Screen Manchester recently visited Aviva Studios. Last month we focused on the external spaces available to content creators surrounding this fabulous central Manchester Facility. We now step inside – where scale, flexibility and technical capability come together in a purpose-built environment designed for live entertainment, broadcast and large audiences.
Throughout this feature take a moment to check out the clips in which designers and directors have spoken about the unique flexible space at Aviva Studios:
Building Worlds: Design Behind The Scenes of Free Your Mind (Es Devlin)
Aviva Studios is an all-new, modern, purpose-built venue. Primarily designed to host ambitious cultural programming, the venue is equally equipped to deliver high-profile televised events, brand activations and large-scale productions.
The venue has already hosted major broadcast and live events, including Channel 4’s The Piano finale, MTV’s Build the Band finale, and streamed productions such as The Overlap—placing clients in strong company and demonstrating the scale and ambition of work delivered on site.
The Overlap in the Hall:
Aviva Studios offers a range of adaptable, multi-functional spaces that support every aspect of production. From VIP areas and dressing rooms (with private stage access) to after-party and production support spaces, the venue is designed to flex around creative and operational needs.
The site also enables full venue takeovers, allowing for closed and controlled environments—ideal for ensuring privacy, managing audiences, and delivering seamless large-scale events.
The Overlap backstage chill out zone:
Suffice it to say, Aviva Studios is a dynamic venue that can transform and flex to accommodate creative sets and high production set designs.
Building Worlds: Producing | Behind the Scenes of Free Your Mind | Factory International
Let’s take a look at each space now:
THE WAREHOUSE:
The Warehouse is a highly flexible performance space with a capacity of 4,500 (combined North and South Warehouse). A retractable wall allows the space to be reconfigured into separate North and South areas, while acoustic separation enables simultaneous use across the venue.
Designed with production in mind, the space includes direct articulated truck access, integrated rigging and anchor points, and a universal technical grid spanning the ceiling—making it ideal for large-scale sets, live broadcasts and immersive builds.
Build the Band, Netflix, 2025
THE ANDREW LAW HALL:
Complementing The Warehouse is The Andrew Law Hall, a versatile, high-spec auditorium with a capacity of up to 1,500. With access to a large screen and designed with broadcast in mind, it is equally suited to premieres, screenings and televised events.
The space has already hosted a range of high-profile productions—from the streamed recording of The Overlap, and Manchester Film Festival premieres to major broadcast moments including The Piano finale.
With tiered seating, flexible staging, and integrated AV, lighting and sound, the Hall offers a polished, audience-ready environment that can scale from intimate conversations to full production spectacle.
The Piano, The Final Concert, 2024
Manchester Film Festival 2026 (c) Karen Hewitt
Combined, these two spaces create a completely unique offering: a world class theatre environment supported by 2,096m² of adaptable warehouse space unlike anything else on the market. A supersized stage connects seamlessly into The Warehouse, enabling transformative event formats that can use the two spaces together perfect for hosting large audiences.
Building Worlds: Epic Set Design| BTS of Marina Abramovics Balkan Erotic Epic:
As a connected creative ecosystem the venue works closely with nearby partners including Versa Studios, which provides dedicated rehearsal, audition and production space—demonstrated by productions such as Build the Band, where rehearsals and auditions took place at Versa, with the live finale broadcast from Aviva Studios. The surrounding area offers a wealth of supporting infrastructure, including hospitality, restaurants, nightlife and VIP accommodation, while strong transport links ensure easy access for audiences and production teams alike. Combined with striking urban, industrial aesthetic, Aviva Studios offers a distinctive and highly practical location for content creators.
Aviva Studios offers a fully supported, end-to-end production environment. Broadcast and streaming are fully supported, alongside access to in-house expertise across stage, lighting and sound. Combined with professional teams spanning production, front of house and ticketing, the venue operates as a complete, integrated solution for event delivery.