The notion of going to a gallery or performance space to look at art then getting on with your life is a bit passé, it’s far more fun and thought provoking when you happen on the arts in day to day life, or better yet when they happen upon you.
Lost & Found is a new festival of pop-up performance and impromptu art that’s spreading from the Contact Theatre across the city of Manchester. Featuring dancing on trams, art at the Arndale Centre and al fresco opera, Lost and Found takes place in a variety of non-arts venues and public spaces across the city before culminating with a day of innovative work at the Contact on Saturday 11th June.
All performances are free, with the exception of Reykjavik (see below). Here's the lowdown:
Lose yourself in the city …
Metrolink Moving Theatre
Mon 6th to Fri 10th, 11am to 4pm
A Metrolink tram is home to a week of dance, music, and commuter arts-and craft.
Elemental Opera
Wed 8th to Fri 10th, 12pm to 2pm
Manchester’s very own opera collective perform scenes from Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte in the city streets.
If You Speak I Will Listen
Thu 9th , 12pm to 5pm
Poet Fergus Evans presents an intimate performance centred around the act of listening at Nexus Art Café. (Free, but booking required).
Mixed Movement
Thu 9th, 12pm to 1pm
Fri 10th, 4pm to 5pm
Contact’s dance company transforms the fountains in Piccadilly Gardens with a unique performance.
Akemi Arts In The Arndale
Fri10th, 1pm to 4pm
Akemi Arts transforms the basement of HMV Arndale into a cavern of music, spoken word and live art.
A Night Of Found Arts
Fri 10th, 7pm to 10.30pm
An evening of outdoor music, film and theatre at Bridgewater Hall’s Piazza including Elemental Opera’s abridged Cosi Fan Tutte and bicycle-powered cinema courtesy of PoWWow Pedal Power.
Indemnity, Part I: A Week in Walter’s Life
Unique seven-day multi-platform performance tracing the complicated life of salesman Walter Daniel. Artist Marcus Lilley utilises Twitter, text messages, emails, video and photography to unfold the drama. To register for involvement email your mobile number to w.danielcit@gmail.com and sit tight …
Find yourself at Contact …
Reykjavik
Tue 7th to Sat 11th, £10/6
Shams present a stunning promenade performance exploring love, memory and the architecture of the mind.
On Sat 11th June, Lost & Found takes over Contact for a day of innovative work and daring discovery …
The Stars Were Bright And I Was In Canada
Artist Laura Purling presents a part-performance, part-installation exploring the relationship between memory and smell.
Anonymous
Façade Theatre explore personal and global struggles in a rolling performance where audience members will be asked to leave something of themselves behind.
A Room To Say Goodbye In
Poet Fergus Evans presents an intimate interactive installation about letting go and saying goodbye. Booking required.
Kiss My Heart
Join Sarah Evans in her small pink tent for an individual, interactive performance about love.
Harbingers
Strangers have been seen in Manchester with a message about the end of the world! Have you seen them? Join Larkin’ About in this interactive apocalyptic game.
Indemnity, Part II: The Finale
Following a week of online performance, artist Marcus Lilley offers a glimpse into Walter Daniel’s real world.
The Lost & Found Sessions
Music throughout the day from local artists.
Lost & Found has been produced by Re:Con, Contact’s Young Programming and Producing Team. Established last year Re:Con offers young people the opportunity to directly shape Contact’s programme, develop their professional practice and produce their own festival. Re:Con this year are: Phil Brankin, Alex Browning, Jennifer Gaskell and Rachel Moorhouse. Lost & Found Festival 2011 is supported by Metrolink, Ideas Tap, PoWWow Pedal Power, O2 Think Big, Nexus Art Café and HMV.
See Contact website here.
