MIF19: Maggie the Cat at The Dancehouse

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Maggie the Cat at The Dancehouse

The Dancehouse, Manchester
11-14 July 2019

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

MIF19 Maggie the Cat at The Dancehouse Manchester International Festival
Photo: Orpheas Emirzas
Book now

Inspired by Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maggie the Cat is a magnetic new dance work from Trajal Harrell, one of contemporary dance’s most revered artists. Taking the character of Maggie and placing her centre stage, this world premiere dance performance will address issues around power, gender, rejection and inclusion from Maggy’s perspective.

Maggie the Cat promises to challenge and entertain

This exhilarating dance performance will be set to an evocative soundtrack featuring an eclectic blend of music, from classical to electro and pop. Influenced by a full portfolio of performative work, from ancient Greek theatre to the Vogue movement from 1960s Harlem – Maggie the Cat promises to challenge and entertain.

Harrell first came to visibility with Twenty Looks and Paris is Burning at The Judson Church series of works which theoretically juxtaposed the early postmodern dance tradition with the Vogue dance movement. He is now considered one of the most influential choreographers in the world today. Harrell’s work occupies a highly unique position in that it spans both high-cultural theory and snapshots of pop culture, such as music videos, catwalks and Harlem drag balls. Offering many layers of fiction and reality, history and imagined histories – Harrell’s work is always pushing boundaries towards the impossible.

Inspired by women who had to navigate deep water to gain or preserve their power, Maggie the Cat is the first part of a trilogy and a sharp new work from one of contemporary dance’s most inspiring choreographers.

Where to go near MIF19: Maggie the Cat at The Dancehouse

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Thirsty Scholar

Friendly pub under a railway arch serving vegetarian and vegan pub food, as well as hosting regular live music.

Manchester
Music venue
YES

The apple in Now Wave’s eye, YES boasts four floors of live music and DJs, and offers food via two outlets. It also has a huge outdoor roof terrace!

Bakchich
Manchester
Restaurant
Bakchich Manchester

Bakchich does excellent, reasonably priced Lebanese food – including sharwarma, pickles, meshawi grills and baklawa – in a beautifully tiled, high-ceilinged space.

Manchester
Restaurant
Zouk

Manchester has more than one top-tier Indian restaurant, but Zouk is right up there with the best, and counts Drake as a fan.

Gorilla, Whitworth street Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Gorilla

Gorilla is a good choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. From a hearty full English to meaty burgers via good vegan and veggie options. It also hosts some of the

Manchester
Music venue
Joshua Brooks

Long-established Manchester bar and nightclub, Joshua Brooks is just off student hotspot Oxford Road. Open until 4am on the weekends with regular DJ-led club nights.

Dog Bowl bowling alley and restaurant Manchester.
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Dog Bowl

A bar and 10-pin bowling alley combined, Dog Bowl is a neon-lit venue that serves up cocktails and Tex-Mex food to go with your time on the lanes.

What's on: Theatre

–
TheatreManchester
Bright Places at HOME

Rae Mainwaring’s award-winning Bright Places brings humour, 90s pop and glitter to an honest, unpredictable exploration of life with MS.

From £11.20
Halloween at HOME.
–
CinemaManchester
Halloween at HOME

Featuring a programme of chilling cinema, thrilling theatre and frightful family fun, HOME is embracing the darkness like never before.

From £0.00
–
TheatreMediaCityUK
LOVE**WORK at Lowry

Anonymous stories gathered across continents ask how love and work shape each other, through performance, music and live art.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Shakespearean tragedy, indie musical theatre, live art and beautifully strange dance-theatre – four standout picks for autumn.

Nwando Ebizie and Sidiki Dembélé wear jewel-toned clothes against a midnight blue backdrop.
Music

Returning legends, their noisy heirs and centuries-old music made new – all in our latest guide update.

Food and Drink in the North

It's autumn and time to get scheduling those hearty meals. Here's the October guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Exhibitions

It’s a good season for contemporary art fans in Manchester, with many of our favourite small galleries launching something big.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

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.