Kane Rave' ...Douglas Stuart
Space 1
Tuesday 26 May 2026
Booker Prize-winning novelist Douglas Stuart discusses his profoundly moving new novel John of John, set on the Isle of Harris. Returning home after his art school years on the mainland, John-Calum Macleod is drawn back into a tightly boun...Works Ahead 2026
Contact, Manchester
Thursday 28 May - Thursday 11 June 2026
Our annual sample of new performance returns to Contact with new works-in-development from n:u (melissandre varin) in May and Nathan Birkinshaw in June; Lisa Ford is also developing an idea for future presentation?...Philosophy Of The World
Space 1
Friday 29 - Saturday 30 May 2026
In partnership with SICK! Festival 2026, IN BED WITH MY BROTHER take to the stage for their three-act biopic, Philosophy Of The World. Ridiculed then revered, "the best worst band of all time" 1960s American rockers The Shaggs defied cate...(I) Miss America
Contact, Manchester
Friday 29 - Saturday 30 May 2026
In partnership with SICK! Festival 2026 we are premiering (I) Miss America a live art film by Hannah Ballou and Peter Case.???Girls are safe in the USA...... until they are born????( I )?Miss America is a multidisciplinary live art project ...Music and Mental Health with Hypes
Contact, Manchester
Saturday 30 May 2026
Manchester-based grime artist, rapper and performer Hypes is one of the leading figures in the northern urban music scene, known for his complex lyrics addressing topics such as mental health, education and the legacy of the Windrush genera...FCK MACHINE
Contact, Manchester
Wednesday 3 - Saturday 6 June 2026
Baby, sick of her boring day job, decides to take her first steps into the world of online sex work, guided by Bunny, a seasoned professional in the industry. But as she becomes a star, Baby has to shine harder - just how far will her bound...Social Experiment
Contact, Manchester
Thursday 11 June - Thursday 19 November 2026
Social Experiment is a 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 9 April from 6pm to 9pm ? ...Manchester Literature Festival presents An Evening with Asako Yuzuki
Contact, Manchester
Friday 12 June 2026
An electrifying evening with Asako Yuzuki, bestselling author of global phenomenon Butter, as she discusses her gripping new novel Hooked. A darkly compelling exploration of obsession, friendship and control, Hooked centres on Eriko, a wo...Diabolico
Contact, Manchester
Thursday 18 June 2026
We are excited to welcome Laura Lootens to the stage this summer, emerging as one of the most exciting voices of the classical guitar.?...Amy Spalding
Space 1
Friday 19 June 2026
Calling all dykes, divas and non-binary baddies! Are you familiar with: Navigating the lesbian web like a pro?How to tell if she's flirting or just giving you a compliment?Why a £950 pair of Diesel boots alone does not make you a 'diesel d...Las Vegas in Manchester
Contact, Manchester
Monday 9 - Tuesday 10 November 2026
The curtain rises for Siegfried & Joy: With glowing energy and golden euphoria, the king tigers of the magic scene storm the stage to enchant everyone! With fabulous tricks, wild stories and, above all, charm, humour and a great love of mag...Sleeping Beauty Pantomime
Contact, Manchester
Thursday 10 - Thursday 31 December 2026
We're thrilled to be welcoming The Big Tiny back to Contact's castle for another year of Pantomime fun following their hilarious (and critically acclaimed) 2025 show Rumpelstiltskin.?Get ready for even more magic, mirth and mischief, as we ...How to get to Contact, Manchester
Contact Frequently Asked Questions
Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
Contact Theatre do not have their own car park but there are a few car parks close by. University Of Manchester Car Park, Cecil Street and Q-Park Manchester Hospitals are both close by.
Please note, the car park adjacent to Contact is for permit holders only.
Contact Theatre advise avoiding driving via certain parts of Oxford Road due to the recent implementation of traffic cameras.
Oxford Road station is the closest train station to the venue and is a 15 minute walk. Piccadilly station is a 25 minute walk.
The nearest tram stop is St Peter's Square and is a 20 minute walk.
The capacity of the main theatre at the Contact Theatre in Manchester is 300 seats.
Please get in touch the Contact Theatre directly online. Click here for more details.
If you would like to buy a ticket in person from Contact Box Office, they are open Monday - Friday 12 - 10pm. Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
When we know of a duration of a show, we add it to the description of the show on our event pages. For example, on our Wicked event page, after the description of the show we have added the duration of the show in large capital letters. If the time isn't listed, we do not have the information yet. We update our pages daily so it maybe a case of knowing closer to the performance itself, so keep checking.
Please click here for more information on Access provisions at Contact, Manchester.
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to Contact Theatre, please click here for more information.
If you have lost an item during a visit to the Contact Theatre in Manchester, visit their Get In Touch Page
With loads of great places to eat in Manchester and decent pre-theatre menus, you should check out our Manchester Restaurant site here!
Manchester is full of great bars and pubs and some decent ones close to the theatre. Check out our Manchester Bar site here!
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for hotels in Manchester
You can Get In Touch with the Contact Theatre team here, or to locate a specific team member, click here.
Please note that LiverpoolTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the Contact and all other venues in Liverpool and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Contact, Manchester
