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 Warehouse from the Social, and lift and escalator access to the Hall from the Social. The escalator leading to the Hall foyers usually works in the direction of audience flow, so it will take you up before the performance, and the same escalator will bring you down at the interval or at the end of the show.

We’re developing BSL-interpretation for Sweet Dreams. More details on how to book a BSL slot will be released in Spring 2024 – thanks for your patience as we work on this provision in line with the show developing. If you have any queries in the meantime, drop us a line on access@factoryinternational.org

We’re developing audio description for Sweet Dreams. More details on how to book an audio-described slot will be released in Spring 2024 – thanks for your patience as we work on this provision in line with the show developing. If you have any queries in the meantime, drop us a line on access@factoryinternational.org.

There are relaxed presentations of Sweet Dreams on the following dates:

Wednesday 14 August at 10.20am

Tuesday 20 August at 10.20am

Friday 23 August at 6pm

Sunday 25 August at 6pm

The production is in the early stages of its development. At this point we can confirm that a relaxed session will feature the following adjustments:

Space

We’ve scheduled these sessions at a reduced capacity so that you’ll have plenty of space to move around without feeling too crowded.

There are no sessions scheduled directly before and after this group’s entry into the space so that you have exclusive use of the space and don’t feel rushed.

You are welcome to move about and make noise if you need to.

Our Front of House team will be on hand to guide anyone who wishes to leave the experience at any point via the nearest exit.

Lighting

Overall lighting through the experience will be a little brighter than usual to help you navigate your way through the space with ease.

There will be no flashing lights or strobe.

Sound

Overall sound volume is reduced throughout.

There will no sudden or very loud noises.

We will have ear defenders or ear plugs available to use if required.

We’ll continue to update this information as the production develops with more specific information. There will be an announcement about these things before the session starts, so that everyone knows what to expect.

All presentations from Fri 19 July 2024 onward are captioned.