Ergon: The Wicked Problem at Contact

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Ergon: The Wicked Problem

Contact Theatre, Manchester
3-6 November 2021

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

Ergon: The Wicked Problem
Image courtesy of Drew Forsyth.
Book now

Unique and fully immersive, Ergon: The Wicked Problem places the audience at the centre of the performance as the jury on the first-ever trial to decide the fate of an individual who has broken a climate law.

The first-ever trial to decide the fate of an individual who has broken a climate law.

The year is 2061 and the world as we know it has changed. For this interactive theatrical experience, the audience are transported into the courtroom and given the space to think critically about climate change and its effects on everyday people.

As members of the jury, the audience will have the chance to question their own morals, debate on climate breakdown, consider geographical privilege and decide on the ultimate outcome of the show.

Thought-provoking, intelligent and powerful.

Commissioned by Re:Con, a group of young creatives who are curating an artistic project, and supported by Contact, this fascinating performance was born out of a desire to bring together art and science. Exploring themes around climate change and sustainability, audiences are invited to become part of an interactive response that investigates the future of Greater Manchester.

An urgent investigation of a subject we should all face head-on.

Suitable for ages 15+, Ergon: The Wicked Problem is a thought-provoking, intelligent and powerful performance offering an urgent investigation of a subject we should all face head-on.

Where to go near Ergon: The Wicked Problem at Contact

Manchester
Music venue
The Deaf Institute

The Deaf Institute is a vibrant gig venue and nightclub for which it is well worth taking a jaunt out of the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sandbar

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.

Johnny Roadhouse store
Manchester
Shop
Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

Manchester
Event venue
The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

What's on: Theatre

A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.
FamiliesManchester
The Snowy Day at Z-arts

This winter, families with little ones are invited into a shimmering world of snow and discovery with the new production of The Snowy Day.

From £10.00
Get Outside with Bradford 2025: An image of a large man made pool with fountains in front of a historic building with a clock tower
Until
FestivalsBradford
Get Outside with Bradford 2025

Explore art in the moorlands, soundscapes through the glen and appreciate how the city has become totally transformed when you get outside with Bradford 2025.

Free entry
Freaky Friday at HOME
Until
FamiliesManchester
Freaky Friday at HOME

HOME’s Christmas show Freaky Friday makes its UK stage premiere. A funny, heartfelt Disney musical offering a body-swappingly brilliant alternative to panto.

From £27.70

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Manchester’s closing out the year – and looking to the new one – with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.

Sepia image of a courtroom with the words 'Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird’
Theatre in the North

Winter brings a huge haul of seasonal shows, as well as productions that resolutely veer away from the fairy lights.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

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

In galleries around the North this autumn, you'll find tactile sculptures, Treasures with a capital 'T' and plant magic.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.