Factory International

Es Devlin and Benji Reid in Conversation

Free to attend. No booking required.
Photograph of people looking at an installation that reads 'Continue the billion year dance'
Date
24 Oct 2023
Venue
The Social, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
Tickets
FREE, no ticket required
Free to attend. No booking required.

Running time: 2-3pm

Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access

Join artist and stage designer Es Devlin in conversation with fellow artist Benji Reid as they discuss the magic of making art

Artist and stage designer Es Devlin has crafted the world of our Matrix-inspired opening spectacle Free Your Mind. During the run of the show, everyone is invited to see the space she has designed in our daytime exhibition at Aviva Studios: An Atlas of Es Devlin.

To launch the exhibition, Es Devlin is joined by Benji Reid for a special in conversation discussing their creative processes.

Benji Reid’s show at the 2023 edition of Manchester International Festival, Find Your Eyes, invited audiences to watch him craft his photography in real time – blending theatre and dance with photography.

Together they'll delve into the process of making work and how making art can be presented as a work of art in itself – as well as discussing Devlin’s new book. Also titled An Atlas of Es Devlin, the book and accompanying LP bring together poetry and prose that have inspired the designer’s practice since 2016.

The talk is followed by a Q&A in which you'll get a chance to ask both artists about their practice.

Access information

Here you can find out about different access features and performances and advice on content. For more information about the different types of access performances we offer, please visit access performance information. If you have specific access needs that aren’t yet addressed, please email access@factoryinternational.org prior to the event and we’ll do our best to help.

The event takes place in The Social at Aviva Studios. The full address of the venue is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ and what3words ischop.feeds.chase.

Aviva Studios is a new purpose-built cultural space in the heart of Manchester. The entrance to our building is through double glass doors. There are automatic doors at both entrances.

Once inside, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. You will 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).

The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.

The Hall entrance is by lift, escalator or stairs from one side of the Social beside the brick arches.

Es Devlin and Benji Reid in Conversation starts at 2pm and runs until 3pm.

Accessible toilets are available at Aviva Studios.

There are toilets, including accessible toilets, in the brick arches at the back of the Social through the big silver doors.

The toilets are gender neutral which means you can use whichever arch entrance you want.

The accessible cubicles are in the same room as the standard cubicles. The accessible cubicles also have washbasins in them. The other handwashing facilities are shared by everyone.

If you need to bring an assistance dog to this event, please contact access@factoryinternational.org

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

All platforms at the Metrolink and railway stations have step-free access to the platforms. There is lift access from the street to the stations (accessible at the end of Deansgate on the corner with Whitworth St West). There is no tactile paving at Deansgate railway station, and level access to the Manchester platform is across the overbridge from the Metrolink station (this is to your right as you come out of the lift from the street).

Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, and near to Castlefield Bowl 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 the event entrance at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.

There are also 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.

For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.

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