This July, acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Juliet Ellis unveils a deeply personal and visually rich new work at Aviva Studios as part of Manchester International Festival 2025. Titled A Symphony of Flesh and Bones, the hybrid film and live performance installation runs from 10–13 July, offering a powerful meditation on the body, identity, memory, and change.
Taking place in the venue’s South Warehouse, Ellis’s work draws inspiration from her own life—most notably, the physical legacies of her father, a former world champion bodybuilder, and her brother, a retired cage fighter. Through a blend of filmed imagery and live stage presence, Ellis explores how identity is both physically shaped and spiritually transformed over time.
Performed in-the-round, the piece surrounds audiences with shifting visuals and layered sound, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. At its core is a search for meaning in impermanence—an idea grounded in Ellis’s Buddhist practice. The installation asks intimate questions: How do we carry history in our bodies? What happens to the self when the body changes?
Ellis, a UK/US artist known for emotionally charged storytelling through film, theatre, and performance, gained international recognition with her debut feature Ruby, which earned awards at the Berlin Independent Film Festival and the Austin Arthouse Film Festival. A Symphony of Flesh and Bones builds on her commitment to telling stories that are both personal and universally resonant.
The installation is co-commissioned by Factory International and the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York, marking a transatlantic collaboration that centres Black, female and body-led narratives.
Inclusive by design, the event features accessible performances: a BSL-interpreted matinee and a captioned evening show, both on 12 July. Ticket prices range from £10 to £24, with concessions and affordable options available.
Event Details
📍 Venue: Aviva Studios, South Warehouse, Manchester
🗓️ Dates: 10–13 July 2025
🕒 Performance Times:
– 10–11 July: 7:30pm
– 12 July: 2:00pm (BSL) & 7:30pm (captioned)
– 13 July: 2:00pm
🎟️ Ticket Range: £10–£24 (plus small booking fee)
♿ Access: Step-free access, BSL interpretation, captions, and free companion tickets available
