Tens of thousands of people made their way down to the groundbreaking new £210 million Factory International theatre and arts venue – to be officially known as Aviva Studios – last month ahead of its official opening in October to see the major new installation by celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, and it’s fair to say they were left mesmerised by the jaw-dropping spectacle.
New late-night tickets added for Yayoi Kusama’s giant polka-dot inflatables exhibition / Credit: David Levine (via Factory International)
Once you walk through the doors of the brand-new warehouse space, the first room is a sea of black and yellow spotted tentacles covering the walls and floor, and towering way overhead.
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From here, you then head into the hangar-like main hall, where you can first view the full exhibition from a balcony, before having the chance to get in amongst the other-worldly selection of Yayoi Kusama’s creations for yourself – from a massive pumpkin, to inflatable clouds you can lie on.
You can also wander through a forest of glowing pink tentacles, gawp up at colourful dogs called Ring-Ring and Toko-Ton, and peer into a room of polka-dot mirrors.
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Some of the artworks are more than a whopping 10-metres tall.
If you haven’t yet been able to marvel at the spectacular installation with your own eyes, there’s now the the chance to see it after hours, as from this week (4 August), visitors will be able to experience the ambitious immersive environment on Friday and Saturday evenings – with tickets up for grabs from 7:30pm and last entry at 9:45pm.
The new late-night tickets will set you back £15 each, with a range of concessions available.
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Tens of thousands of visitors got the experience the new installation at MIF23 / Credit: The Manc Group
As well as the new late-night opening hours, there’s also a free programme of family-friendly activities inspired by the installation running throughout the school summer holidays – with everything from dance workshops, upcycling, and craftmaking, to other self-led learning activities led by local artists, makers, and creators on the lineup.
Then, on Saturday 5 August, audiences can get a curator’s insight into both the exhibition and Kusama’s life and work, with an illustrated talk by Factory International’s Phoebe Greenwood, the Tate Modern’s Katy Wan – who also curated Kusama’s ‘Infinity Mirror Rooms’.
You, Me and the Balloons is on view in Manchester until 28 August, and you can grab tickets from the Factory International website here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
What's On
A first look into the highly-anticipated TV soap crossover ‘Corriedale’ has just dropped
Thomas Melia
The wait is nearly over for TV soap fans, as producers behind the highly-anticipated ‘Corriedale’ crossover have just dropped an exclusive first look.
Whether you’re team Coronation Streetor team Emmerdale, this show has all areas covered as it merges both the iconic TV soaps into an hour-long special.
Now, it feels like Christmas has come early as pictures of two very distinctive cast members smiling next to each other while filming the crossover episode have been released.
In the newly-released images we can see Vicky Myers, known for playing the assertive and dedicated DS Lisa Swain, representing the Manchester-based production Coronation Street.
Vicky Myers (DS Lisa Swain) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) pictured together ahead of upcoming TV soap crossover Corriedale / Credit: ITV Press Centre (Supplied)
Stood by her side is Danny Miller known for his role as the complex and vulnerable Aaron Dingle in Leeds-based hit soap Emmerdale.
Both can be seen on-set and are pictured in front of a white trailer filming for the upcoming Corriedale special.
Although the shows are set just a one hour’s drive away from each other, separated by The Pennines, this soap special marks the first time that characters from each drama will have ever crossed paths.
Most details for this soap crossover are being kept very tight-lipped although filming kicked off in September with this latest update marking the first-ever major cast announcement for Corriedale.
ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain Macleod said: “It’s beyond exciting that filming is under way on Corriedale.
“There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites and the images coming out of the shoot are utterly spectacular. And that’s before we’ve even got to all the brilliant transpennine interactions between characters from the different shows!
“As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year. It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.”
Corriedale is coming to our TV screens in early 2026 and heralds the start of a new soap power hour with 30 minute episodes of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale to air every weekday.
The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.
The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.
The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.
It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).
The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.
Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.
The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.
Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.
“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd August 2023 
