CULTURE

Important new work about the political far-right is part of 2017 Manchester International Festival line-up

There’s everything from traditional theatre to new digital technology as a wave of culture hits Manchester at the Manchester International Festival, running this June 29th – July 16th. The festival – one of the country’s most diverse – hosts events at iconic old buildings in the city, and at new pop-up spaces.

If you’re going with family then don’t miss Theatre-Rites’ site specific installation called The Welcoming Party, full of live music, dance and puppetry.

But leave them at home for Fatherland, a stirring new piece by Scott Graham of Frantic Assembly, playwright Simon Stephens and Underworld’s Karl Hyde.

And a 25-strong ensemble will also take over Mayfield Depot for an intriguing dance piece called 10000 Gestures by Boris Charmatz.

Find tens more events on the festival’s website and tickets are available now

TRASH

100-metre catwalks take over Manchester, and prepare to party like its the end of the world….

Nigel Barrett and Louise Mari are staging their new show, Party Skills for the End of the World, a subversive show to make audiences “face their fears and and celebrate their life”.

It’s all about whether we’ll be ready to party as the world faces turmoil – what would happen if everything we took for granted was removed? Like, say, the important practice of making Martinis. The audience play a big part in putting the world to rights again, one Martini at a time. Find out more here.

For the festival’s big opening night, why not get involved? Residents are encouraged to email in and be a part of Jeremy Deller’s What is the City but the People?, a specially-formed commission taking over Piccadilly Gardens for one-night-only. Expect live music and Manchester’s own people to perform personal skits with international relevance on an elevated 100 metre runway.

Buy tickets to events at Manchester International Festival on their website