After almost two weeks at Manchester International Festival, after so many dishes, after every requirement that been asked of us, and after the enormous amount of effort the team and I have put into the event (which I don’t mind!), I finally managed to see a couple of events at the festival. It’s good to feel the real heart of the festival, which of course is the shows.
I was fortunate enough to be in the front row of Macbeth last night to watch Kenneth Branagh and a whole host of wonderful actors and actresses. The venue is spectacular and the whole play takes place in four inches of mud!
I was in such close proximity to the play that I almost felt like I was part of the action. And the evidence was clear to see with my blood and mud-splattered shirt when the final bow was taken. What a wonderful, extraordinary and powerful piece of theatre – considerably more interesting than any West End play I’ve seen. No wonder the tickets are in such demand.
My wife and I had started the evening with some casual dinner on Festival Square – Rice Krispy fish fingers with tomatoes, brown rice and green mayonnaise, and Grilled Bream, summer couscous, pepper and tomato sauce were just a couple of the specials on our menu.
A pint of Thwaites Wainwright after the show finished the night off. Another early start this morning – an 8 o’clock breakfast for 60 that brought me back to reality. Soft brioche buns with our homemade sausages, tomato and chargrilled mushroom finished with Heathcote’s brown sauce – just the start of Festival Square today.
You can see a full guide for upcoming events at Manchester International Festival here.
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-Paul
