greenroom

The first time I went to the Green Room was to see Ursula Martinez’s ‘Family Outing’…inspiring…

…the Green Room continued to inspire me with new forms of presentation as I made my transition from Theatre to Live Art…

The work and activities of many of its artists in residence has inspired me…

I hope that the imaginative staff of the Green Room and its associates can see this challenging time, as an opportunity rather than loss, and pull together to find new ways forward… 

Best Wishes

Shabnam Shabazi

Submitted by Shabnam Shabazi

The emotions are akin the death of a loved one. Witnessing tears, shock, anger, hysteria when the news first hit; being there, offering support even while feeling helpless. Green Room nurtured me, like it did many many artists and art lovers over the decades.  Support goes both ways.  It’s time to give back.

Emotional at ‘The End’ last night, driven as much by love of the work, the people, the rumbling ceiling as I am by anger at the atrocities this government is being allowed to get away with.   Where are the radicalised youth?  They should be squatting that building; creating revolution within its art-soaked walls and instigating change, like so many of the artists who went before you and helped lay the foundations of this much loved venue.  Gather in your masses, it’s time to challenge, plan, subvert, create. Rise up and lead the revolution.  It is your duty as artists.

Submitted by Liz O’Neill

It is absolutely unacceptable that one of the most important venues of the North is being forced to close. So many artists, practioners and art lovers benefit from the Green Room and Manchester and the whole of the North will not be the same without it. Green Room has always been a support and encouraging environment that enables and develops creativity and without it, we will be very sad indeed.

Thanks for all that you have done for us,

Ella on behalf of Caution Horses

Submitted by Ella Hall

criminal - all the concentrated resources built up overs years of experience, dedication, expertise and commitment will be scattered far and wide - who knows if it will stay in Manchester - Without these facilities, which provide so much for relatively little, the INNOVATIVE work will not be so accessible. We’ll have to work in rubbish improvised spaces not built for purpose like the Greenroom is. Of course this could be exciting, but artists can get fed up of improvising all the time - sometimes its just brilliant to have the technical know how and resoucres available for once. It’ll be harder now for emerging artists to find this in Manchester….shame. Where are the philanthropists when you need one in a hurry…

Submitted by Alison Kershaw

… and the Greenroom helped us as a platform to launch many women artists. Without this venue’s help we wouldn’t have achieved what we did. It was a ‘first’ for many of us. It is very sad indeed. 

Submitted by Helene Rudlin

I am absolutely horrified at the news that Greenroom has lost it’s funding and is to close.  I feel very strongly that fixtures of the Manchester scene (including Xtrax and Castlefield Gallery as well as Greenroom) that have been serving both public and artists for years have been sorely taken for granted.  I arrived in Manchester at the end of 1983 as a visual artist and found Greenroom (and specifically the original director Stella Hall) to be immensely supportive of my work, commissioning me and fellow artists to design and build sets of a touring fashion show.  When the venue opened in ‘87 I was among a number of artists commissioned once again to make performance pieces for Piccadilly Station in celebration of the opening of the first venue of it’s type in the city.  Arts Council England seem to have short memories.  They forget that before Greenroom existed as a venue there was nowhere comparable and the gap in the cultural infrastructure was marked and glaring.  I also recall the huge personal investment and sheer graft of the Greenroom team in securing the funding package and project managing the design and build of the venue through to fruition.  I have also witnessed some marvellous performances at Greenroom that would not have been possible through any other organisation - Karen Finlay and DV8 Dance being but two stand out examples that automatically come to mind from the past.  However, even if you must close the venue, please please try and keep the organisation going.  In the days before the arches, Greenroom acted as an agency programming top new work from around the world into a variety of venues such as the RNCM.  Could you not return to this model?  In all events it is with a sense of longstanding personal connection and many memories that I am deeply saddened by your news.  Manchester will be a poorer and a far less ‘international’ city without you.  

Submitted by Chris Lethbridge

I was so hoping for a reprieve or a change of heart. The Green Room has been the pulse of Manchester’s creativity for so long and will be sorely missed, not least by those of us who were fortunate enough to work there, enjoy the most astonishing performances there and to have made so many great friends there. Au revoir…

Submitted by Clare Walker

very sad…

Submitted by 116bpm

The greenroom has been a fantastic venue, which has drawn people from all over the North - I used to travel from Yorkshire to come to it, before moving over the Pennines permanently. More worryingly, Manchester loses another accessible arts venue. I am sad that greenroom as it stands is closing, but I do hope that the building will continue to be used because it is accessible in all senses of the word - can’t someone persuade the library theatre to take it on rather than build a new place somewhere else?

Submitted by Ruth

So very sad to hear of this wonderful venue having to close … a huge gap will be left. 

Showing work at the Greenroom always felt like coming home.

I send much love and thanks to all the staff who have always provided so much warmth and support.

Lisa Wesley X

Submitted by Lisa Wesley

The Greenroom is a vital part of Manchester’s Artistic Ecosystem. I have felt very welcomed by all the staff when I have come to see shows or just spend time in the bar. I have met countless artists who have shared how much of an impact Green Room has had. I have been inspired by Green Room since my arrival in Manchester and really enjoyed the ethos and support of emerging artists and it has impacted how I look at supporting artists. Manchester will not be the same and I offer my respect to all of the team and artists!

Submitted by Baba Israel