The Factory: Made in Manchester
imagine... tells the story of Aviva Studios, Manchesterβs colossal new cultural venue, and goes behind the scenes at the world premiere of its opening production, Free Your Mind.
imagine... tells the story of Manchesterβs colossal new cultural venue - Aviva Studios - the home of Factory International and the Manchester International Festival.
With multiple flexible spaces, including one large enough to house a jumbo jet, it is the UKβs largest cultural investment since Tate Modern. A destination for the arts and music, it has been described as the most important cultural development in Europe.
The possibilities offered by this vast and ambitious building have been explored to the full by its opening production, Free Your Mind β an epic, immersive dance retelling of the 1999 film The Matrix, which foretold the importance of AI.
imagine... will take viewers behind the scenes of this striking production with local boy and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, choreographer Kenrick βH2Oβ Sandy and composer Michael βMikey Jβ Asante, and will also explore the creative processes of designer Es Devlin and writer Sabrina Mahfouz as they prepare to present their show, and this new building, to the world.
For Manchester, this moment is about more than launching a new venue β it is the culmination of decades of cultural regeneration, which began when Factory Records and the Hacienda put the city on the musical map. It is also a bold statement about the future of the arts in the north and the role they can play in all our lives. But at a cost of Β£240 million (more than twice its original budget), in a climate of cuts and a cost-of-living crisis, the pressure is on for this expensive new venture to bring jobs, training and creative opportunities to communities across the region.
Alan Yentob hears from local performers, artists, city leaders and students, and watches as the Free Your Mind cast take to the stage for their world premiere with a performance that, in the words of Danny Boyle, seeks to βhand over the keys of the building to the people of Manchesterβ.
Last on
Clips
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Free Your Mind - Alan Turing
Duration: 02:14
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The Factory legacy
Duration: 03:40
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Manchester's new factory
Duration: 02:48
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Free Your Mind - Enslaved Looms
Duration: 02:52
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Alan Yentob |
Interviewed Guest | Danny Boyle |
Interviewed Guest | Michael 'Mikey J' Asante |
Interviewed Guest | Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy |
Interviewed Guest | Es Devlin |
Interviewed Guest | Sabrina Mahfouz |
Interviewed Guest | John McGrath |
Series Editor | Alan Yentob |
Executive Producer | Tanya Hudson |
Producer | Catherine Abbott |
Director | Catherine Abbott |
Broadcasts
- Mon 11 Dec 2023 22:40ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
- Mon 11 Dec 2023 23:10ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only