Social Experiment

presented by Word of Warning and Contact –

Social Experiment

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About Social Experiment

Social Experiment is a gathering at Contact for anyone interested in Live Art and contemporary performance to meet, chat, and try ideas out…

A free and informal, semi-regular evening event with the next on Thursdays 19th November and 11th February 2027 from 6pm to 9pm (further TBA).

A unique chance for artists and audiences alike...

If you’re a Greater Manchester artist— this is your chance to test out a short performance, intervention, or durational work, in front of an informal audience.

If you’re an audience member looking for something a little bit different — this is your chance to take a few risks and meet some artists in our social experiment.

Artists

Participating artists announced about ten days before each event — our call for proposals is open on a rolling basis at socialexperiment.posthaven.com.

Proposal Deadline: open on a rolling basis and closing 17 days before each event
19 November 2026 → Deadline Mon 2 Nov 2026, 12:00
11 February 2027 → Deadline Mon 25 Jan 2027, 12:00

Past Artists

11 June 2026: Ash Cox · Blood Bones Jones · Lauren Temple · special guest Nathan Birkinshaw 

9 April 2026: Daniel Nicholas · Gin Niemtus · Kathy Rivett · Lisa Ford · Orla Collier · special guest Natalie Spanner

19 February 2026 (Queer Contact Edition): Ariel Hebditch · Ben Hodge · Failed Artist Society · lucy · Maddie Maycock · PHOBIA · special guest Graham Clayton-Chance

27 November 2025: Gemma Lees · Gin Niemtus · Howard Walmsley · Matt Rogerson · Nightingale & Sage · The Chubby Northerner · Y Talking Nonsense

17 July 2025: Ben Hodge · James Moss · Leah Stone · Rachel Smith · Shahireh Sharif · Xhi Ndubisi 

5 June 2025 (Student Edition): Amelia Grace · Dana Potter · GIN Niemtus · Isla Webster & Gabrielle Kaufman · Oscar Dickson · Will Oliver

22 May 2025: Ben Hodge · Bitterroot · Joely Mae Greally & Jasmine Naila Burt · Julie Burrow · Lizzy Owen · Paper People Theatre · Secret Location Theatre Company

6 February 2025: Harley Keasey · J. Edgar Staubsauger · Rachael Gooch · Ray Bubbles · plus special guests Malandra Jacks

See some images from 2026 and 2025.

Age Advisory

16+ (aimed at adults, parent/guardian/carer discretion)

Content Warnings

Some works may involve interaction and/or participation; specific warnings will be listed about a week before each event and can be seen here.

Access

Works will occur on Contact’s step-free ground floor in Space 0 and/or bar, and will vary in format — they could be immersive, participatory, roaming, seated, standing, spoken word, visual, etc.

Credits

Social Experiment produced by hÅb; supported by Contact and using public funding by Arts Council England.

Dates & times

  • No Need to Book

  • No Need to Book

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