Dancing Through Crisis

What do Manchester’s clubs mean to the people who use them, and what happens when rising costs put these spaces under pressure?

Taking place across the dancefloors of HIDDEN, this immersive evening explores the role nightlife plays in creativity, identity, belonging and social connection across Greater Manchester. Move freely through the club, respond to live sound pieces, and discover visual displays inspired by research into the relationships between culture, law, place and space.

At the heart of the event is new research examining how the cost-of-living crisis is reshaping nightlife. Through music, dance and conversation, you will be invited to explore who can access the city after dark, what might be lost when clubs and venues struggle, and why these spaces matter to young people and Manchester’s wider cultural identity.

You will hear different perspectives from people connected to the city’s nightlife, including clubgoers, artists, venue staff, researchers and people involved in shaping Greater Manchester’s cultural future. Whether you are happiest in the middle of a mosh pit, on the dancefloor, or soaking up the atmosphere, this is a chance to experience Hidden in a new way and share what nightlife means to you.

Dr Jenny Kannellopoulou, Reader in Socio-Legal Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Dr Susan O'Shea, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Kirsty Fairclough, Professor of Screen Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Adults 18+

Anyone who enjoys club culture and nightlife!