A month after the Royal Exchange announced it would not replace its outgoing joint Artistic Directors, Roy Alexander Weise and Bryony Shanahan, Contact has announced it will follow suit.
The Royal Exchange announced in November that it would replace the role of Artistic Director with a trio of 'artistic leaders': a creative director in charge of programming in collaboration with an associate director and a dramaturg.
Chief Executive Stephen Freeman told The Stage, “the focus for the creative director role will not be about getting in the rehearsal room and making shows. It will be about devising strategies and programmes of work that respond to our audience and contemporary challenges—someone who looks to Greater Manchester and understands what the cultural landscape is.”
At Contact, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Keisha Thompson will switch to working one day per week as Director of Contact Events, a limited company owned by Contact for hiring out spaces and consultancy, from January 2024. Jack Dale-Dowd has been appointed interim Executive Director, and Frankie Bradley is the new Director of Finance.
A statement from Contact refers to "a new business model and tough decisions including changes to some staff roles" and "reduced programming from spring 2024 and an increased focus on commercial activity." It refers to the recent major development of the building having suffered substantial delays due to COVID and resulting in increases in running costs, although there were delays to the building works even before lockdown as the theatre was originally due to reopen in summer 2019.
Thompson, who became the theatre's first female, first Mancunian and youngest Artistic Director when she was appointed in March 2022, said, "I am so pleased that we will be able to deliver an exciting spring programme before pivoting. The Vogue Ball will be celebrating its 10th year, and we will be presenting my new work, The Bell Curves, in association with Lancaster University and the University of Manchester.
"We are working to create a new business model that is financially sustainable but continues to serve the needs of our local communities and artists.
"Contact holds a special place in many people’s hearts. If you want to help us deliver a sustainable future for Contact, now is the time to reach out and support us.”