Live theatre will return to HOME from October with a programme including World Premieres from RashDash, David Hoyle and Robin Richards & Clara Casian. Also returning will be critically-acclaimed artists Javaad Alipoor, Sh!t Theatre and Le Gateau Chocolat, among others.
HOME last presented work in March before the venue was forced to close due to COVID-19, and recently announced it would be reopening on 4 September, with its five cinemas, bar and restaurant the first to come back. During this closure period, HOME has continued to work online, presenting new artist commissions in theatre and visual art, hosting film streams and director Q&As and supporting artists through digital workshops.
HOME’s 500-seat Theatre 1 has been reduced to a capacity of just 120 to allow space for social distancing, but despite this tickets will be priced at just £10 to ensure 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 bother accessible and risk-taking:
He says: “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.
“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. 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.”
HOME will also continue to present work digitally for those who do not feel ready to return to a live theatre environment just yet.
The groundbreaking Homemakers series will continue throughout the Autumn with premieres from Stacey Makishi, Esosa Ighodaro and Hot Brown Honey. The series has presented new commissions from over 30 artists, and been viewed by audiences from 34 different countries.
HOME are also partnering with two companies well known to Manchester audiences as they present their works on digital tours around the country. Dante or Die have revisited User Not Found, which looked at what happens to our digital lives when we die, as an immersive video podcast. Alongside this Wise Children return digitally to HOME to present Emma Rice’s Romantics Anonymous which will be live streamed from the Bristol Old Vic.
There will also be a series of digital book launch events, featuring Arsène Wenger, Fatima Bhutto and Graham Norton, among others.
