‘Ever have that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?'

In 1999, we were offered a simple choice: red pill or blue pill? Blissful ignorance in a simulated world or a chance to jump down the rabbit hole into the unknown. The Matrix made us question reality. What is human after all? Who’s really in control?

Nearly 25 years later and we’re no closer to an answer – with big tech, social media and the advance of AI impacting our lives in a million different ways. It’s from this ever-shifting landscape that Free Your Mind was born.

Specially created to celebrate the opening of our new venue, Free Your Mind was a journey into The Matrix through dance and immersive design. As our official opening show, this never-seen-before production stretched across the building’s ultra-flexible spaces. 

Tapping into the collective energy of the moment, it depicts a world where humans are enslaved by algorithms – asking can we break free? And do we even want to?

Free Your Mind was brought to life by a dream team of creative forces who've had their hand in some of the most iconic cultural moments either side of the millennium (we’re talking the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony for starters).

Directed by Manchester’s own Danny Boyle, it featured hip hop choreography by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, a powerful score from composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante (co-founders of Boy Blue), eye-opening staging from world-leading designer Es Devlin, alongside words from acclaimed writer Sabrina Mahfouz and costumes by iconic fashion designer Gareth Pugh.