From www.mif.co.uk

Newsletter September 2010

FIRST 3 SHOWS TO BE ANNOUNCED

The first 3 Festival shows for 2011 will be announced on our new website on Fri 1 Oct 2010 with tickets on sale from 10am.

The full Festival programme will be revealed in March 2011.

Manchester International Festival takes place 30 June - 17 July 2011.

Im glad this seems to be gaining strength, now all we need is more museums and galleries.

The announcement coincides with the start of the Manchester Weekender (http://www.creativetourist.com/city-guides/weekender-listings) on 1st Oct, which does look like a kind of MIF Jr. I wonder if this will ever become an annual thing?

Can't wait to hear about next years MIF, hopefully gonna try and can get some volunteering for next years MIF, if not will just go to some of the events hopefully.

The Manchester Weekender looks really good, hoping to see a few of the events for it this weekend, I hope it does become a permenant fixture, it would be great to have to have another cultural festival in Manchester, and would work well to have it on during the years that MIF is not on.

I volunteered last year and it was class. And I was lucky to do it over a period of 3 months.

Sounds great Seasonedbest, am signed up to everything on MIF's website so when something gets released about anything for the festival will get to know soon as. It does look really fun to do the volunteering for the festival.

Yeah, there's good jobs and as you'd expect, some not so good. But I was lucky to be able to do what I wanted, everything from delivering tickets to helping build the 'It felt like a kiss set.' And the free parties are not bad either. I'd do it again if I was sticking around.

Slightly off topic, but we have the good old Food and Drink Festival coming up in a few days time:

http://www.foodanddrinkfestival.com/

that weekender looks brilliant, definitely going to these two.


China: Journey to the East, until 26 Jun 2011, 10am-5pm Tues-Sat, 11am-4pm Sun & Mon. The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road M13 9PL. Free. 3,000 years’ worth of culture from one of the most important and influential civilizations in world history in this touring show from the British Museum.



The Land Between Us, until 23 Jan 2011, 10am-5pm (12pm-4pm on Sun). The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road M15 6ER. Free. The historic and contemporary come together in the Whitworth’s latest blockbuster show, which opens with a forest, re-created in the gallery by Olafur Eliasson. It’s also the first time so many (50) watercolours by JMW Turner held by the Whitworth have been on display together. Plus Black Audio Film Collective, Rachel Whiteread and more. UW, CW, UP


turner and eliasson under one roof, perfectttt.

I recall posting on here that I'd seen Kraftwerk play in the Lenin steel works in Nowy Huta outside Krakow as part of their Sacred et Profumo festival. Then suggested that no better band could play the MIF09.

Guess what kids. They played the velodrome. May it was chance. Maybe not. But anyone who wishes to wish hard enough on here. You never know who reads this.

So OK. How about a week long world roots and beats festival embracing the Bury Met, Academy, BOTW, Waterside in Sale and ends up with a big name at the Bridgewater?

Its International after all.

Knew I could find it.............

Last weekend before I caught Kraftwerk perform in the old Lenin steel works in Nowy Huta, as part of Krakow's Sacrum Profunda festival.

And I thought.

"Just wouldnt be great if the orginators of computer music, played in the city of the birthplace of the computer in next years festival.?"

I went to the Velodrome gig and the Elbow/Halle gig at the Bridgewater Hall, both fantastic occasions!

that weekender looks brilliant, definitely going to these two.


China: Journey to the East, until 26 Jun 2011, 10am-5pm Tues-Sat, 11am-4pm Sun & Mon. The Manchester Museum, Oxford Road M13 9PL. Free. 3,000 years’ worth of culture from one of the most important and influential civilizations in world history in this touring show from the British Museum.



The Land Between Us, until 23 Jan 2011, 10am-5pm (12pm-4pm on Sun). The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road M15 6ER. Free. The historic and contemporary come together in the Whitworth’s latest blockbuster show, which opens with a forest, re-created in the gallery by Olafur Eliasson. It’s also the first time so many (50) watercolours by JMW Turner held by the Whitworth have been on display together. Plus Black Audio Film Collective, Rachel Whiteread and more. UW, CW, UP


turner and eliasson under one roof, perfectttt.


Land Between Us comes highly recommended. The Eliasson forest installation is amazing! It's so weird having all those trees in the gallery. I met a few of the artists at the private view last Friday, but unfortunately Olafur wasn't there himself.

This Saturday at the Whitworth will also see Krysko & Kashiwagi... in the mix, featuring Warehouse Project's Matthew Krysko and Naomi Kashiwagi. They'll basically be mixing modern electronic music with wind-up gramophones. Genius. Also, Huw Bunford from Super Furry Animals will be performing a piece.

I have also heard on the grapevine that more Super Furry Animal related events may be taking place at The Whitworth quite soon...

From: www.mif.co.uk

FIRST THREE SHOWS ANNOUNCED

Manchester International Festival announces its first three shows for 2011. Tickets go on sale at 10am Fri 1 October via our website.


©Antony Crook The Life & Death of Marina Abramovic


Manchester International Festival and Teatro Real Madrid presents the world premiere of a startling new piece for the stage: The Life and Death of Marina Abramović, a biography of the godmother of performance art, reimagined by visionary director Robert Wilson.

This ground-breaking show starring Marina Abramović, Willem Dafoe, Antony (Antony & The Johnsons) and an international cast brings together the worlds of theatre, art and music to thrilling effect. Book tickets



© Catherine Ashmore That Day We Sang by Victoria Wood


A new play from one of Britain's best-loved writers and performers: the story of Manchester Children’s Choir in the 1920s, told from the perspective of the singers brought together again in their middle-age for a TV documentary.
Book tickets


Wagner: Die Walkure


Following their 2009 presentation of Götterdämmerung, which ended with a 15 minute standing ovation, Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé return to Wagner’s Ring Cycle with a concert version of Die Walküre over two days.

MIF has commissioned Gerard McBurney to create The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan, a new dramatic prologue to Die Walküre.
Sir Mark Elder leads the Hallé and three actors in a guide to Richard Wagner’s revolutionary reinvention of the musical language of opera. This will be an illuminating experience for Wagner afficionados and newcomers alike. Directed by Neil Bartlett. Book tickets

MIF raises £2.2m from corporate sponsors

1st October 2010

THE organisers of the Manchester International Festival say they have so far raised £2.2m from commercial sponsors.

Soap maker PZ Cussons, Manchester Airport Group and property company Bruntwood are all backing the event as official sponsors. It has also won the support of the Co-operative Group, car parks company NCP, and hotelier City Inn.

The arts festival, held every two years, showcases a series of premieres and has helped to put the city on the cultural map. Next year it will take place from June 30 to July 17.

It receives some funding from Manchester City Council, Arts Council England and Salford City Council but needs cash from other sources to cover its budget.

Last year's event cost £9.3m to stage. It pulled in funding of £9.5m with £2.2m coming from the city council, £1.6m from other public bodies, £2.9m from sponsorship, £1.5m from ticket sales and £1.3m from other sources.

Festival director Alex Poots said: "It's hugely heartening to have secured this level of sponsorship from such a diverse range of companies, particularly at such a challenging time for business and the cultural industries.

"We have formed strong relationships across the region and beyond and we are very grateful for the support of these forward-thinking companies, both new and returning. This outstanding level of private sponsorship is made possible by building on the bedrock of support from our public sector funders."

The 2011 festival will see the launch of the MIF Pioneer scheme, allowing individuals to support the work of the festival for the first time with gifts of £1,000 or £2,000.

The first three festival commissions for next year's event include a new theatre piece written and directed by Victoria Wood, The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic, and a collaboration with Manchester’s own Hallé Orchestra.

The event is also supported by: Law firms Stephenson Bell, Cobbetts and Addleshaw Goddard; developers Argent, Nikal and Bluemantle; architect BDP; manufacturers SPX and Brother UK; engineers Arup, Buro Happold, Siemens and the Eric Wright Group; and property manager Frogmore Northern.

Wagner's Die Walküre?

Mein Gott!

The Teatro Madrid, Anthony and the Johnsons and Marina Abramović.

This is becoming a serious concern.

Can't wait for the rest of the announcements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ-yxhBZ7cM
It starts with Victoria Wood and this above.

Then we have Marina Abramović, Teatre Madrid and Anthony and the Johnsons

And then the exhausting Wagner Opera

Sound a serious line up. Very International.

double post

Manchester International Festival braced for more funding cuts

October 25, 2010

Manchester International Festival could be facing another major funding cut.

Arts Council England bosses are meeting on Monday to decide where the axe will fall on hundreds of organisations, events, exhibitions and festivals.

The body is responsible for investing government and Lottery cash in arts and culture.

It has to cut almost 30 per cent from its budget over the next four years – and it is understood the money that helps pay for events such as the International Festival is at risk.

The Arts Council has said it will seek to minimize the effect of cuts on hundreds of organizations that rely on it for regular funding. Politicians have warned this puts cash for other events, such as the biennial festival, in greater jeopardy.

As the M.E.N revealed earlier this year, the festival has already lost funding from the North West Development Agency, which will be scrapped in 2012.

Ivan Lewis, Bury South MP and shadow secretary for culture, media and sport, said: “The scale of the cuts to the arts means they are destined to have a disproportionate impact on regional culture. In the face of unenviable financial choices, I hope the Arts Council will find a way of maintaining support for a festival which has earned plaudits for innovation and creativity from around the world.”

Funds for next year’s festival, from June 30, are largely in place already.

Last year’s festival is estimated to have brought £38m of business to the local economy.

Events already confirmed for 2011 include a new theatre piece by Victoria Wood and the premiere of The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic, starring Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe.

Festival director Alex Poots said he didn’t yet know how any cuts would hit the event, but added that funding came from a variety of sources – including private sponsorship.

He said: “The funding that Arts Council England provides for organisations like the festival is vital to the health of the cultural life of the country which in turn supports the economic and social sectors.”

A spokesman for Arts Council England said: “We don’t yet know precisely how these cuts will affect the festival but we have expressed a desire to fund Manchester International Festival. It’s a great example of the valuable work our funding supports.”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1346360_manchester_international_festival_braced_for_more_funding_cuts

MIF, ENO and London 2012 Festival co-commission announced today

London 2012 Festival announced the first of its shows today, including a project with Manchester International Festival and English National Opera.

MIF, ENO and London 2012 Festival have commissioned Damon Albarn, Rufus Norris and Jamie Hewlett to create a new work to be premiered at MIF 2011 before transferring to London 2012. Full details of this new work will be announced at the MIF programme launch in March next year.

The full lineup for the Manchester International Festival 2011 is due to be unveiled on Thursday 17 March.

jeepers time flies, doesnt seem five minutes from seeing Kraftwerk at the velodrome.

Full Programme announced tomorrow at 2pm at http://mif.co.uk

tweets re todays launch:

creatingacity MediaCityUK
It's called crash of the elysians and is for kids @MIFestival
32 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

simonbinns simonbinns
New piece from punch drunk theatre comp for kids, on piazza of media city
2 minutes ago

creatingacity MediaCityUK
Victoria Wood talking about her project that Day we Sang @MIFestival
6 minutes ago

CityCo CityCo Manchester
Bjork and Damon Albarn @MIFestival #MIF2011
7 minutes ago

simonbinns simonbinns
Bjork shows will be intimate. 1,800 tickets for each one.
7 minutes ago

creatingacity MediaCityUK
Damon Albarn back @MIFestival
20 minutes ago

simonbinns simonbinns
Also new Damon albarn show at MIF
20 minutes ago

simonbinns simonbinns
Bjork to headline Manchester international festival
23 minutes ago

creatingacity MediaCityUK
She'll perform twice a week over 3 weeks to an intimate audience of 180 @MIFestival
23 minutes ago

simonbinns simonbinns
Victoria wood and johnny Vegas are at the MIF launch
28 minutes ago

creatingacity MediaCityUK
Here at the press launch for @MIFestival johnny vegas and victoria wood on speaker panel.
28 minutes ago

Full Programme now launched @ www.mif.co.uk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8388525/Damon-Albarn-and-Bjork-at-Manchester-International-Festival.html

Johnny Vegas was defending it from rather aggressive questions on NW Tonight whether we should be spending £11m on a festival in this time of cuts, he was a very passionate defender though not particularly articulate, couldnt tell really if his performance was good or bad.

How do you defend it?

"We need a couple of weeks of post-modern pretention to take our mind off things"...?!!!

I enjoy art and culture but MIF is the Emporer's New Clothes of art and culture.

How do you defend it?

"We need a couple of weeks of post-modern pretention to take our mind off things"...?!!!

I enjoy art and culture but MIF is the Emporer's New Clothes of art and culture.

Come on, it's only run every two years. Are you a Tina O'Brien fan? Do you prefer to go and watch panto's with Tina O'Brien and Nicksy from Gaydio? Because without this at the moment, Manchester would be just one giant panto, with the Halle orchestra providing the theme music, Peter Kay as the dame and Mike bloody Pickering as Prince Charming.

Come on, it's only run every two years. Are you a Tina O'Brien fan?

Who's that?

How do you defend it?

"We need a couple of weeks of post-modern pretention to take our mind off things"...?!!!

I enjoy art and culture but MIF is the Emporer's New Clothes of art and culture.

What complete and utter crap!

Post-modern pretention? Ehh... nah, totally wrong. Some of it might be a bit esoteric, but it does a sterling job of satisfying a very broad range of tastes, and at the same time pulling in international big-hitters. That's why we should be so proud of it.

Post-modern pretention? Ehh... nah, totally wrong. Some of it might be a bit esoteric, but it does a sterling job of satisfying a very broad range of tastes, and at the same time pulling in international big-hitters. That's why we should be so proud of it.

Okay well I'm not feeling it, but maybe that's just me.

I'm sure others are pleased about it. For example, a work colleague bought Bjork tickets at £45 each plus £6 booking fee yesterday. The tickets for all of Bjork's shows were selling fast apparently.

So what are the highlights then? ...

BTW I don't understand the Snoop Doggy Dogg thing (or De La Soul last time around). It is a festival of world premieres but Snoop playing his first album is hardly that. Must be something else that I am missing.

Yikes, £51 for Bjork? I'd really have loved to see her, been a fan for years but never had a chance. Right, NOW I hate the festival!

Yikes, £51 for Bjork? I'd really have loved to see her, been a fan for years but never had a chance. Right, NOW I hate the festival!

Secret - Sign up to be a volunteer, do a couple of shifts, go to the free piss ups at the start and end, and get your free ticket to an event of your choice.

Come on, it's only run every two years. Are you a Tina O'Brien fan? Do you prefer to go and watch panto's with Tina O'Brien and Nicksy from Gaydio? Because without this at the moment, Manchester would be just one giant panto, with the Halle orchestra providing the theme music, Peter Kay as the dame and Mike bloody Pickering as Prince Charming.


That is almost as good as something I would say.

For example, a work colleague bought Bjork tickets at £45 each plus £6 booking fee yesterday.

I think you will find that's a £6 special delivery fee which is mainly paid to Royal Mail and isn't a booking fee. With this event being unreserved and tickets being in demand I guess it makes sense to ensure everyone gets them.

I think you will find that's a £6 special delivery fee which is mainly paid to Royal Mail and isn't a booking fee. With this event being unreserved and tickets being in demand I guess it makes sense to ensure everyone gets them.

I stand corrected on the booking fee (although I don't think that payment of the charge was optional), but I still think that the International Festival is shit and not worth the money from the citizens or the ticket buyers. I am sure that those that can afford it will enjoy it. G.

hdr80QoFNDs

The Manchester International Festival, which this summer will premiere Damon Albarn's new stage show Doctor Dee, came out top in the list of new additions to the Arts Council's portfolio with £500,000 followed by the National Skills Academy, with £400,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12892473

Opera for babies to open at Manchester International Festival

Exclusive by Alice McKeegan

May 17, 2011

An opera with a difference is coming to Manchester – starring babies from the city.

Tots in the audience will form a vital part of the BabyO show, which will get its first major airing at the Manchester International Festival.

And they will be hoping it proves as popular with audiences as musicals such as Ghost, which has been a huge hit at the Opera House.

The performance will combine recorded music with live singing, and use sounds and words that babies can understand, helping to stimulate the beginnings of language development.

Adult vocalists will recreate baby-friendly noises such as quacking ducks, splashing fish and buzzing bees. The audience – made up of children aged between six months and two years, and their parents – will be then asked to gurgle along and crawl over a furry garden set, featuring hand puppets and a range of themed props.

Producers say exposing children to music can boost IQ, improve health and strengthen family ties.

The show’s composer, Rachel Drury, has focused on the idea that melody, rhythm and harmony will attract babies’ developing sense of hearing and has looked at how nursery rhymes match operatic musical patterns.

The show – by the Scottish Opera Company – will be previewed in Wythenshawe and Knutsford before the festival.

The Manchester Airport-supported performances will run on May 24 and May 25 at Wythenshawe Forum and St John’s Church, Knutsford. Three 30-minute performances will then run on each day of the Manchester International Festival from July 2-17 at Salford Quays.

Dr Jennifer Cleary, the festival’s head of creative learning, said “BabyO is a magical musical experience for young children.

“Creativity starts at a very young age and BabyO offers mums and babies a fresh and fun environment to explore and enjoy music together.

“We’re grateful to Manchester Airports Group (MAG) for supporting these special previews and look forward to welcoming families into the BabyO world in Wythenshawe and Knutsford in May, and in Salford in July.”

MAG, which sponsors the festival, is one of the largest arts sponsors in Britain, having committed £9m over the past 22 years. Dr. Jonathan Bailey, MAG’s director of external affairs, said: “We believe that a thriving theatre and arts scene helps to support inbound tourism and inward investment and are delighted to be a part of this unique project in two of our key local communities.”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1420880_opera-for-babies-to-open-at-manchester-international-festival

Ancoats' artist in residence transforms derelict ice plant for Manchester International Festival

May 31, 2011

A corner of Manchester will become a work of art – to celebrate its transformation from derelict former industrial powerhouse to bustling new neighbourhood.

A new project is examining the history of Ancoats and its recent regeneration – using its buildings as the artworks.

It is called Walk On The Wildside and is the brainchild of the city centre district’s ‘artist in residence’ Dan Dubowitz.

A series of guides, each of whom have played a part in Ancoats’ transformation, will lead people on a free walking tour of the area ending at the Ice Plant – a historic ice factory that is being restored and renovated as luxury apartments by developers, northerngroup.

The Blossom Street site will host Dubowitz’s new exhibition Wastelands, which includes 40 of his internationally acclaimed photographs and finds from the mills in an area hailed as a cradle of the Industrial Revolution.

Dubowitz, 41, who splits his time between Britain and Italy, said: “Ancoats has been on an amazing journey and a big, upward curve from the late nineties.

“After the general election last year, a lot of investment went but we got to finish what we started to a certain degree and, despite the recession, leave enough momentum for developers to continue building.

“A lot of people still haven’t walked into Ancoats and they don’t know quite what’s happened there. The stories are still there to see and I want people to have another look.”

The walks, which will coincide with the Manchester International Festival in July, will also take in two of Dubowitz’s other projects.

The Cutting Room Square, which is bordered by his artworks, was completed in 2009 and became the first public square in Ancoats’ 250-year history.

The Peeps are a series of spy holes created by the artist in 2007, allowing visitors to stumble across brass eye pieces that offer a glimpse inside walled-up buildings which contributed to Manchester’s rise to an industrial powerhouse.

The walks take place on July 1, 2 and 3 and will leave from the Queen Victoria statue in Piccadilly Gardens at 10am, 1pm and 4pm.

There will be 7pm walks on the Friday and Saturday.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1422223_ancoats-artist-in-residence-transforms-derelict-ice-plant-for-manchester-international-festival

BDP blends music and shipping for festival

1 Jun 2011, 10:36

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/assets/_files/cached/img/402x283.67547169811/may_11/pnw__1306873534_MIF_Music_Boxes_copyright_BDP_.jpg

BDP's Manchester studio has designed a temporary installation using 78 steel containers to be built at Media City UK, the new home of BBC Children, to form part of Manchester International Festival in July.

Music Boxes will be a "musical playground" designed for children aged from six months to seven years. The art installation was designed by BDP Manchester chairman, Gavin Elliott, and design associate, Jasper Sanders.

The design narrative for the work stated: "The 78 steel units will be stacked up to three high in an irregular pattern, eschewing the traditional logic of containers in linear rows to create an elliptical, enveloping shape. This layout has been developed deliberately by BDP to evoke the natural geometry and symmetry of sound, the serrated planes of spaces that receive and reflect sound, and the sculptural form making of minimalist artists such as Donald Judd and Richard Serra."

There will also be a sail-like canopy made of wire rigging and truck tarpaulins, suspended over the central area.

Elliot said: "We're delighted to be working with MIF on such a playful and creative project which will resonate both literally and figuratively within its surroundings. We've sought to ensure that the design captures the spirit of the shipping container as the ubiquitous tool of world trade and a true 20th Century icon.

"We also wanted to reflect both the industrial heritage of Salford Quays and the next chapter of its regeneration, which will see working docks return to the area some thirty years after the last ones closed."

Some containers will be used as small performance spaces, others as customised recording and animation studios and for interactive installations allowing the "very young to explore a fantastical world of sound and music."

BDP worked with curator Rachel Clare of Crying Out Loud and George Woolley of Universal Containers.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/9180-bdp-blends-music-and-shipping-for-festival.html


Manchester International Festival ships into MediaCityUK

Wednesday, 01 June 2011

MediaCityUK is going to be transformed into a giant children’s playground as part of the Manchester International Festival.

Music Boxes will use 78 shipping containers to create a mini city full of different activities for children aged 6 months to 7 years old.

The installation has been designed by architects Gavin Elliott and Jasper Sanders from BDP’s Manchester studios. Some containers will become performance spaces, some will have recording and animation studios, others will have interactive areas for the very young.

“We’ve sought to ensure that the design captures the spirit of the shipping container as the ubiquitous tool of world trade and a true 20th Century icon,” explained Elliot.

“We also wanted to reflect both the industrial heritage of Salford Quays and the next chapter of its regeneration, which will see working docks return to the area some thirty years after the last ones closed.”

Truck tarpaulins will be suspended over the central square, while giant, stencilled signs will be fixed to the ends of the containers.

“We're committed to making high quality work for children, an area which can often be undervalued. We're pleased to be collaborating with these fantastic artists, the BBC, Salford City Council and BDP on such an exciting, ambitious project,” added festival director Alex Poots.

The event will run throughout the festival and free tickets are available from today.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/other-media/manchester-international-festival-ships-into-mediacityuk-2011060111125/

fJr0iIAR2xM

An hour long acted doctor who experience will be occuring at MediaCity for the Manchester Festival, however its only open to children aged 8-12 or adults accompanied by a child.


Doctor Who adventure set for Manchester International Festival

June 07, 2011

Makers of the show have team up with an award-winning theatre company to stage walk-through adventure as part of the Manchester International Festival.

Doctor Who fans will get an incredible chance to join the Time Lord in his adventures at the world premiere of a new show in Salford.

Makers of the show have team up with an award-winning theatre company to stage walk-through adventure as part of the Manchester International Festival.

The production, called The Crash of the Elysium, has been months in the making but has been kept under wraps by BBC bosses.

The hour-long adventure will see the audience led through an astonishing range of sets on the MediaCityUK site.

It has been devised by drama group Punchdrunk, which has been behind a number of critically-acclaimed Shakespearean productions.

The plot will be based on a sunken ship called The Elysium which was said to be carrying gold and secret cargo in 1888.

The original idea was created by Doctor Who producer Stephen Moffat and was snapped up by arts bosses at the Manchester International Festival.

Alex Poots of Manchester International Festival said securing the sci-fi spin-off was a massive coup for the city.

He said: "Punchdrunk and the Doctor Who team are world leaders in their fields.

"We're delighted to have brought these two brilliant architects of the imagination together to create what we believe is going to be one of the most talked about children's shows this year."

Felix Barrett of Punchdrunk said: "Punchdrunk is delighted to be working with the BBC once again, this time for an exciting new audience and one that's very dear to our hearts. You might say 6 - 12 year olds are at the perfect ages for Punchdrunk's work.

"Certainly, we've always been on a mission to spark our adult audiences back to that childhood state of imaginative freedom and sense of adventure that kids possess in abundance.

"Now, with The Crash of the Elysium, there's a fantastic opportunity for Punchdrunk to take all of that imaginative energy back to the source, in a thrilling live showmade especially for kids."

The event, which opens on June 30, will hold 'family' and 'children only' performances.

Children only performances will only be available for six to 12-year-olds, while adults must be with a child between those ages to gain admission to the family events.


http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1422951_doctor-who-adventure-set-for-manchester-international-festival

They have started building the pagoda in the middle of Albert Square for the MIF

^^ Festival Square is the beating heart of MIF. The iconic Festival Pavilion, designed by architects Stephenson Bell, is the space to relax with friends and soak up the atmosphere over a glass of wine or Festival cocktail. (Taken from the MIF website)

In the meantime, lots of adverts for the big MIF events seem to be springing up all of a sudden. I do hope that they are not struggling with ticket sales. Where have all the luvvies and the cultural tourists gone?

Siignage going up for the new Damon Albarn MIF Dr Dee Opera:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/DSC01835.jpg

The MIF flagpoles are now all over the city centre. Loads of them are in Piccadilly Gardens and some are down King Street.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7579/manchesterday079a.jpg

Also all hoardings at Bruntwood properties are now advertising MIF events.

The Albert Square tents are going up fast - http://www.manchesterdda.net/webcams/albert-square/?q=hd

Siignage going up for the new Damon Albarn MIF Dr Dee Opera:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/DSC01835.jpg

I've got tickets to this. Looking forward to it. Everything Damon Albarn has been involved with in Manchester has been on point, even the Gorillaz live show.

A friend of mine just bumped into Oscar Nominated Willem Dafoe in a cooperative food shop in town :lol: I might go see the production he's here to appear in.

Long piece about MIF 2011 in the New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/arts/25iht-scmanchester25.html

Willem Dafoe is currently staying at The Mint Hotel. A friend of mine saw him in there on Tuesday night.

Ive got tickets for the Bjork show :)

Ive got tickets for the Bjork show :)

Just going to ask that. :lol:

I really need to make an effort and start looking at all the acts appearing at MIF.(a little too late jrb)

It's no longer a 2nd rate festival.

Was it ever?

Just bought tickets for Dr Dee. £6 for a student ticket right at the back! :banana:

Just bought tickets for Dr Dee. £6 for a student ticket right at the back! :banana:

That's more like it, £6 but with my white hair I might struggle to get in at that price.

For me this just doesn't hang together as a festival. It doesn't help that I've never found anything to recommend the principals. I never got on with Blur and their middle class art school twaddle, Bjork just sang a lot of meandering nonesense after the excellent Sugarcubes debut album, Victoria Wood's humour is aimed at my mum and Dinner Ladies never interested me and Johnny Vegas does not represent the new world order. What is it all about? I don't know. The emporer's new clothers perhaps...

G

It's just getting a bit.. well so what?.. isn't it? You could have predicted half of the events. Next time I would like something genuinely original. Although in the meantime I'm looking forward to getting to know John Dee and also I am pondering seeing WU LYF, I'm on my second play-through of their album on spotify after browsing the listings and I can just imagine getting deep with this stuff under Brigewater Street arch.

JYbJImEiI4k

Sounds like Foals fused with Modest Mouse

The marquee for the Ladies , is now up at First St :)

PNW.

MIF tours of The Peeps this weekend
29 Jun 2011, 08:10


Artist in residence Dan Dubowitz will join with property people involved in regenerating Ancoats to lead tours of the area including The Peeps - walled up spaces with peep holes into them - from 1 to 3 July, to coincide with the start of Manchester International Festival.

The Peeps reveal disused tunnels, a canal-side public toilet under a bridge, an overhead walkway, a bell tower, and a substation. The Peeps are viewed through a series of brass eyepieces built into the walls. Each offers a glimpse into a space that has been walled up. There are no plaques or interpretation panels, or a map. They should be discovered as you explore the area and get under the skin of the place.

To introduce these new permanent public artworks to the city and reintroduce people to Ancoats, Dubowitz invited a selection of people who have been involved in transforming the area to offer the public 60 hours of walking tours.


More than 25 guest guides include the archaeologist, architects, artists, developers, regeneration bosses, engineers, journalists, masterplanners and poet who have contributed to remaking Ancoats over the past decade.

The walks will leave from the city centre, through Manchester's Northern Quarter into the heart of Ancoats, around The Peeps and Cutting Room Square before finishing up at the Wastelands exhibition of Dubowitz's photography at the Ice Plant on Blossom Street for an opportunity to chat with the artist and guides.

The Wastelands series started in Ancoats with the 'Presence of Absence' and went on to include Ellis Island in New York, Cuba and cultural sites in ruins across Europe. The exhibition includes the sound installation 'Ancoats Stories' and 'Definitely no rubbish here', finds from the mills 2003-2010.

Book

The Peeps, Ancoats: The presence of absence. The book of the Peeps and the Cutting Room , published Manchester University Press is offered at a special discount during the 'Walk on the Wild Side' weekend.* Buy The Peeps for £15 (save £10 on rrp)* Only valid at Ice Plant, 39 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AP. 30 June - 3rd July 2011

Exhibition
'Wastelands' Free Exhibition 'Definitely no rubbish here' An exhibition and book launch at the Ice Plant, Ancoats, Manchester Exhibition open from 1-3 July, 10.00-20.00, closes 18.00 Sunday


Walks
'A Walk on the Wildside' 1-3 July Free Walks starting from Piccadilly Gardens last one hour, approximately 1.5 miles. Friday 1 July 10.00, 13.00, 16.00, 19.00. Saturday 2 July 10.00, 13.00, 16.00, 19.00. Sunday 3 July 10.00, 13.00, 16.00. No booking necessary. Just turn up at Piccadilly Gardens at the Queen Victoria sculpture. Or come directly to The Cutting Room Square in front of the Ice Plant exhibition 20 minutes after the tour begins in the city centre and join the tour from there.

See http://www.ancoatspeeps.com/

Manchester Confidential

MIF: who's it for?

Simon Binns asks whether the festival values audiences or headlines.

AT 8.15pm, around the doors of Campfield Market on the opening night of the Manchester International Festival (MIF), people are getting excited.

They are waving their tickets around for the first 'proper' night of Bjork’s Biophilia live show. Those tickets cost them £45.

Manchester is very much in the house. And Iceland, of course. But is anyone outside of Manchester really aware of the 18-day festival? And are people inside Manchester the target audience?

"I think the festival appeals to a certain sort of demographic. I’d argue the tickets are very expensive, even though some of the experiences will be amazing."

Alex Poots, chief executive of MIF, thinks so - although third time around he claims to have become more aware of avoiding the event becoming a ‘closed shop'.

“We’ve got 60 per cent more tickets to sell this time,” he said. “We grew it to allow more people to come, which was a bit of a risk, but the board quite rightly said to me that if we kept selling stuff out by opening night, the festival was going to get seen as a closed shop.

“So there’ll be a lot more people getting in this time and around a third of the festival is free – about 20 shows.”

The two fastest-selling shows, he says, were Snoop Dogg’s one-off gig at the Apollo and kids' show Music Boxes.

Bringing in the big names is important to the show, he said, and it all comes at a price. But the festival has managed to increase its co-commissioning revenues to £2.5m this year.

Some critics from within the arts sector claim MIF is hoovering up the hard-to-find funding due to its size, support from the council and the pressure to justify the private sector sponsorship with headlines in the world’s newspapers.

Poots says they fight for what they get and so should everyone else.

“We could see after the second festival that there were hard times ahead and the recession would have an impact,” he said. “That £2.5m comes from outside the region and most of it gets spent here.

“Our funding from the council is less than 20 per cent of our budget. So it’s not like we’re being bankrolled by the city.”

Poots also says around 70 per cent of the festival’s audience will be from Greater Manchester, 20 per cent from the rest of the UK and 10 per cent from overseas.

A recent piece in the New York Times will have done no harm but is it making people book seats on a plane?

Sarah Brookes, head of public affairs at Manchester Airport, one of the festival’s key sponsors, says it is hard to quantify, but sees MIF as a key part of Manchester’s tourism offer.

“Things like the recession and aviation passenger tax have a part to play, and it also depends on the routes into Manchester,” she said.

“It’s all part of the tourist mix – MIF gets well promoted in New York in particular. We’ve got our New York route back and American Airlines are a sponsor as well this time. For us, our involvement in MIF is used to promote Manchester as a place to visit.

The airport looks at where the festival’s branding gets seen – the bang for the buck. “We’ve seen a good mix of coverage. In the UK, the festival has good relationships with the BBC and the Guardian, although domestic air travel isn’t what it used to be. But I think people will get on a plane for some of the acts.”

Beth McCann, organiser of the city’s other summer arts-fest, the Not Part Of festival, thinks MIF is targeted fairly and squarely at a certain demographic and also relies on fans of the headline acts to shift tickets, not the pull of the festival itself.

“Alex Poots is very much about the arts, but if you stop people in the street, I’d argue that while they might know about some of the artists, they wouldn’t necessarily know it’s part of a festival, or what that festival was called,” she said.

“Hip hop fans will know Snoop is playing Manchester but not that he’s playing MIF.

“I think the festival appeals to a certain sort of demographic. The ticketing office is in the Hilton, for example. I’d argue the tickets are very expensive too, even though some of the experiences will be amazing.

“You look at Take That and you know people will pay big money for music acts but you’re talking about a very different demographic.

“I don’t think MIF is something you can turn up to for two weeks and see a load of shows, like you can with Edinburgh. Because of the cost, you might just pick out a couple of headline acts.

“They are big acts and immense productions and so you have to price them accordingly.”

Bjork is a case in point. Poots claims the festival has actually subsidised the price of tickets to her Biophilia show, but they still cost £45.

The fans are out in force on opening night though – and I'd personally be amazed if any of them read anything other than The Guardian.

Poots will hope that sort of fandom can steer the festival towards 2013 in choppy waters.

“I don’t think the festival will ever be self-sufficient,” he said. “But we’ll fight for Manchester’s share of arts funding and we’ll try and make sure more people get to see it as it goes on.”

Read the comments. Interesting. http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/MIF-whos-it-for

Victoria Wood, avante garde?

I saw that on BBC news! :lol:

I've got tickets for her production though :)

The marquee for the Ladies , is now up at First St :)

Loving the fact that this is on here... :banana:

Albert Square live webcam:

http://www.manchesterdda.net/webcams/albert-square/?q=hd

Just what the Doctor ordered: family theatre at its scary, exhilarating best

Punchdrunk's new Doctor Who production at the Manchester International Festival is already the hottest ticket in town

Mark Brown, arts correspondent

Friday 1 July 2011

There are startled looks, anxious screams and by the end of the new, nerve-jangling Doctor Who theatre experience there will doubtless be a few sweating wrecks.

The kids, however, appear to be fine. Exhilarated, smiling and fine.

The theatre company Punchdrunk has opened an event that fits perfectly within the cliched bracket of "highly anticipated" and "hot ticket"; indeed demand for The Crash of the Elysium has been so high extra performances for over-13s have already been scheduled during its run at the Manchester International Festival.

But this is an experience primarily aimed at the Doctor's younger fans. Grown-ups are allowed into this performance only if accompanied by a six to 12-year-old. And thanks to an excitable party from Bridgewater primary in Little Hulton, Salford, the Guardian managed to smuggle itself into one of the previews.

Punchdrunk has already established a reputation for immersive theatre with shows such as The Masque of the Red death and this Doctor Who production, a collaboration with the BBC, continues in a similar vein.

Groups of 25 start their journey in a museum gallery where a kindly, beige-jacketed man called Mr Willard, the sort who always has boiled sweets in his pocket, tells us the history of the Elysium, a ship that sank mysteriously in 1888. Within minutes soldiers storm in. There's a crisis – only we can help.

Everyone is made to run outside as fast as they can, which is the moment you discover just how breathtakingly fast year six children can move.

From there it's a quick change into biohazard suits and full pelt to an exhilarating adventure that sends us back in time to save the Doctor.

As in previous Punchdrunk productions, the attention to detail is impressive. The kids here are really living the experience. They are empowered: solving puzzles, guarding doors and taking decisions. One of the scariest scenes sees us trapped in a darkened corridor as a weeping angel appears to be getting ever closer.

Afterwards 11-year-olds Jack, Naomi and Zoe and Luke, 10, gave their unanimous verdict – they loved it. "It was a little bit scary but cool, a good adventure," said Jack. "I would definitely go back," said Luke. "It was fantastic."

Even teacher Karen Pickard – who alongside a colleague and myself were berated by Captain Solomon and Corporal Albright for not being quick enough – was full of praise for the experience. "They will be talking about it for days," she said with no discernible hint of alarm.

There are undoubtedly scares but they are good scares, followed by something completely different. After a scare there might come the magic and wonder of, for example, a Victorian fairground.

"We have done a lot of work to gauge the right level of scariness," said producer Gabby Vautier.

"One parent rang to say she couldn't get her kids to sleep after they saw it but only in that they couldn't stop talking about it."

The Crash of the Elysium has been scripted by Tom MacRae, a writer so young that "his" Doctor was Sylvester McCoy.

"It is a huge logistical achievement which has meant endless refinements to get it where it is now," he said.

"It is a story for children, it's their story. It's about their experience of Doctor Who and how they would engage with it if they were playing in the playground or in their bedroom with their toys. Except we throw them into something so real and immersive that it's like being in a television show, one you can touch and smell and bang on the walls.

"Any kid who goes will have a day they will never, ever forget," said MacRae. "I wish I was six."

The show is at MediaCityUK in Salford as part of the third biennial Manchester Festival, of which the Guardian is a media partner.

The festival kicked off on Thursday night with the world premiere of Bjork's new show, Biophilia, and will feature Damon Albarn's opera Dr Dee and a new work by Victoria Wood, That Day We Sang.

The Crash of the Elysium will travel to London next year as part of London 2012, the cultural festival celebrating the Olympics.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/jul/01/doctor-who-theatre-manchester-international-festival?CMP=twt_gu

As part of the MIF an unusual experience at MC...aimed at children

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss255/trakkie/P7020172-1.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss255/trakkie/P7020173.jpg

I haven`t taken a look inside so cant comment on how good it is.

This IS Salford

MEN.

Review: Bjork performs Biophilia at Manchester International Festival

Sarah Walters

July 01, 2011

Whether you’re Damon Albarn, Johnny Vegas or Victoria Wood, you must be feeling a little nervous opening your new commission for Manchester International Festival in the shadow of an extraordinary concert by Bjork.

On the corner of Liverpool Road and Deansgate, behind a plethora of restaurants, is Campfield Market, currently home to Bjork’s most ambitious multi-media show of her career.

Sitting on a plot occupied mainly by the Museum of Science & Industry, the venue was briefly used by the Royal Exchange Theatre in the 1990s after the IRA bomb.

Amid the shaded grandeur of this Victorian greenhouse stands Bjork in an ostentatious orange wig, her temporary stage set right in the centre of the venue.

Around her, a collection of fascinating home-made instruments outline the stage. A 10ft Sharpsichord sits in one corner in the dramatic shadow of an equally tall multi-pendulum device; in the other is a pipe organ and celeste.

They’re shown off from the opening song, Thunderbolt, which uses a caged singing Tesla coil to play the bassline. A drummer and gadgets guru occupy the other corners of the stage, but it’s the 24-piece female choir that are Bjork’s main musical foil for these shows.

Since this is a showcase for Biophilia, the set contains the entire album. And it’s given a gentle lift-off with Moon and new single Crystalline.

Above Bjork’s head is a circle of screens that explode with images and illustrations like visual thought bubbles about plants, planets and retro videogames.

In a set woven with delicately reworked favourites, including Hidden Place, Isobel and All Is Full Of Love, it’s actually the new songs that sound most captivating and, in the case of Cosmogeny, most stirring.

Rightly, she saves solving the mystery of what the pendulum gateway is for until the final song, when she stands between the swinging arms for Solstice.

One Day, played a capella with a drummer on a melodic percussion instrument called the hang, is an elegant final showcase for Bjork’s distinctive voice, but there’s nothing that quite sums up the spirit of the show – and of MIF itself – quite like Declare Independence. The bar is set.

Crash Of The Elysium Reviewed: MIF 2011

Jonathan and Ralph Schofield adore another Punchdrunk success

Written by Jonathan Schofield.

Confidential's MIF rating: 18/20

Originality 4/5; Performances (acting etc) 4/5; Audience delight 5/5; Production 5/5

“It was the best thing I’ve done like that,” said the true judge, Ralph Schofield, aged 10. “I couldn’t believed that they’d chosen the scariest Doctor Who monster though. Remember how I’d said I really hope it wasn’t going to be them. It was amazing.”

Some Doctor Who monsters are enduring, some that you don’t expect to be frightening get to you. I hated the Cybermen, for most it was the Daleks. This generation of fans find horror in the - well that would be telling - but these new terrors are all over the crashed spaceship Elysium at MediaCityUK. And they work with the staging here to create an experience none of the kids who witness it will forget.

But then, Punchdrunk, the company behind the Crash of the Elysium, is adept at this.

Two years ago at Manchester International Festival (MIF) it was something for the grown-ups with It Felt Like A Kiss, a rampaging but thought-provoking examination of fifties and sixties America.

I had (and still have no idea) why disorientated guests were chased out of the building by a man with a chainsaw but it led to exclamations of shocked delight outside. The common comment was: “Have you ever seen anything like that before?”

This was echoed by all the kids on our Crash of Elysium visit. This is immersive and interactive theatre at its finest.

It starts with a viewing of a very static exhibition of the original Elysium steamship built on Manchester Ship Canal which foundered in 1888 – my son said, “This is a bit boring, isn't it?”. Suddenly an alarm rings, soldiers run in and the kids are whisked away.

The party is named Alpha Group, protective clothing is dished out, instructions and tasks given, and before you know it the group is crouched next to the crashed hulk of the space ship Elysium. And we have a mission, to find something very important to the Doctor. The soldiers ask for specialist knowledge of Doctor Who and the kids respond with enthusiasm, giving the captain in command clues.

The lighting and the sound – especially the sound – plus the staging of the production is perfect for the children; a hyperactive fairground Haunted House featuring Doctor Who himself.

Some kids find it challenging, one or two on our show wept, but everybody helped them out and reassured them. At times it was almost like an outward bound team-building session.

If you’ve got a kid aged six to twelve, get a ticket, maybe borrow someone else’s six to twelve year old. Punchdrunk have delivered another superb MIF event. It ticks all the boxes for what this festival should represent. Exciting. Clever. Effective. Memorable.

Ralph was scaling street furniture all over The Quays re-enacting moments from the show afterwards. Peel Group's fastidious security guards were running in from all directions asking him to calm down, clearly unaware that he'd just helped save the Universe.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Entertainment/Events-and-Listings/Crash-Of-The-Elysium-Reviewed-MIF-2011

Actor from TV hit The Wire avoids injury after lighting rig collapses at Paul Heaton's Manchester International Festival show

Jennifer Williams

July 07, 2011

Actor Reg E Cathey had a narrow escape at the Manchester International Festival - when he had to dive out of the way of falling lighting rigging.

Cathey - who made his name in the hit US cop drama, The Wire - was preparing for his role as the 'narrator' of Paul Heaton's epic song, The 8th, when the drama occurred last night.

Onlookers at the show - in Manchester's Albert Square - described how the rigging collapsed and Cathey leapt out of the way, hurting his knee.

MIF spokesman Najda Coyne said: “He soldiered on – he had an ice pack on his knee and he has been amazing.”

The performance was delayed by 50 minutes.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1426136_actor-from-tv-hit-the-wire-avoids-injury-after-lighting-rig-collapses-at-paul-heatons-manchester-international-festival-show

Review show special tonight , bbc 2 -7.30.
Also the Johnny Vegas 'stuff' is on the Ideal World shopping channel at about 10.10 pm every night he does his show at the pavillion.

Free light show in Whitworth park tomorrow night part of MIF

Free light show in Whitworth park tomorrow night part of MIF


Not just tonight! It's been on every night since the opening of the festival. It will continue to be shown between 10.30pm and 11.30pm up to and including Saturday. I would recommend it; I've been twice. Some of it's quite eery! :)

Not just tonight! It's been on every night since the opening of the festival. It will continue to be shown between 10.30pm and 11.30pm up to and including Saturday. I would recommend it; I've been twice. Some of it's quite eery! :)

How long does it take to see? I presume it's not an hour-long show as such. You just wander round at your own pace and take it in?

How long does it take to see? I presume it's not an hour-long show as such. You just wander round at your own pace and take it in?

I suppose it depends on how interested you are. You definitely wouldn't need a full hour to see each projection go through its full cycle. I stayed for about 40 mins the first time, and then about 25 mins the second time.

There's some interesting stuff going on inside the gallery too, so it could be worth your while turning up before the projections start to give yourself time to have a wander around inside.

If you really wanted to make an evening of it, you could also watch the two films on show. Only one film was commissioned, but the two artists involved had a falling out part way through the project and ended up editing the same footage they had gathered together in their own separate ways to produce two similar but also different films.

Be warned though; the films are about the siege of Sarajevo, and so they're probably a bit dark (I say probably because I haven't seen them myself yet). Much of the other stuff in the gallery isn't to everyone's taste either, but I don't suppose you'll ever know if you don't go to see!

The films are shown at 5.30pm & 6.30pm (each is about an hour), and then again at 8.00pm & 9.00pm. These late showings will finish on Saturday, but the films are also shown through the day, and that will continue for the duration of the exhibition (until 4th September).

I suppose it depends on how interested you are. You definitely wouldn't need a full hour to see each projection go through its full cycle. I stayed for about 40 mins the first time, and then about 25 mins the second time.

There's some interesting stuff going on inside the gallery too, so it could be worth your while turning up before the projections start to give yourself time to have a wander around inside.

If you really wanted to make an evening of it, you could also watch the two films on show. Only one film was commissioned, but the two artists involved had a falling out part way through the project and ended up editing the same footage they had gathered together in their own separate ways to produce two similar but also different films.

Be warned though; the films are about the siege of Sarajevo, and so they're probably a bit dark (I say probably because I haven't seen them myself yet). Much of the other stuff in the gallery isn't to everyone's taste either, but I don't suppose you'll ever know if you don't go to see!

The films are shown at 5.30pm & 6.30pm (each is about an hour), and then again at 8.00pm & 9.00pm. These late showings will finish on Saturday, but the films are also shown through the day, and that will continue for the duration of the exhibition (until 4th September).

Thanks Priscilla, that's really useful.

I'm trying to find time to fit it all in. The recent Manchester Confidential article got me thinking about visiting the projections but I can't make it tonight and not sure how I'm going to get to it.

I was hoping to see the two films followed by the projections as you suggested but if the films are running longer I can see them next week.

Went to 11 rooms today, which was really quite good fun. A few of the rooms were spoilt a little. I bought a guide and at times it was useful but at others it gave away the surprise. With hingsight it's better to enter the rooms and read up on each room when there's a gap in the performance.

Whilst being two thirds way through the emails on the walls of the 'Dead Christ' room someone asked the member of staff in the room how it ended and bloody ruined it.

It would have been brilliant if they 'sorted it' and location was only explained at the end of the emails and only those who read it got to know about it. It wasn't the point of the art but it would've been brilliant.

If anyone hasn't been I'd highly recommend it.

It's disappointing how little media coverage MIF seems to have got (based on a google news search). I don't see how it can't be national news in the arts world.

I still find the programme for MIF overwhelming, though. Again I put off sifting through it all to see what appeals the most and then found many of what I liked the look of were sold out.

The website should filter the programme by free events and performances and also only where tickets are still available.

The Culture Show was dedicated to MIF last night and filmed entirely from GM!

It's disappointing how little media coverage MIF seems to have got (based on a google news search). I don't see how it can't be national news in the arts world.

Obviously not a listener of Radio 4/6music then? :D

Best,
Slip

Thanks Priscilla, that's really useful.

I'm trying to find time to fit it all in. The recent Manchester Confidential article got me thinking about visiting the projections but I can't make it tonight and not sure how I'm going to get to it.

I was hoping to see the two films followed by the projections as you suggested but if the films are running longer I can see them next week.

Went to 11 rooms today, which was really quite good fun. A few of the rooms were spoilt a little. I bought a guide and at times it was useful but at others it gave away the surprise. With hingsight it's better to enter the rooms and read up on each room when there's a gap in the performance.

Whilst being two thirds way through the emails on the walls of the 'Dead Christ' room someone asked the member of staff in the room how it ended and bloody ruined it.

It would have been brilliant if they 'sorted it' and location was only explained at the end of the emails and only those who read it got to know about it. It wasn't the point of the art but it would've been brilliant.

If anyone hasn't been I'd highly recommend it.

It's disappointing how little media coverage MIF seems to have got (based on a google news search). I don't see how it can't be national news in the arts world.

I still find the programme for MIF overwhelming, though. Again I put off sifting through it all to see what appeals the most and then found many of what I liked the look of were sold out.

The website should filter the programme by free events and performances and also only where tickets are still available.

Great review macc, went to 11 Rooms this afternoon, was really good, loved the room with the piano in it, just such a mix in whole exhibition really, also bought the guide aswell.

Also I highly recommend Audio Obscura at Piccadilly Station, it last for 30 minutes and you just walk around the station with headphones on listing to an audio track, you really do forget you are in Piccadilly Station, it is great.

Obviously not a listener of Radio 4/6music then? :D

Best,
Slip

Nor a reader of the Guardian.

Doctor Who actor Matt Smith steps out of his Tardis at Salford Quays for surprise MIF appearance

July 15, 2011

Doctor Who is famous for beaming down in the most unexpected of places - but 50 children got a big surprise when the Timelord walked out of his Tardis … straight into Salford Quays.

The Doctor, played by Matt Smith, visited MediaCity to appear in The Crash Of The Elysium, one of the big hits of the 18-day Manchester International Festival, which ends tomorrow.

The show is a children's adventure for six to 12 year olds based on the Doctor Who TV series and created by theatre group Punchdrunk.

Since it opened on July 1 Smith has featured in special video messages designed to lead the children through the adventure, in which they must do battle with baddies from the BBC show and save the Doctor from certain death.

But after seeing another Punchdrunk event in New York, where he has been working on a new film, Smith decided he had to jet into Greater Manchester to support the show in person.

And an executive producer on the TV series decided that it would be possible to substitute the Doctor's final video with a real life message of thanks for two lucky groups of nine to 12 year olds.

Smith, who is the 11th actor to play the Doctor , said: "Punchdrunk and Doctor Who! A Marriage made in creative space heaven.

“It's been a privilege to work with Punchdrunk to put children at the heart of a Doctor Who adventure.

“I've always watched Punchdrunk shows and marvelled at their inventiveness and individuality. Put that together with Doctor Who and there is a wonderful template to tell unique stories in unique ways. The Doctor would definitely approve."

The Crash of the Elysium is the second show that Punchdrunk has created for MIF following the success of their temporary house of horrors It Felt Like A Kiss in 2009.

It has been co-created with Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/entertainment/manchester_international_festival/s/1426922_doctor-who-actor-matt-smith-steps-out-of-his-tardis-at-salford-quays-for-surprise-mif-appearance

Made it to the Whitworth Art Gallery for the projections tonight. Great atmosphere. It was quite a sight seeing so many people in a light and smoke filled, otherwise quiet park at 11pm on a Saturday night.

I liked the exhibitions inside too. The 7 walks guy was interesting but a bit of a loony with his railing tapping. Walking a path on the sunny and shady sides of the street is a bit of fun but but his drumstick work was a little weird. My interest in maps and my city wandering habits helped.

The tightrope walk was great (and what a room it's in!) but yet again the pamphlet gave some of it away before I'd seen it, which was disappointing. This was my favourite.

Saw one of the sniper's alley films earlier in the week too (Anri Sala). It was a little drawn out for me because I didnt feel any of the tension at the crossings. The music kept smoothing it over. Found myself almost falling asleep to the music (but not in a bad way) and some lady across the way did. This was routinely interupted by the dodgy humming on film. During the humming I was instead drawn to the commie blocks.

I spent quite a bit of time looking at the war 'postcards' in the middle room (I forget what you call them) though I presume these weren't part of MIF as they seemed unrelated. They were great but were straining eyes by the end. Some blown up copies of the drawings to sit above or below would've been good.

Audio Obscura tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder, flange.

Made it to the Whitworth Art Gallery for the projections tonight. Great atmosphere. It was quite a sight seeing so many people in a light and smoke filled, otherwise quiet park at 11pm on a Saturday night.

I liked the exhibitions inside too. The 7 walks guy was interesting but a bit of a loony with his railing tapping. Walking a path on the sunny and shady sides of the street is a bit of fun but but his drumstick work was a little weird. My interest in maps and my city wandering habits helped.

The tightrope walk was great (and what a room it's in!) but yet again the pamphlet gave some of it away before I'd seen it, which was disappointing. This was my favourite.

Saw one of the sniper's alley films earlier in the week too (Anri Sala). It was a little drawn out for me because I didnt feel any of the tension at the crossings. The music kept smoothing it over. Found myself almost falling asleep to the music (but not in a bad way) and some lady across the way did. This was routinely interupted by the dodgy humming on film. During the humming I was instead drawn to the commie blocks.

I spent quite a bit of time looking at the war 'postcards' in the middle room (I forget what you call them) though I presume these weren't part of MIF as they seemed unrelated. They were great but were straining eyes by the end. Some blown up copies of the drawings to sit above or below would've been good.

Audio Obscura tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder, flange.

Thanks macc, wish I could have made it to Whitworth, it sounds amazing. I imagine with the 2013 festival, the Whitworth might play a really big part to the festival next time, due to the fact that hopefully the Whitworths extension and refurbishment should be finished or coming to the end of the works.

Am glad that you are going to Audio Obscura, from when I went on Friday lunch time it was pretty busy when I gave back my headphones there was a line waiting for them, it really was such a different experience to what I am used to at Piccadilly, you hear all the stuff and kinda put it to people within the station that day, so good, look forward to hearing what you think about it macc.

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/live-from-manchester/?ref=culture

Looking back at the highlights of Manchester International Festival 2011

Sarah Walters

July 18, 2011

Three biennial festivals in, and all the signs are that we’re getting used to the idea of the Manchester International Festival.

On paper, the schedules have always been staggeringly ambitious and diverse. Previous years have given us operas by Damon Albarn and Rufus Wainwright, electro-pioneers Kraftwerk in Manchester Velodrome and haunted houses in disused tower blocks.

The concept of making 20 or more unique commissions happen in one city across a little over two weeks sounds challenging enough to achieve, but the bigger obstacle has been encouraging the public to have enough faith to do more than dip a sceptical toe in the waters.

Sitting in the dimly lit surroundings of New Century Hall on Friday night, though, waiting for Amadou & Mariam’s concert to begin, I overheard encouraging discussions in neighbouring seats about the number of events people had attended this year.

Most had been to three or four shows – ranging from handsomely priced and off-the-wall events to the free children’s playground Music Boxes and various arts shows. Others had also spent the last fortnight enjoying the summer weather at the Pavilion, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the temporary space in Albert Square.

Bigger picture

MIF 2011, then, seems to be the year that everyone got the concept – that the programme is a complementary whole to be gobbled up as greedily as possible. And perhaps that’s because this year’s set of events, more so than in previous years, seemed to offer accessibility and coherence.

Victoria Wood is blossoming into an extraordinary director as her play about the Manchester School Children’s Choir, That Day We Sang, proved; Snoop Dogg revisiting Doggystyle, the album that made him, was a comfortable fit for the Apollo, while the Wagner recital at the Bridgewater Hall blended the composer’s brilliance with brand new ideas.

Other shows caught people out of their natural habitats – Johnny Vegas doing live theatre, Candi Staton singing in a Moss Side church as part of Sacred Sites, Paul Heaton showcasing a multi-part song/play in The 8th, Wu Lyf closing the roads to play under a railway bridge – but never too far that it required a leap of faith to buy a ticket.

There’s an argument to say that a festival with such groundbreaking ideals shouldn’t welcome back the same names year after year.

The counter argument, of course, is that the city’s familiarity with figures like performance artist Marina Abramovic, blind Malian singers Amadou & Mariam and Blur’s Damon Albarn now creates a unique buzz for the events they are part of; The Life And Death Of Marina Abramovic, Eclipse and Dr Dee were all hugely successful at the box office, despite being challenging shows to explain in advance.

Renewing old creative partnerships is just as valid as forming new ones if the result is a magical show. In 2011, that magic was achieved in different ways: Bjork at Campfield Market, for instance, combined the oddness of the Icelandic star with a peculiar venue and innovative instruments and technology, while Sinead O‘Connor floored crowds for three nights with some rare but simple performances.

New talent

Manchester often stands accused of parochialism, but MIF 2011 showed there’s room to celebrate a city’s past without ignoring its future.

Dave Haslam’s True Faith events offered a stage to some of Manchester’s best new music, while his intimate chats with local legends gave context to the city’s musical growth.

Equally, giving the ancient halls of Chetham’s School Of Music to virtuoso violinist Alina Ibragimova and avant-garde film makers The Quay Brothers was a masterstroke of marriages between an old Manchester institution and international superstars.

While the film work was underwhelming, Ibragimova’s interpretation of music by Bach, Berio, Biber and Bartok was breathtakingly beautiful.

There’s no confirmation finer than seeing 50 people raving in front of a DJ booth in the middle of the day that Festival Square pitched its programming absolutely right.

Free DJ sets in the Pavilion teepee kept the square busy all day. And it helped, of course, that the sun shone most of the time, turning the square and the rooftop terrace on the Glass House bar into a hub at lunchtime as well as a popular evening hangout that attracted an international gaggle of visitors and some interesting wildlife; seeing butterflies fluttering through the city centre was a first for me.

The opportunity to get stuck in was also a welcome feature of the festival, none more so than in Crash Of The Elysium, Punchdrunk’s Doctor Who-themed
adventure over at MediaCityUK, which finally allowed the adults to join the mission to save the Doctor because of popular demand.

But it was the arts that really allowed a mesmerising chance to be part of the event: Tony Oursler’s The Influence Machine saw hundreds of visitors repossess Whitworth Park every night to watch spooky faces beamed onto trees and eerie clouds of smoke; 11 Rooms at Manchester Art Gallery required audiences to be both spectators and participants; and Audio Obscura invited people to reconsider Piccadilly Station as a social melting pot as well as a travel hub.

Raising the bar this high means the challenge is on to meet it in 2013. Festival director Alex Poots is already in deep discussions about the next set of commissions, one of which – Vertical Farm, a concept to run a sustainable farm in a city centre tower block – was discussed on the closing day of the festival
yesterday.

But who will be chosen?

The sensible money is on Damon Albarn keeping his long-running relationship with the festival alive somehow. And my money? I think Wu Lyf should pen the next opera; it’s a long shot, but isn’t that what MIF is all about?

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/entertainment/manchester_international_festival/s/1432489_looking-back-at-the-highlights-of-manchester-international-festival-2011

Well I went to Audio Obscura. It was as interesting experience. The real life sounds such as the station announcements are mixed in with the recordings so you get this strange overlaying of both. When combined with the people milling around in the station, who's sounds - being quieter - don't match what you're hearing, leaves you feeling quite detached from it all.

I wandered around at first but I felt I got the best effect from sitting down in a busy spot. Did some good people watching. It was busy too. 6 or 7 people in the queue in front of me and I saw plenty of other people shuffling around with big headphones on; most, like myself, looking far too old to be wearing them.

If I had one complaint, I assumed they'd be actual recordings of people rather than actors. Given a bit of thought I should've realised you couldn't do this without at least putting signs aroud the station informing people you were recording with microphones. I don't think that would have been a problem though. Particulalrly if they were there for long enough and in only a section of the station.

Most dissapointing was the actors were all of the stage school type. All the dialogue was overacting or as though they were reading poems to an audience. In real life people don't talk like they're on stage. While I'm sure they are all great actors none of the dialogue was memorable or emotional. Bottom line was it just wasn't believable. As a result I pretty much ignored what was being said and just wallowed in the trippy feeling of watching the world go by to familiar but totally mismatched background noise.

I'll leave the commenting for later...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/jul/26/vertical-farm-manchester-withenshawe-urbed-dickson-despommier-columbia-university

The 18-day international festival which has swept through Manchester has sadly come to an end, but one project is only just starting, with long-term implications for the future of the rainy city. On the very last day of the Manchester International festival, a two-year project to build a vertical farm in an disused office building in Wythenshawe was launched with the aim of encouraging cities to more grow fresh food in a sustainable way.

The problem with cities is that whilst they have big populations that need feeding, there is usually very little space to grow food. Consequently produce is flown in for all over the world and brought into cities by the lorry-load causing much environmental harm due to fossil fuels being burnt for transport. Indeed, a typical UK supermarket trolley of food will have travelled a distance of 3,000 km before making it to your shelves at home.

The solution? Dickson Despommier, a parasitologist at Columbia in New York City who spoke at the MIF event, thinks that vertical farming can help. Vertical farming is a relatively new concept developed by Despommier and his students back in 1999, where farms are built indoors and on levels rather than horizontally on land. Some of the benefits of this hi-tech way of growing food is that abandoned buildings are put to use whilst precious (and expensive) land is saved. This farming technique also requires up to 70% less water and less fertilizer than traditional farming as crops grow in a controlled and sheltered environment.

Debbie Ellen, the lead researcher on the project and food expert explains:

By the year 2050 it is estimated that nearly 80% of the world's population will live in urban centres. Our current food system is very vulnerable to weather events as well as being unsustainable in terms of how food reaches us...Vertical farms, which use existing buildings offer the potential to become productive food hubs which will increase community's resilience by growing food locally.

Encouraging local people to engage with the project is very important, because by learning about food growing, people become much more aware of its value, the difference in taste of food that has only travelled a small distance and the possibilities that exist for them to grow food for their families."

There are currently vertical farms working in Japan and Holland but to date, there is no multi-storey, indoor farming in an urban building which I guess makes Wythenshawe's Alpha Farm a world first.

Manchester already boasts some interesting food projects such as Unicorn Grocery in Chortlton, a supermarket which grows food on its own land as well as Abundance Manchester, an organisation which makes the most of food growing in gardens, allotments and public trees by collecting gluts and distributing it for free to homeless shelters and destitute asylum seekers.

Alpha Farm will be attempting to grow fruit and veg such as broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, carrots and strawberries. According to the organisers, by the time the next Manchester International Festival rolls around in 2013 they hope to be harvesting some of the goods for everyone to try.

---------------

Video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wZjlCpsbwo)

Best,
Slip

Late as ever the M.E.N


Manchester International Festival to host Britain's first vertical farm in 2013

August 09, 2011

Manchester could be at the forefront of an ‘agricultural revolution’ if a radical plan to solve the world’s food crisis takes off.

Organisers of Manchester’s International Festival 2013 want to turn a disused tower block in Wythenshawe into Britain’s first ‘vertical farm’.

The idea has already been attempted in cities around the world. But it will be trialled for the first time in this country in Wythenshawe at a derelict office block, named Alpha House.

The multi-storey greenhouse will use modern farming techniques, such as hydroponics and aquaponics, to produce vegetables including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers as well as supporting fish, chickens and bees.

It is hoped the farm will be able to grow enough food to supply the international festival in 2013.

But Steve Connor, CEO of Creative Concern which is spearheading the project, said the people of Wythenshawe are central to its success. We want to do this with the community of Wythenshawe,” he said.

“It’s the perfect place to kick it off. You’ve got a town centre that’s being revitalised, a certain amount of food activity in terms of the allotments – there’s every hope we’ll be able to unlock a significant amount of local support. It’s really critical.”

Architect Charlie Baker explained the decision to choose a tower block. He said: “The primary interest is that it’s already there as an unused office building. If you search Google for ‘vertical farms’ you will mostly see architecturally-produced images – but in a lot of cases they’re not wildly practical. Our view was, if you’re going to show a way of growing food inside a building, you might as well use one no one wants any more.

“From a modern building point of view, it’s a bit of a basket case. The windows are single-glazed and there’s no insulation. If we can make it work here we can make it work anywhere.”

The idea of vertical farming was first proposed by Professor Dickson Despommier, of Columbia University in New York, who came to Manchester to help launch the project.

If successful, it is hoped vertical farms could take off across Greater Manchester.

“What happens after depends on how well it works,” said Charlie. “But I hope it builds into a hub for home-grown food across the north west.

“Manchester has a heritage of making ideas work. We led the industrial revolution – why can’t we lead an agricultural one?”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1455069_manchester-international-festival-to-host-britains-first-vertical-farm-in-2013

Manchester International Festival boosted city’s economy by £37.6m

Exclusive by Deborah Linton

October 13, 2011

The Manchester International Festival boosted the city’s economy by £37.6m, according to a new report.

The biennial arts event is being hailed a resounding success after exceeding almost every target and attracting more people than ever before.

This year’s festival drew top names including Björk and Snoop Dogg and works by Damon Albarn and Victoria Wood during an 18-day programme this summer.

Attendance was up four per cent on 2009 – from 223,960 to 231,598 – and turnover increased by 19pc on 2009.

The festival also helped to push up hotel occupancy and footfall in the city centre, with international attendance up 126 per cent, according to an independent study going to a Manchester town hall committee.

Councillors will be asked to approve £2m funding for a 2013 festival when they meet next week, as well £500,000 underwriting of expected public sector funding from organisations such as Arts Council England.

The report shows that commercial sponsorship for this year’s festival fell to £2.4m – down from £2.9m in 2009 and £3.3m in 2007.

But this was more than made up for by an increase in so-called ‘co-commissioning’ – where outside organisations pay to share in future profits raised by MIF shows – which rose from £750,000 in 2009 to more than £2m this year, and by a 50pc increase in box office receipts.

Coun Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "This year’s festival was a resounding success and shows it is going from strength to strength despite the difficult economic climate."

Festival director Alex Poots said: "We are very grateful to the council for their unflagging support."

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1461647_manchester-international-festival-boosted-citys-economy-by-376m

MEN.

The Manchester International Festival boosted the city’s economy by £37.6m, according to a new report.

The biennial arts event is being hailed a resounding success after exceeding almost every target and attracting more people than ever before.

This year’s festival drew top names including Björk and Snoop Dogg and works by Damon Albarn and Victoria Wood during an 18-day programme this summer.

Attendance was up four per cent on 2009 – from 223,960 to 231,598 – and turnover increased by 19pc on 2009.

The festival also helped to push up hotel occupancy and footfall in the city centre, with international attendance up 126 per cent, according to an independent study going to a Manchester town hall committee.

Councillors will be asked to approve £2m funding for a 2013 festival when they meet next week, as well £500,000 underwriting of expected public sector funding from organisations such as Arts Council England.

The report shows that commercial sponsorship for this year’s festival fell to £2.4m – down from £2.9m in 2009 and £3.3m in 2007.

But this was more than made up for by an increase in so-called ‘co-commissioning’ – where outside organisations pay to share in future profits raised by MIF shows – which rose from £750,000 in 2009 to more than £2m this year, and by a 50pc increase in box office receipts.

Coun Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "This year’s festival was a resounding success and shows it is going from strength to strength despite the difficult economic climate."

Festival director Alex Poots said: "We are very grateful to the council for their unflagging support."

MIF13 dates announced

Dates for MIF13 are now announced: we're kicking off on Thursday 4th July 2013, running through 18 extraordinary days to Sunday 21st July.

Plus a highlights video for MIF 2011.

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