Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Manchester’s much anticipated new arts and cultural hub and the home of Factory International, Aviva Studios, officially opened in iconic style last night with the world premiere of Free Your Mind, a jaw-dropping semi-immersive piece of performance theatre, based on the 1999 sci-fi classic, The Matrix.

Featuring 50 professional dancers, as well as a world class creative team, this bold and brilliant reimagining takes place throughout the purpose-built facility with performances commencing from the very moment you walk through the doors into the expansive foyer.

Director Danny Boyle, teamed with choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, costume designer Gareth Pugh and writer Sabrina Mahfouz have created something truly unique and utterly breathtaking. The addition of Es Devlin’s jaw-dropping set design really takes this already inspiring piece to the next level, the likes of which I’ve never seen before.

This fresh perspective on the iconic 90’s movie offers a thought-provoking take on the rise on artificial intelligence and its infiltration into life as we know it. Opening with an intricately choreographed piece featuring Alan Turing (portrayed by Ian Harris) words of warning are shared about algorithms and ultimately our increased reliance upon them as malfunctions soon begin to appropriate the performers. From here we explore the modern world not just though the eyes of Neo (Corey Owens) but also from the viewpoint of a technology consumers, all of course with a Manchester twist.

Part one is both visually and artistically stunning setting us up brilliantly for the sheer spectacle that is part two as we move from the studio’s sumptuous theatre into a sprawling warehouse space, brilliant in both scale and style. The anticipation of what is to come fizzing through the audience as we wait for the next instalment.

A rapid history of Manchester plays out to the sounds of New Order’s Iconic Blue Monday as we whizz through reminders of the cotton merchants, Joy Division gigs, the cobbles of Coronation Street and the late great Tony Wilson.

Big tech are ingeniously represented as we see life imitating art when dancers move through the space transfixed by their phones while many of the audience busy filming the action suddenly see themselves represented on the central catwalk. There’s a stark reminder of the increasing control the tech giants have over our lives as they parade in front of us demanding complete and total attention. The precision of the performers is sublime as they march to the beat of AI, while choreographer Kenrick “H2O” Sandy’s portrayal of Morpheus is both fluid and majestic.

While we’re pushed to reflect on our own relationships with technology we’re reminded that the control still lies on our own hands with the opportunity to ‘free our minds’ still within reach.

This vivid spectacle will well and truly ensure Aviva Studios, the permanent home of Factory International is firmly placed on the cultural map. With its endless creative possibilities highlighted spectacularly in this ground-breaking opening show this really does feel like a landmark moment in Manchester’s cultural history.

Free Your Mind is on at Factory International, Aviva Studios until Sunday 5^th November. Tickets available here.