The Royal Ballet and Factory International are collaborating on a new dance version of Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel A Single Man, for this year’s Manchester International Festival.
A Single Man is adapted by director and choreographer Jonathan Watkins, and will play at Aviva Studios in Manchester from 2 to 6 July 2025.
Christopher Isherwood’s portrait of queer love and loss is reimagined in this world premiere contemporary ballet, featuring original songs from singer-songwriter John Grant, and an original score by composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman.
In the story, George is grieving after the sudden death of his long-term partner Jim. He wonders if life is still worth living and spends his day looking for ways to connect with the people around him. But there is another George: one who loves life. Can he reconcile these two parts of himself? Will a chance encounter remind him of joy?
Acclaimed former Royal Ballet Principal Ed Watson will star as George representing his exterior life, while John Grant will perform as George with his internal monologue.
The creative team also features Music Director & Arranger Fiona Brice, costume designer Holly Waddington (Poor Things), set designer Chiara Stephenson (SZA, Lorde, Florence + the Machine, Björk), lighting designer Simisola Majekodunmi, Dramaturg Luke Pell, and Associate Costume Designer Eleanor Bull.
The Musicians are the Manchester Collective.
A Single Man was also adapted for the screen in an Oscar-nominated film by Tom Ford starring Colin Firth.
Manchester International Festival 2025 (MIF25) by Factory International runs from 3 to 20 July 2025. Other highlights include new work from Blackhaine, Eric Cantona, Edgar Davids, Juliet Ellis, FAFSWAG, Andy Field and Becky Darlington, Shilpa Gupta, Germaine Kruip, Juan Mata, Ntombizodwa Nyoni, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rosabel Tan, Santiago Yahuarcani and more.
Other shows coming up at Aviva Studios include Hamlet Hail to the Thief, that brings together Shakespeare’s tragedy and Radiohead’s seminal album Hail to the Thief, from Thom Yorke and the RSC.; and Sherlock Holmes A New Adventure, from Tony and Olivier Award-winner Rob Ashford and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Akram Khan.
What They Said
John Grant, composer and performer, said in a statement: “When Jonathan Watkins got in touch to ask me to write songs for a production of Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man, I was certainly intrigued. I had seen Tom Ford’s excellent film adaption of the book, but never read it myself. So I did just that and I have to say I was completely blown away and I still can’t believe it took more than 56 years to get to it. I don’t remember ever having had it recommended to me which puzzles me. After meeting with Jonathan and hearing him speak about his passion and vision for the project I knew I had to have a part in interpreting this masterpiece for the London Royal Ballet. It is truly an honour.”
Composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman said: “Jonathan Watkins’ artistic vision and approach in translating groundbreaking stories for dance and the stage are second to none. I was so excited when he approached me to score his adaptation of A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. It’s devastatingly witty, searing and tender, all at once. It’s an honour to breathe musical life into this seminal queer work on grief, love and being human. Shaping this ballet together, fusing my score with songs from the inimitable John Grant–I think we’ve created something incredibly special here. I can’t wait for the world to see and hear what the whole team has been dreaming up.”
Jonathan Watkins, Director and Choreographer, said: “This poetic novel is an inspiring and complex story of the human experience and what it means to be alive. It’s this and Isherwood’s approach to the relationship between mind and body that gives me the reasons to imagine it using dance narrative and song. Bringing the minds’ voice out in the production with the incredible singer-songwriter John Grant is a dream come true. To weave these new songs with the sound world of the brilliant composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman and work in collaboration with a highly talented group of dance artists and creatives to achieve this vision is truly an honour. I am passionate about Queer* stories being represented on the stage in this way and proud that the production is included in the wonderful creative activity that is Manchester International Festival.”
Manchester International Festival 2025 – Programme Highlights
Liberation
27 June – 26 July
Royal Exchange Theatre
Commissioned by the Royal Exchange Theatre. Produced by the Royal Exchange Theatre and Factory International.
A Single Man
2 – 6 July
Aviva Studios, Law Family Hall
A Royal Ballet and Factory International co-production. Based on the Christopher Isherwood novel.
More about A Single Man – Ballet
The HERDS
3-5 July
THE HERDS Greater Manchester is produced by The Walk Productions in partnership with Factory International. Greater Manchester events delivered in association with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, and Wigan Council. MIF25 Opening Event created in partnership with Manchester Camerata.
Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge
4 July – 4 Jan 2026
The Whitworth
A project by the Whitworth, The University of Manchester. Presented as part of Manchester International Festival 2025.
An Inheritance
4 July – 2 November
Manchester Art Gallery
Commissioned and produced by Factory International. Developed with year 5 pupils from schools across Greater Manchester.
FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE
10-12 July
HOME
Commissioned by HOME and Factory International. Produced by Factory International. SAUNIGA (cultural ceremony) was developed with support from Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne.
FAFSWAG exhibition
4 July -10 August
HOME
Commissioned by HOME and Factory International. Produced by Factory International. SAUNIGA (cultural ceremony) was developed with support from Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Shilpa Gupta
4-20 July
R-KIX Performance Centre, Rochdale
Commissioned and produced by Factory International. In partnership with Rochdale Development Agency.
Football City, Art United.
4 July – 24 August
North Warehouse, Aviva Studios
Commissioned by Factory International and TO Live. Produced by Factory International, Manchester.
Common Goal is a partner for Football City, Art United.
Venture Arts: Michael Beard
4-20 July
The Lab, Aviva Studios
Commissioned by Factory International and Venture Arts. Produced by Factory International.
Balmy Army x Balmy UKraine
8-10 July
Contact
A project by ‘the vacuum cleaner’ in partnership with Contact. Presented as part of Manchester International Festival 2025. Originally commissioned and produced by HOME and Factory International for Manchester International Festival 2023.
Sounds of the East
Bridgewater Hall
6 July
Presented by the Hallé in partnership with Factory International for Manchester International Festival 2025.
And Now I Know What Love
Diecast
9 – 19 July
Commissioned and produced by Factory International.
A Symphony of Flesh and Bones
10-13 July
South Warehouse at Aviva Studios
Commissioned and produced by Factory International.
A Possibility
17-20 July
Royal Northern College of Music
Commissioned and produced by Factory International.
Ruhaniyat (رُوحانیت) – An Orchestral Sufi Experience
10 July
Law Family Hall, Aviva Studios
Presented by Rushil Ranjan,co-founder of the Orchestral Qawwali Project, with Manchester Camerata in partnership with Factory International.
Mary Anne Hobbs & Anna Phoebe
15 July
South Warehouse, Aviva Studios
Presented by Mary Anne Hobbs & Anna Phoebe in partnership with Factory International.
Everything is Recorded
16 July
South Warehouse, Aviva Studios
Presented by Richard Russell, producer and founder of XL Recordings in partnership with Factory International.
Surround Sounds
19 July
South Warehouse, Aviva Studios
Presented by Sounds from the Other City in partnership with Factory International.
Factory Settings
3 July – 25 August
Aviva Studios
Commissioned and Produced by Factory International in partnership with Superflux.
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