MIF23: Justin Vivian Bond – One Night in Trans Vegas at Factory International

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Justin Vivian Bond - One Night in Trans Vegas

Aviva Studios, Manchester
6 July 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Justin Vivian Bond - One Night in Trans Vegas at Factory International
Image courtesy of Distilled Studio for Glorious Broads.
Book now

A true master of their craft, the legendary trans performer, Justin Vivian Bond brings one special night of cabaret greatness to Manchester International Festival 2023.

Hilariously entertaining, wildly imaginative and vividly expressive, Justin Vivian Bond (or Viv to friends) presents One Night in Trans Vegas at Factory International – a seductive evening of songs and stories, with the addition of some very special guests. Raucous and ravishing, expect wit, warmth and stunning vocals, punctuated with stories and backstage anecdotes.

Trans pioneer and icon of the cabaret scene, Viv has been at the forefront of trans visibility and activism since the early 1990s. One Night in Trans Vegas sees MIF23 join forces with Trans Creative, the UK’s leading trans arts company, for the grand finale of the 2023 festival. Expect a trans-led takeover of Festival Square – where Viv’s performance is the dazzling jewel in the crown.

Described as “the greatest cabaret artist of their generation” by The New Yorker, Viv’s illustrious career has seen them headline the likes of Sydney Opera House and New York’s Carnegie Hall. As a performer, both on and Off-Broadway, Viv has garnered an Obie and a Bessie Award, as well as being nominated for a Tony Award. Most importantly, they have been a tireless campaigner for trans rights, pioneering the use of the title Mx.

Now, it’s your turn to experience this living legend at MIF23. Expect a whirlwind of art and activism – so slip into something comfortable and get ready to celebrate.

What's on at Aviva Studios

FLIGHT at Aviva Studios
TheatreCity Centre
FLIGHT at Aviva Studios

Happening in absolute darkness inside a 40ft shipping container, FLIGHT invites you to board a commercial airliner – and take two possible journeys.

From £10.00
Summer at Aviva Studios
Until
ActivityManchester
Summer at Aviva Studios

From global dance and live music to storytelling, skateboarding and football, get ready for a dream summer on the banks of the River Irwell.

Free entry

Where to go near MIF23: Justin Vivian Bond – One Night in Trans Vegas at Factory International

Castlefield
Event venue
Old Granada Studios

Manchester’s old Granada Studios is an iconic piece of the city’s history and home to Sidney Bernstein’s television empire.

Manchester Opera House by Phil Tragen
City Centre
Theatre
Manchester Opera House

A commercial touring theatre, the Manchester Opera House is reopening in August 2021, all set to host the city’s finest mainstream theatrical productions, music gigs, opera and ballet.

City Centre
Music venue
Low Four Studio

Old Granada Studios has announced Low Four: a new studio and music project that will stream and archive live music performance as part of a new generation of music TV programming. The inclusion of a viewing balcony also means that these recordings, along with special events and concerts, will be made open to a few […]

Manchester
Restaurant
20 Stories

High-end restaurant and cocktail bar, with stunning views of the Manchester skyline.

Manchester
Gallery
Smolensky Gallery

This appointment-only gallery is a hidden gem in Manchester. Art lovers and collectors can browse many high quality pieces.

What's on: Theatre

Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park
Until
FestivalsChester
Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park

Expect another fabulous season of open-air theatre when Pride and Prejudice, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Alice in Wonderland play Grosvenor Park this summer.

From £10.80

Culture Guides

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Sprints
Music in the North

10 fresh shows across Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, threading together noise, ritual, euphoria and release in all their messy, beautiful forms.

Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
Exhibitions in the North

Chocolate fountains, beautiful batiks and medieval marginalia - this month's supersized Exhibitions Guide has it all.