Split Britches: Last Gasp at Contact

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Split Britches: Last Gasp

Contact Theatre, Manchester
30 November-1 December 2022
Date
Time
Session Features
30 Nov 2022
7:30 pm
01 Dec 2022
7:30 pm

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

Split Britches: Last Gasp
Image courtesy of Christa Holka.
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The legendary duo Split Britches return to the physical theatre space at Contact with Last Gasp, a wry performative reflection on the turbulent last couple of years.

Witty and poetic with a touch of irony.

Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver first set out to present Last Gasp in 2020; a live performance that would interrogate demise: the demise of ageing bodies, civil conversation and a sustainable planet. However, when the pandemic arrived – ironies were not lost – the duo locked down and continued to develop the show, which resulted in the development of a digital performance Last Gasp WFH.

The duo use spoken word and movement as a call and response to urgent global predicaments.

Now, almost two years later, Shaw and Weaver bring their “recalibrated” live performance of the show to Manchester. Returning to a physical performance space, the duo use spoken word and movement as a call and response to urgent global predicaments; probing what it means to be together in a theatre and to share performance in the aftermath of a global crisis. Witty and poetic with a touch of irony, Shaw and Weaver consider their personal experiences along with wider reflections.

What it means to be together in a theatre and to share performance in the aftermath of a crisis.

Needless to say, we’re huge fans of Split Britches’ work. Founded in 1980 by Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver and Deb Margolin, they are one of the US’s most revered experimental theatre companies and have played a huge role in bringing distinctly postmodern lesbian feminism to the stage. They are also recognized for their engagement with older people, and their performances and workshops exploring (and subverting narratives around) age and ageing.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near Split Britches: Last Gasp 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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