Factory International Spring Season 2024
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Building on the momentum and success of the official opening season of Aviva Studios, Factory International have announced a sensational Spring Season of world premiere performances, unmissable music and evocative arts events.
The season launches with a specially commissioned takeover of work by the internationally acclaimed Manchester-based artist David Hoyle. Bringing comedy, glamour and anarchy, Please Feel Free to Ignore My Work toasts four decades of work from the original avant-garde performance avalanche. Alongside an extensive exhibition of Hoyle’s work in Aviva Studios’ Social, there’s a live painting performance, a live Q&A session with the artist, and a brand-new theatre show where friends from the worlds of burlesque, music, drag, film, circus and cabaret will join Hoyle on stage.
In May, Keith Khan’s The Accountants takes centre stage for a world premiere performance. Blending global dance and state-of-the-art visuals, the cultural superpowers of India and China go head-to-head in this spectacular performance choreographed by leading Chinese dance icon Xie Xin and renowned Indian dancer Terence Lewis. Expect a visual feast of dance and storytelling that’ll leave you questioning anything you ‘thought’ you knew about India and China.
In an exciting contrast, and following on from the success of previous MIF collaborations, Maxine Peake, Sarah Frankcom and Imogen Knight will join forces to present Robin/Red/Breast in May. Adapted from John Bowen’s Robin Redbreast, first broadcast in 1970 as part of the BBC’s famous Play For Today TV series, this chilling feminist theatrical reimagining explores themes of paganism and fertility sacrifice – themes that continue to fascinate horror audiences over fifty years on. Spine-tingling stuff.
In June, artist and composer Huang Ruo presents City of Floating Sounds, a new interactive symphony that fuses a meditative new work with cutting-edge technology. Audiences will experience a musical journey around Manchester – guided via an app on their phone – as they journey into Aviva Studios for the full orchestral concert performed live by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Later in spring, House of Manchester bring killer dance moves and a glorious club soundtrack to Aviva Studios in a vibrant celebration of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community. Presented by the exuberant, Rikki Beadle-Blair, expect three glamorous nights of runway performance showcasing Manchester’s underground clubland and nu-wave cabaret scene.
