Manipulate Festival is curated by our in-house team, working with freelance artists as associate programmers. We attend work locally, nationally and internationally to make a selection of the highest quality work to share with our audiences each year.
As a curated festival, there is no formal application or selection process for artists to apply to. However, we are always delighted to hear from artists who have a new project to bring to our attention or want to build a relationship with us. The focus of the festival is primarily work for adults, and work will only be considered if it features puppetry, visual theatre (including object theatre, dance theatre and circus) or animation in a significant way. Many of the works that we present are driven forward more by visuals than by text.
To find out how to share your projects with us or invite us to see work, how we make decisions about programming, and the timeline of decision-making, please visit our dedicated artists’ page about presenting your work across our programme.
“In a culture that can associate theatre with text, visual and physical theatre companies like Shotput are often told that we’re outsiders – that we need to compromise or dumb down or just ‘behave’. Well, presenting ‘Ferguson and Barton’ at Manipulate, we found our home. An audience and a festival that is ready to challenge the form, bust boundaries, spark conversations, and celebrate the work that so many great artists are doing in Scotland and around the world.” Jim Manganello, Ferguson & Barton 2023
“Being part of the festival selection was a fantastic experience that helped me raise my profile as a director and animator and build an audience as well as being able to network with fellow artists. I’m very grateful to Manipulate Arts for supporting my progression as a director & animator and opening all these doors for me.” Ana Songel, I Miss Hugs 2023
“Manipulate is a magical, offbeat festival of high calibre theatre, which nurtures and celebrates the imagination of artists and audiences alike. As an emerging visual theatre-maker, I’ve found this festival and its organisers embracing and supportive of my work.” Sarah Cosgrove, Today I Bake 2021
