Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy at The Lowry

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

Book now

A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy

Lowry, Salford
11-12 October 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

From £12.00
A Small Enclosed Room at The Lowry
Image courtesy of Corinne Cumming (2024)
Book now

Coming to The Lowry this October, A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy will take you on a remarkable journey into the mind of a man… or is it the mind of one of his characters?

Is he a guru, a rocker, an artist, or none of these things? Whoever he is, he has something to say… something that could hold a window into his inner thoughts and feelings, but will definitely leave you knowing more about your inner truth.

But the thing is, none of these stories or personas are real. Alfie Murphy, the protagonist, isn’t here to bare his soul. His personality is a creation, a mask he wears for the world, and the stories he shares are fabrications. But they are fabrications that must be told.

Exploring masking, autism, mental health, and the fine line between reality and fantasy, this darkly comic performance raises an important question: when the self you present to the world is always a character, what’s underneath? Is there an authentic self? Or just some fabulous stories we want to tell?

The show comes from the minds of  the “wildly creative” (The Guardian) Cian Binchy (known for his work on ITV, BBC 1, and the Royal Court), Shaun Dunne (How to Tell a Secret on Netflix, Making a Mark) and Leah Moore (Good Omens Bonus Content), and is produced by Access All Areas in partnership with The Lowry.

Access All Areas is known for challenging the status quo, with performances that defy expectations and offer new perspectives on disability and mental health. The Guardian described their previous work Not F**kin’ Sorry as, “a riotous upending of audiences’ preconceptions of disability.”

This latest production continues in that tradition — it’s bold, unpredictable, and utterly unique. Don’t miss out on an unforgettable performance that will leave you questioning your own truths and where exactly the boundaries between reality and performance blur.

Accessibility

  • Captioned
  • Relaxed

What's on at Lowry

Opera North: Susanna at Lowry
MusicSalford
Opera North: Susanna at Lowry

Opera North joins forces with Phoenix Dance Theatre for Susanna – a bold reimagining of Handel’s oratorio that still feels fiercely relevant today.

From £24.00
Myra's Story at Lowry
–
TheatreSalford
Myra’s Story at Lowry

Direct from London’s West End, a critically acclaimed play shining a light on homelessness, addiction and resilience through one woman’s unforgettable story.  

From £10.00
Black Power Desk at Lowry
Until
TheatreMediaCityUK
Black Power Desk at Lowry

Following a sell-out premiere at Brixton House, this bold new musical brings the hidden history of Britain’s Black Power movement to Salford.

From £16.00

Where to go near A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy at The Lowry

Manchester
Gallery
Irwell Sculpture Trail

The 33-mile trail, which follows the River Irwell from Salford Quays all the way to Bacup in Pennine Lancashire, has been around for over a decade, but it’s recently been restored and expanded.

Manchester
Shopping Centre
Lowry Outlet Mall

The Lowry Outlet Mall in The Quays district of Manchester sits opposite both The Lowry and MediaCityUK, Europe’s largest media hub and the home of BBC North.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Central Bay

Central Bay is a new waterfront dining and drinking destination at Quayside MediaCity, opening summer 2023.

MediaCityUK
Café or Coffee Shop
Blanconero

High-level Italian food in Salford Quays, with no less than seven different lasagnas to choose from.

The Quays
Restaurant
The Alchemist Mediacity

The latest offering from the UK-conquering Alchemist has an energetic vibe similar to others in this highly-regarded chain of restaurants.

Salford
Uswim
at Salford Quays

Jump into waters of dock 9 at Salford Quays with Uswim, they bring the benefits and freedom of open water swimming to the convenience of a central location.

Manchester
Food hall
Kargo MKT

Mighty food hall in Salford Quays, with around twenty street food vendors, serving a huge range of cuisines.

Manchester
Restaurant
11 Central

11 Central is a new bar and microbrewery launched by local brewing legends SEVEN BRO7HERS BREWING CO at the Central Bay site in Salford.

See all places

What's on: Theatre

Black Power Desk at Lowry
Until
TheatreMediaCityUK
Black Power Desk at Lowry

Following a sell-out premiere at Brixton House, this bold new musical brings the hidden history of Britain’s Black Power movement to Salford.

From £16.00
Lost Atoms at Liverpool Everyman: A broken mirror distorting the faces of a man and woman
Until
TheatreCity Centre
Lost Atoms at Liverpool Playhouse

Frantic Assembly join with award-winning writer Anna Jordan for Lost Atoms, a gripping 2025/26 premiere tour and 30th anniversary performance, exploring memory and love.

From £11.00
Myra's Story at Lowry
–
TheatreSalford
Myra’s Story at Lowry

Direct from London’s West End, a critically acclaimed play shining a light on homelessness, addiction and resilience through one woman’s unforgettable story.  

From £10.00

Culture Guides

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries in the North are far from spooky this October - instead you'll find tactile sculptures, plant magic and curatorial experiments.

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.

See all guides