FLARE15’s six day programme of new, radical theatre from across the UK, Europe and Australasia is set to occupy theatres and art spaces across Manchester from 13 July to 18 July. Featuring a total of 22 performances from 10 different countries, narrowed down from nearly 300 applications, the programme presents a bold vision of tomorrow’s theatre from Artistic Director of FLARE, Neil Mackenzie.

The festival is proud to present 10 UK premieres, with works from Australia, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Georgia, Netherlands, Slovenia and Poland.  FLARE15 marks the first Manchester appearance for all but one of the performances.

For the launch of the festival, critically-acclaimed theatre company, Sleepwalk Collective reprise their ground-breaking performance ‘The Sirens, The Sirens…’, which first appeared at FLARE in 2011, as well as presenting their brand new piece, Actress later in the week.  The festival also sees performances from up-and-coming UK artists including Figs In Wigs, Jamal Harwood, Hannah Sullivan, Thomas Martin, and Rachael Clerke. New works-in-progress come from Tim Crouch-collaborator, Andy Smith and Leentje Van De Cruys.

These UK-based artists are presented alongside some of the most exciting names working in Europe and Australasia today, presenting audiences in the North of England with a rare opportunity to sample international work in an exciting and diverse programme.

Artistic Director, Neil Mackenzie writes, “It’s been a pleasure to see the sheer breadth of vision in the proposals we received. Whittling it down to just 23 performances has been a challenge, but we’ve selected what we consider the very best works. These are shows that challenge the conventions of theatre and encourage audiences to reflect on the very act of being an audience today. If you love theatre and are open to new experiences, FLARE15 will certainly have something for you.”

The Flare International Festival of New Theatre is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and by Manchester Metropolitan University, Contact Theatre, Z-arts, Royal Exchange Theatre and the University of Manchester.


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In Interview: Amy-Jane Ollies, Artistic Director of the 1956 Theatre
Contact image courtesy of Joel Chester Fildes