Schrödinger at Contact

Andrew Anderson

Book now

Schrödinger

Contact Theatre, Manchester
24-25 May 2017

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

Schrödinger
© Adrian Philpott
Book now

Some plays perfectly capture the political picture of the time they were created in – plays like Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, for example, which protested the on-going constitutional assaults of Joseph McCarthy and his cronies.

Then there are those plays that paint a landscape that has yet to come, their true power only revealed once the world has caught up with them. Schrödinger, which is on at Contact this May, is just such a play.

First produced 20 years ago, Schrödinger depicts a place where nothing is what it seems, where no one knows who has power and who is a puppet, and where once-strong words have become dust.

Trapdoors form a visual metaphor as the protagonists struggle to tell up from down, in from out and right from wrong. It’s a striking piece of symbolism, and makes for one of the most interesting set designs I’ve seen in a while, where cast members can come in through almost any angle.

Schrödinger is produced by Reckless Sleepers, whose works are always off-kilter – their 2014 show A String Quartet, for example, featured five ladies sawing chairs into pieces while sitting them ­– which makes them the perfect company for this chaotic work.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near Schrödinger 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

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.

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.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

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.