MIF Daily – Friday 30 June – Factory International

Ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of Manchester International Festival, but don’t know where to start? MIF Daily is our guide to the festival. A daily round-up of the hottest events and content to help you navigate what’s on.

We’ll tell you what to read, watch, listen and do – all the good stuff. Have a quick scroll, discover a new artist, learn something new.

Like what you see? Discover more at Factory+

SPOTLIGHT: The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions

READ

We invited Patrick O’Connell to explore the history of queer theatre in celebration of the queer experiences and productions on show at MIF23.

Patrick traces the history of queer liberation on stage – from the censorship and homophobic literary criticism of the 60s to the success of companies like Gay Sweatshop and Homo Promos.

He writes, 'The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions is a reminder of the work still to be done in the figure for queer liberation, with anti-queer and anti-trans rhetoric increasingly seeping into the public discourse on both sides of the Atlantic.'

Patrick O’Connell | A theatre for dreamers: how the stage became a home for queer liberation

WATCH

Now that you’ve brushed up on your queer history, it’s time to dive into the production.

We caught up with Dramaturg Scottee to find out what to expect from the musical adaption of this 1977 cult book by Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta.

Heading to today's performance? Stick around for a post-show discussion with composer Philip Venables and director Ted Huffman included with your ticket.

Baroque opera, techno rave and call to arms all rolled into one.

The F**gots and Their Friends Between Revolutions promises a unique night, joyous night of entertainment at @HOME_mcr during #MIF23.

But, as @ScotteeIsFat explains, you'll be leaving with expectations... pic.twitter.com/emSf7OWTmb
— Factory International (@factoryintl) June 11, 2023

Black and White photo of group of people at a concert event

LISTEN

Tomorrow, our friends at SEEN Magazine are taking over Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery with Sonics, Stories and Scenes of the Diaspora.

Expect a series of performances, DJ sets, screenings and panel discussions celebrating the South Asian diaspora – all for free.

Get lost in SEEN's brilliant archive and listen to Tayyab Amin reading their article ‘Between Asian Undergrounds: Charting Contemporary UK Sounds of the South Asian Diaspora’.

DO

Festival Square is where it’s at this Friday.

Join us at our new riverside home for the first of our free parties: a celebration of Manchester’s finest acts topped by post-punk legends A Certain Ratio and DJ Dave Haslam.

Call your mates, embrace the festival season and get down here before we eat all the street food.

If you’re still not convinced, see the full line-up here.