Manchester International Festival (MIF) has today unveiled its “vibrant programme” of events as it makes its highly-anticipated return this summer.
A 42-metre sculpture of Big Ben made out of political books in Piccadilly Gardens, a new film featuring Cillian Murphy, and a theatrical performance of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay about grief are among the standout works set to feature.
Returning to Manchester city centre from 1st-18th July as one of the first large-scale events to be held following the proposed lift of all COVID-19 restrictions on 21st June, as part of the government’s “irreversible” roadmap for lifting England’s current national lockdown, the jam-packed MIF21 lineup will showcase original new work from across the spectrum of visual and performing arts and music by artists from over 20 countries.
Performances are set to take place safely at both indoor and outdoor locations across Greater Manchester, including the first ever work on the construction site of The Factory – the landmark cultural space that will be MIF’s future home.
A “rich online offer” will also provide a window into the festival wherever audiences are, including livestreams and work created especially for the digital real.
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After a year apart and indoors, the #MIF21 line-up is here! From 1-18th July, we’re welcoming you back to the heart of the city – to performance, visual art, music, talks, residencies and more. Manchester, we’ve missed you. Find the full programme: https://t.co/0fLstmIhfKpic.twitter.com/ufKZtAY9u7
— Manchester International Festival (@MIFestival) April 28, 2021
With almost all of the work set to be showcased at the festival created in the past year, MIF21 provides a “unique snapshot of these unprecedented time”, with artists having reflected on ideas such as love and human connections, the way we play, division and togetherness, equality and social change, and the relationship between the urban and the rural.
Festival Square will also return this summer, to a new location at Cathedral Gardens.
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And, for the first time ever, the curation of the festival’s talks and discussions programme has been handed over to the people of Greater Manchester, which will build on MIF’s work involving the community as artistic collaborators and participants in work shaped by them.
So, what are some of the works festival-goers can expect this year?
Among the big names debuting new work at MIF21 will be actor Cillian Murphy, singer-songwriter Patti Smith, Catatonia frontwoman Cerys Matthews, world-renowned choreographer Boris Charmatz, author Lemn Sissay, and musician Arlo Parks.
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MIF / Big Ben Lying Down with Political Books
Bevan Ross – MIF / The Walk | Kira Barlach
Sea Change – a new outdoor dance work by French choreographer Boris Charmatz – will fill Deansgate with a chain of professional and non-professional dancers, including more than 150 local residents each performing and repeating a dance movement on the spot in “a joyous celebration of togetherness” in a post-COVID world.
The Argentinian artist Marta Minujín’s ‘Big Ben Lying Down with Political Books’ – which has been described as a “reflective but joyous” work after a year in which relations between the Greater Manchester region and Westminster became increasingly strained – will be situated in Piccadilly Gardens.
The actor Cillian Murphy and the author Max Porter are reunited for the film ‘All of This Unreal Time’, which is directed by Aoife McArdle, with music provided by The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner alongside Jon Hopkins.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s New Yorker essay ‘Notes on Grief‘ will be reimagined for the stage by director Rae McKen, while Akram Khan and animator and director Naaman Azhari are collaborating on a film, and Arlo Parks and Patti Smith also performing.
Other work includes Forensic Architecture’s installation at the Whitworth about the notorious Cancer Alley in Louisiana, photographer Cephas Williams will have his portraits of black British subjects shown in the Arndale shopping centre, and Laure Prouvost’s immersive installation entitled the long waited, weighted gathering, will reopen the Manchester Jewish Museum.
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MIF / Louis Reynolds
“MIF has always been a festival like no other,” said John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive at Manchester International Festival.
“[This is] a truly international programme of work made in the heat of the past year and a vibrant response to our times. Created with safety and wellbeing at the heart of everything, it is flexible to ever-changing circumstances, and boldly explores both real and digital space.
“We hope MIF21 will provide a time and place to reflect on our world now.
“To celebrate the differing ways we can be together, and to emphasise, despite all that has happened, the importance of our creative connections – locally and globally”.
Sir Richard Leese – Leader of Manchester City Council – added: “After the year we’ve all had that has been such a massive challenge for our cultural sector, Manchester needs MIF this year more than ever.
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“Manchester has always been a city that values and champions culture and is rightly recognised across the globe for its strengths and innovation in this [so] as we now begin to move out of the pandemic, we’re very clear that the cultural sector has an enduring and important part to play in our recovery.
“Thanks to the determination and creativity of the MIF team and all the artists and others who are part of this year’s festival, I have no doubt that MIF21 will put Manchester back in the spotlight once more”.
MIF – Poet Slash Artists | Homecoming Live
As one of the first major public events in the city, MIF21 will play a key role in the safe reopening of the city’s economy and provide employment for hundreds of freelancers and artists.
Much of the programme will be free to attend.
Tickets will be on sale on from 20th May 2021, and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – MIF / Louis Reynolds
What's On
Influential indie veterans The Wedding Present to embark on 40th anniversary tour
Danny Jones
Influential indie band The Wedding Present are about to begin a big live tour across the UK for their 40th anniversary, and one stop is right here in Manchester.
As boundary-pushing veterans of the genre for the best part of four decades, The Wedding Present have always been one of the most pioneering auteurs of the Northern music scene, and nothing has changed even after all this time.
The Leeds-formed icons are a favourite not only of ours but even more so among our friends over at The Hoot, and with an artistic legacy as strong as Yorkshire’s, that’s saying something.
David Lewis Gedge’s long-standing project rather quietly announced its major retrospective series of live shows back in June – so quiet, in fact, that we missed it until now – but as they gear up for a handful of very special dates, we’d urge Manc gig-goers to give themselves a Wedding Present.
Gedge and co. will be coming to the O2 Ritz in Manchester for just the second show of merely half a dozen confirmed for The Wedding Present 40th Anniversary Tour, having played the venue many times.
In fact, even after visits featuring live configurations over the years, the current lineup played the Ritz as recently as May 2023; the show was met with strong reviews pretty much across the board, and it seemed to signal somewhat of a falling back in love with the crowds of the North.
For anyone unaware of the self-styled ‘semi-legendary band’ (their PR’s words, not ours), The Wedding Present are probably in similar territory to fellow underdogs and Manc natives, James, when it comes to the amount of music they’ve put out over the years, inspiring generations of those who came after.
You might assume we’d name one of their most famous tracks, ‘George Best’, as our favourite, for rather obvious reasons – but you’d be wrong: it doesn’t get much better than ‘Dreamworld’, if you ask us.
Their rich back catalogue encompasses not only so many different eras but also sounds, styles and various other eccentricities; so much so that their multi-genre-spanning music has even produced its own musical.
But before we dive any deeper down into the rabbit hole, let’s get back on track.
Set to play Manchester on Friday, 10 October, The Wedding Present will be kicking off the tour in Bristol at the start of next month.
There are other dates in the likes of Sheffield, Liverpool, Chester, Holmfirth, Buxton, Newcastle and more, but only a few are officially part of the anniversary tour.
Tickets are live as we speak, so if you fancy going along to see them, you can grab yours HERE.
A unique Manchester attraction is offering FREE entry to anyone who shares its ‘birthday’ month
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most unique attractions is offering free entry for two weeks to celebrate its first birthday.
But there’s a catch… free entry is only granted to people born in one specific month.
Museum of Illusions – which is is one of the largest and fastest-growing private museum chains – is celebrating the first birthday of its debut UK attraction in Manchester this September by giving away free tickets to anyone who shares its birthday month.
Since opening on Market Street in 2024, Museum of Illusions has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors through its doors to experience the dozens of mind-bending illusions and interactive exhibits inside, and has quickly established itself as one of the city’s top attractions in what is a very competitive market.
Manchester’s Museum of Illusions is celebrating its first birthday / Credit: Supplied
Loved by locals and tourists alike, the museum blends fun and education for visitors of all ages, and is fully-accessible too, ensuring everyone can enjoy the fun.
Manchester‘s Museum of Illusions is not only the first in the UK, but it’s also the second-largest in Europe, just behind Copenhagen – so yes, it’s a pretty big deal.
To mark the milestone and celebrate its first anniversary, visitors born in September can enjoy free entry to the museum from Monday 22 September through to Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).
All they need to do to access this offer is show a valid ID when they arrive.
The museum will also be dressed for the occasion too, adding a birthday touch to its already-captivating mix of optical illusions and immersive exhibits.
“Manchester has truly embraced the Museum of Illusions, and we’re so grateful for all the support we’ve had in our first year,” commented Steve Buchan, who is the General Manager at the Museum of Illusions in Manchester.
The unique attraction is offering free entry to anyone who shares its birthday month / Credit: Supplied
“Welcoming over 200,000 visitors in just 12 months has been incredible.
“Free tickets to anyone celebrating their birthday in September feels like the perfect way to give something back. It’s our way of saying thank you for the incredible support, and of course, to invite even more people to experience the fun, curiosity, and wonder the museum brings.”
Is your birthday in September? You can visit the Museum of Illusions in Manchester anytime from Monday 22 September – Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).