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
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
We just can't get enough of that music...
6 Music Takeover with Jarvis Cocker
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’.
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.
Psych-rock, anyone?
Image source, MIFHookworms 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.
You can catch up on parts 1 & 2 right here
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’.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Samson Young's five-part radio series continues, performed by a cast of actors, artists & musicians.
#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.
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
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...
She reveals the inspiration behind her curation at the Manchester International Festival.
Festival Square
Free performances, workshops and fun all day today in Albert Square - get along and enjoy the sun...
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’.
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.
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF
Image source, MIF#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!
Image source, MIFLooking 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
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.
Lostmemories.net: a new game commission for #mif17 from Nina Freeman
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?
Image source, MIFHilarious 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.
Image source, MIFEmma brings her sell-out, critically acclaimed Edinburgh show Telenovella - a brilliantly pitched character comedy that is equal parts dark, inventive and hilarious.
Image source, MIFIf 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.
Image source, MIFGein’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.
Image source, MIFHow 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!
Image source, MIFSara 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
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.
Party Skills For The End Of The World is a show in abandoned university buildings
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:
#mif17 trailer for Fatherland
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.
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.
Returning to Reims: Director Thomas Ostermeier talks about his commission with #mif17
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...
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.
We've got your Sunday sorted
Image source, MIFThe 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.
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?
Why would you want to go anywhere else?
Good music, good food, good drink, excellent times. #loveMCR
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’.
What to look out for, online and on the street
Image source, MIFTomorrow 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...
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.
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’.