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Manchester’s new cultural landmark has officially opened its doors today
It’s open!
Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, has officially opened its doors in Manchester following an epic immersive performance created by director Danny Boyle.
The prism-like venue, designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), is the permanent home to Factory international, the UK’s largest investment in a national cultural project since the opening of Tate Modern in 2000.
Aviva Studios officially opened to welcome the public today (October 18th) following the world premiere of Free Your Mind, a large-scale immersive performance.
World-leading artists collaborated along with 50 professional dancers to brought to life the production of Free Your Mind – a dramatic reimagining of the 1999 cult classic sci-fi The Matrix – which was specially curated to fit the flexible spaces of the new structure.
Directed by Danny Boyle, Free Your Mind brings together the visceral movement of choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy with a powerful score from renowned composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante , set design by world-leading artist and designer Es Devlin and the work of the acclaimed writer Sabrina Mahfouz.
Aviva Studios is a global destination for arts, music and culture located at the heart of the new St John’s neighbourhood in Manchester, a burgeoning city centre hub for creativity and digital innovation.
The development is led by Manchester City Council, with backing of £99.05 million from HM Government and £7 million National Lottery funding from Arts Council England and supported by Aviva, as principal partner to the venue.
The design of the 13,350-square-metre building is based around large, open, flexible spaces that can be constantly reconfigured, enabling artists to create large-scale ambitious works of a kind not seen anywhere else in the world, and providing a canvas to make, explore and experiment.
Following Free Your Mind, Aviva Studios will host The Welcome from November 11th-19th – a nine-day programme of music, circus, art and fashion.
Johnny Marr also presents two nights of music with an orchestra made up of northern musicians from December 7th-8th, with plenty more in the pipeline.
Programmed and operated by Factory International, the organisation behind Manchester International Festival, Aviva Studios will host a year-round programme of original productions and special events across all artforms – from major exhibitions and concerts to intimate performances and immersive experiences.
Upcoming programme highlights set to take place throughout 2024 include the likes of visionary director Robert Wilson – who will team up with surreal folk duo CocoRosie to retell Kipling’s renowned novel Jungle Book (March 2024).
As well as Maxine Peake, Sarah Frankcom, and Imogen Knight – who will join forces with Gazelle Twin and Daisy Johnson to present a feminist theatrical reimagining of John Bowen’s Robin Redbreast, plus many, many more.
John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International, said: “I’m so excited and proud to be welcoming audiences to the official opening of our magnificent new home.
“At every stage in imagining and building this extraordinary space, we have focused on creating new possibilities – for artists to let their imaginations fly, for citizens of Manchester and the world to meet and dream, and for people of all ages and backgrounds to build skills and gain experience.”
“Our official opening production, the Matrix-inspired Free Your Mind has been created especially for this moment by an incredible team, alongside an extraordinary mix of dancers, creatives and local participants, and is uniquely designed to showcase the versatility and ambition of the space,” he continued.
Adding: “We can’t wait to welcome you all to experience it!”
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council hailed the venue opening as a ‘landmark moment not just in Manchester’, but ‘for the North of England and indeed the UK as a whole’.
Councillor Craig also called it ‘internationally-important’, adding: “It’s a unique venue, a real asset for the future which will stimulate minds and spirits as well as acting as a catalyst to economic growth and opportunities.”
What's On
Celebrate Christmas in style at Manchester’s King Street
Visitors can get their hands on some excellent prizes in the run up to Christmas
Celebrate this Christmas in style at Manchester’s King Street – the city’s premium shopping and dining destination.
What better way to celebrate the festive season than on the picturesque King Street against a backdrop of 18th and 19th century buildings featuring a variety of premium shopping and dining destinations, plus plenty more.
Nestled in between historic landmarks in the city’s old banking district are a host of Alpine festive market stalls selling a tempting selection of European goods as well as crafts, food and drinks.
This beautiful street features an eclectic collection of fantastic high-end and designer brands, salons, an art gallery and even a tailor-made travel agents. Just some of these include the likes of The White Company, Hobbs, Patagonia, Kuoni Castle Fine Art, and Nailed It.
Some fantastic dining destinations here include El Gato Negro, Franco Manca, Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat, Miller & Carter, and many more.
To add an extra sprinkle of festive magic, weekly competitions will be held where visitors to King Street will be in with the chance of winning prizes from various brands and shops situated here.
Visitors can simply scan the QR code, located on King Street, to enter the competition and be in with the chance of winning.
Winners of prizes will be announced each week with goodies from the likes of: TAST, Charles Tyrwhitt, Franco Manca, Kala, Castle Fine Art, and Kuoni.
For those dreaming of jet-setting off to a sunny paradise on a luxury holiday, Kuoni will be giving away a £500 voucher towards flights as one of the prizes to be won, which will be announced at the end of December.
For those wishing to enter the competition, just visit one of the two vinyl screens located on 35 King Street and scan the QR code – you can’t miss them!
There will be POS signage in some stores for people to scan as well.
Once you’ve scanned the code, just sign up to the mailing list to enter the competition. Prizes will be announced each week with weekly giveaways until Christmas – find out more and sign up for the mailing list HERE.
What's On
Paddy McGuinness announces first stand-up comedy tour in eight years
He’s coming to Greater Manchester in his first tour since 2016!
Paddy McGuinness has announced his first stand-up comedy tour in eight years and he’s coming to Greater Manchester.
The Bolton-born comedian, best known for his roles in Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy, and The Keith and Paddy Picture Show, will perform his Nearly There tour on 40 dates at selected venues around the UK in 2024 and 2025.
McGuinness is a much-loved presence on British TV, presenting primetime shows such as Take Me Out and BBC’s Top Gear, as well as having previously sold out hundreds of venues across the country on his stand-up tours.
In 2021 he released his acclaimed autobiography My Lifey, and is now raring and ready to get back to where he belongs – on stage, making people laugh, with his hotly anticipated show.
Paddy said: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about!
“I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, click bait and fake news!”
Tickets go on sale Friday December 8th at 10am, book yours by clicking HERE.
Paddy McGuinness will perform his Nearly There tour to venues around the UK next year on the following dates:
Thursday October 24th 2024 Blackburn King Georges
Friday October 25th 2024 Sunderland Empire
Saturday October 26th 2024 Hull Connexin Live
Thursday Oct 31st 2024 Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
Friday November 1st 2024 Leicester De Montfort Hall
Sunday November 3rd 2024 Milton Keynes Theatre
Thursday November 27th 2024 Middlesbrough Town Hall
Friday November 8th 2024 Dunfermline Alhambra
Saturday November 9th 2024 Dundee Caird Hall
Sunday November 10th 2024 Aberdeen Music Hall
Thursday November 14th 2024 Leeds Grand Theatre
Friday November 15th 2024 Leeds Grand Theatre
Saturday November 16th 2024 Glasgow SEC Armadillo
Sunday November 17th 2024 Edinburgh Usher Hall
Friday November 22nd 2024 Bradford St Georges Hall
Saturday November 13rd 2024 Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre
Sunday November 25th 2024 Oxford New Theatre
Thursday November 28th 2024 Halifax Victoria Theatre
Friday November 29th 2024 Sheffield City Hall
Saturday November 30th 2024 Newcastle O2 City Hall
Sunday December 1st 2024 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
The tour will continue on the following dates in 2025:
Thursday February 13th 2025 Truro Hall for Cornwall
Friday February 14th 2025 Swansea Arena
Saturday February 15th 2025 Cardiff New Theatre
Thursday February 20th 2025 Ipswich Regent
Friday February 21st 2025 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Sunday February 23rd 2025 Dartford Orchard Theatre
Friday February 28th 2025 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
Saturday March 1st 2025 Wolverhampton The Civic at The Halls
Sunday March 2nd 2025 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Thursday March 6th 2025 Eastbourne Congress Theatre
Saturday March 8th 2025 Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Sunday March 9th 2025 Torquay Princess Theatre
Thursday March 13th 2025 Bath Forum
Friday March 14th 2025 London Palladium
Thursday March 20th 2025 York Barbican
Friday March 21st 2025 Scunthorpe Baths Hall
Sunday March 23rd 2025 Stockton Globe
Friday March 28th 2025 Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre
Saturday March 29th 2025 Blackpool Opera House
The Killers have just announced a huge UK and Ireland tour for next year, including three shows in Manchester.
Ahead of the release of their brand new compilation album, Rebel Diamonds, on December 8th, the band confirmed a celebratory tour for summer 2024.
The Rebel Diamonds Tour will celebrate the band’s 20 years of hits in a series of arena shows, including three nights at Manchester’s very own Co-op Live.
The Killers will be bringing 20 years of hits to Manchester on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, and Friday 21st June 2024.
Co-op Live
The new dates are the first time The Killers have played arena shows in the UK since 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful tour, and follow the band’s most recent stadium tour, which saw them play to 400,000 fans at sold out shows.
The Rebel Diamonds album and tour will celebrate 20 years of iconic hits including ‘Mr Brightside’, ‘When We Were Young’, ‘Read my Mind’ and ‘The Man’.
It’s the fourth multi-night announcement for Co-op Live’s opening season, following on from Olivia Rodrigo, Take That, and Liam Gallagher.
Co-op Live
Co-op Live – Europe’s most sustainable music-first arena – is edging closer to its official opening in April 2024, when a diverse range of global superstars will head to Manchester.
Expected to be the busiest UK arena opening season ever, Co-op Live will host 25 shows within its first month of opening.
A joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group and backed by pop-singer Harry Styles, Co-op Live has been designed to transform the live music experience for both artists and fans and is set to host some of the biggest acts from around the globe.
Co-op Presale tickets will go live on Wednesday December 6th, 2023 at 9:30am – exclusively for Co-op members. For Presale tickets, click HERE.
The Killers UK and Ireland tour will visit:
- Friday 14th June: DUBLIN, 3Arena
- Saturday 15th June: DUBLIN, 3Arena
- Tuesday 18th June: MANCHESTER, Co-Op Live
- Wednesday 19th June: MANCHESTER, Co-Op Live
- Friday 21st June: MANCHESTER, Co-Op Live
- Tuesday 25th June: GLASGOW, Ovo Hydro
- Wednesday 26th June: GLASGOW, Ovo Hydro
- Thursday 4th July: LONDON, The O2
- Friday 5th July: LONDON, The O2
- Sunday 7th July: LONDON, The O2
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