About Us
Welcome
A warm welcome to the spring/summer 2012 season at the Martin Harris Centre.
The Centre offers a vibrant and exciting programme of events across many art forms and this season certainly has something to satisfy all tastes. We have an array of inspirational concerts, wonderful dramas, captivating poetry and literature and even some comedy!
The New Year gets off to an exciting start with the return of the University’s internationally renowned resident string quartet, the Quatuor Danel. As usual, they will enchant and challenge us with juxtapositions of the new and the old, including the première of Ghosts of Great Violence by the University's Professor of Composition, Philip Grange.
We are delighted to announce the return of performance poet and five times fringe-award winner, Mark Gwynne-Jones in January 2012.
There are some exciting drama productions to entertain you this season; in February 2012 we host Black Box Theatre Company’s production Of Mice and Men, a stunning new piece of theatre inspired by John Steinbeck’s classic novella. Also in February 2012, the MIFTAs (Manchester In-Fringe Theatre Awards) are coming to town! As the biggest event in the University Drama Society’s calendar, seven shows will take place over four weeks. The Centre will host the opening production: What’s Wrong With Angry? by Patrick Wilde.
Don’t miss the New Music North West Festival in March 2012, which we bring to you in association with our friends at the Royal Northern College of Music. With over 20 concerts featuring well over 60 composers, the festival showcases the musical brilliance and diversity which we all have on our doorstep here in the North West.
Comedy is the order of the day in March 2012 when we are joined by comedian Jonny Sweet who won ‘The Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer’ in 2009. The talented comedian has recently worked with ‘Inbetweeners’ stars Simon Bird and Joe Thomas, and is sure to entertain you!
Bringing the season to a close in July 2012, we are privileged to welcome the Hallé Youth Orchestra and Hallé Youth Choir. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to appreciate some of the most incredibly talented local young musicians.
These are just a few highlights from this season’s exceptional programme. We hope you will be able to join us for these and other exciting events at the Martin Harris Centre.
Mark Woolstencroft
Martin Harris Centre Manager
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama is a performing space situated at the heart of the oldest part of the University. It incorporates a 350-seat concert hall, a 150-seat studio theatre and an electroacoustic music studio.
The foyer makes an immediately striking impact: its use of light, open space and bold areas of colour blend with Alice Kettle's dynamic textile artwork, Red and Blue Movement in Three. In September 2010 we unveil a newly commissioned piece of work between Drama and the Martin Harris Centre - Kshitij (unlimited horizon) - by contemporary abstract artist Shameela Hussain.
The Centre hosts many musicians, performers and prize-winning authors. It provides an excellent space for contemporary and classic theatre, music and comedy events, and holds a reading series that has in the past featured such literary luminaries as Martin Amis, Will Self, John Banville and Clive James. We also present new and exciting artists who go on to become household names as well as established artists performing to sell-out audiences all over the world.
So please come along, and discover why the Martin Harris Centre is attracting attention as an important arts venue throughout the North West.
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