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An exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s psychedelic larger-than-life inflatable art, a new work by the prolific Japanese experimental composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and the world premiere of Kimber Lee’s lauded untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play. The Manchester International Festival 2023 programme is packed with unmissable events – a true celebration of Manchester, its culture and its people.
The Manchester International Festival 2023 programme is packed with unmissable events.
Running from 29 June to 16 July, at this year’s festival you’ll find extraordinary events taking place in our favourite theatres and cultural haunts, as well as well-trodden public areas newly transformed into lively performance spaces. Most thrillingly, this year’s festival offers the first opportunity to step foot inside the spectacular Factory International building, with the Kusama exhibition, – titled You, Me and the Balloons, the first major showing in the space.
Further highlights of the festival include a musical theatre retelling of Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta’s cult 1977 novel, The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions and a live fusion of choreography, theatre and photography in Find your Eyes, by the award-winning photographer Benji Reid.
A true celebration of Manchester, its culture and its people.
With all the eyes of the world on Manchester this summer, read on for more details of those ‘don’t miss’ events happening at Manchester International Festival.
Here are our picks
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1. MIF23: untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play at the Royal Exchange
Image courtesy of the Royal Exchange/ MIF untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play at Royal Exchange Theatre, City Centre, 24 June–22 July 2023, from £7.00 - Book now
Winner of the Bruntwood Prize 2019 International Award, Kimber Lee’s play looks to be the pièce de résistance for another brilliant season at the Royal Exchange and a hot ticket at MIF23.
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2. MIF23: The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions at HOME
Image courtesy of Damien Frost. The Faggots & Their Friends Between Revolutions at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 28 June–2 July 2023, from £10.00 - Book now
Expect dance, theatre and song in this musical world premiere performance of Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta’s cult 1977 novel.
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3. MIF23: Kagami by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Tin Drum
Ryuichi Sakamoto by Luigi & Iango, 2023. Kagami by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Tin Drum at Versa Manchester Studios, Castlefield, 29 June–9 July 2023, from £10 - Book now
Watch a ground-breaking mixed reality concert created by legendary composer and musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and world-leading production studio and technology developer, Tin Drum.
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4. MIF23: You, Me and the Balloons at Factory International
Yayoi Kusama and Dots Obsession, 1996-2011 Installation (Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo). Image courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro and David Zwirner. You, Me and the Balloons at Factory International, City Centre, 30 June–28 August 2023, from £7.50 - Book now
Yayoi Kusama’s You, Me and the Balloons celebrates three decades of Kusama’s spectacular inflatable artworks, which are brought together for the first time in this major exhibition.
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5. MIF23: Find Your Eyes at Manchester Academy
Image courtesy of Benji Reid. Find Your Eyes at Manchester Academy, Manchester, 12–16 July 2023, from £10.00 - Book now
Fusing photography with choreography and theatre, don’t miss this live photography show, created by the award-winning British photographer Benji Reid.
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