Einstein on the Beach
Become a member for priority booking- Date
- 29 May - 12 Jun 2027
- Venue
- The Warehouse, Aviva Studios, St John's, Manchester, M3 4JQ
- Tickets
- Standard*: £36.50, £56.50, £76.50, £96.50, £126.50
A booking fee applies to all tickets
Saturday 29 – Monday 31 May: 3pm
Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 June: 6pm
Saturday 5 June and Sunday 6 June: 3pm
Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and Friday 11 June: 6pm
Saturday 12 June: 3pm
All access tickets – including wheelchair user spaces, accessible viewing platform tickets and essential companion tickets – must be bought directly from Factory International.
To book access tickets online or register for free essential companion tickets, please sign up to our Access Scheme. We aim to process all applications within five working days.
If you need to book access tickets while your application is being processed, or would prefer to book your tickets by phone, please call up on 0161 817 4531. Phone lines are typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, but for our latest phone line opening hours, please visit our Contact Us page.
If you need to make an access booking but are unable to do so over the phone, please email access@factoryinternational.org. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days.
For more information, please visit How to Book Access Tickets.
With affordable ticketing options across all our own programme, we want to make sure there’s nothing stopping you from getting involved.
Our affordable ticket options include:
- Aviva £10 Tickets. For those on a low income who can’t afford a full-price or concession ticket, supported by Aviva*
- Concession tickets. Students, those on Universal Credit or Pension Credit and children can get up to 25% discount across all our own shows.
To sign up for our Aviva £10 Tickets scheme, click here. For information about concessions, visit our Affordable Ticketing page.
*Please note Aviva £10 Tickets operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are available from general on sale.
Recommended for ages 12+
Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+
Under 5s are not permitted at this event
Recommended for ages 12+. Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+. Under 5s are not permitted at this event.
Running time: Between 4 and 5 hours (no interval)
Accessibility features available for this event: Captioning Audio Description Wheelchair Access
Experience the gravitational pull of this iconic opera in a new production directed by Improbable’s Phelim McDermott and created for the present moment
“The distinction between past, present and future is… a stubbornly persistent illusion.” – Albert Einstein
Over a century ago, Albert Einstein changed how we see the universe through the power of human imagination, with his novel ideas on space, time and quantum physics. Fifty years ago, Philip Glass and Robert Wilson revolutionised opera with Einstein on the Beach, blowing open the possibilities of the genre by incorporating experimental music and theatre. Now, Einstein on the Beach is transformed again with a once-in-a-lifetime experiential staging presented by English National Opera and Factory International.
A collision of artforms – music and theatre, live art and light, sculpture and movement – Einstein on the Beach invites you to enter a 360-degree world where Einstein’s ideas and Glass’s music are felt all around you. Vast in scale, it encompasses a huge cast of vocalists, instrumentalists, actors and movement artists, including local performers from across Greater Manchester.
With this ambitious new staging, Phelim McDermott – acclaimed director and co-founder of Improbable – completes the Glass Portrait Trilogy. Having directed Satyagraha in 2026 and the Grammy and Olivier Award-winning production of Akhnaten in 2016 for English National Opera, he then collaborated with Philip Glass on the critically acclaimed MIF19 stage production Tao of Glass. Now, over 20 years since meeting Philip Glass, McDermott returns to the beginning, taking on the challenge of Glass’s epic first opera.
For Einstein on the Beach, McDermott is joined by designer Tom Pye, his collaborator on Akhnaten and the West End hit My Neighbour Totoro. Conducted by Brad Lubman, The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra return to Aviva Studios after their collaboration with ENO and Factory International on the genre-defying opera Angel’s Bone. With a powerhouse vocal ensemble – a collaboration between the Chorus of ENO and Kantos Chamber Choir – they bring Glass’s athletic, minimalist score to life.
Rarely performed at full-scale in its entirety, Einstein on the Beach is an experiment in human creativity – a testament to the power of ideas that change the world. Leave any preconceptions at the door and take a quantum leap of faith.
There will be a free Artist Talk in the Social taking place prior to the start of the performance on Sunday 30 May. Please check back for further information and details of how to book.
“Einstein on the Beach was of its time. Now, I wonder whether it is even more so. Half a century later, perhaps its time has truly come.”
Phelim McDermott, Director
Tickets
Factory International members on sale: Tuesday 13 October, 12pm
Amex Cardmembers presale: Friday 16 October, 10am
General tickets on sale: Tuesday 20 October, 10am
We have a range of affordable tickets, including concessions and Aviva £10 Tickets for those on a low income who can't afford a full-price or concession ticket. Sign up for Aviva £10 Tickets here. Find a full list of concessions here.
For ticketing and box office related enquiries, please contact tickets@factoryinternational.org or call 0333 322 8679 (phone lines are typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, but for our latest phone line opening hours, please visit our Contact Us page).
For more information please visit Ticketing and Sale of Goods Terms & Conditions – Factory International
Credits
Commissioned and Produced by English National Opera, Factory International, Park Avenue Armory and Improbable (in association with Scene and Heni Koenigsberg Productions LLC).
In partnership with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
Image credit: render – Jake Harris
Access information
Getting to Aviva Studios
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.
Inside Aviva Studios
Once inside Aviva Studios, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. The flooring throughout the building is smooth concrete.
The entrance to the Warehouse is by lift or stairs from the Social. Two lifts and a staircase to the Warehouse are located in the Social opposite the bar.
The entrance to the Andrew Law Hall is by lift, escalator or stairs from one side of the Social beside the brick arches. There is only one escalator, and this will take you up to the Andrew Law Hall before the show, and will be reversed so that you can travel down at the end of the performance.
The Social has a range of seating, including those with arms and backs.
The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.
Our building is large. We have portable stools available to borrow if you would benefit from resting along the way during your visit.
We have wheelchair spaces and seats at standing events for all events.
Toilets
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.
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.
Please note, our Changing Places facility is temporarily out of action. We are working to fix this and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Assistance dogs
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).
Tickets and booking
All access tickets – including wheelchair user spaces, accessible viewing platform tickets and essential companion tickets – must be bought directly from Factory International.
To book access tickets online or register for free essential companion tickets, please sign up to our Access Scheme. We aim to process all applications within five working days.
If you need to book access tickets while your application is being processed, or would prefer to book your tickets by phone, please call up on 0161 817 4531. Phone lines are typically open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, but for our latest phone line opening hours, please visit our Contact Us page.
If you need to make an access booking but are unable to do so over the phone, please email access@factoryinternational.org. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days.
For more information, please visit How to Book Access Tickets.
Step-free seating and wheelchair access
There is step-free access to all areas of the venue, with lift access to the Warehouse from the Social.
captioning
There will be captioned performances of Einstein on the Beach on the following dates:
Friday 11 June, 6pm
Saturday 12 June, 3pm
Captions will be visible from seating blocks 2, 5 and 6. Please ensure you book in these sections.
audio description
There will be audio-described performances of Einstein on the Beach on the following dates:
Tuesday 8 June, 6pm
Saturday 12 June, 3pm
Duration
The run time for Einstein on the Beach is between 4 and 5 hours.
Please note there is no interval. You are welcome to leave the Warehouse during the performance. Re-entry into the Warehouse will be facilitated throughout the performance.
Advice on content
We know that visitors appreciate detailed information on the content of our shows in order to make informed decisions and to prepare themselves or members of their party.
This page will be continuously updated as the show develops, and will be finalised on Sunday 30 May 2027.
If there are specific themes or technical effects not spoken to above that you are concerned about, please reach out to us by emailing access@factoryinternational.org or by giving us a call on 0161 817 4531.
Travel information
The building can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).
Train and tram
There are a number of rail and tram stations within the city centre which are just a short distance from Aviva Studios. The closest stations are:
- Salford Central rail station: 10-minute walk via Red Rose Way and Irwell Street.
- Deansgate rail station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop: 12-minute walk via Liverpool Road.
- St Peter’s Square tram stop: 15-minute walk via Quay Street.
- Manchester Oxford Road rail station: 25-minute walk via Oxford Street/Quay Street.
- Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria rail stations: Both stops have frequent trams operating to and from Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop.
By bike and active means
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 Starling Bike docking stations to our venue are on current on Quay Street, New Quay Street and Liverpool Road. 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.
Bus
Free bus
The free bus 1 service connects Piccadilly Station, Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, as well as other areas of the city centre to Aviva Studios.
The service stops on both Liverpool Road and Quay Street, close to the venue. Buses operate every 10 minutes during the day from Monday to Sunday and they are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus 1 route and timetable, please visit the Bee Network website.
Bee Network services
Piccadilly Gardens is situated in the heart of Manchester and there are a number of bus services that will take you on to Aviva Studios. The 33 bus which starts at Shudehill, calls at Piccadilly Gardens and will take you straight to Liverpool Road. Services operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every hour on Sunday.
Alternatively, you can board either a 35, 36 or 38 bus to Bridge Street bus stop which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.
Coming into Manchester Victoria rail station? Head on over to Shudehill Interchange (which is a seven-minute walk via Hanover Street) where you can catch the 33 bus to Liverpool Road.
Alternatively, you can board either an 8, 67 or 100 bus from Manchester Victoria to Bridge Street bus stop, which is a seven-minute walk via Left Bank and Water Street to the venue.
Car
There is a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.25 miles (400m) 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.
Become a Member
Experience extraordinary, all year round by becoming a Member. It’s just £5 a month for benefits including priority booking, discounts, offers and much more. Are you in?