LEVIATHAN at Contact

Andrew Anderson

Book now

LEVIATHAN

Contact Theatre, Manchester
16-17 May 2017

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

LEVIATHAN at Contact
© Steve Tanner
Book now

I recently visited Coventry Cathedral for the first time. Not only is it one of the most beautiful modernist buildings you’re ever likely to see – if you’ve never been you really should – but it is also a place with a powerful message: that reconciliation, rather than revenge, lights the path to peace.

It’s a message that captain Ahab, protagonist of Herman Melville’s magnum opus Moby Dick, would have done well to heed. Ahab had one of his legs bitten off by a great white whale during a previous voyage. But rather than forgiving and forgetting, Ahab becomes obsessed with wreaking revenge on the unfortunate beast – and, in the process, ends up destroying himself and his crew.

Now LEVIATHAN, a new work from choreographer James Wilton, takes Melville’s themes of revenge, mania and madness and turns them into an epic dance performance. On at Contact, the threatening stillness of the empty ocean and the frenzied movements of whaling are perfectly captured, as Ahab and his crew battle against the immovable might of nature.

Wilton’s style, which is extremely athletic and makes use of martial arts, is perfectly suited to this monstrous struggle. His previous show Last Man Standing was a breakout success, and LEVIATHAN is a strong follow up – a re-telling that adds an extra dimension to Melville’s classic.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near LEVIATHAN 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

Culture Guides

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.