HOME announces a new season of inspiring theatre that poses big questions, shares compelling stories and stirs raw emotions

HOME has announced a thrilling season of theatre, which will feature innovative new work, spectacular performances, Manchester icons and intimate experiences; all taking place across its two theatres. The programme includes a number of new productions, co-productions with HOME and touring productions. Filling HOME with their creativity are artists and performers with Manchester connections and those from beyond.

From England with Love is an exhilarating new production that sees the highly anticipated return to HOME of internationally acclaimed artistic director Hofesh Shechter. Renowned for work that crosses art forms and boundaries in this piece Hofesh Shechter presents an enthralling odyssey. The performance takes a deep exploration into the heart of our country through soul searching dance that seeks to open up the conflict within, and music that spans from English composers to raging rock and meets with an almighty affray. The work is multi-layered in complexity, just as its subject.

The new year starts aptly with Blowout and the chance to join Mr Wilson’s Second Liners for an uplifting extravaganza of live dance music. Known for music that pays homage to the days of the Hacienda and 90s club culture, and a performance that is as rousing as it is colourful, this will also be the chance to hear new arrangements for the first time. Celebration of Manchester’s heady days of the Hacienda continues with an evening to salute one of the venue’s most pioneering DJs: DJ Paulette, who will be launching her new book in a reflective evening, Welcome to the Club. Fellow legend DJ Jamz Supernova will be in conversation with Paulette, exploring a career that reached the dizzying heights of the music industry to etch an incredible legacy, but also faced numerous difficulties and challenges.

There is much excitement about the return of CRIPtic Arts, a disabled led creative hub that has staged shows at HOME (NOT DYING) and nationally. Known for igniting disabled excellence across the arts, Self & Other is a brand new show in which the subject of isolation is the focal point. Specifically, the show looks at whether it is possible for disabled people to be self without the support of another. A series of short monologues seek to unravel a perplexing concept with intricate dynamics. Delivering these performances are acclaimed actors Jasmin Thien, Ada Eravama and Jessi Parrott.

In Big Finish death is starred in the face, but with twists and turns of curiosity and hope. Viewed through the outrageously inimitable lens of Figs in Wigs theatre company (Little Wimmin, Disruptive Women), described by The Observer as “Boisterously charismatic…practically radioactive”, expect a theatrical spectacle in this brand new work commissioned by HOME.

Audiences are invited into Rita’s world in The Promise to confront the barriers faced by someone who is deaf and finds themselves living with dementia; someone who has championed the deaf education system and faces the harsh realisation that things are getting worse not better. Presented by Deafinitely Theatre (The Vagina Monologues, Everyday and 4.48 Psychosis), Birmingham Rep and Lyric Hammersmith, The Promise is beautifully written by Paula Garfield and Melissa Mostyn and directed by Paula Garfield. The performance will combine British Sign Language, spoken English and captions.

In A Family Business the issue itself seems out of this world: the threat represented by nuclear weapons. However, Chris Thorpe (Confirmation, I Wish I was Lonely), writer and performer of the piece – who describes theatres as “a laboratory for thinking about how we think”, artfully takes this to the everyday by introducing the very ordinary people that are in charge of managing nuclear weapons. In doing so barriers are broken, connections are gained, realisations are made and this becomes theatre at its most powerful.

Tender carefully steps into the shoes of those who have experienced migration to explore one of the most polarising issues of our time. It does this through the words and experiences of the actors that make up Phosphoros Theatre (Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award nominee), who have all reached this country as refugees. The choices and opportunities to create a future become very real when you have no safety net, no right to work and carry the burden of debt.

The theatrics of music, energetic movement, puppetry and innovative lighting will all be employed in Rewind, which opens at the final scene with a death, and playfully unpicks what has led to this tragedy: a young woman who stood against authoritarianism. This award-winning, critically acclaimed, dynamic performance arrives to HOME from Ephemerol Ensemble (LUSTRUM Award for unforgettable for work at Edfringe 2023).

More experimental gig-theatre is promised in No More Mr Nice Guy from theatre company Nouveau Riche (“A theatrical firework!”, Lyn Gardner, The Independent). The piece focuses on British Caribbean Music Teacher Keloughn Douglas, whose career aspirations, musical ambitions and heart’s desire are all colliding. And the knock on effect is a life that is quickly unravelling.

The season includes an explosion of new talent in the form of We’re all Just Wasps in Glass Houses, which is the work of HOME Young Company and the culmination of a year-long program for those aged 14 – 18 under the guidance of Kao Hove and Rory Aaron. Discover an apocalyptic Manchester through young eyes and the rollercoaster of emotions that will unleash in this turmoil of madness.

Dave Moutrey, Director and CEO of HOME, says, “This is a season for all the emotions, with audiences invited to experience impactful and bold performances, balanced with intimate and subtle moments. We are thrilled to be working with such an incredible range of artists, performers, writers and creatives and excited to see them bring their stories to our audiences at HOME.”

Tickets went on sale to HOME Friends from 3 Nov, and HOME Members from 6 Nov with tickets on general sale from 10 Nov.

Full details of the season can be found online here:
homemcr.org/event/home-theatre-2024/