When you talk about 'The Swimmer' will you talk about yourself?, Antoine Fraval, Martin Harris Theatre, Manchester.

Fifteen words on each show from Thursday nights triple bill at the Flare Festival, in no order of heirarchy.

Flare Festival Opening, Contact, Manchester.

The Circulation Game, Ashley Williams, Martin Harris Theatre, Flare Festival, Manchester.

Whoaaa Steady! Leentje Van de Cruys/University of Salford, Martin Harris Theatre, Flare Festival, Manchester.

Photo Credit: www.twinkleglitter.com

Duckie, Border Force, Brighton Dome, Pride 2015.

Have you ever experienced that unnerving intimacy that occurs at passport control?

They gaze into your eyes, their focus only on you, they want to know everything about you, they smile, you smile, then they hand you back your passport and tell you to move on. You leave blushing, whispering to yourself something about uniforms and jet lag and head straight to the bathroom to splash your face with cold water.

Maybe.

Flare Festival 2015: When was the last time you saw theatre that really challenged you?

Dave St-Pierre Company at Sadler's Wells in 2011 proved challenging for critics. Photo by Alistair Muir. 

When was the last time you saw theatre that really challenged you? 

Hold up. Back up, back up. I'll start again. 

When was the last time you saw some theatre? 

I don't want to assume that you go the theatre. Experience has taught me that would be foolish. 

Where the world is going, that's where we are going, Hof Van Eede, Royal Exchange Studios, Flare Festival, Manchester.

Theatre directors and designers: 10 Tips for better collaboration.

Last week I spent the day at a series of workshops organised by the Young Vic. In the morning Justin Audibert and Lily Arnold spoke about the relationship between the designer and director, using their experiences working together over the last few years they outlined their most valuable tips. Below are a list of some of their most useful reflections.

Flying in Circles: What happens when the Left Wing tries to understand the Right Wing?

London has two plays running this week that both seek to empathise with Right wing ideology.