Radcliffe’s Danny Boyle will be opening a cultural venue with an immersive production inspired by science fiction classic The Matrix set to be showcased there.

Radcliffe-born Boyle, known for his work on films such as Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, will be opening the hub, Factory International, in Manchester in June next year.

The venue will commission and present work from leading artists across the world.

The production, Free Your Mind, will provide a dramatic retelling of The Matrix through dance, music and visual effects.

Boyle, 65, said: “I’m delighted to be part of Factory International as a starting point for a kind of identity that this extraordinary new building is going to have.

“It’s a space that gives you an enormous amount of potential. It’s wildly ambitious in terms of its scale.

“In my lifetime, to see a new space like this open is hugely empowering, and I hope the new generation of artists feels that power.”

Bury Times: Matrix-inspired production Matrix-inspired production (Image: PA)

Free Your Mind will be accompanied by choreography from Kenrick "H2O" Sandy with the music score created by composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, who are the co-founders and artistic directors of the Olivier award-winning theatre company Boy Blue.

Large-scale sculptures by designer Es Devlin and the work of British-Egyptian writer Sabrina Mahfouz will also feature.

Set to run from October 18, 2023 to November 5, 2023, a cast of dancers and hundreds of Manchester participants will recreate some of The Matrix's most famous scenes.

Bury Times: New venue, The Factory New venue, The Factory (Image: PA)

Factory International will be programmed and operated by the Manchester International Festival.

Before the formal opening, the venue will be the centrepiece of their 2023 festival as it stages a show by renowned artist Yayoi Kusama in July and August 2023.

Created especially for Factory International, it is said to be the Japanese contemporary artist’s largest ever immersive environment, featuring works that are more than 10m tall including giant dolls, tendrilled landscapes and a constellation of polka-dot spheres.

Artistic director and chief executive of Factory International John McGrath, said: “We’re delighted to be able to share our opening plans for Factory International.

“At every stage in imagining and building this extraordinary space we have focussed on creating new possibilities – for artists to let their imaginations fly, for citizens of Manchester and the world to meet and dream, and for people of all ages and backgrounds to build skills and gain experience.

“Factory International is truly a place where we can invent tomorrow together.”

Arts Minister Stuart Andrew added: “Thanks to almost £100m of government funding, Factory International will further increase access to world-class arts and culture in Manchester when it opens its doors for the first time in summer 2023.

“This represents a great example of the government’s commitment to distribute arts funding right across the country.

“It is fantastic to see such an exciting programme of events being put together for its opening and I look forward to seeing the positive impact the venue has on the city.”

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