Of All the Beautiful Things in the World – HOME Mcr

We are never one thing, we are human.This play is dedicated to the immigrant women who have been here for decades, who are pushed into the shadows…I see your grace. Yusra Warsama- writer and director Of All The Beautiful Things In The World takes the Lorca classic The House of Bernarda Alba as inspiration, exportingContinue reading “Of All the Beautiful Things in the World – HOME Mcr”

¡Viva! at HOME – Llenos de Gracia

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the spirited, annual Spanish and Latin American festival that is ¡Viva! at HOME Mcr… Festival season hits Manchester! Not on brand, I recently left the streets paved with gold that is Manchester, for a short period to Rome. But before I flounced off, I attended the openingContinue reading “¡Viva! at HOME – Llenos de Gracia”

The Cherry Orchard at HOME Mcr

I enjoy a ‘reimagining’, especially of a classic text or narrative with strong themes. It might not always ‘hit the mark’ or runs the risk of negative comparison to what an original that some might consider sacred. But it can also be enjoyed in its own right as a separate piece and do a serviceContinue reading “The Cherry Orchard at HOME Mcr”

Review: The House with Chicken Legs at HOME Mcr

I’m a misery when it comes to children’s literature, films, television (although my wonderful young whirlwind of a niece is changing that – Hey Duggie is my ride or die. I’m ageing myself but I’ve never read or watched a Harry Potter. I’ve not watched a Disney film that wasn’t made post 80s and IContinue reading “Review: The House with Chicken Legs at HOME Mcr”

Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week

Can it be two years since the inaugural exhibition? And what a two years it’s been. Well let’s not go into that, but the first Manchester Open Exhibition was so super, I even walked away with a purchased piece. A piece that soon began to take on layered and multiple meetings in the 12 monthsContinue reading “Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week”

Review: Bert and Nasi’s The End at HOME Mcr

So near yet so far. Live theatre disappeared then little by little started to tease us with a return this autumn, albeit with challenges and reduced audiences, and mask-wearing and…you don’t need me to tell you. Well lockdown 2.0 came and it was a return to live-stream theatre and to be honest, with the rightContinue reading “Review: Bert and Nasi’s The End at HOME Mcr”

FilmFear festival returns to Manchester – tickets now on sale

It’s back. FilmFear returns to HOME this Hallowe’en and this year, slightly beyond, with an extended programme of chills, thrills and downright blood spills. Running from Wednesday 28 October to Thursday 5 November, Film4 and HOME have co-curated a line-up (coined Scream Now, Think Later) of modern genre classics that sink their teeth into politics,Continue reading “FilmFear festival returns to Manchester – tickets now on sale”

A welcome HOME on 4 September?

There’s light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel, my friends. We all know the worries and concerns for the theatre, and indeed arts and entertainment industry as a collective. But as 4 July becomes some sort of D-day, a heralding of freedom, venues who have been left out of the loopContinue reading “A welcome HOME on 4 September?”

Review: Insane Animals

It’s true to say that I didn’t always know what I was watching last night. But I know that I liked it. Like the camp space landing that it depicted (are there any other kind?), the show launched itself on stage through plumes of smoke and a cacophony of noise, and with the arrival ofContinue reading “Review: Insane Animals”

Preview: HOME is where the People’s Art is – the first Manchester Open Exhibition

Whilst works, appreciation, opinions and afforded gravitas come in all shapes and sizes, art should be inclusive and HOME is bringing this ethos to life by celebrating the amazing talent of Greater Manchester. In the first region-wide exhibition of its type, HOME welcomed submissions from all across all 10 boroughs, for the inaugural Manchester OpenContinue reading “Preview: HOME is where the People’s Art is – the first Manchester Open Exhibition”

Preview: Penguin Pride 2019 (part of Pride at HOME)

Last year I shared my immense joy at what was an evening of entertainment, enlightenment, education and laughter (I couldn’t find a synonym for lolz beginning with ‘e’, ok?): Penguin Pride – less a review, more a tribute Well it’s back and I’ll be there and you should be too. And I’ll tell you forContinue reading “Preview: Penguin Pride 2019 (part of Pride at HOME)”

Theatre review: SparkPlug

There are plays, productions, shows that you appreciate the work of, admire, praise, write about, commend. Then there are those that you actually want to frogmarch people into the theatre to see. You almost don’t want to write about it, lest it spoil the experience. You want to write of it, of course. But notContinue reading “Theatre review: SparkPlug”

Preview: Jackie Kay – She’s coming HOME…

Scottish writer, poet and patron of HOME Mcr, Jackie Kay, is heading back to Manchester and bringing with her, the gift of theatre! September 2019 will see Red Dust Road, Jackie’s memoir of her life growing up as a mixed race adopted Scot, brought to life on stage at HOME, after its premiere at theContinue reading “Preview: Jackie Kay – She’s coming HOME…”

Theatre Review – DollyWould at HOME

And people say she’s just a big pair of tits. (David Brent). Yes, I’ve said tits in a blog post. But there’s no point being polite as the Theatre Company I had the good grace to see perform this evening are called Shit Theatre. Although for polite publications it’s written Sh!t Theatre. I’ve already writtenContinue reading “Theatre Review – DollyWould at HOME”