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The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library

The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library

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About This Event

"The Unbuilt Room" at The Portico Library in Manchester offers a unique theatrical experience on October 1, 2026, where the boundaries between performance and play blur. This interactive journey, presented by various performers, invites audiences to engage with the space, weaving narratives that transform memories into a tangible exploration. Set within the historic confines of The Portico Library, attendees are encouraged to sit, explore, and immerse themselves in a narrative crafted by the creative minds behind this innovative production. With ticket prices ranging from £3.41 to £6.13, the event promises an evocative experience that captures the essence of live theatre.

Come in. Sit down. Explore. The Unbuilt Room is part-performance, part-game... an interactive journey where the Portico creates memories.

Come in. Sit down. Explore.

The Unbuilt Room is part-performance, part-game... an interactive journey where places create memories — and memories create places.

A performer stands on a bare stage and describes another, imaginary place. By giving instructions like ‘Go North’ or ‘Pick up the lamp’, you navigate this other world. Inspired by choose-your-own-adventure stories and early text-adventure computer games, The Unbuilt Room combines the possibilities of contemporary gaming with the simplicity of bare-bones storytelling.

Each show is unique, shaped by your choices as you work together to overcome obstacles and explore a verbal maze... without leaving your seat.

This new edition of Kriebel’s acclaimed ‘Exploration Game’ has been written specially for the Portico Library as part of its Lottery Funded Reunited Project. Explore the Portico Library's past, present and future through its spaces and people.

There is also a chance to explore the exhibition Everything and Nothing on the history and spaces of the Portico Library until 8pm.

See a video here: https://vimeo.com/363320841

Critical response to Kriebel’s ‘exploration games’:

‘★★★★★ Turns the concept of immersive theatre on its head.’ - Londonist on A House Repeated

‘A gently fascinating interactive world... it’s funny, too.’ - Time Out on A House Repeated

‘★★★★ Delivers both laughter and poetry.’ - The Stage, on Beowulf

‘Combine[s] humour and entertainment with the profound.’ - Brighton Magazine, on The Unbuilt Room

‘We... get drawn deeper and deeper into Kriebel’s impressively detailed imaginary adventure world.’

- The Telegraph, on We This Way www.unbuiltroom.com

www.sethkriebel.com

Description supplied by the event organiser.

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Frequently asked questions

The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library takes place on Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 19:00.

The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library is held at The Portico Library in Manchester (57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY).

Tickets for The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library range from £3.41 to £6.13. Live prices and availability are shown on Eventbrite.

Tickets for The Unbuilt Room at the Portico Library can be booked via Eventbrite using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

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