Sometimes, blogging isn’t as straightforward as you might think: from time to time, you come across obvious subjects for blog entries, things you’re itching to write about, but you have no idea what to say about them. This morning on breakfast TV, I saw an item on this fascinating new stage production. The great Danny Boyle has directed a musical adaptation of The Matrix for the inauguration of a new theatre and cultural venue in Manchester. Called Free Your Mind, “The Matrix has been reimagined as a live show directed by Danny Boyle to officially open the UK’s biggest new cultural venue for years…This adaptation is the official launch show for the £240m Aviva Studios.”
Thus this story unites so much which interests me: one of my personal heroes; one of the greatest, most cerebral films of recent times; new arts venues; and the regeneration and cultural enrichment of North-West England. I’m obviously very keen to find out more, as well as to write about it here. The problem is, as enthusiastic as I am, there isn’t much I can say about it at this point. For instance, I find it intriguing that such a philosophical, thought provoking film, as well as one so reliant on CGI, could be adapted into a stage musical: How will it work, and how would it look? I’m also interested in the fact that Boyle, who is principally known as a film director, is now branching out into stage production. Of course he directed the London 2012 opening ceremony, but first and foremost he is synonymous with hard and heavy films like Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire. Thus this seems a complete change of direction for him.
However, at this point I don’t think I can comment much. I only got wind of this new production earlier today. As intrigued as I am, without having seen it, there isn’t much I feel I can say. Hence I think my next step must be to find out a bit more, as well as of course to try to get tickets to see it.
The Ill-Informed Ramblings of a Cripple 
Just stumbled across your comment while looking for reviews – Yeah, I think you’re absolutely right, surely we both have a common reaction which is not far from ‘This is either the best or worst idea for entertainment anyone ever’s had’. I was surprised to see there are still tickets for sale for most nights, suggesting it’s more niche than I thought…I’m going to see it with teenage sons next week (albeit a relaxed performance)… will try to remember to reply afterwards. One final thing – I’m not sure how ‘they’ made it hard to find online, but they did – you can find it, but my experience is that I need to have in my head all of ‘Aviva Studios’, ‘factory international’ and ‘free your mind’ in order to get it into the top three google hits… if you’re going to spend the GDP of a small town on buiding it, maybe spot google £150 to make yourself locatable. Anyways, looks like an interesting blog, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi again, went to see Free Your Mind… thought it was very entertaining, brilliant even. The choreography, the staging, skill of the dancers… As a fan of the movie, a couple of times (more in the second half) I realised I was grinning just at the spectacle. I would almost have gone to Manchester just to see it. There were plenty of moments I didn’t understand but didn’t care – eg when two shiny robots in bowler hats were dancing in shimmering slinky-like suits and I whispered to my kids ‘Isn’t it nice they invited Daft Punk’s parents on stage?’ which frankly should win me some kind of comedy prize, but didn’t so far. The brand new building is impressive although ruined by knowing how much it cost as you are mentally costing the rivets as you look around (The bar and lobby area is less impressive than the huge performance spaces – maybe simply needed a higher ceiling for the hang out areas, more like the Barbican).
There’s a difficult to miss weak theme in the second half which could undermine the experience a little – the dancing remains phenomenal throughout but the storyline tries to parallel our obsession with social media brands with being willingly trapped in the illusory world of The Matrix… so at one point a few logos are leaping artfully about (maybe, I think that was what was happening) and I can’t put it better than my teenager (‘It was like they’d let my grandparents decide how to get that message across” ” Ok, fair enough, how would you have done it then?” “Dunno”). I managed to enjoy all of that by simply not thinking about it too much. So yeah, I’d go, do some other stuff in the city too…All the best again…
LikeLiked by 1 person