Site-specific immersive theatre / Audio drama • Manchester • 3 weeks
Pre-production
1 week
Production
1 week
Post-production
1 week
Published
Launch on a Friday evening for weekend exploration
This project transforms Manchester's iconic Northern Quarter into an open-air theatre. Participants download an audio guide that leads them on a curated walk, where they listen to a series of short, powerful monologues performed by local theatre actors. Each monologue is voiced by the 'ghost' of a historical or fictional character tied to a specific location—a Victorian mill worker outside a converted warehouse, a 90s raver in a hidden alley, a post-war immigrant by the curry mile's edge. The experience blends fact with folklore, exploring themes of industrial change, cultural shifts, and personal memory that define Manchester's spirit. What makes it unique is its hybrid nature: it's a performing arts piece that lives on a digital platform, making theatre accessible and COVID-resilient. It leverages the trend of immersive, location-based storytelling and digital archiving. The project will be promoted as a free cultural offering, encouraging locals and tourists to engage with the city's history in a new, intimate way. A companion illustrated map, highlighting the stops and featuring portraits of the 'ghosts', will be available as a digital and limited physical artifact.
This project transforms Manchester's iconic Northern Quarter into an open-air theatre. Participants download an audio guide that leads them on a curated walk, where they listen to a series of short, powerful monologues performed by local theatre actors. Each monologue is voiced by the 'ghost' of a historical or fictional character tied to a specific location—a Victorian mill worker outside a converted warehouse, a 90s raver in a hidden alley, a post-war immigrant by the curry mile's edge. The experience blends fact with folklore, exploring themes of industrial change, cultural shifts, and personal memory that define Manchester's spirit. What makes it unique is its hybrid nature: it's a performing arts piece that lives on a digital platform, making theatre accessible and COVID-resilient. It leverages the trend of immersive, location-based storytelling and digital archiving. The project will be promoted as a free cultural offering, encouraging locals and tourists to engage with the city's history in a new, intimate way. A companion illustrated map, highlighting the stops and featuring portraits of the 'ghosts', will be available as a digital and limited physical artifact.
5 roles still open