Theatre director goes on 'axe rampage' in Manchester

Douglas Gordon, a Turner Prize-winning artist, has reportedly damaged a multi-million pound new venue after his show at the Manchester International Festival received poor reviews.

According to the Manchester Evening News Gordon went on an "axe rampage" around Home, where his play Neck of the Woods premiered on Friday.

He "launched the axe attack on the walls" of the £25 million venue, which opened earlier this year, as well as scrawling signed graffiti.

The axe he wielded was apparently a prop from the show, which is based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

Gordon, who won the Turner Prize in 1996, has been asked to pay for repairs for the damage, which was incurred on Saturday night (11 July).

Alex Poots, the outgoing artistic director of Manchester International Festival, said: "We understand that one of our artists acted in a wholly inappropriate way after the opening of Neck Of The Woods, causing slight damage to the fabric of Home's new building.

"This is totally unacceptable and the artist involved will be paying for repairs. MIF and the artist have contacted staff who were present and our co-commissioning partners at Home to apologise.

"MIF is an artist-led festival – we support artists to make ambitious new work. We do not support or condone reckless, inappropriate or intimidating behaviour and will work with our co-commissioning partners and artistic and producing teams to ensure that this doesn't happen again."