Factory International presents three nights of runway performances showcasing the city’s underground clubland and nu-wave cabaret scene curated by the acclaimed director and choreographer Darren Pritchard and long-time collaborator Rikki Beadle-Blair.
House of MCR (20 – 22 June) is an exuberant celebration of Manchester’s QTIPOC (Queer, Trans and/or Intersex Person of Colour) community, taking elements from international underground subcultures and bringing them to a giant runway stage in the huge Warehouse space at Manchester’s Aviva Studios.
Hosted by the renowned performer, director and activist Rikki Beadle-Blair, 27 QTIPOC performers from Manchester’s nightlife scene will take to the stage each night, competing in six categories: We Dress, We Sing, We Dance, We Strip, We Lip Sync and We Are Family. For the final category, performers will be joined on stage by members of their chosen or biological family as a closing expression of unity, love and solidarity. No night the same, the audience will decide who comes out on top.
Created by Darren Pritchard and Rikki Beadle-Blair, House of MCR is a joyful space for everyone where audiences will be dazzled by sequins and death-drops whilst also learning about the history and politics of a culture created by and for marginalised people brought in recent years to the mainstream.
The performer’s outfits have been created with support from students from the Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University under the tutelage of award-winning designer Gavin Douglas.
Each two-hour performance at Aviva Studios will be followed by an afterparty hosted by local legends, Ghetto Fabulous, Club Zindagi and Swagga.
Darren Pritchard said: “House of MCR will be a spectacular celebration of Joy. Nothing like this has been produced on this scale for the communities I am working with. We are aiming for the audience to have the night of their lives.”
Rikki Beadle-Blair said: “The mission is simple – to bring together all races, genders and sexualities and give them the night of their lives. Dressed up or dressed down – The House of MCR is a gorgeous wild safe space where everyone belongs. Even you. …Especially you.”
Listing
South Warehouse, Aviva Studios, M3 4JQ
20-22 June 7:30pm
Seated and standing tickets available from £10
https://factoryinternational.
