TURN 2025 at Contact

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
TURN 2025 at Contact
Image courtesy of Maisha Kungu Dance.

TURN 2025 at Contact Theatre, Manchester 4 April 2025 Tickets from £Pay-What-You-Can — Book now

For dance lovers, curious culture-seekers and champions of fresh artistic talent, Turn 2025 at Contact Theatre is an unmissable event. Now in its twelfth edition, this dynamic evening of dance showcases eight brand-new short works by North West-based artists, offering a thrilling glimpse into the future of contemporary performance.

Taking place at Contact, Turn 2025 is more than just a performance—it’s a creative playground where bold ideas take shape, pushing the boundaries of movement, storytelling and expression. Each piece is a snapshot of an artist’s vision, ranging from experimental choreography to emotionally charged physical theatre. Expect to see innovative work from artists like JP Hon, whose striking movement language defies convention, and Rachel Yan Ting Li, who brings a unique fusion of dance and visual storytelling to the stage.

This annual spring event attracts a diverse audience – you’ll find seasoned dance enthusiasts alongside those who are discovering contemporary performance for the first time. Contact Theatre’s commitment to engaging young people and diverse communities ensures an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re an artist, a student, or simply someone who loves seeing new work unfold in real time, Turn 2025 offers a rare chance to witness the creative process up close.

With performances from collectives such as Meraki Collective and UMAMI i! MOVEMENT, the event is also a space for dialogue and collaboration. Turn 2025 isn’t just about watching dance – it’s about experiencing the pulse of Manchester’s contemporary dance scene.

If you’re ready to see bold new choreographic voices in action, grab your ticket and step into the world of Turn 2025. Expect energy and experimentation, and performances that will leave you thinking long after the lights go down.

TURN 2025 at Contact Theatre, Manchester 4 April 2025 Tickets from £Pay-What-You-Can Book now

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near TURN 2025 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: Dance

Two dancers and orchestra on stage
Until
DanceManchester
Dance:Music at the RNCM

Through a treasure trove of concerts, the RNCM’s initiative Dance:Music explores the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.

from £0.00
Wake at Aviva Studios: Man dances in a mesh crop top and gold shorts with purple and white irridescent lights in front of an audience.
Until
DanceManchester
Wake at Aviva Studios

Expect wild acrobatics, outrageous cabaret and electrifying variety when acclaimed Irish sensation THISISPOPBABY come to play at Aviva Studios.

from £10.00
Now Northwich: Three aerialists fly around a metal tower in the dark as oversized pink conetti flutters around them
FamiliesCheshire
Now Northwich 2025

With performances from Company Chameleon, Global Grooves, Tea Club and Sole Rebel, Northwich’s free international dance and street arts festival is back for 2025.

free entry
Aakash Odedra: Songs Of The Bulbul at Lowry
DanceMediaCityUK
Aakash Odedra: Songs Of The Bulbul at Lowry

Happening as part of Lowry’s 25th anniversary, Aakash Odedra’s five-star show, accompanied by a live orchestra, arrives in Salford for one special performance this May.

from £16.50

Culture Guides

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Sextile
Music in the North

The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.