SICK! Festival, the biennial arts festival exploring difficult conversations around issues of mental and physical health, returns to Manchester in September showcasing a selection of bold works from local, national and international artists. Taking place at a number of venues across Greater Manchester between 18th September and 5th October, The Lowry will be the first stop on the tour. The festival features a number of new commissions, performances and installations drawn together to explore the question, “What is the value of a life?’ Steve Cowton, Head of Programming at The Lowry said: “SICK! Festival are brilliant at exploring the most pressing issues facing humanity through different art forms and they are an important partner for The Lowry. The programme for this year’s festival is the best yet and we can’t wait to see how our audiences respond” The full line up at The Lowry includes: Candoco: Let’s Talk About Dis, Ursula Marinez: Family Outgoing, Comedian Laurence Clark: Irresponsible Father’s Guide To Parenting, Still No Idea and British Paraorchestra’s The Nature of Why. SICK! Festival at The Lowry will also include an Unlimited Connects conference which discusses and showcases the work of disabled artists and a public event which explores disability and society. Lisa Hammond, best known for her role as Donna in EastEnders has co-written will star in Still No Idea at The Lowry, alongside Rachael Spence. The show which is part verbatim, part comedy sketch show explores the answers given from the British Public when asked: “What sort of play do you think we would be in?” SICK! Festival at The Lowry will offer, for the first time, a unique ‘pay between scheme’ allowing audiences of all incomes to pay what they feel they can afford to attend the performances, installations and events over the course of the entire three week festival. Helen Medland, CEO / Artistic Director says: “We are delighted to partner with The Lowry again to host the first week of SICK! Festival. We share the same values and work closely together to provide a fantastic platform for the artists we commission and present. SICK! Festival exists to explore areas of life we just don’t talk about enough, allowing us to have conversations about fundamental issues that will affect us all at one time or another. This year’s festival is no different – often provocative, always engaging. Over three weeks we’ll be exploring disability, young people’s mental health and end of life care under the headline, “What is the value of a life? We’re doing this in a number of ways working closely with artists, local communities, academics and even frontline clinicians who deal with difficult issues every working day of their lives.” You can view the full line up for the whole Greater Manchester tour Here Comments are closed.
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