Summary

  • 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

  1. You're invited to the party at the end of the world...published at 16:17 BST 2 July 2017

    Party Skills For The End Of The World

    Sneak a peek from actual performances in our exclusive video - prepare for drinks making, table dancing and balloon wrangling...

    Learn more about Party Skills For The End Of The World, external

    Media caption,

    We just can't get enough of that music...

  2. We're live from Festival Square!published at 16:01 BST 2 July 2017

    6 Music Takeover with Jarvis Cocker

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  3. Join Jarvis Cocker, broadcasting from Festival Square from 4pmpublished at 15:58 BST 2 July 2017

    Festival Square

    Music legend Jarvis Cocker is broadcasting live for 6 Music from Albert Square right now - hit play above, and join us for all the music, theatre, and back-stage interviews.

  4. Tonight in Festival Square: Hookwormspublished at 15:37 BST 2 July 2017

    Psych-rock, anyone?

    HookwormsImage source, MIF
    Image caption,

    Hookworms play at Albert Square tonight

    Tonight the 5 piece Leeds sensation Hookworms bring their utterly unique psychedelic rock to our very own Festival Square , external- what should we expect? Whack on their Soundcloud, and get immersed.

  5. Join us at 6:30pm for part 3 of One Of Two Stories, Or Bothpublished at 15:09 BST 2 July 2017

    You can catch up on parts 1 & 2 right here

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    Episode 1:

    Episode 2:

    Media caption,

    Samson Young's five-part radio series continues, performed by a cast of actors, artists & musicians.

    Find out more about One Of Two Stories, Or Both, external.

  6. I Contact begins now in Festival Squarepublished at 14:57 BST 2 July 2017

    #creative50

    Anna Horton
    MIF17 Creative50

    Don't be shy, come and draw, play, and take home your very own original composition, all absolutely free.

    Created by local artist Anna Horton, part of our #creative50.

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  7. Mary Anne Hobbs talks inspiration, Manchester and musicpublished at 14:40 BST 2 July 2017

    Dark Matter

    She's curating an extraordinary series of gigs at Gorilla and The Ritz, 6 Music legend Mary Anne Hobbs tells us what inspired her to do it...

    Media caption,

    She reveals the inspiration behind her curation at the Manchester International Festival.

  8. Don't miss out on Festival In My House takeoverpublished at 14:11 BST 2 July 2017

    Festival Square

    Free performances, workshops and fun all day today in Albert Square - get along and enjoy the sun...

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  9. Exclusive look at ToGather - beautiful exhibition exploring migrationpublished at 14:01 BST 2 July 2017

    Plus a reminder to join us next Sunday for the public performance

    Get along to the Whitworth Gallery this week to see Susan Hefuna's ToGather, external, taking a look at stories of migration, journeys, and a search for home.

    And then, next Sunday, we're hosting a free public event in Whitworth Park, where local residents (originally from fifteen different countries including Iran, Sierra Leone, Trinidad, Pakistan, Albania and Kuwait), will trace individual paths through the park.

    Featuring dancers from Studio Wayne McGregor, external and a score by Robin Rimbaud - Scanner, external , join us to eat, drink and be thoroughly moved.

    TogatherImage source, MIF
    ToGatherImage source, MIF
    ToGatherImage source, MIF
    ToGatherImage source, MIF
    ToGatherImage source, MIF
  10. Free portraits in Festival Square today!published at 13:37 BST 2 July 2017

    #creative50

    Anna Horton
    MIF17 Creative50

    Two of our brilliant #creative50 local artists will be in Albert Square at 3pm with their response to our opening What Is The City But The People?

    You draw a stranger, they draw you - the only rule is... neither of you can look at what you're drawing. Get down there, and watch new art in action!

    Creative 50: i-contanctImage source, MIF

    Looking at bringing all walks of life together from Manchester, ‘I Contact’ gets people talking, sharing stories and meeting each other all through this playful encounter.

    'I Contact' was created by Anna Horton and Becki Miller: a collaboration formed during the #Creative50

  11. Play our first ever game commission right now!published at 13:19 BST 2 July 2017

    Lost Memories Dot Net

    Courtesy of one of the most innovative and individual video game designers working today - our specially commissioned Lost Memories Dot Net , externalexplores the joys, heartbreaks, dangers and wonders of online chat and creating websites in the early 2000s.

    Based in Portland, Oregon, creator Nina Freeman has won huge renown for autobiographical video games, drawing strongly on her own life and experiences – and her new game is every bit as frank and intensely personal. Play it for yourself right now, external.

    Media caption,

    Lostmemories.net: a new game commission for #mif17 from Nina Freeman

  12. Where’s the funny?published at 12:49 BST 2 July 2017

    Blistering comedy this festival

    It’s not just international theatre, dance and visual arts makers, you know.

    This year we’re welcoming the likes of Mark Watson, Sara Pascoe and Tony Law to our city, along with a host of brilliant break-through talent.

    So, you lucky things, what’s on the menu?

    Max and IvanImage source, MIF

    Max and Ivan, external

    Hilarious double-act Max and Ivan have been wowing audiences and critics alike for years with their glorious character comedy - a perfect blend of surreal, touching and downright silly.

    Emma SidiImage source, MIF

    Emma Sidi, external

    Emma brings her sell-out, critically acclaimed Edinburgh show Telenovella - a brilliantly pitched character comedy that is equal parts dark, inventive and hilarious.

    Birthday GirlsImage source, MIF

    Birthday Girls, external

    If you want a top night out, these are the girls to party with. Uproarious sketch comedy backed by all the hits you want to listen to - it’s the perfect pre-lash night out.

    Geins Family GiftshopImage source, MIF

    Gein’s Family Giftshop, external

    Home-grown talent doesn’t come anymore outrageous than Gein’s - a pitch-black comedy troupe that delight in the macabre, manic and ridiculous.

    Mark WatsonImage source, MIF

    Mark Watson, external

    How often do you get to see one of Britain’s most original comics close up? He’s bringing his self-reflective (but always gloriously funny) show to an intimate venue, so book while you still can!

    Sara PascoeImage source, MIF

    Sara Pascoe

    After her smash hit book Animal, and tour of the same name, we’re lucky enough to have Sara Pascoe return to Manchester, smashing down the city with her irreverent, glorious energy.

    And there’s more where that came from! Check out all the comics on the bill here, external, it really is an amazing lineup.

    Seen one of our acts in action? Make sure to tweet us @MIFestival #mif17

  13. "Want to learn to play the saw?"published at 12:27 BST 2 July 2017

    Lemn Sissay talks to the team behind Party Skills For The End Of The World

    Raise a glass to the apocalypse in this exclusive behind the scenes clip, and learn more about our anarchic, glorious show Party Skills For The End Of The World, external.

    Media caption,

    Party Skills For The End Of The World is a show in abandoned university buildings

  14. Big new shows coming up: Fatherland, The World Was Once All Miracle, Returning To Reimspublished at 11:46 BST 2 July 2017

    It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new week

    We're about to enter week 2 of our beloved festival, so it only seems right we give you a heads-up as to some world premieres to look out for.

    Enjoy our exclusive trailers right here, gosh we do spoil you:

    Media caption,

    #mif17 trailer for Fatherland

    Fatherland, external

    Identity, masculinity, nationality - we're exploring it all in sensational new show Fatherland, by Karl Hyde and Simon Stephens. It's all about contemporary fatherhood - who we are and who we'd like to be, taking over the beautiful Royal Exchange space with a 13 strong cast.

    Media caption,

    Manchester International Festival catches up with composer Raymond Yiu

    The World Was Once All Miracle, external

    A beautiful symphonic song-cycle composed by Raymond Ru and performed by Roderick Williams and the BBC Philharmonic - The World Was One All Miracle sets music to 6 poems by the great Anthony Burgess, known best for A Clockwork Orange. A world exclusive, and an unmissable event.

    Media caption,

    Returning to Reims: Director Thomas Ostermeier talks about his commission with #mif17

    Returning to Reims, external

    How does our political allegiance change over time? With the rise of populism, this new piece by Thomas Ostermeier has never felt more needed. He explores the story of a man who returns to his home town, only to discover a shift from Communism to far-right Front National.

    And there's plenty more new shows winging your way - stay tuned, and we'll provide the inside scoop...

  15. "This city made me... it inspired me, pushed me forward."published at 11:30 BST 2 July 2017

    Lemn Sissay talks about walking the What Is The City runway

    See Bez, Lemn and more in this BBC North West tonight clip, giving you a sense of atmosphere at our opening spectacular.

    Go on Bez, do the dance.

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  16. What to do today - free things to visitpublished at 11:12 BST 2 July 2017

    We've got your Sunday sorted

    home1947Image source, MIF

    The morning after the Saturday night before - so we're not going to go too quickly this morning.

    We recommend a sturdy bacon sandwich, and taking in one of our fantastic exhibitions - whether that be the legacy of New Order and Joy Division over at True Faith, external, exploring journeys and migration at ToGather, external, uncovering stories of partition at Home1947, external or simply having a wander until you come across Music For A Busy City, external.

    Then, why not pitch up at Festival Square for our Festival In My House Takeover,, external kicking off right now - new artists, plenty of performances, and unique experiences all day long. Perfect.

  17. That's it for today - thanks for joining us!published at 20:55 BST 1 July 2017

    See you tomorrow, live from Festival Square

    Tomorrow we’re presenting a Festival within a Festival – as some of the participants of MIF’s Festival in My House series, external take over Albert Square with a series of pop-up performances throughout the day.

    You can take a look at the full programme here, external - but we'll be live from the heart of the action, as we bring you fresh new talent all day long.

    Until then, long live Saturday night! Now, how long till Tim Burgess is on?

  18. Saturday night love letters to Festival Squarepublished at 20:49 BST 1 July 2017

    Why would you want to go anywhere else?

    Good music, good food, good drink, excellent times. #loveMCR

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  19. Coming up tomorrow: how to play the saw, exclusive videos and our first ever game commissionpublished at 20:40 BST 1 July 2017

    What to look out for, online and on the street

    True FaithImage source, MIF

    Tomorrow it's another day for you and me in paradise (or, at least, at the festival).

    We'll be showing off exclusive videos for Music For A Busy City, external, going behind the scenes at Party Skills For The End Of The World, external, and delivering Part 3 of our radio series One Of Two Stories, Or Both., external

    As well as all that, we'll be showcasing the first ever MIF commission video game, external. It's all to play for on this page, is what we're saying.

    If you're lucky enough to be in Manchester, you can see the composers for Music For A Busy City in actual action, external, as well as get yourself to any number of our amazing exhibitions (think True Faith,, external Togather, external, Home1947, external and No End To Enderby, external). To round things off, you'll need to join us in Festival Square for Hookworms + special guests, external.

    Can you handle all that? Let's find out tomorrow...

  20. About last night...published at 20:15 BST 1 July 2017

    If our opening party is anything to go by, tonight is going to get messy

    For those embarking on an evening in Albert Square... we salute you.

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