MANIPULATE 2012 was another festival of firsts. We expanded south of the border, to the Norwich Puppet Theatre. The celebrated Russian avant-garde theatre group AKHE, and subsequent festival favourites, appeared for the first time with Gobo.Digital Glossary. The Editta Braun company from Austria also made its debut, closing the festival with Luvos. The first of a trilogy, we also presented the companion pieces Planet Luvos and Close Up at subsequent festivals. The festival opened with French Compagnie Sans Soucis’ mesmeric version of Hamlet, Hamletmachine, and the rest of the programme featured a diverse selection of captivating international visual theatre and film.