The 7,000-capacity Factory hosts theatre, music, opera and exhibitions from major national and international names.

Created by architects OMA and originally due to open in 2019, The Factory is being built on the site of the old Granada TV studios, once the home to shows like Coronation Street, University Challenge and World In Action. Its name is a nod to Factory Records, known for bands like Joy Division and New Order, which was run by Granada presenter Tony Wilson.

The theatre can accommodate 1604 people.