Manchester International Festival unveiled its full programme for 2015 (Thursday 2nd – Sunday 19th July) yesterday at the Old Granada Studio, a fitting location for a festival that searches out unique and previously unused venues to showcase its world premieres of equally unique works. Having already announced a number of big shows, including wonder.land, The Tale of Mr Tumble, and Tree of Codes, it was with great anticipation we waited to hear the full festival programme, and like previous years we were not disappointed. The programme covers an impressively original selection of contemporary and classical music, ground-breaking theatre, street dance and comedy (for full details see here).

Looking through the festival programme it was difficult to decide what I am most excited about, at the turn of each page my excitement for the whole event increased. With such a diverse programme there is something for everyone, but some of the more notable events that stand out for me are FKA twigs film making residency, FlexN Manchester, Arca & Jesse Kanda and The Skriker.

FKA twiggs, UK singer-songwriter, producer and dancer will be in residence at the Old Granada Studio. Over the seven days of the residency FKA twigs will make seven short films. Audiences in small groups will be able to experience the creative process by entering the studio each day to encounter and observe the works being created. The first cut of these films will be screened exclusively to Festival audiences. This event is free.

flex

Brooklyn-based Flex dance pioneer Reggie 'Roe' Gray and a specially assembled team of Flex dancers will make a series of trips to Manchester seeking out like-minded Manchester dancers and crews to work on a very special performance for MIF 15. Virtuosic and visually arresting, Flexing features an extraordinary range of styles – pausing, gliding, hat tricks, connecting , bone-breaking and get low. FlexN began with a group of young dancers who appeared on a local cable TV show called FlexN Brooklyn, showcasing their skill and creativity to gain respect on the local streets, telling their stories through their own unique dance style.

Flex: Manchester will be at the Old Granada Studios the 11th & 12th July. Tickets are £12/Concessions £5 off.

Arca, one of the most innovative and inspired musical voices of his generation will be at MIF for a very special show at Halle St Peters on 4th July. Working with long-term collaborator, visual artist Jesse Kandra, this show will see Arca building on his handful of live appearances to-date to create something that reflects the all encompassing artistic vision expressed in his recorded work. Tickets are £20/Concession £5 off.

The remarkable team behind MIF13's Masque of Anarchy return to present The Skriker. This landmark revival of Caryl Churchill's extraordinary collision of ancient fairy tale and portrait of a fractured England will star Maxine Peake in the title role directed by Sarah Frankcom and will feature specially commissioned music by Nico Muhly and Antony (Antony and The Johnsons).

In a broken world, two sisters meet an extraordinary creature. The Skriker is a shape shifter; an old woman, a child, a death potent. She is a faire came from the Underworld to pursue and entrap them, through time and space, through this world and her own.

The Skriker will be on at The Royal Exchange Theatre, 1st to 18th July, performance times vary, please see MIF website for full details. Tickets from £15 to £45/Concessions available.

Tickets go on sale to general public at 1pm, Friday 6th March.

Charlie Greenwood