Five Reasons To See … Afflecks Theatre Festival

With the Manchester Theatre Awards announced this week, the spotlight has been placed firmly on the city’s thriving theatre scene. A smaller but perfectly formed festival highlights the talent and diversity of the productions within the region and it’s coming soon. We caught up with the organisers of the Afflecks Theatre Festival to find out more and find out five reasons why you should go along.

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1. It’s the first festival for the iconic Afflecks in its very own theatre
The festival has been designed to support Greater Manchester’s musicians, actors and all other performers or artists. It’s an opportunity to use this space as a shop window to market themselves. It’s also a great venue for the residents of Northern Quarter. They have no worries about transport. A train or tram can get them to the theatre in no time.

2. 3MT Venue is the first Northern Quarter purpose built theatre
There’s a sense of bewilderment when people find the Three Minute Theatre and find it in what was once a shop. We are happy for this to happen. We wanted the theatre’s audience to grow organically but it’s now time to tell everyone there’s a boutique theatre in an iconic building and it’s theirs! Use it, don’t lose it! We’re an independent business with no funding support. We are looking for a sponsor, though.
 
3. The famous venues in the Northern Quarter are coming together in this festival
Close collaboration is key to success for small businesses. Nexus Art Cafe, Matt & Phreds, Dirtyworks, Frog and Bucket, Gullivers and Lomography are the venues working with us on this festival. Let’s hope there’s more next year
 
4. The talent of Manchester have come out in force in music, theatre, poetry, art, dance and film
We are the happiest theatre owners on this planet. The family of musicians, poets, Urban Artists, actors, puppeteers, filmmakers, magicians…when does this list end? It doesn’t, they are still finding us and it’s a great artistic family growing in what is also becoming a laboratory for them.
 
5. It won’t be the last festival. It’s the first of many to come
This year’s festival is the first of many. But this of course depends on the continued support we get from the people who have supported us so far. CityCo, Yelp, Afflecks and now Piccadilly Partnerships are and have been supporting the Northern Quarter. And of course, the public who come out and enjoy the plays, concerts and other events we put on. Without them, there’d be no theatre or festival.

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The Afflecks Theatre Festival runs from 1st – 15 April

Check out their facebook page and website for further information.