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Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81 (2006) poster

Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81

2006, English. Directed by James Nice.

Shadowplayers is a two hour documentary film by James Nice tracing the early history of iconic Manchester Label Factory Records between 1978 and 1981. The facts and the fictions are explored through candid interviews with 22 key participants, including Anthony H. Wilson (Founder) and Peter Saville (Designer), as well as musicians including Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order), Vini Reilly (Durutti Common), Simon Topping and Martin Moscrop (A Certain Ratio), Chris Watson (Cabaret Voltaire) and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks/Magazine). The film is divided into 19 chapters, covering subjects such as The Factory Club, sleeve art and graphic design, producer Martin Hannett, the riot at the Joy Division concert at Bury in April 1980, The Factory Beneleux connection, the tragic suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, the beginnings of New Order, and the decline of the post-punk culture in 1981.

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Runtime
2h 0m
Post-credits
None listed
Language
English
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Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81 isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 21 August 2006.

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Released
21 August 2006
Country
United Kingdom

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Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81 runs 120 minutes (2h 0m).

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Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81 isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 21 August 2006. (Checked 14 November 2026.)

What movies are like Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81?

If you liked Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81, try The Class of ‘92, Come See Me in the Good Light, 21 Up.

Who directed Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81?

Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81 (2006) was directed by James Nice and stars Tony Wilson, Peter Saville, Peter Hook.

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