HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LOWRY’S ARTISTIC PROGRAMME 2006
The Lowry - A look ahead to 2006
The Lowry is delighted to announce some exceptional highlights from next year’s artistic programme of visual and performing arts. These include some FIRSTS for The Lowry, ranging from choreographers in residence, a mass observation project, the inaugral LS Lowry Lecture, the British premiere of I, Keano and a world premiere from Rambert Dance Company, creating work which embodies the artist’s world view. Sacha Craddock is chairing the selection committee on The Lowry’s ‘Go to the Match’ competition and exhibition, inviting artists throughout the UK to interpret ‘the beautiful game’. Research and preparation work is starting now on a new community production of Oh, WoT a Lovely War? which premieres in April. Committed to excellence in the visual and performing arts, The Lowry, set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, is one of the most exciting and dynamic arts and entertainment venues in the country.
JAN
The Art of White
Galleries
10 Nov 2005 – 17 Apr 2006
The Art of White is a dazzling exploration of the use of white in art spanning 500 years which, across 80 works, explores the mysteries of this elusive, enigmatic colour.
Choreographers in residence
Stan Wont Dance
Starts 23 Jan 2006
Building on its success of bringing the finest in British and international dance to the North West, The Lowry is further improving dance provision in the region by establishing a flagship contemporary dance residency scheme featuring the brightest, up-and-coming British choreographers. Starting in January with Stan Wont Dance, each resident choreographer will participate in audience development initiatives and outreach as well as developing groundbreaking new work.
FEB
I, Keano – A stone’s throw from Old Trafford
British Premiere
28 Feb
UK PREMIERE of the hit comedy musical, I, Keano, the second most popular show to come out of Ireland, follows hot on the heels of Riverdance, from Tue 28 February – Sat 11 March 2006. Robert Robson, The Lowry’s Artistic Director comments “I, Keano is not just for football fans, but for everyone who enjoys comedy and a good night out at the theatre.”
Why Lowry’s Art Lives?
Tue 28 Feb 2006, 7pm
To mark the 30th anniversary of Lowry’s death, the inaugral LS Lowry Lecture is delivered by distinguished writer and curator Julian Spalding.
APR
Bolshoi Ballet
First visit to The Lowry 4 – 8 Apr
Featuring over 200 of the world’s greatest dancers, together with the equally famous Bolshoi Orchestra, audiences will enjoy two of the most enduring classics in the company’s repertoire – Yuri Grigorovich’s beautiful production of the greatest of all ballets, Swan Lake and Spartacus, his celebration of male dancing at its most spectacular.
Graham Finlayson: Black and White (working title)
8 Apr – 16 Jul
Graham Finlayson was part of a group of British photo-journalists who were involved in radically changing the medium during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. This exhibition will focus on Finlayson’s pioneering black and white photography from this period, including the work he produced for the Manchester Guardian.
Oh, WoT a Lovely War?
World premiere
12 – 15 Apr
Community & Education
The Lowry is working with its local communities on researching, writing and performing a brand new theatre production, inspired by the award-winning and bitingly satirical musical Oh, What A Lovely War. This new production will combine archive footage, interviews and startling images to convey the troubled times in which we now live and explore how the seeds of our current War on Terror were sown during the First World War. We will also be collaborating with the Imperial War Museum North for this production.
National Youth Theatre and The Lowry
Easter Bites
Thu 20 – Sat 22 Apr
Following the amazing work created last year - which included the new play Get Over It, by Shameless script editor Jim Poyser – The National Youth Theatre in partnership with The Lowry present their second programme of new writing with plays written and developed by young people in the region. Evening performances feature hour-long plays, the matinee is packed with 10-minute shorts.
A Day in the Sun: Outdoor Pursuits in the Art of the 1930s
29 Apr – 25 Jun
The pursuit of leisure – walking, swimming, camping etc - was one of the most remarkable social phenomena of the 1930s. This ground-breaking exhibition reveals a small group of figurative painters including L S Lowry who were looking for ways of being both modern and in touch with a wide public. The exhibition also includes travel posters, press photographs and printed ephemera. A Day in the Sun has been organised by the Djanogly Art Gallery in association with The Lowry & is only showing in 2 cities - Nottingham & Salford
JUN
Choreographers in residence Jasmin Vardimon
Starts 19 Jun
Following on from Stan Wont Dance in January, Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company will be The Lowry’s second choreographer in residence, and will result in the production of new piece of high-quality contemporary dance theatre, which will be seen by hundreds of people at The Lowry and experienced by thousands more when it tours throughout the UK.
JUL
A City’s Pride, LS Lowry
Galleries
8 Jul – 10 Sep
The biggest public collection of L S Lowry’s work of over 350 paintings and drawings shows The Lowry's entire collection providing a great opportunity for Lowry lovers, recent converts and sceptics to look again at L S Lowry.
Folk Archive: contemporary popular art from the UK
22 Jul – 17 Sep
Brought together by artists Alan Kane and Turner prize winner, Jeremy Deller, the exhibition updates and celebrates folk art’s dynamic and influential role in British culture. Folk Archive presents an astonishing collection of documentation and works from scarecrows to needlework, sculpture to performance, as well as video, drawings and paintings.
SEP
World premiere by Rambert Dance Company
Wed 27 Sep
To mark the 30th anniversary since LS Lowry’s death, The Lowry has commissioned Rambert to create a new work, which embodies the artist’s world view. The commission, which falls within Rambert’s 80th anniversary year, will première at The Lowry before touring the UK as part of Rambert’s autumn repertoire.
Line by Lowry: a survey of Lowry’s draughtsmanship
17 Sep – Nov
This survey of LS Lowry’s draughtsmanship will feature many of his drawings including work loaned from other collections, previously unseen at The Lowry
Mass Observation, Worktown
Historic project over the year concluding with Exhibition in Sep 2006 Inspired by ‘Worktown’ the large-scale Mass Observation that took place in Bolton in 1936, The Lowry’s FIRST EVER mass observation project, will involve local people using photography to document the life of the city and people of Salford. Professional local photographers, Paula Keenan and Jon Purcell will work with local residents to create work that captures the different sides and the spirit of Salford, culminating in an exhibition at The Lowry Studio in September 2006.
NOV
Photographs by Guardian photographer, Eamonn McCabe (tbc)
Curated by the Newsroom (The Guardian and Observer Archive and Visitor Centre)
DEC
Go to the Match (working title)
2 Dec – 2007
53 years after the Football Association’s competition in1953 called ‘Football and the Fine Arts’, which was won by LS Lowry for ‘Going to the Match’, The Lowry is re-staging this competition and inviting artists working today to interpret ‘the beautiful game’. ‘Go to the Match’ competition will be open to artists throughout the UK, substantial prize money will be on offer, and the successful entries will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges drawn from the art and football world, chaired by Sacha Craddock.
Aladdin
Christmas 2006
Pele productions continue their partnership with The Lowry for Christmas 2006, following the phenomenal sell-out success of previous Christmas shows. Established as one of the most refreshing and innovative companies in the Northwest, they continue their winning formula for adults and children of all ages.
Posted on Tuesday, 22 November 2005 under Press General Press