Thank you for joining us this last 18 days and for making the festival a success. Scroll back to remember some of the higlights of MIF 2017 and see you in 2019!
Manchester International Festival ran from 29 June and 16 July 2017
Talk to us @mifestival on twitter & mcrintfestival on Facebook
Music For A Busy City
Brilliant Music For A Busy City composer Anna Meredith walks us through her methods for creating beautiful compositions - and there's a lot more sketching than we imagined...
Anna Meredith tells us about her Music For a Busy City composition process
Learn more about Music For A Busy City, external, our city-wide music adventure
Cheat Sheet
Name: Scott Graham
Special skill: Creating “theatre without fear” with his company, Frantic Assembly, and other collaborators
What do I need to know?Scott Graham formed Frantic Assembly when he was a student at Swansea University, with two other students, Steven Hoggett and Vicki Middleton. None of them studied drama, but they were all interested in theatre. Now, the company has performed in more than 40 countries and its work is studied by A Level students.
Graham worked on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (with Simon Stephens, his Fatherland collaborator), and also worked on How To Train Your Dragon 2. We love that film. In 2009, the company published a book, The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre, which is still used by many young theatre makers.
Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
What does he say about his work?“We wanted to create theatre that felt 4D, so that you could feel the heat behind it, you could smell it. Without that it was just dressing up and telling stories.” Expose, external.
What to say at a dinner party:“Frantic Assembly's production of Othello made Shakespeare's text feel like it was written yesterday.”
What’s next?Graham is currently working on Fatherland for MIF17, external, and Frantic’s show, Things I Know To Be True, is touring until November.
Our guide to the best moves this festival
With so much on, it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what to see. Luckily, you have us to guide your spotlight.
Dance fans (or indeed, simply dance curios), here's our list of what to get in the diary:
Image source, MIFFirst staged in 1983, Available Light is known as a landmark of American Dance: two levels of performance, a hypnotic soundtrack and utterly mersmerising choreography - it's a perfect fusion of movement, music and art.
Image source, MIF25 dancers, not a single action repeated between them. Joyous, melancholy, ephemeral and unforgettable, 10000 Gestures aims to rethink and reinvent the language of dance in thrilling fashion.
Image source, MIFCreated by and starring Jane Horrocks, new musical Cotton Panic! tells the story of how the cotton famine brought the North-West to its knees. Expect gloriously familiar songs, industrial noise and electronic sound-scaping.
Image source, MIFThere are many great things about this event, but first and foremost, it is absolutely free.
Join us in Whitworth park for food, drink and revelry as we watch local residents - originally from fifteen different countries including Iran, Sierra Leone, Trinidad, Pakistan, Albania and Kuwait - trace individual paths.
It features wonderful dancers from Studio Wayne McGregor, external, and takes creative inspiration from migrants’ experiences and stories. Warning: you will be moved.
Festival Square
The sensational House Gospel Choir took over Festival Square on Saturday night, and we have the photos to prove it.
Theirs was one of many gigs we're hosting in Festival Square, external, so if you haven't made your way down there yet, what are you waiting for?
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIFDark Matter
Levelz as part of Dark Matter, external looked off-the-chain fantastic – check out a few photos from the gig.
Image source, MIFLevelz Dark Matter gig
Image source, MIFLevelz Dark Matter gig
Image source, MIFLevelz Dark Matter gig
Image source, MIFLevelz Dark Matter gig
Image source, MIFLevelz Dark Matter gig
6Music's very own Mary Anne Hobbs is curating a whole series of Dark Matter gigs for MIF17. The next one is Paleman, and you can find out more here, external.
#creative50
Kate Radford
MIF17 Creative 50
One of our local #creative50 artists Kate Radford, has created a beautiful written response to our inclusive, opening spectacular What Is The City But The People?
It describes the feeling of being suddenly connected to the city around you, to celebrating true heroes, and finding a sense of community that modern politics can so often strip away from us.
Read it here, and be transported., external
www.kate-radford.weebly.com, external
@feminhism @kateradtheatre (twitter)
@kateradartist (insta)
The Welcoming Party
Kids and big kids alike are all invited to The Welcoming Party, external - an interactive, joyful search for home, regardless of where you're from.
Expect puppetry, performance, dance and live music for children and family audiences, all as part of an amazing adventure through a historic hidden warehouse at the Museum of Science & Industry.
#creative50
Listen to one of our #creative50 mentors Christian Payne talk about our commissions and artists - including a workshop inspiring young women to create their own manifesto for life:
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Listen live to our live 5 part radio series
Part 3 of Samson Young's mesmerising live radio series begins here at 6:30pm - listen here, and dive in., external
For the uninitiated, you can check out the first 3 episodes right here - we do spoil you...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The third installment of Samson Young's radio composition inspired by mythic tales.
BBC Radio 5
He also learns the best way to punch someone - but you'll certainly have to listen to find out.
BambinO
Take a look at the world premiere of BambinO – a new opera made especially to wow the tiny people in your life.
Colours, shapes, ability to move and play, all whilst listening to a beautiful opera created especially for those aged 6-18 months - take a look at the video, and get along.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Dark Matter: Paleman
Bringing his first ever live gig to Gorilla this Thursday, external, pioneering jazz drummer and electronic musician Paleman combines African, House and jazz influences to create a totally unique live experience - learn more from Mary Anne Hobbs below, and we'll see you on Thursday.
#mif17 trailer for Paleman (part of the Dark Matter Series)
#creative50
Tara Collette
MIF17 Creative 50
Today's #creative50 GIF from Tara Collette focusses on our city-adventure Music For A Busy City, external - now get out there, and find it for yourself!
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Home1947
Can't get to Manchester in time to see Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's beautiful partition exhibition Home1947, external?
Don't worry, we have the perfect solution. But first, take a look at all these people luckier than you:
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Now that the envy is out of the way, we can tell you we've built a beautiful online Home1947 experience, external - where you can dive into the stories, images and essence of the exhibition itself. Go forth, and uncover the history of a nation.
The World Was Once All Miracle
Can't wait to hear the beautiful song-cycle created by world-renown composer Raymond Yiu, tomorrow at the fabulous Bridgewater Hall.
Learn more about The World Was Once All Miracle here, external
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Manchester International Festival 2017
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
What is the City but the People?
If you've yet to catch our amazing, celebratory "live Lowry painting" opening, you can check it out right here. Brace yourself for inspiration, cheers and tears. We couldn't be prouder of it, or Manchester.
Manchester International Festival 17 opening event.
What Is The City But The People
Our brilliant composer Graham Massey composed over an hour of original music for What Is The City But The People - and you can hear him interviewed by Mark Radcliffe on 6 Music here.
To cut straight to the music, listen in from around 2 minutes 15 seconds - you impatient lot.
#creative50
This year we asked 50 brilliant local artists to produce new work with a digital edge, inspired by this year's festival programme.
We're expecting soundscapes, video, GIFS, data visualisations, virtual reality and more - so get excited.
In the meantime, you can catch up on our MIF GIF a day, external (courtesy of Tara Collette), and interact with this 360 degree video of our opening What Is The City But The People (courtesy of Keith Myers).
The future of digital art is bright.
Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Original soundtrack produced by Gymnast after being thoroughly inspired by 'What is the City'. www.gymnastband.com, external Twitter: @gymnastband
Fatherland on 6 Music
Brilliant creators Simon Stephens & Scott Graham are talking to Mark Radcliffe about the stunning new show Fatherland right now - in the meantime, let's take a look at what their audiences so far have to say...
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.