Manchester favourite Ali Matthews returns with a premiere of Mushroom Language: A Fungal Gothic at The Lowry
Manchester favourite Ali Matthews returns with a premiere of Mushroom Language: A Fungal Gothic at the Lowry for two nights only, bringing to life the haunting life-cycles of mushrooms (they are more like us than we realize).
Mushroom Language is a devised eco-horror piece of theatre about the cycles that shape us – eruption, reproduction and decay. As two performers learn and act out ‘mushroom language’ through ritual and power dynamics, they move between conversation, roleplay and physical theatre to create a production that is both eerie and darkly funny.
It is at The Lowry on October 25th & 26th.
Featuring lichen love stories, spore shoot outs and mushroom mulches, Mushroom Language explores the third kingdom on earth, Fungi, who are more like us than we realise. Dreamlike conversations and movement sequences are underpinned by original music from composer Hannah Miller of the Moulettes and the production is enhanced by playful design by Rūta Irbīte.
Ali Matthews, lead artist and performer said:
“Mushrooms offer us a lens into a more sustainable future, but nature is hilarious and terrifying. This show is an homage to this weird third kingdom, and we’re delighted to share its gothic flavour so close to Halloween – for nature and horror fans alike, as well as those interested in new music and conversations around sustainability.”
Mushroom Language will feature a post-show discussion and Q&A with the creative team alongside Senior Producer Antonia Beck and Dr Nathan Smith, (FLS, Senior Curator of Botany at National Museum of Wales and British Mycological Society Recording Network Coordinator on the 25th October immediately after the show in the space.
Mushroom Language has been produced with The Lowry by lead artist Ali Matthews and has been supported by partners including Wainsgate Dances, Dartington Arts, Slung Low and New Adelphi Theatre & science partners including Live Wild and the British Mycological Society. It is supported by Arts Council England.
Ali Matthews is an artist working in performance, music and video based in Manchester, UK. She has created cabaret, one-to-one and end-on performances for venues as diverse as Toynbee Studios, Chelsea Theatre, York Mediale, Project Arts Centre Dublin, Glogauir Studios Berlin, Lancaster Arts, Contact Theatre and Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Her gig theatre piece The Witching Way (created with Leo Burtin) premiered at the Royal Exchange in 2019 and toured to venues including Lancaster Arts and Square Chapel, Halifax. In 2019, she was selected as a Manchester International Festival Creative Lab artist. In 2021, she was a Ferment artist in residence at Dartington Arts in Devon. She received a Lancashire Arts Exchange commission in 2021 to redevelop her play for video, BOBBY, LUNCH IS DARKNESS, written in collaboration with an AI text chain generator.
Running Time: 75 minutes | Suitable for ages 16+ | Content Guidance: strong language, references to sex & death, flashing lights, loud noises.
Company Information
Credit: Ali Matthews & Company
Text: Ali Matthews
Devised and performed: Ali Matthews & Tom Halls
Design/Visual Dramaturgy: Rūta Irbīte
Sound Designer/Composer: Hannah Miller
LX Design/Production Management: Rob Athorn
Dramaturgy: Kate Adams
Movement Consultant: Simone Kenyon
Producer: Plum Grosvenor-Stevenson