Factory International

Sweet Dreams, our biggest and most ambitious show to date, is now officially open to the public at Factory International’s AVIVA Studios in Manchester! Unfolding over a series of meticulously crafted rooms, the processional cinema piece let’s you step inside the world of the Real Good Chicken Company, a fading fast-food empire on the brink of collapse. Voiced by actor and comedian Munya Chawawa, Chicky Ricky is joined by a glut of other characters, including shelved mascot Penny Peckish (voiced by comedian and impressionist Morgana Robinson and The Boss (voiced by comedian Reggie Watts. Created with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund and awarding @National Lottery funding and cooked up in collaboration with award-winning writer and former chef Simon Wroe and art direction by mcbess Open: 17 Jul - 1 Sep 2024 Book your ticket: https://lnkd.in/dhFYgqGM #sweetdreams #realgoodchickenco #ChickyRicky

Watch the official trailer for Sweet Dreams 🎥 "This isn't the food business, Ricky. This is the desire business. We're manufacturing dreams..." Step inside the world of the Real Good Chicken Company this summer as Chicky Ricky takes you on an adventure like no other. Created by the award-winning MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund (awarding National Lottery funding), Sweet Dreams is the interactive experience in Aviva Studios' vast Warehouse space mixing animation and immersive cinema. Meet Chicky Ricky, the company's mascot on his quest to understand what people really want from their food (voiced by Munya Chawawa). Chicky Ricky is joined by shelved mascot Penny Peckish (voiced by comedian and impressionist Morgana Robinson) and The Boss (voiced by comedian Reggie Watts). Cooked up in collaboration with award-winning writer and former chef Simon Wroe, with art direction by French artist Mcbess, don't miss this multi-sensory experience at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International. Sweet Dreams officially opens today (17 July), running until 1 September. 🔗 Book your tickets now by clicking the link in Factory International’s bio. ----------- Created by the artist collective MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST Produced by MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST and Factory International Made with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund Art direction and character designs by mcbess Written by Simon Wroe Characters voiced by Munya Chawawa, Morgana Robinson and Reggie Watts

Take a first look at Sweet Dreams 🍬 Our brand-new immersive show, Sweet Dreams, takes you on a multi-sensory experience this summer as you step inside the surreal world of the fading fast-food empire, the Real Good Chicken Company. Brought to you by the award-winning MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST with the support of the British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund (awarding National Lottery funding), enter the Real Good Chicken Company’s headquarters and let has-been mascot Chicky Ricky take you under his wing. Voiced by actor and comedian Munya Chawawa, Chicky Ricky is joined by a shelved mascot Penny Peckish (voiced by comedian and impressionist Morgana Robinson) and The Boss (voiced by comedian Reggie Watts). Previews for Sweet Dreams have begun (limited tickets left), with the show officially opening on Tuesday 17 July. 🔗 Book your tickets now: https://lnkd.in/dhFYgqGM ------------ Created by the artist collective Marshmallow Laser Feast Produced by Marshmallow Laser Feast and Factory International Made with the support of the BFI Filmmaking Fund Art direction and character designs by Mcbess Written by Simon Wroe Characters voiced by Munya Chawawa, Morgana Robinson and Reggie Watts

Announcing our next season of shows this autumn and winter 🙌 Read below to learn more about our upcoming shows... 🌍 ARK: UNITED STATES PART 5 📆 12-24 November The legendary multimedia artist Laurie Anderson marks the end of the world in a momentous mix of music, cinematic imagery, songs and stories in the world premiere of her new live stage show. Climate collapse, environmental disaster, and the rise of artificial intelligence - the show focuses on multiple countdowns that now engulf us. ⬛ TRAPLORD 📆 26-29 September World-renowned artist and cultural innovator Ivan Michael Blackstock brings his Olivier Award-winning show to Aviva Studios. Fusing dance, live music and spoken word, the show explores life, death and rebirth and invites you to question the stereotyping of Black men in contemporary western society. 🎥 JENN NKIRU: FILM SCREENING AND Q&A 📆 4 October Join us for the world premiere of visionary film maker Jenn Nkiru's latest film, inspired by Manchester’s industrial history and exploring parallels between architecture and the human body - and how they both shapeshift through time and space. 🖼️ DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER (NOT SMALLER & FURTHER AWAY) 📆 10 December - 25 January Experience the world through David Hockney's eyes as sixty years of his art will be displayed in this vibrant immersive exhibition through huge state-of-the-art projections and a revolutionary sound system. 💬 ARTISTS IN TIMES OF UPHEAVAL 📆 Various dates Continuing our talk series which asks what space is there for artists when life ‘as normal’ no longer seems possible, we'll be joined by Hong Kong artist Samson Young (7 September) and Palestinian author Adania Shibli (2 November). ---- Factory International Members can buy tickets now with 48-hour access to Ark, TRAPLORD and the Jenn Nkiru film screening. General tickets on sale Friday 12 July at 10am. Members will be able to buy tickets for David Hockney's exhibition on Friday 12 July at 10am, with general tickets on sale on Monday 15 July at 10am. 🔗 For more information, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ejcH4p5F

We couldn’t be happier to see Sweet Dreams opening next week at Factory International’s Aviva Studios in Manchester! Many years in the making, and finally, it’s ready to serve! Our latest experience is a genre-bending feast of immersion, spatial cinema, and interaction that invites the audience to step into the surreal world of the Real Good Chicken Company—a fading fast-food empire. Voiced by actor and comedian Munya Chawawa, Chicky Ricky is joined by a glut of other characters, including shelved mascot Penny Peckish (voiced by comedian and impressionist Morgana Robinson) and The Boss (voiced by comedian Reggie Watts). Sweet Dreams takes over Aviva Studios for Summer 2024 and is cooked up in collaboration with award-winning writer and former chef Simon Wroe, with art direction by French artist mcbess. Book your ticket: https://lnkd.in/eUxFuEJ3

Get ready for a game-changing new partnership as we team up with sporting giants adidas 👟 Joining us as our official sportswear partner, we’ll work together to nurture the next generation of young creative talent in Manchester through the Creator Network North programme which launches later this year – and on a series of exciting activations exploring where sport and culture meet, starting this summer. After a successful London launch back in 2022, Creator Network North will offer opportunities and work placements, giving young talent in Manchester and the North the skills and experience they need to thrive in the creative industries. The first of our activations kicks off this summer with a major global skateboarding event at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, bringing together influential skaters, creative personalities and networking opportunities for Manchester skaters. We can’t wait to see what the next three years brings. More details about how you can get involved coming soon.

It’s with huge sadness that we hear about Sir Howard Bernstein’s death. Among his many other achievements, Howard was instrumental in the founding and success of Manchester International Festival and Aviva Studios. Like so many in Manchester, we owe him a huge debt for his inspiring vision and unending belief in our city. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Two wins at the British Training Awards 🎉 🏆 At yesterday's British Training Awards, we won Large Organisation of the Year and Training Initiative of the Year for our Factory Academy training programme. The British Training Awards celebrate learning and development (L&D) to build thriving organisations and range from start-ups to the public sector. Congratulations to everyone involved and to all of our fellow nominees!

How time flies! 👀 Today we’re celebrating one year since we announced the historic, long-term partnership between Aviva, Manchester City Council and Factory International, to support our iconic venue 🎉 Aviva Studios has created the perfect home for Factory International, allowing us to create exciting new work that explores all the possibilities offered by the ultra-flexible new space. It has also become the hub for Manchester International Festival, our biennial Festival of new work and special events which will be returning across the city in the summer of 2025. Aviva’s partnership not only helped to make this building possible, but also supports a wide range of community initiatives such as: 👉 Aviva’s Principal Partnership of Factory Academy - helping us create and deliver new free training programmes and courses to develop the next generation of creative technicians, producers and arts professionals. 👉 Incremental funding from Aviva into Factory Academy has enabled us to create the all-new Creative Careers Unlocked programme empowering students with practical skills, industry experience and exposure to creative networks, and offering valuable insights into a wide range of career opportunities within the creative sector. 👉 As part of our wider affordable ticketing strategy, Aviva £10 Tickets is helping to improve access to the arts, ensuring that our work remains affordable and accessible for all. We want to take the opportunity to thank Aviva for championing Factory International and Aviva Studios over the past year. We are so excited to see what the next year brings in partnership together in this ground-breaking cultural venture.

Celebrating WOW Festival with our inaugural Chair's Lunch 💬 On Friday 24 May, we had the privilege of welcoming 60 women and non-binary leaders to Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, to celebrate the remarkable WOW - Women of the World Festival (The WOW Foundation) with our inaugural Chair's Lunch. The event introduced the new Chair of the Factory International Board, Moira Sinclair OBE, who shared her insights on the vital contribution cultural organisations like Factory International have on the local and national economy. She also reflected on her personal history and love of theatre and the arts, highlighting the transformative impact they have had on her life. Moira facilitated a compelling discussion on the synergies between business and the arts, exploring how these sectors can learn from and support each other, enabling all to thrive. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished panelists: Jude Kelly CBE (Founder & CEO of WOW), Jessica Tamsedge, CEO of Dentsu Creative, and Rebecca Swarray, Artist and Producer, who enriched the conversation with their perspectives on equity, change, and ethical working practices in a world changed by technology. A special thank you to Princess Arinola Adegbite for sharing her beautiful words, creating a truly memorable moment for all attendees. 💬 We encourage our attendees to continue the conversation. If you met someone you wish to connect with, please let us know. For those interested in learning more about how you or your business can support Factory International, we invite you to get in touch: https://lnkd.in/eqdJspAt