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.

What's on at Contact Theatre

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

This is England at The Lowry
Until
TheatreMediaCityUK
Dear England at Lowry

Don’t miss James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning, big-hearted, ‘pitch-perfect’ celebration of football when it comes to Salford.

From £23

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

A young boy with a white sash around his left arm cries.
Cinema in the North

Outdoor cinema announcements, a major retrospective at HOME, and the best of indie cinema.