Manchester Collective: Night Works

Manchester Collective bring Night Works to Queen Elizabeth Hall on Friday 30 April 2027, as part of the Southbank Centre's Classical Music Spring/Summer season. It's an immersive concert from the Southbank Centre's resident artist, an ensemble that's been bringing together musicians and curious listeners for ten years.

The programme pulls three different pieces into one evening. There's Steve Reich's Double Sextet, punchy and rhythmic; Hannah Peel's Neon, which opens with the rush-hour bustle of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station; and a brand-new work by artist and composer Jacob Samuel, commissioned by Manchester Collective with support from the Vaughan Williams Foundation. The whole thing is framed by the heady darkness of 90s club life, seen through the lens of Manchester film-maker Graham Hector.

It's a night that sits at the intersection of classical and club, with the ensemble playing through the set while the film runs alongside. The Reich piece brings the rhythmic drive, Peel's Neon starts with the noise of one of the world's busiest stations, and Samuel's new commission adds a fresh voice to the mix. The clubbing theme ties them together, so it's less a traditional recital and more of a performance that lets the music and the film run in parallel.

It starts at 8pm and runs for about an hour. Standard entry is from £29, with concessions available. It's recommended for ages 7 and over, and under-12s need an adult with them.