Factory International Autumn/ Winter Season at Aviva Studios
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
It’s been a full twelve months since Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, officially opened its doors. Over the past year, the landmark venue has welcomed over 700,000 visitors and has been named by TIME magazine as one of the ‘100 best places to visit’ in the world, firmly asserting itself as a global destination for art lovers and culture seekers. Now, Aviva Studios powers into its second year with another thrilling line-up, featuring major works and world premiere performances alongside a super accessible public programme of free events. With something for all ages and interests, Aviva Studios has ticked all the boxes with the Factory International Autumn/ Winter Season.
This November, the legendary Laurie Anderson presents ARK: United States V, her latest multi-media work at Aviva Studios (12 – 24 November). Bringing a momentous and ambitious blend of music, cinematic imagery, songs and stories, ARK explores our current environmental reality. In times of climate collapse, ecological disaster and the rise of AI, Anderson illuminates dark times with imagination and humour to ask: where do we go from here?
With a wondrously eclectic programme, further musical highlights of the Factory International Autumn/ Winter Season include The Untold Orchestra (6 Dec 2024) with a compelling multi-artform collaborative performance examining the experiences of black creatives through a combination of music, dance and spoken word; acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer Romy when she heads to Manchester as part of her Club Mid Air tour (13 Dec 2024) and Transatlantic Sessions, an intimate evening of live folk music from Scotland, Ireland and the US (7 Feb 2025).
Early in December, two exclusive film events arrive at Aviva Studios for Factory International’s Weekend of Film and Music (7 – 8 Dec 2024). In beautiful contrast, Max Porter and Aoife McArdle’s All of This Unreal Time, starring Cillian Murphy, is paired with a reimagining of Derek Jarman’s moving final film, Blue.
Meanwhile, Lightroom’s David Hockney immersive experience, Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) propels us boldly into 2025 (10 Dec 2024 – 25 Jan 2025). Experience six decades of the artist’s work in this vibrant exhibition. Utilising huge cutting-edge projections, a revolutionary sound system and commentary from the artist himself, this is the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder of the world through Hockney’s eyes.
Further picks of 2025 include the thrilling and timely world premiere of Figures in Extinction (19 – 22 Feb 2025). Over the past four years, two of the most distinctive creators – choreographer Crystal Pite and Complicité theatre director Simon McBurney – have been weaving ideas around their hopes and fears for humanity and the natural world into an extraordinary triptych of dance. The three-part performance will be revealed – for the first time, in its entirety – at Aviva Studios next February.
