Taking over a disused office block in the centre of Manchester, this collaboration between film-maker Adam Curtis and Punchdrunk’s Artistic Director Felix Barrett was the hot ticket of MIF09. It Felt Like a Kiss was a daring, involving and emotionally resonant production centred on America’s rise to power in the 1960s – a genuine cross-breeding of theatre, film and twisted fairground ride set to a fantastic ’60s soundtrack, with visceral original music written by Damon Albarn and recorded by Kronos Quartet. The daily queues for returns were testament to its popularity– and the stunned expressions on the faces of the steady stream of participants who emerged out into Spinningfields were testament to its power and success.

‘I have never seen a more ambitious, elaborate example of site-specific work’ The Times

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival and the BBC. Produced by Manchester International Festival and Punchdrunk.