Made in China. Sold in Britain. Worn by you. From the factory floor to the catwalk, fresh from a sell-out run at the Young Vic, World Factory weaves together stories of people connected by the global textile industry.
Riffing on our awareness of mass production and vulture capitalism, you are invited to take your seat and play a provocative game – where you and your six team-mates run a clothing factory in China. Which card will you draw? Will you be an ethical factory owner or will profits always come first? In the rag trade, can anyone ever really win?
Featuring stunning video and a powerful score, the show gives you a first-hand experience of the sharp end of fast fashion. World Factory is being shown in Manchester for the first time – in the city that is defined as the powerhouse behind Britain’s own historic textile history.
“An incredibly well researched and intelligent look at the reality of the global garment industry… Great fun, intelligent and a real eye opener.” – Quiet Man Dave
“World Factory [places] theatregoers at the heart of a production process that they generally elect to ignore… We don’t just see the ethical conundrums faced by factory owners; we experience them.” – Exeunt
★★★★ “A breakneck, thought-provoking piece… It’s sociable, exhaustingly good fun.” – The Guardian
★★★★ “Innovative, thought-provoking and richly absorbing.” – London Evening Standard
★★★★ “Fun and engaging.” – The Independent
★★★★ “One of the guiltiest pleasures going.” – What’s On Stage
“Lively, ambitious and highly entertaining” – The Times
“A stunningly presented experience… Brilliantly intricate.” – Time Out
“A sharp, ingenious and subtly disturbing piece of political theatre.” – Financial Times
“This show leaves a powerful impression.” Quiet Man Dave
★★★★ “Ingenious… It’s an ambitious, provocative and intricate piece of game-making, evading easy answers and polemic while succeeding in making us think – and think hard – about the cost of our clothing.” – The Stage
The tour of World Factory is produced by Artsadmin and supported by Arts Council England. World Factory was originally made as a co-production with the Young Vic, New Wolsey Theatre and Company of Angels.