Factory International presents the LIGHTROOM production
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
10 Dec 2024 -
25 Jan 2025
![Three people stood in the David Hockney exhibition at Lightroom. His swimming pool paintings are shown on the screens.](https://thumbor.factoryinternational.org/xXjsiBVP7Q0_AkCkJ5dF1YcTofM=/900x600/filters:format(webp):quality(60)/https://publicydn4hdgozyjrg.blob.core.windows.net/public/dd/images/Lightroom_Lead2_Plain_1920x1080.9ba8e72.jpg)
![Three people stood in the David Hockney exhibition at Lightroom. His swimming pool paintings are shown on the screens.](https://thumbor.factoryinternational.org/48-qW1SPtaUrLyywnNXVIcXejW0=/adaptive-fit-in/800x1200/filters:format(webp):quality(60)/https://publicydn4hdgozyjrg.blob.core.windows.net/public/dd/images/Lightroom_Lead2_Plain_1080x1080.02212d4.jpg)
- Date
- 10 Dec 2024 -
25 Jan 2025 - Venue
- The North Warehouse, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
- Tickets
- Standard Tickets from £20
Affordable Tickets:
Concessions from £10
Aviva £10 Tickets
Children aged 2 and under FREE and do not require a ticket.
We sell tickets for show slots every 30 minutes.
A full loop of the show is 52 minutes long, but you are welcome to stay for longer. The show is designed to be watched from any point during the loop. If you’re booked in for the last slot of the day, you will be able to watch one full loop of the show only.
To book access tickets please call 0161 817 4531 (Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm) or email access@factoryinternational.org
We’re putting art in the heart of Manchester, within reach of everyone; and have affordable ticket options including £10 tickets on most shows for those who need them.
For information about Aviva £10 Tickets and concessions visit our Affordable Ticketing FAQs page.
Schools price of £10 per ticket is available to school groups of 10+. With every 10 student tickets purchased, the 11th ticket is free for a teacher. School group bookings are available Tuesday – Friday before 4pm (excluding between Monday 23 December 2024 and Sunday 5 January 2025).*
For more information or to book please contact groups@factoryinternational.org or call 0161 817 4531 (phone lines are open 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
*All subject to availability
Suitable for all ages - Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+. Babes in Arms - Children aged 2 and under do not require a ticket.
Accessibility features available for this event: Captioning Audio Description Relaxed Performance BSL Interpreting Wheelchair Access Sensory Adapted
Let David Hockney take you on a personal journey through sixty years of his art in this vibrant immersive exhibition
With huge state-of-the-art projections and a revolutionary sound system, Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) invites you to experience the world through David Hockney’s eyes.
After opening at Lightroom in London to rave reviews, this is the first time the show has travelled outside of the capital. Get an insight into the legendary artist’s process as you journey through six different chapters of his work, seeing the room around you light up and change.
Covering his work from LA to Yorkshire, and up to the present day in Normandy, the show is an incredible opportunity to get to know one of the great popular geniuses of the art world still experimenting with new technology to create beauty and wonder.
Hear from Hockney as you watch how he experiments with perspective, uses photography as a way of ‘drawing with a camera’, captures the passing of time in his polaroid collages and the joy of spring on his iPad – and shows us why only paint can properly convey the hugeness of the Grand Canyon.
With a specially composed score by Nico Muhly guiding your experience, enjoy the work of this legendary artist in a whole new light.
Photo: Lightroom David Hockney courtesy of the Artist
The world is very very beautiful if you look at it, but most people don’t look very much. They scan the ground in front of them so they can walk, they don’t really look at things incredibly well, with an intensity. I do.
David Hockney
Photos
![Silhouettes of people in front of a bright wall of paintings](https://thumbor.factoryinternational.org/XN2CyOHbZFyO-vwXxXX5EL3q3hM=/adaptive-fit-in/1600x0/filters:format(webp):quality(60)/https://publicydn4hdgozyjrg.blob.core.windows.net/public/dd/images/Lightroom_David_Hockney_courtesy_of_the_Artist.1c73d3f.png)
![People sitting on the floor of a room with paintings of a swimming pool water projected onto the walls and floor](https://thumbor.factoryinternational.org/sZn1qFPo5svyC-Glf2A4xKh-V8Q=/adaptive-fit-in/1600x0/filters:format(webp):quality(60)/https://publicydn4hdgozyjrg.blob.core.windows.net/public/dd/images/Lightroom_David_Hockney_Swimming_Pool_courtesy_of_the_Artist.2ea2df9.png)
Tickets
We have a range of affordable tickets, including options from £10 for those who may need them. You can find out more about our Affordable Ticketing Policy here.
Tickets prices for Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) may fluctuate depending on demand per entry slot. This allows us to price fairly across all times throughout the day, and helps us to manage venue capacity. Our Aviva £10 tickets will always stay at £10.
For ticketing and box office related enquiries, please contact tickets@factoryinternational.org or call 0333 322 8679 (phone lines are open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm).
For more information please visit Ticketing and Sale of Goods Terms & Conditions – Factory International
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Plunges you into the vision of our most popular living artist.
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Utterly beguiling… A breathtaking triumph.
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David Hockney does immersion his own way.
Credits
Created by
David Hockney & Lightroom
Designed by
59 Productions
Written & directed by
Mark Grimmer
David Hockney Studio
JP Gonçalves de Lima
Jonathan Wilkinson
David Hockney, Inc.
Rob Berg
Biaani Carrillo
James Comer
David Egan
Juan Carlos Elizondo
Julie Green
Shannan Kelly
Jonathan Mills
George Snyder
Greg Rose
Elise Wille
Original music composed by
Nico Muhly
Executive Producers
Richard Slaney
Nicholas Hytner
Nick Starr
Production Direction
Mark Grimmer
Video Designer
Nick Corrigan
Associate Video Designer
Felix Green
Associate Producer
Anna Jones
Designers
Dale Croft
Matt Taylor
Assistant Designers
Ash Kayser
Simran Phull
Lorna Pittaway
Animators
Lawrence Watson
Edd Stockton
Jarek Radecki
Emily Howells
Nick Corrigan
Felix Green
Music Editor
Philip Adams
Sound Designer
Gareth Fry
Lighting Designer
Ben Pearcy
Video Programmer
Liam Daly
Editors
Nick Corrigan
Felix Green
Assistant Editor
Kate Mogridge
Access information
Our full address is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ and the what3words is chop.feeds.chase.
You can approach Aviva Studios along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield). Both entrances to the building have double sets of glass doors.
We're a new purpose-built cultural space in the heart of Manchester. The approach to Aviva Studios is flat, with smooth concrete flooring.
The entrance to our building is through double glass doors. There are automatic doors at both entrances and these are also staffed when the building is open to the public.
Once inside, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. Lifts to the Warehouse are located through the glass doors beside the city entrance. Lift and escalator access to the Hall is located next to the river entrance, just beyond the brick arches.
You will first arrive into the Social, a large public space where there are a range of seats (including those with arms), a bar and toilets (including accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility).
The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points, and induction loops for hearing-aid users.
To book access tickets and personal assistant tickets please call 0161 817 4531 (Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm) or email access@factoryinternational.org
Access bookings can be made by email or phone. They are also available in person at Aviva Studios.
There are accessible toilets on all public levels of our building.
Accessible toilets are located inside the main toilets space in the brick arches of the Social.
Here you’ll find a mixture of accessible cubicles with left- or right-hand transfer, towards the back of the space, as well as ambulant accessible cubicles with grab rails, as well as a Changing Places facility.
The toilets in the brick arches of the Social are split into male, female and gender neutral – all of which contain accessible cubicles. There are shared handwashing facilities in each arch – they have soap dispensers under the mirrors to your left and dryers to the right. There are separate handwashing facilities inside the accessible cubicles.
There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in both Hall Foyers, at stalls and circle level.
There are additional single-room accessible toilets located in the Warehouse Foyer.
You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets at Aviva Studios.
Assistance dogs are welcome in our building, and we can provide mats and water bowls on request, just ask a host when you arrive. We can also take care of your assistance dog if you do not want to take your dog into the performance space. Please also refer to our assistance dogs policy.
If you are bringing an assistance dog to a ticketed event, please let us know in advance by contacting access@factoryinternational.org or calling our access phone number: 0161 817 4531 (phone lines are open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday).
There is step-free access to all areas of the venue, with lift access to the North Warehouse from the Social. The experience is step-free and there is access for wheelchair users throughout. The rooms have been designed with wide doorways and clear pathways.
The exhibition is suitable for all ages. Younger children need to be supervised in the space and we ask that parents are considerate of the experience for all our guests.
The exhibition contains one instance of nudity.
The show runs in a continuous loop, with no fixed beginning or end. One complete loop is around 50 minutes long. You can enter at any time, and are welcome to stay as long as you like, unless you are attending the final showing of the day.
Projection is used for the duration of the show and is on all four walls of the Warehouse, with occasional projection on the floor. There are bright lights and patterns used during some parts of the show. While the show contains no flashing images (in the 16-25Hz range) it does contain high contrast moving patterns.
Sound is constant during the show, and consists of both orchestral music and a recorded voiceover. The sound level does vary during the show, with some sections quieter or louder than others.
We have audio described showings on the following dates:
Wednesday 11 December 2024, 11am
Thursday 19 December 2024, 7.30pm
Tuesday 24 December 2024, 11.30am
Monday 30 December 2024, 3pm
Sunday 12 January 2025,7pm
Friday 17 January 2025, 10pm
Saturday 25 January 2025, 9.30pm
Open captions are built into the show and are visible at all times. The captions are located at the top of the projection.
British Sign Language (BSL) will be incorporated into some showings, with BSL interpreter Ramon Woolfe, as well as enhanced subtitles. We have BSL showings on the following dates:
Saturday 14 December 2024, 7.30pm
Sunday 22 December 2024, 8pm
Monday 23 December 2024, 3pm
Tuesday 31 December 2024, 10am
Friday 10 January 2025, 1.30pm
Wednesday 15 January 2025, 8.30pm
Thursday 23 January 2025, 5pm
The overall capacity of the Warehouse will be reduced for these showings. Attendees should feel comfortable to make noise, leave/enter and move around as they like. No changes will be made to the show itself.
We have reduced capacity showings on the following dates:
Friday 13 December 2024, 2pm
Thursday 2 January 2025, 7pm
Friday 24 January 2025, 11am
These showings are intended for those who might benefit from the show sound being quieter and the lighting more subtle. Changes will be made to the show and show space to make it more comfortable. The house lights will be turned on. The sound level of the show will be slightly reduced. The overall capacity of the Warehouse will be reduced.
We have relaxed showings on the following dates:
Travel information
The building can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).
The Water Street route is the quickest way to arrive at our City Square entrance.
Our closest stations are:
Salford Central station: 0.4 miles
Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram: 0.6 miles
St Peter’s Square tram: 0.6 miles
Manchester Victoria station is approximately one mile from Aviva Studios
Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 1.3 miles from Aviva Studios
Click on the links above to find detailed access information for each station.
By Bike
There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.
National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.
You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest docking stations to our venue are currently on Deansgate by Liverpool Road and (400m from the building) and by King Street (500m from the building). Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.
By Walking and Other Active Means
Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).
If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.
All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.
Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.
A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.
Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, and near to Aviva Studios along Deansgate, Bridge St and Quay St. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.
There is a car park approximately 0.6 miles from Aviva Studios at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.
There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.5 miles away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.
There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.
For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.
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