MIF17: Last and First Men at The Bridgewater Hall

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
© Donald Christie

MIF17: Last and First Men at The Bridgewater Hall at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 6 July 2017 Tickets from £12.00 — Book now

There are few performers who project a more otherworldly presence than British actress Tilda Swinton. So, it comes as no surprise to find her on narration duties for Jóhann Jóhannsson’s new multimedia adaptation of Olaf Stapledon’s epic sci-fi novel, Last and First Men. Jóhannsson – the Oscar-nominated Icelandic composer behind the scores for Arrival, Sicario and the upcoming Blade Runner 2049 – combines music, film and Swinton’s elegiac narration for what has been billed as a “poetic meditation on memory, loss and the idea of Utopia”.

Manchester International Festival will present the world premiere of the new work, which promises beautifully desolate futuristic landscape imagery, filmed in 16mm black and white in the former Yugoslav republics. Stapledon’s cult novel is vast, heady sci-fi that projects terrifying, apocalyptic futures for humanity, and this new adaptation, performed as a world exclusive by BBC Philharmonic at The Bridgewater Hall, takes on an equally bleak air as it documents the breathtaking end of the last human species in civilization.

MIF17: Last and First Men at The Bridgewater Hall at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 6 July 2017 Tickets from £12.00 Book now

What's on at The Bridgewater Hall

Walking Tour Stock imagery
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ActivityCity Centre
The Manchester Music Walkabout

Manchester’s famous musical legacy comes to life in this walking tour around the city, which will take you from the 1960s to the present day.

from £25.00

Where to go near MIF17: Last and First Men at The Bridgewater Hall

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Restaurant
Midland Tea Room

Dating back to 1903, Manchester’s stately Midland Hotel now has its own dedicated tea room. Expect traditional offerings in elegant surroundings.

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Hotel
The Midland Hotel

With 312 luxurious bedrooms, the Grade II-listed Midland Hotel occupies one of the most beautiful and storied buildings in Manchester.

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Society Manchester

Society Manchester is a glorious indoor and outdoor space in the very heart of the city, with five street food vendors to choose from and a range of high-quality drinks.

Manchester
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Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

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Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Haunt MCR
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Haunt MCR

Haunt MCR is a speciality coffee shop and wine bar located on Manchester’s bustling Peter Street.

Manchester
Restaurant
Exhibition

Exhibition hosts three of the city’s most celebrated independent kitchens: Osma, Baratxuri, and Jaan by Another Hand.

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Jaan

Serving up exceptional Persian cuisine, this new food concept from the team behind Another Hand is a must-try.

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ONDA Pasta Bar

ONDA is a treat for the tastebuds. Long dark wood tables are shared by eager diners, as tapas-style plates of fresh pasta and other Italian dishes are ferried around the restaurant.

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Restaurant
Nudo Sushi Box

Nudo Sushi Box on Manchester’s Oxford Road specialises in freshly-prepared boxes of – you guessed it – sushi.

What's on:

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Rock and Goal Tour

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Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse range of pints.

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ActivityManchester
Floating Art Workshops

Join expert teacher Ula for relaxed painting workshops that will have you creating work you can be proud of, no matter your level of artistic experience.

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