I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. trip… at Contact

Andrew Anderson

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I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. trip…

Contact Theatre, Manchester
1-4 February 2017

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

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There are some subjects that are so difficult to talk about, or have so much stigma attached, that they get locked away where the light of reason can’t reach them. Abortion is one such subject: although one in three women in the UK have had an abortion it remains a silent and secret problem that many women often have to deal with alone.

One of the best ways to start a conversation is through art, and so 20 Stories High’s new show (co-produced with Contact) I Told My Mum I Was Going on an R.E. Trip… is a positive intervention. It takes the real-life experiences of women who have had abortions and puts them on stage, using dialogue taken from interview transcripts. This, we suspect, will make it a very powerful performance.

The subject matter is important but so is the skill of the storyteller, an area where 20 Stories High have always excelled (The Broke ‘N’ Beat Collective stands out in my memory). They make subjects feel immediate without resorting to gimmicks or other clichés that would push away rather than pull in audiences.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. trip… 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.

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