A new installation at The Factory has given the public a chance to look inside the under-construction £186 million landmark arts complex for the first time.
Although still predominantly a building site and not due to open its doors fully until next year – with budget issues and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic cited as reasoning – audiences were invited inside The Factory this past weekend to experience major new sound and light installation Arcadia.
Created by theatre and opera director Deborah Warner and partly-inspired by a painting of Manchester by William Wyld, Arcadia saw a field of luminous tents emitting an original sound composition that wove together some of the greatest nature poetry ever written, by poets including Sappho, John Clare, WB Yeats, G. E. Patterson, Seamus Heaney, Jackie Kay, Simon Armitage, Alice Oswald and Sabrina Mahfouz, among many others.
It featured recorded contributions from several leading Northern actors and musicians including Jonathan Pryce, Jane Horrocks, RoxXxan, Brian Cox, Simon Russell Beale, Lioness and David Thewlis.
Arcadia was designed as a space for “thought and reflection” / Credit: MIF / Andrew BrookesAudiences were invited to wander freely through the space to connect with nature / Credit: MIF / Andrew Brookes
Arcadia was designed as a space for “thought and reflection”.
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Audiences were invited to wander freely through the space to connect with nature and consider “the relationship between the urban and the rural”.
“It has been enormously exciting to create a project for MIF inviting the public into The Factory for the very first time,” said Deborah Warner.
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“It’s been thrilling to watch this extraordinary landmark building take concrete form from the core of one lift shaft, to its present stage of well-defined auditoria, rehearsal spaces, loading docks and offices.
“The Factory will not only change the cultural face of Manchester, but that of the UK, Europe and the world.”
John McGrath – Artistic Director at & Chief Executive of MIF and The Factory – added: “We are delighted to welcome such a visionary director to this year’s festival to transform a space that will ultimately play a crucial role in the future of Manchester and the arts internationally.
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“This work has created an opportunity for audiences to encounter The Factory as it is being shaped and invites them to reflect on the juxtaposition of urban and rural.”
The Factory will be a “world-class cultural space” once it opens in 2022 / Credit: MIF / OMA
The Factory – being developed by Manchester City Council in partnership with Manchester International Festival (MIF) – will be a “world-class cultural space” in the heart of the city centre and the year-round home for MIF once it opens in 2022, with a programme of groundbreaking, and interdisciplinary work by leading artists from across the globe.
The landmark building is setting out to be one of the “largest, most ambitious, and most versatile purpose-built arts spaces in the world”.
Featured Image – MIF / Andrew Brookes
What's On
A FREE shopping event dedicated to saving students money is returning to Manchester Arndale
Thomas Melia
One of the city centre’s most popular shopping events helping students save money is returning to Manchester Arndale and the city centre.
MCR Student Socialis heading back to the city with its big discounts, freebies, giveaways and plenty of entertainment to keep you busy while you browse.
This interactive shopping event encourages new and current students to wander roundManchester Arndaleand the surrounding streets while snapping up some seriously good deals.
Expect discounts of up to 50% off at 120 stores including big high street retailers like Champion, Søstrene Grene, Selfridges, Sephora, and Berghaus.
This incredible 50% off deal continues into some of Manchester Arndale’s big-name food vendors like Wingstop, Archie’s, Barburrito, Sides, HOP Vietnamese and more.
If you’re after carrying thatZara Larssonenergy into your next academic year, the Arndale’s Rhinestone Rodeo celebration includes a Charm Bar in Exchange Court, where you can turn photos into personalised charms.
No shopping trip is complete without a matcha in-hand and you can bag yourself a free hot or iced drink in Exchange Court at the Cult Beauty Matcha Station.
Look out for our Audio North truck on Market StreetThe Manchester Arndale MCR Student Social is back
There’s even the Arndale’s Party Tuk Tuk which will be roaming around the city-centre shopping complex blasting out hip-hop tunes and some of your song requests.
Just outside Manchester Arndale on Market Street, there’s plenty of activities split across three dedicated zones, like Food & Drink by familiar foodie faces like Franco Manca and Great British Doner.
The Party Zone will be buzzing as Footasylum, Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground all unite, while there’s plenty of giveaways over at the Info Zone with brands like Science + Industry Museum and RSPB.
And, our very ownAudio North x The Manc DJ Truck is soundtracking Market Street with student DJs playing out everything from dance and funk to classic party anthems.
MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 24 September at Manchester Arndale from 12pm to 7pm and you can find more information via its official websiteHERE.
A Medieval Faire with birds of prey and live demonstrations is coming to Manchester’s oldest building
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is going back to the Middle Ages this month as the city’s Medieval Faire returns to Chetham’s Library for a day of history, live entertainment, and family fun.
The free event is taking place on Saturday 26 September, with the grounds of the historic building transformed into a medieval celebration from 11am to 4pm.
And with Chetham’s medieval buildings dating all the way back to 1421, there probably aren’t many more fitting places in Manchester to spend the day pretending you’ve stepped back several centuries.
Visitors can expect plenty going on throughout the day, including walking tours of Manchester’s Medieval Quarter, birds of prey, specialist stalls, and live demonstrations showing what life was like during the medieval era.
There’ll also be historical re-enactors from Historia Normannis, bringing the sights, sounds and characters of the Middle Ages to life.
The event is being staged in partnership with the University of Manchester and Manchester Cathedral, with organisers hoping to get people of all ages interested in the city’s often-overlooked medieval history.
Julianne Simpson, Librarian at Chetham’s Library, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Medieval Faire back to Chetham’s.
The Manchester Medieval Faire returns this month
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to discover Manchester’s medieval heritage through hands-on experiences, live performances, and historical demonstrations.
“Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for a fun family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Best of all, entry is completely free and you don’t need to book.
If you fancy going a bit deeper into Manchester’s history while you’re there, guided tours of Chetham’s Library will also be available to book on the day for £8.50 per person.
The tours offer visitors the chance to explore one of the UK’s most significant historic libraries and discover more about its collections, characters and stories.
So, if your weekend plans involve less brunch and more medieval re-enactments, birds of prey and wandering around one of Manchester’s oldest buildings, this one’s worth putting in the diary.
Emily Sergeant -
13th July 2021 
