THE MACHINE, MACBETH and More Set for Manchester International Festival, July 2013

The theatre programme for the Manchester International Festival 2013 has been announced.

MIF13 commissions include:

The Machine
The Old Woman
Macbeth
The Masque of Anarchy
The Rite of Spring

More in-depth details follow!

THE MACHINE

Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Josie Rourke, will direct the world premiere of award-winning writer Matt Charman's new work: The Machine. This new play is based on Grandmaster Garry Kasparov's headline-grabbing 1997 New York chess tournament against Deep Blue, a super-computer developed by technology giant IBM.

An international celebrity and the undisputed master of his game, Kasparov came to America for freedom and glory. What he didn't expect to confront was the lifelong dedication of another man, Deep Blue's wunderkind inventor Doctor Hsu. Both geniuses, they staked their reputations on the tournament.

Josie Rourke, Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse said: "It means such a lot for me to be coming home as Artistic Director of the Donmar working with these great partners on such an exceptional new play. It's always been a source of sadness that I've never had work on in the North West - the last time I worked in the city was as a temp in a Chartered Surveyors' office overlooking Albert Square. It's therefore particularly joyful to be directing Matt Charman's exceptional and thrilling play in Upper Campfield, as part of the superlative Manchester International Festival, and to be taking the Donmar back to New York in this partnership with the Armory."

Alex Poots, Artistic Director, said: "On behalf of both Manchester International Festival and The Armory in New York I am delighted that we will be working with Josie Rourke and her team from the Donmar to bring Matt Charman's exceptional play to life this summer. Both spaces in Manchester and New York will lend a fantastic sense of scale to this story of man against machine."

The Machine is commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival, Donmar Warehouse and Park Avenue Armory.

Creative Team:

Josie Rourke Director
Matt Charman Writer

Listings:

THE MACHINE
CAMPFIELD MARKET HALL, CAMPFIELD AVENUE ARCADE,
MANCHESTER, M3 4FH
10 - 11 July at 7.30pm (previews)
12 - 13 July (7.30pm), 16 - 21 July (7.30pm).

Additional matinee performances 13, 14, 20 & 21 July (2.30pm).

Tickets £35, £25 (no per ticket booking fee; transaction fee applies)
Concessions available
Box Office: www.mif.co.uk | 0844 375 2013

£12 tickets for Greater Manchester residents on a lower wage, available on a first come first served honesty basis

Josie is the Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, London where she directed Berenice, The Physicists and The Recruiting Officer in 2012. Later this year, she will direct The Weir.

Josie was born and educated in Salford, at St Patrick's High School in Winton and Eccles College of Further Education. She read English at Cambridge University and then trained under Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse on the annual Resident Assistant Director scheme, which runs to this day. Following this, Josie became trainee Associate Director at The Royal Court Theatre before taking up the role of Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres where she directed five productions, including World Music, which transferred to the Donmar Warehouse, Kick for Touch and The Long and The Short and The Tall.

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