HOME has announced it will be recommencing live theatre performances in Manchester from October and an exciting schedule of productions is already lining up.
Live theatre is coming HOME in just a few weeks time.
The last live theatre piece was presented at HOME in March just before the country was placed into lockdown amid the coronavirus COVID-19, and it was recently announced that it the First Street venue would be reopening doors on 4th September, with its five cinemas, bar and restaurant the first to come back.
Announcing in a statement via its website, HOME said it is “delighted” to be returning with a full programme of productions in October.
These are set to including World Premieres from RashDash, David Hoyle and Robin Richards, and Clara Casian, along with the return of critically-acclaimed artists Javaad Alipoor, Sh!t Theatre and Le Gateau Chocolat, among many others.
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Due to necessary social distancing measures, it’s been confirmed that HOME’s 500-seat Theatre 1 has been reduced to a capacity of just 120 to allow space, but despite this, tickets will be priced at just £10 to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to return to the theatre.
Dave Moutrey – HOME’s Director and CEO – believes it is more important than ever for theatre to be both accessible and risk-taking. He said: “Following the incredible response to our opening weekend announcement, I’m pleased to be able to unveil a theatre season starting in October that includes brand new work, boundary-pushing ideas and some of our favourite artists.
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“Much has changed since we closed in March, but we must do all we can to bridge the potential growth in social inequality as a result to this pandemic.
This is why, despite limited capacity due to social distancing, we will make every ticket available for no more than £10 [and] in addition, we will give equal weight to delivering work online, to ensure that audiences who cannot return just yet can still engage with new, relevant work.”
He continued: “The international social and political fabric has been ripped apart in the period since we closed, and it is more important than ever that we provide a platform for great art to reflect this.
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“We are proud to be presenting every one of these works, old and new.”
During the period of closure during lockdown though, HOME did continue to work online by presenting new artist commissions in theatre and visual art, hosting film streams and director Q&As, and supporting artists through digital workshops.
The good news is, for those who do not feel ready to return to a live theatre environment just yet, this digital service is set to continue and the line-up is no less impressive.
The people of Manchester can also expect screenings of new releases, 4k restorations, titles the HOME film team loved, but which missed their opportunity to be seen on the big screen due to lockdown, a series of digital book launch events, and an announcement on the Autumn exhibition in HOME’s gallery – which is set to follow in the next few weeks.
HOME’s annual PUSH Festival will also return in January 2021 and will be extended to run for a month from late January and into February (Monday 18th January – Saturday 6th February).
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You can find more information about the commencing of live theatre via the HOME website here.
Full information on social distancing and the COVID-safe measures which will be in place at HOME upon reopening next month can also be found here.
What's On
Bloomtown – the beautiful blossom walking trail through Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester never looks better than it does in the spring, when all the blossom trees burst back to life – and now there’s a walking trail through town that shows off the best bits.
From the iconic purple blooms outside the Central Library to the surprising sprays that pop up in the middle of Ancoats, there are pretty colours appearing all over town.
The National Trust is once again shining a spotlight on Manchester and bringing back its new-and-improved Bloomtown Map.
There are 39 spots all over the city centre (and slightly beyond) included along the route, each one showcasing one of the city’s most picturesque locations.
The digital Bloomtown Map will tell you a little something about each hotspot as you arrive, whether you’re interested in the history of the place or just want to know what particular flower you’re looking at.
This year’s trail again starts up at Castlefield Viaduct, the incredible industrial structure that’s been brought back to life by the National Trust and turned into an urban sky park.
It then weaves through landmarks in the city centre like the Rochdale canal, Parsonage Gardens, and Manchester Cathedral.
And there are five branches of the trail to check out this year too, covering Hulme and South Manchester, East Manchester, Salford and Trafford.
Because this is Manchester, and our weather is famously all over the place, not all of the blossom trees have kicked into action yet (and some of the ones that bloomed early are dropping their petals like confetti already).
But April is usually the best time to see the blossom in full bloom – which makes the Easter weekend perfectly placed to get out for a stroll.
See the full Bloomtown Map below, or click here for the blossom trail around Manchester
All the places on the Bloomtown Map 2024 around Manchester
Alexandra Park
Angel Meadow
Ardwick Green
Birchfields Park
Manchester Metropolitan University Birley Orchard
Blackleach Country Park
Bridgewater Community Garden
Castlefield Viaduct
Clifton Country Park
Cutting Room Square
Dukes Drive
Gartside Gardens
Hullard Park
Hulme Community Garden Centre
Hulme Park
Manchester Cathedral
Mayfield Park
Ordsall Hall
Parsonage Gardens
Peel Park
Philips Park
Platt Fields Park
Queens Park
RHS Bridgewater
Rochdale Canal Lock 87
Rochdale Canal Lock 89
Sackville Gardens
Sadler’s Yard
Salford Quays
Science and Industry Museum
St George’s Park
St John’s Gardens
St Peter’s Square
Tariff Street
Thomas Street Pocket Park
University of Manchester Students’ Union
Waterside Arts
Victoria Park
The Whitworth
Whitworth Street West
Wythenshawe Park and Gardens
Blossom on Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Bloomtown Map is a blossom trail walk around Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Pick up a recyclable paper copy of the Bloomtown map at
Manchester’s biggest free music festival is back this Easter bank holiday weekend
Danny Jones
Sunnier days are well and truly on their way and better still, that means Manchester’s biggest free music festival and one of the best event series on the annual calendar is returning: that’s right, it’s time for Manifest 2024.
Back and bigger than ever, Manifest over at The Oast House in Spinningfelds returns this Easter Sunday and we cannot wait to get soaking in the sun, tunes and good vibes.
The biggest and most popular free music festival you’ll find anywhere in Greater Manchester, Manifest has been going for a few years now and it’s become such a staple of the warmer months here in the city centre that we don’t consider spring/summertime as having even started until it rolls around again.
Set to deliver an all-day line-up of live music with various acts playing from Sunday, 31 March at 1pm onwards and well into the early hours of Monday, 1 April, we can’t think of many better ways to spend the bank holiday.
Taking place on The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace complete with its dedicated stage and the big beer garden providing both coverage and plenty of room for Mancs to turn it into one giant dancefloor, thousands turn up to this series of events every year now.
Kicking off this season’s festivities on Sunday, 31 March, the first Manifest event of 2024 has a packed roster of musicians lined up including bands, solo artists and duos, as well as interludes from their resident and ever-reliable DJs.
Guests can expect not only a vibrant party atmosphere all day and night but tastes of pretty much every genre, from rock, pop and soul to R&B, funk, disco and blues.
Again, part of the reason this music festival series has become so popular is that it’s completely free, with space inside the venue dished out on a first-come, first-served basis. There were plenty of queues at every single date last year, so we recommend getting there early. Seriously, it packs out quickly.
You’ll have everything you need to keep you sorted throughout the day when it comes to food and drink too, by the way.
The Oast House’s street food-style menu will also be on offer for those looking to line their stomachs during the festivities.
We’re talking katsu chicken fries, Northern poutine with bone marrow gravy and Shorrock’s Lancashire cheese, chicken or plant-based gyros, stacked burgers, hot wings and hanging kebabs. We’ve tried it all and trust us, some seriously good scran this.
Festivalgoers can also keep cool with plenty of cold pints and house-made cocktails, including twists on the classics such as Watermelon Margaritas, Passionfruit Coladas and Pink Gin Punch. Phwoar.
The best part is, even if you’re already busy this weekend (obviously, scrap your plans and come here), you’ll have plenty more opportunity to enjoy Manifest this year with the free music festival returning every bank holiday weekend throughout the spring and summer.
There’s also set to be an extra few Saturday Manifest dates this year which are still yet to be confirmed but we’ll keep you posted as and when we know more – see you there, Manchester!
And to keep track of the other latest music news going on here in Manchester, keep your eyes peeled over on The Manc Audio.