Heart of Darkness at The Lowry

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Heart of Darkness

Lowry, Salford
16-18 April 2019

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

Heart of Darkness at The Lowry
Photo courtesy of Imitating the Dog
Book now

Following their popular and acclaimed adaptation of Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, imitating the dog bring Joseph Conrad’s influential novel, Heart of Darkness to The Lowry’s stage.

A tale of deceit and greed, Heart of Darkness was written over 100 years ago amid the optimism at the turn of a new century. Conrad’s novel charted the journey of narrator Charles Manlow as he travelled up the Congo river into the Congo Free State in the heart of Africa. Now in this bold retelling, imitate the dog re-site the narrative in a timeless Europe as a Congolese woman journeys through a war-torn landscape.

A searing parable for our times, imitating the dog’s Heart of Darkness, negotiates race and gender alongside themes of exploitation, violence and nationalism. Influential and timely, this performance has been created at a time when versions of Britain’s colonial past are being held up as a golden era, and when our relationship with Europe is being severely tested. This is a relevant and vital retelling of Conrad’s novel for a modern day audience.

imitating the dog have been making ground-breaking work for theatres and other spaces for 20 years. Their work, often highly visual and utilising innovative multimedia, has been witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people across the world.

The company are most interested in telling stories and creating beautiful, memorable images for audiences. In Heart of Darkness, imitating the dog will stage a visually rich, multi-layered exploration of Conrad’s classic novel fusing live performance with digital technology.

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 Heart of Darkness 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.

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

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 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.

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.