Pinning down Square Peg

18 May

With just over a month to go before Square Peg perform their commissioned piece The Man Who Woke Up Dead, we decided to catch up with Katie and Michael and see how they were getting along.

 

Square Peg receive their £3000 commission

Square Peg receive their £3000 commission

You were the first ever winners of the Creative Industries Trafford To the Stage commission – congratulations! How has receiving the CIT commission changed The Man Who Woke Up Dead?

We’re not sure we would have had a show without the CIT commission. We were always going to make The Man Who Woke Up Dead, but without their help it would never have happened so quickly. It feels like only last week that we were thinking about it and now we’re 7 weeks from the premiere, that’s kind of scary – but exciting.

You mentioned previously that you have been working with a sound designer in the shows devising process – what’s that been like!?

It’s been great. We’re not that tech savvy, so to have somebody take the reins is brilliant. Working with Owen means that we can create a much more detailed and subtle world, it’s adding so much texture to the show. As we’re working from the idea of Film Noir, sound is a really important aspect. It’s like a forth character.

You made an interesting observation in your brilliant blog that ‘each genre succumbs to it’s own set of rules, whether it wants to or not’. Do you find yourselves fighting against genre when devising?

Well, thank you. Yes and No. I think you need to be aware of the work you’re making and rules are important. There are always common themes that run through genres and I think you have to embrace them. We were keen to not make a pastiche of Film Noir, otherwise you run the risk of it turning into a comedy or a caricature.

You’re at the Brighton Fringe this weekend with your last show Forwards and Backwards, how are you feeling about that?

A little nervous – we’ve never been to the Brighton Fringe before so we’re excited. It’s been great to revisit the script again and a joy to discover that it still works.

Finally, waking up dead is certainly an existential fear for lots of people; care to divulge your biggest fears?

Finding out that you’re life was just a more mundane version of the Truman Show.

That’s pretty scary! Good luck in Brighton and we can’t wait to catch The Man Who Woke Up Dead next month!

Katie in Forwards and Backwards

Katie in Forwards and Backwards

Catch Square Peg and brilliantly balletic Forwards and Backwards at the Brighton Fringe from 17th – 19th May at the Marlborough Theatre. Click here to book.

The Man Who Woke Up Dead will première at Waterside Arts Centre Sale on 27th  - 29th  June. For tickets and more information, click here.

You can find out more about Creative Industries Trafford and To the Stage here.

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Top 5 Free-From Hotspots in Manchester

11 Mar

For those of us that are picky of palette, tricky with their tummies or simply health and environmentally conscious, eating and drinking out can be exasperating, occasionally embarrassing, and often leaves you ennuied and envious.

But fear not, it’s not so grim up North as 503 have found the finest five free-from spots to eat and drink in Manchester. We’ve specially selected places that are accommodating but not exclusive to any dietary desires, so Mr. Steak can still take Miss. Salad on a successful date.

 

The Home From Home – Home Sweet Home

Always a 503 favourite, Home Sweet Home offers its world famous Cheese Burger Toastie on gluten free bread, and if you ask any of the lovely looking staff nicely enough they’ll bring any of their butties on the stuff. The new menu features an assortment of Vegasmic dishes from the innovative Veggie Chilli Lasagne served with Chipotle Ketchup, and the Carrot, Orange, Beetroot and Goats Cheese salad with its sweet and surprising garnish. Finally, the new menu also see’s the arrival of Rekorderlig for anyone who can’t drink beer. On the surface the menu may still seem meat and gluten heavy, but the best thing about Home Sweet Home is the staff and chefs are prepared to be as accommodating as your Mum, and you don’t even have to have a tantrum.

 

The Fancy Free-From -  Bistro 1847

Recently opening another restaurant in Chorlton, the Vegetarian Society’s best kept secret is spreading fast. Their most popular dish – the beer battered halloumi with hand-cut chips – is always better than the real thing, and almost everything on the menu is blessedly branded with GFO (gluten-free option). The dishes are indulgent and well…meaty, serving whole baked Camembert and fat strudels. Upmarket and unnoticeably meat-free, this is the perfect spot to impress a carnivore.

 

The Treat Yourself Then Somebody Else  – Oklahoma

Oklahoma is perfect for the free-from free-lancer who needs a wifi spot to pitch their portable office. With a range of teas as extensive as the bizarre kitchen utensils available in the adjoin gift-shop, this secret spot is a city get away full of Instagram ambience. Where cafe culture usually fails to accommodate Vegans, they’re spoilt for choice in Oklahoma, with soups, cakes and the famous baked sweet potatoes.

 

The Extra Volume Legume – V-Revolution

The punks equivalent to Oklahoma but no less friendly, V-Revolution provides the best in vinyl and veggies. The vegan hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches fit perfectly with the American Diner decor and the soya milk flows with the Northern Quarter embellishments. Where their gluten-free selection fails , the intimate instore gigs make up for with notable performances in the past from Goodtime Boys and Red City Radio as well as their annual involvement in Record Store Day. Fronted with the tagline ‘You don’t have to be vegan to shop here, you don’t have to like records to come and hang out’, everyone’s welcome

 

The FOMO Banisher – Dough

FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can be a common condition for anyone with dietary restrictions. Dough, however have endeavoured to ensure that no-one misses out on that greasy gratification only a pizza can provide. From the outside, Dough may look like a place where couples go to die, but despite the somewhat soulless interior they certainly serve soul food. Nearly everything on the vast menu is available gluten-free, even the desert menu boasts an impressive selection of vegan and GF pudds. Most unusual and exciting is the presence of Estrella’s gluten-free beer Daura, so even the coealics can enjoy the perfect pizza accompaniment.

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Three is a magic number…

17 Jan

Next week opens with a depressing flop. Monday 21st January , the third Monday of the new year, is supposedly the most miserable day we will have to face in 2013. Ever the optimist, the 503 pharmacist prescribes you with three doses of drinking, dancing and maybe some debating.

Already filling us with cheer is re:play 2013 at The Lowry.  With more fringe than Zooey Deschanel, you’re a fool if you’ve already missed such theatrical delights as JB Shorts and other Manchester Theatre Awards nominees. But fear not, this weekend sees the return of black comedy Hidden and the missing Manchester memoir Stars Are Fire. 503 are extra excited for the New Script Night where four aspiring writers  have written four brand new short plays all written during the first week of re:play. Most exciting this weekend though are the opportunities for theatre makers and goers to voice their opinions on the Manchester theatrical scene. Working with the Cornerhouse the Library want to evaluate and progress with their Creative Lunch sessions on Saturday, welcoming in artists from all disciplines with big creative cookies and coffees.  With a few less crudités and a few more curses, Talking Shop is already making 503 a bit scared with excitement. Bravely facing up to the threats theatre and all the arts are facing, this is a great opportunity for anyone who cares about arts in Manchester to join in the conversation, and maybe join forces.

Since we love Paris nearly as much we love Manchester, we can’t resist getting our ‘je ne sais quoi’ on at Mancunian/Parisian DJ Paulette’s new club night Bang. Our favourite Northern Quarter venue 2022NQ (numericals have got to stick together) just got even more favourable, announcing that the night will be FREE. That is an amazing price to pay to see an award-winning international DJ, backed by bizarre visuals from the renowned Doodlebug. Although this cross-channel craziness is sold out, we’ve heard on the grape vine that more tickets may be released last minute. Keep your peepers peeled… And if you just can’t schmooze yourself some tickets, then be sure to head to 2022NQ anywho to see our (other) favourite Manchester blog in excellent exhibition form. Opening tomorrow, Hayley Flynn’s sky-high curation of Streetview will show you Manchester like you’ve never seen it before.

Your third and final medicine is dram of Nan wisdomosity – ‘Guiness is good for you’. That’s excuse enough for us to head to the newly relocated, finally reopened Irish World Heritage Centre this weekend. A celebration of all things Irish, the new centre hopes to become an expression of Irish history and culture around the world. It is impossible to leave the bar, littered with Irish sporting memorabilia, without feeling those January blues just a little bit lifted.

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LCD Soundsystem Is Playing at My House

6 Jan

Since the sad death of the influential and incredible LCD Soundsystem in 2011, 503 has been chronically cemented in the 5th stage of grief: denial. Listening as loyally ever to front man James Murphy when he tweeted: “NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT IS NOT WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SEE US!”, we did not fly out to the requiem gig in Madison Square Gardens. Finally, the chance for closure came upon the release of ‘Shut Up and Play the Hits’.

In a typically self-aware post-modern way, LCD Soundsystem chronicled their suicide in a gorgeously shot documentary. Released on these fair shores in September, the full show recording has until recently only been screened in London. But being the fairy godmothers they are, Now Wave and Gorilla joined forces to bestow Manchester with a belated Christmas gift; a 3 hour no popcorn, all dancing, full PA, with accompanying smoke and lighting LCD party. In honour of the UK DVD release, the show promised (even on the flyers) to be, for those of us that couldn’t make it to NY, ‘as close to being there as you can get’.

The atmosphere at Gorillalcdsound_online on 29th December could have been attributed to the traditional peculiarity of the weird bit between Christmas and New Year, but the excited anticipation palpable at any live gig was obvious. The DJ worked hard to distract from the fact that no roadies followed by the band would be appearing on stage, whilst the crowd instead watched a jumpy DVD menu page.

Despite the initial awkwardness of dancing to a projection, it only took one intoxicated irritatingly indie couple to fill the space-stage vacuum. Plied with Gorilla gin and Asahi by the can, it was surprisingly easy to find a comfortable medium from then on – imagine a really good DJ set, with pictures.

Rather than descend into the five star review of the film you’ve read a hundred times before, we can happily recount that this is surely the best way to watch such a film. Despite two technical glitches, the synced strobe and awesome sound truly did recreate the ‘best funeral ever’.

The crowd was an interesting one; amongst the hipsters Murphy mocks, were people who looked about his age – some with barely legal sprogs in tow. It was these old, slightly jaded and quite drunk dudes that conjured up some of the original Madison Square melancholy more than the smoke machines.

503 left feeling satiated, but perhaps would have been more satisfied with another hour of tunes,  showing off just how influential LCD Soundsystem were. We do hope though, that this will fast-track  the trend for such screenings. Imagine all the dancing you could do at a screening of  the Eurythmics 1999 Peacetour? Or the moshing to be had at a Foo Fighters live at Wembley screening?

Perhaps it’s time for manchester503’s first  event…

Christmas Comedown

2 Jan

During the ‘weird bit between Christmas and New Year’, festive fatigue begins to set in. For some it is a fluffiness around the brain, forgetting what day it is or which relatives are still alive. Others become unusually unsociable, dreading another grudging gastric gathering, memories made misty by bad mulled wine. It is difficult to drip the dregs of pre-Christmas excitement those extra few days all the way to New Year, and even harder to fight off mild depression come the 2nd.

What to do then when your festive feelings have been brought to the top of the Christmas tree and shook all the way back down again by the morning commute? It suddenly seems obvious; the best way to get Christmas all up inside you, is to directly digest it!

Now, 503 has been occasionally been accused of falling under that difficult dietary diagnosis; ‘awkward’. And for the chronically allergic, the festive period induces a large dose of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). So, nursing a mulled cider hangover against the wind tunnel that is Oxford Road, 503 stumbled slapped cheeked and blurry eyed into the 8th Day Cafe.

WAIT. Do not be put off by the tagline ‘Vegetarian Health Food’, for here, the particular of palette can find respite.

Craving Christmas, 503 practically pounced on the Winter Hot Pot. Gluten free and vegetarian it was a stewy concoction of butter beans, tomato, parsnip and potato, with suitably seasonal undertones of cinnamon. With soups, salads and cider (organic also), this is a popular haunt for students. As a sufferer of Black Year Post-Graduation Blues, it is nostalgic to sit in the canteen style cafe and pretend to be writing an excellently academic essay, instead of a gushing blog. There is fun to be found in 8th Day people watching; who would have thought a vegan could look like that?

But really, the regulars just enjoy good cheap food without the guilty conscience; pop back upstairs and you can buy all the inconceivable ingredients that your lovely lunch consisted of. An 8th Day day is the perfect way to shun Starbucks and their treats with a tax-evading twang,  and say no to Nero and their perennially pathetic panini’s.

8th Day, like its food, is so homely and honest, it’s worth escaping down to for an hour or three. Even if you’re carnivore.

8thday

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Reasons to Avoid the Christmas Markets

5 Dec

Manchester’s Christmas Markets have fast become a festive staple; famous for over-priced driftwood and charred chipolata. Overseen by a shark-eyed, soulless Santa, the faux-European village is packed with prams and pissheads. These bizarre claustrophobic Christmas clusters can be found across the country in identical guises, but thankfully Manchester can offer us enough festive fun to avoid these extortionate encampments.

Putting a suitably festive twist in your usual pub quiz, Vault are hosting Box of Tricks’ inaugural Quizmas Party on Thursday 6th Decemebr. As well as a yuletide Quiz, short Christmas plays and sketches and mince pies, it’s Happy Hour all through the not so silent night. But since ‘tis the season to be giving, prizes on offer include tickets from the Royal Exchange, Library Theatre, the Lowry Theatre, Fan Boyz 3 and t-shirts from Remouse!

Also up for grabs is the chance to win a round a Chrizy Golf at Piccadilly Place. The boys at Euro Cultured have given crazy golf some festive embellishment, the angel atop the tree being the pop-up bar and a lovely line-up of DJ’s.

If you prefer more of a spectator sport, then theatre land has much more to offer than the panto. Contact Young Actor’s Company, under the renowned direction of Nick Clarke, have devised a didactic but disarmingly funny piece, mastering the difficult art of shadow play. Runaway Shadows looks set to be magical and moving, whilst showcasing some of Manchester’s finest upcoming talent.

503, are aiming for the untraditional Crimbo this year though. For a real nightmare before Christmas, Grimm Up North are once again screening some classic horrors of 80s schlock horror on 14th December. Free from sentiment, songs and snogs in the snow, Christmas Evil is the perfect night-out for even the scroogiest scrooges.

If you fancy some lighter viewing, but can’t bear the thought of an evening riddled with ‘He’s behind you!’, then, as usual, the fantastic Black Lion, Salford, plays host to the sell out stand-up show ‘What Would Beyonce Do?’. The perfect fix for all the single ladies, 503 are thoroughly excited to replace the true meaning of Christmas with our favourite independent woman. This show is so funny, even the facebook event page is funny.

And finally, if you really, really must get some market time under your bulging festive belt, then head to something more authentic. Perfectly Dickensian, The Lowry Outlet are hosting the Salford Quays Victorian Market. Opening tomorrow, the markets will undoubtedly boast the usual ‘hand-made’ craft and tat, but for a true Christmas Carol feel, the stalls will be patrolled by over 50 vivaciously Victorian characters.

So, 503 hope to bring a smile to your mucky Northern mug before 2012 is out, but until then, indulge in all the mulled merriment you can manage!

Death by Pitchfork

13 Nov

Apologies for the abandonment but 503 have, rather treacherously, been overseas and under deadlines. As November crept in, we snuck out and departed for Paris and the Pitchfork Music Festival.

A 5am realisation that we were in transit sans brassiere wasn’t enough to detract from the excitement that, for a reasonably small sum, we were about to shake our wobbly bits at a dream line-up, including M83, James Blake, Jessie Ware, Liars, Simian Mobile Disco and we don’t need to make you anymore jealous, do we? Upon landing we headed via the fantastique metro system (take note GMPTE) to our lively and lovely hostel, The Loft. In true Mancunian style, we quickly befriended the bar and fellow Pitchforkers and descended upon Grande Halle de la Villette.

Just to make sure you don’t come a wielding your pitchforks at our disloyal doors, we’ll wobble through the highs and lows. The droops were few; The Tallest Man on Earth quickly became the dullest man on earth amidst such a vivacious line-up, and the late-night set times that initially excited the Madchester in us, left us red-wine weary after 10 hours of dancing. Standard festival prices applied to booze and food tokens, but we’re certain the pommes frites were the best we ever had. Musical treats included – watch HBO’s Girls before you judge- Robyn who was as energetic and engaging as she has been her whole career. Just try and get ‘With Every Heartbeat’ out of your head. Award for best light design is hotly contended for by Fuck Buttons and Grizzly Bear. The former appeared enormous at their decks as stabs of green light pierced the stage. Upon the slow descent of the biggest mirror ball we’ve ever been reflected in, the audience were sliced by the lights, reflected above their heads by the festivals central disco ball. Grizzly Bear were magically mesmerising as they were lit by the soft glow emitted from sixteen suspended jellyfish. Undulating in rhythmical sequences, these Cnidaria candles were the perfect accompaniment to the ebbing and flowing of Grizzly Bear.

 

 

Providing more of a head-fuck than Fuck Buttons, were Animal Collective whose set made us feel like we were in the spiralling centre of a jesters nightmare. Purity Ring were understandably moody at their lighting fail. ‘Drummer’ Corin Roddick uses a most intriguing but not entirely convincing custom-built, egg-tree-shaped instrument during live performances to generate not only the sound but lighting too. The stage still looked as ethereal as the band sounded and we hope everything will be in full working order when we catch them at Sound Control later this month.

The pièce de résistance of the whole weekend was undoubtedly Death Grips. Zach Hill is a drummer of Napoleonic ability and Stefan ‘MC Ride’ Burnett has the alluring arrogance to match. Seduced by this sweaty, tattooed, beardily beautiful man we screamed and squeezed our way to the front. We were just in time to enjoy the crush of recognition from the crowd as the recognisable riff of the bands viral hit ‘I’ve Seen Footage’ vibrated through Paris.

Despite the fact the band were missing Andy ‘Flatlander’ Morin on keys –perhaps replaced by a small screen playing alluringly disturbing recordings – they filled the cavernous venue with rhythmical rage.  So good were they in fact, that as soon as Burnett had left the stage, his sinewy form safely deposited in the wank bank, we set about researching, and instantly, through the magic of ipower, booked tickets to experience Death Grips again. In Manchester. Two sleeps from now.

Playing at Sound Control (where we can confirm, is served the worst pint of cider this side of fourteen in a field), Death Grips bought with them all the energy we had left 40,000 feet above the Channel. In a more concentrated venue, the crowd was absolutely electric with anticipation. Surprising support Wet Nuns accepted this, describing themselves as the band that ‘no one came to see’, but sweated us up suitably nonetheless. Finally two (still minus Morin) half naked half terrifying figures emerged. Playing the same set we’d heard a couple of days before; an uninterrupted mix of the infamous  ‘The Money Store’ and first album ‘Ex Military’, the burning dissent and deathly beats suddenly remind us of a modern day N.W.A.

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all our mummy’s always told us, so Burnett, his spleen justifiable when it is vented over ominously danceable samples, left the stage as silently and unceremoniously as he entered. Death Grips once again played, we came, and they conquered.

Seeing them twice in four days still isn’t quite enough.

Autumn Escapades

16 Oct

Autumn is the season Manchester was made for. The morning commute into the city is everyday brightened by hues more auburn than urban. Don’t you think the copper leaves compliment perfectly the red brick of our lovely city (for a closer look of which, please do check out  The Skyliner)?  Even the suburbs, snaked with the Bridgewater Canal look invitingly Hardy-esque.

Gush rush over; here at 503 we are realists and anticipate that many a day of the pre-festive season will be dark, damp and drab. So what’s on offer in the great indoors this October to warm our cockles?

Well into its second phase this week is the Manchester Literature Festival. Our highlight from last week was certainly joining Sally Wainwright (At Home with the Braithewaites, Unforgiven and of course Coronation Street) in conversation with BBC Writers Room and Salford University. Treated to a sneak preview, Wainwright’s upcoming series Last Tango in Halifax looks set to be another Northern naughty. Look out for us this week listening intently to Simon Armitage reading from his new collection of modern minstrelsy. And we certainly won’t be spurning our fellow northern bloggers as we attend the Blog North Awards this Wednesday at Deaf Institute.

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MFDF/Lines

14 Oct

Manchester Food and Drink Festival swung with fine fashion into its third session of Street Food at festival hub on the delightful Albert Square. Offering more culinary delights than even Heston could handle, organisers had every corner of the globe suitably represented by round three. So we at 503 thought, what better way to line our tummies before a night of drinking-on a school night-than with Mexican street food? Cashin’ in on some Cajun, we headed for the  El Kantina Chow Hut, knowing their ‘Cowboy Burritos’ were the finest excuse to put on a silly (mildly racist) voice. Fast, fresh and tasty the slow roasted, spicy pulled pork dished on top of authentic Mexican wedges, thoroughly put British fish and chips to shame. Cold-shoulder the ketchup; adorn your carbs in meaty style from now. Not wanting the warmth from the chipotle soured cream to leave our cockles, we indulged in a Hot Cider from our very favourite MFDF hut. This blissful beverage will certainly be replacing mulled wine come the festive season.

Full of spicey, appley lovliness we descended into the Autumnal mancunian night to this evenings venue. Welcomed at Soup Kitchen by an expectedly malnourished, bespectacled gentleman, we were unsurprised to be stamped on the hand with a chopper…so delightfully Northern Quarter.

Whilst scrambling for bag-eared print outs of e-tickets, we quickly noted the crowds in Soup Kitchen.  Feeling very Oliver Twist, we made a mental note to 503 the cosy canteen very soon. Our arrival at late o’clock was swiftly reconsidered when we plunged into the empty cellar of the venue. A minimal but reasonably priced bar was on offer and we were delighted by the no-frills cans of ‘Bow availiable – plastic glasses on hand for the fairer sex.  The baroscopic basement  quickly filled up with a decidedly male audience-odd considering the aesthetically pleasing nature of the band.

Support Jonquil played the perfect set as a support band, exciting themselves and the crowd as they played on. With excellent technical ability and skilful genre jumping, Jonquil are perhaps the southern cat to the fantastic northern Mausi and mark the back-ground sound of this year.  Despite their ability to make an xx song listenable, Jonquil were not enough to distract from the main event of the evening, or perhaps that was the effect of the shuffling presence of the shy headliners in the crowd.

A few more bratwursts joined the sausage fest as NCZA/Lines took to the stage amidst a back drop of suitably linear lighting. The dancing was disappointing, but only because this is thinking music for thinking men (and apparently four females).  Michael Lovett’s lonely falsettos were almost unbearably suited to the cold of the underground venue, indeed, it the simple lovliness of his lyrics (‘I dream about you after work’) that gives the android music some real heart. Amidst the tumultuous textures of the music, the difficult to decipher lyrics offer obscure references to the southern-most prefecture in Japan and cryptic HTML coding. If you can’t listen in a Mancunian basement, then NCZA/Lines require an engaged brain, a good pair of headphones, and a cuddle afterwards.

Returning the favour, Jonquil encouraged the dancing down front for NCZA’s exultant epilogue, one of them even offering his trumpet. This perfect conclusion to a solicitous set ensured we didn’t leave too introspective, but a rather a little bit squiffy and holding hands with Scandinavian strangers.

MFDF Part I

29 Sep

The highly anticipated Manchester Food and Drink Festival kicked off last Friday for the fifteenth fattest time. So 503 hit the hub as soon as we could – maybe a little too early for the cider tent.

We were lucky enough to be treated to some Mancunian sunshine and an extensive selection of food and drink. The crowds were ebbing, but an interesting bunch. Amongst the starry-eyes students injecting some culture into their Freshers Week were the middle class and middle aged who hadn’t done day time drinking since their college days, struggling on and welling up at talk of the children they left behind. The Saturday sun was suitably sound tracked by Pete Rootsman, Rickie Syrett and our local favourite Tracey Brown, playing lazy acoustic,

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