PETRICHOR is a MATCHBOX production for ThickSkin.
Experience online at home or in Virtual Reality (VR) at The Lowry

Welcome to PETRICHOR.

Thousands applied and you have been selected.
This is a new beginning, a clean slate, a second chance.
You are an important part of this machine,
And that’s all you need to think about.

Step into a new world. A world where every single day is exactly the same. PETRICHOR is a dystopian reality, where every moment is muted, managed and monochrome. Nothing bad ever happens. Nothing good does either. Excitement and happiness have been traded for a world without pain and suffering.

A chance meeting brings two unlikely individuals together and offers a small glimpse of what life could be. Their newfound connection sends ripples through this ordered world. They begin to question every decision, every step and every thought they’ve ever had. Could there be something more than this?

Days Like These is a new exhibition which shares the stories of Salford in 2020, using paintings, photographs, films and poetry contributed by some of the 245,000 residents of the city - from empty Salford streets and the joy of reuniting, to the impact on frontline workers and the challenges of being alone.  The exhibition wants to reflect the hopes and fears of everyone, then and now, and after you have seen the exhibition, we hope you contribute too.

Alongside is a new display of the best of Salford’s own LS Lowry – an artist known for his paintings of crowded city streets, and vast empty landscapes.

Together they open from 1 November 2020.
The exhibition forms part of the Spirit of Salford initiative – a scheme designed to celebrate the unique personality and pioneering spirit of Salford.

Booking details
• The Galleries will open on  Sunday 1 November and then for weekends only and booking is essential.
• Our opening hours will be 11-4 on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Social distancing measures are in place together with a one-way system
• Visits to the gallery will be via timed entry slots so please ensure you arrive on time (late comers may be declined entry)

• All tickets must be bought in advance and there is a  maximum number of 6 tickets per booking.

• All tickets within a particular group must be purchased by one booker and each group must consist of one household or support bubble.

• When you arrive at The Lowry temperature checks and security controls will be in place.

• Face coverings are mandatory at all times throughout the venue and entry will be denied if face coverings are not worn.

• No food or drink will be allowed into the galleries.

• Always follow instructions given by our staff as well as signage and notifications to ensure the safety of everyone in the building and maintain social distancing from all other households or support bubbles at all times.

Do not attend the venue and contact us immediately if you:
• believe you may be infected with COVID-19;
• have experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
• have been in close proximity to anyone who has experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
• have arrived in England in the last 14 days and are not covered by the exemption rules relating to self-isolation; or
• have been instructed to self-isolate.

These measures are designed to keep everyone safe and ensure that everyone has a great time. Please respect our staff at all times as they implement these measures for everyone's wellbeing - and most importantly we hope you enjoy your visit!

Please take a look at our FAQs in advance of your visit. – www.thelowry.com/coronavirus

'Hey Ray,

Hope you’re well. I think there are some crossed wires here, as per my last email (attached) ‘Name Badge’ is a sketch show based around working in an office. It has nothing to do with the fact that Steve on security didn’t let me into the building last week for not having my name badge. (Even though I bring it in every day)
 
Also Matt informs me that the print font for the poster is in Times New Roman, not Courier New, like I requested. I thought we were all on the same page about this?
 
Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve Cc’d in the audience,
 
Going forward, let me know what we can do to make sure you don’t have these misunderstandings in the future.

Regards,
 
The Producer'

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood…

Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?

Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!

Get a sneak preview at gruffalolive.com

The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books

Praise for Adam's live work:

"Blissfully brilliant" ★★★★★ Mail on Sunday

"Electrifying" ★★★★ Guardian

“Hilarious and heartbreaking” Charlie Brooker

"This made me very, very happy" Stephen Fry

www.adamkay.co.uk

★★★★
‘Delightful. An inspired piece of theatre’
The Guardian

Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions join forces with The Lowry to bring the critically acclaimed live production of C-O-N-T-A-C-T, to two new outdoor locations in Salford and Manchester from January next year.

A young woman sits alone on a park bench, lost in her own thoughts. What is she thinking? Dive into her mind in this unique sensory and immersive theatre experience.

After taking the streets of Paris and London by storm with sell-out performances,
C-O-N-T-A-C-T now journeys north to the streets of Salford and Manchester.
Become totally immersed in the world of our characters for 50 remarkable minutes, as you plug into this joyous, poetic and liberating experience, literally. Delivered via an app created especially for this exciting new show, you will be swept-away by state-of- the-art 3D sound design as you use your smartphone and headphones to navigate the performance. Walk the path with the performers and share their sensations and thoughts, as the action unfolds before your eyes.
This ‘charming’ (Time Out), ‘gripping’ (The Guardian) and ‘magical’ (The Arts Desk) production pushes the boundaries of what live theatre can achieve, allowing us to redefine what ‘performance’ means to us, and ultimately encouraging us to fall in love with theatre all over again.

‘A tantalising vision of a new kind of theatre’
The Times

Limited outdoor season in Salford and Manchester from 19 January for 6 weeks only. Limited spaces available, book now!

★★★★
‘Delightful. An inspired piece of theatre’
The Guardian

Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions join forces with The Lowry to bring the critically acclaimed live production of C-O-N-T-A-C-T, to two new outdoor locations in Salford and Manchester from January next year.

A young woman sits alone on a park bench, lost in her own thoughts. What is she thinking? Dive into her mind in this unique sensory and immersive theatre experience.

After taking the streets of Paris and London by storm with sell-out performances,
C-O-N-T-A-C-T now journeys north to the streets of Salford and Manchester.
Become totally immersed in the world of our characters for 50 remarkable minutes, as you plug into this joyous, poetic and liberating experience, literally. Delivered via an app created especially for this exciting new show, you will be swept-away by state-of- the-art 3D sound design as you use your smartphone and headphones to navigate the performance. Walk the path with the performers and share their sensations and thoughts, as the action unfolds before your eyes.
This ‘charming’ (Time Out), ‘gripping’ (The Guardian) and ‘magical’ (The Arts Desk) production pushes the boundaries of what live theatre can achieve, allowing us to redefine what ‘performance’ means to us, and ultimately encouraging us to fall in love with theatre all over again.

‘A tantalising vision of a new kind of theatre’
The Times

Limited outdoor season in Salford and Manchester from 19 January for 6 weeks only. Limited spaces available, book now!

Comedian and musician Jon Courtenay is the first ever GoldenBuzzer act to win Britain’s Got Talent.

Long before triumphing in the 2020 final, Jonwas a powerhouse live performer with decades of experience touring the world. Becomepart of Jon’s journey of a lifetime where you will roar with laughter, maybeshed a few tears and definitely be inspired by his music and the hilarioustales of his family, relationships and life on tour. With a soundtrackincluding all his Britain’s Got Talent songs and music spanning the classics torock n roll, you are guaranteed a rip-roaring night of music andcomedy. This will be a night to remember!

“A real winner.” Ant and Dec

“It’s funny, it’s touching, it’s unique to you…thatwas unbelievable.”  David Walliams

“I think this is one of the best Golden Buzzers we’veever had on the show.”  Amanda Holden

“It was magical and done so simply. it made me feel warminside. You nailed it my friend. You ticked every single box.”  Alesha Dixon

“It was just a wonderful audition. You are someone who has workedhard for years and needs a break and I’m sure you will get a huge reaction fromthis, I promise you.” Simon Cowell

The much-loved fairy tale, but not quite as you know it...

Cinderella spends her days scrubbing the floors, dreaming of a better life. The prince spends his looking out of the palace windows, dreaming of the perfect companion. Until fate intervenes, the two meet and the rest is history...

Join Opera North this festive season for a magical whistle stop tour of Cinderella, it’s the perfect chance to experience the charm of opera whatever your age! The production will be performed indoors and features a cast of three professional opera singers and an accordionist.

Funny things happen all the time. Normal events don’t catch the eye but Dave’s special radar instinctively draws him to the small out-of-the-ordinary events and conversations that wash over most of us and pass us by. Once identified, he applies his unique style of exaggerating and elaborating them whilst reminding us that we too have not only witnessed them, it’s probably happened to us! It’s this added dimension, this comedy of association that elevates the event to laugh-out-loud funny.

No wonder Time Out magazine said of him, “Not only a very funny comedian but one of the finest raconteurs around.”  

Multi-awardwinning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane isbest known for the BBC Sounds podcast, Evil Genius which has become a flagshipshow and was the best performing original podcast on the platform. Russell’sother podcast Boy’s Don’t Cry also features regularly on the iTunes top chartsfor listened to podcasts and will return with a new series later thisyear. 

RecentTV appearances include The Apprentice You’re Fired, The One Show, AntiquesRoadtrip, Stupid Man, Smart Phone and the host of three seriesof Live At The Electric. Other TV appearances include Live At TheApollo, Unzipped, Celebrity Juice and I’m A Celebrity...GetMe Out of Here Now. 

Winnerof Best Show in 2010 at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Russell went on to makehistory as the first comedian to win both the EdinburghAward and Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry Award in one year.

Followingthe success of his sell-out tour The Fast and The Curious throughoutUK and Ireland, Russell has extended it far into 2020.  As ever, Russellalso continues to provide his ever-popular topical onlinerants ‘Kaneings’.

 SUPPORTINGACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Nabil Abdul Rashid is a finalist and Alesha Dixon’sGolden Buzzer act on the 2020 series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, and will beheading out on his debut UK tour in 2021.

Comedically Nabil is all things to allpeople. Part artist, part entertainer and completely hilarious, Nabil has beenhailed for his energetic delivery and stage presence as well as his brilliantlywritten material which allows him to make even the darkest subjects hilarious.His unique take on social issues from the quirks of day to day life, tocultures, history and geopolitics as well as his relaxed but precise style ofdelivery makes his stand up a wonder to behold. 

Nabil has made several media appearancesas a comedian and social commentator on ITV, BBC2, BBC3, BBC Asian Network, Channel4, Al Jazeera English, Islam Channel and British Muslim TV. He has also touredacross Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

 
“You’re charismatic and I loved it, absolutely loved it. You are a breath of fresh air.” Alesha Dixon

“The writing is perfect, the delivery is perfect.” David Walliams

Britain’s Got Talent 2020 finalist, comedian, juggler and variety star Steve Royle takes his Royle Variety Performance on the road for a fun-filled evening for all the family.
 

Steve spent many years supporting the likes of Peter Kay, Dave Spikey, Mick Miller, Roy Walker and The Lancashire Hotpots on tour. He is a regular television ‘warm-up’ for programs such as "The Rob Brydon Show", "A Question Of Sport", "Mastermind", "The Price is Right" and has several television appearances to his credit including "Phoenix Nights", "Max And Paddy's Road To Nowhere", "Peter Kay's Britain's Got The Pop Factor...", and despite being one of the North West's healthiest males, a medical insurance commercial for "Medicash". He was also featured on the Granada Programme "Behind The Scenes" and "That's Entertainment" (with Cannon and Ball) and was voted "Entertainer of the Year" at the inaugural Red Rose Awards.

“You’re naturally funny, end-of-the-pier British which is what I like.” Simon Cowell

“You’re the heart and soul of [Britain’s Got Talent] because you come out and make everyone smile.” Alesha Dixon

“I adored this act, it felt fresh and it felt polished.” Amanda Holden

“A Brilliant Comedian.” Peter Kay (in his autobiography "Saturday Night Peter")

“Fantastic...should be a star!” Dave Spikey (in his autobiography "Under the Microscope")

“a comedy masterclass!” The Stage

Britain’s Got Talent clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93iMrKkloy0