Sophie Willan: Branded at Contact

Andrew Anderson

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Sophie Willan: Branded

Contact Theatre, Manchester
28 June-1 July 2017

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

Sophie Willan Branded at Contact
© Steve Ullathorne
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Comedian Sophie Willan hasn’t had an easy life. Brought up in foster care, her teen years saw her careen from one home to another, never able to settle down, almost always finding herself in strange surroundings.

All that might sound like a recipe for misery, but Willan’s talent lies in her ability to turn tragedy on its tail, making mirth from her most maudlin moments. For example, her last show On Record created a comic script from her childhood caseworker notes – no mean feat.

Now Willan is back with a new show Branded at Contact Theatre, where she takes the labels she has been given throughout her life ­– rude, useless, no good – and feeds them through her pity-free laughter machine. The result is a funny show with plenty of laughs, but also a good few poignant moments.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near Sophie Willan: Branded 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

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