IN BED WITH MY BROTHER will facilitate a space to explore anger through their uniquely visceral and anarchic theatre practice. The group will explore theatrical techniques that allow you to express yourself and purge your rage, becoming fuel for movement, voice, rhythm, and release. It’s immersive, physical, and unapologetically expressive. Participants will come away with a fresh perspective and new approaches to devising theatre that celebrate everyone’s need to get a little bit angry.

Performers and first timers all welcome. We might even smash a few plates.

(I) Miss America is a multidisciplinary live art project by London-based American expatriate artists Hannah Ballou & Peter Case evoking the central hypocrisy and the dystopian present of Post-Roe v. Wade, gun-loving America, in solidarity with people fighting for abortion rights and bodily autonomy across the globe.  

It comprises a short film that was shortlisted for the Fluxus Museum Prize for Experimental Video and takes place within an installation setting. 

We are welcoming IN BED WITH MY BROTHER to the stage with their award winning Edinburgh Fringe show, Philosophy Of The World. A delirious, genre-defying explosion of sound, fury and feminist fire, it’s raucous, relentless and utterly alive, twisting and turning through the strange, tragic, true story of outsider musicians, The Shaggs.

Manchester-based grime artist, rapper and performer Hypes is one of the leading figures in the northern urban music scene, known for his complex lyrics addressing topics such as mental health, education and the legacy of the Windrush generation. In this workshop Hypes will perform tracks from his forthcoming show, explore his writing techniques through practical exercises, and open up discussion around mental health and music.

Join us for SICK! Notes, a project by Poor Lass and SICK! Ambassadors that asks women and girls in Manchester and beyond: what is making you sick? We invite you to share your 'sick notes' - stories, thoughts and ideas that you write down and post in our unmistakable giant pill bottle that marks our collection point. Have a go at zine making with Poor Lass and chat to our SICK! Ambassadors about what is making you sick and how we can come together to feel better. Help us shape what happens next as the project evolves.

Join Girl Gang for a drop-in workshop to explore all things joy, rage, systemic injustice and the beauty of sisterhood. Expect crafting, writing, sudden dance and scream breaks, and karaoke moments as we create space to process all that we're carrying and celebrate each other as we let go. Together we'll stuff our writings and creations into a giant piñata that will be smashed during our Afterparty from 9pm in a moment of release. Open to all genders. Come as you are.

We are joining forces with Girl Gang Manchester and DJ The Taxidermist to bring you the official after party for SICK! Festival CPR - Beat One. A dance floor for joy, resistance, and radical togetherness, instigated by Girl Gang. Soundtracked by DJ The Taxidermist (Stacy Faye), spinning house, electro, disco and vocal anthems.

This celebration will follow the final performance of IN BED WITH MY BROTHER's Philosophy of the World.