HOME is where the heart is

Very recently I found myself at a loss of things to do in an afternoon. So, instead of sitting around like a lemon, I picked myself up and headed HOME.

Heading HOME?

Yes, I headed HOME. The capitalisation of the word probably gave it away, but I'm not talking about sunny ol' Bedfordshire, rather the new art/theatre/creativity stronghold which has recently opened in Manchester. The product of a merger between Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company, HOME aims to show the world through Mancunian eyes, or at least that's what their website says. I headed there to check out their latest art gallery, titled 'The heart is deceitful above all things'.

"Who can understand it?"

The gallery takes its name from Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick, who can understand it?" Revolving around the heart and asking "Who hasn't had their heart broken?", the gallery aimed to stir up feelings of lust, envy and heartache, all while in the semi-sterile environment of an art gallery. With attention-grabbing and eye-popping exhibits all around, HOME certainly knew how to keep you interested.

The various slogans, on their bright, eye-catching platforms. Photo: HOME

One such exhibit which has stuck with me was "Slogans for the 21st Century", which devoted a wall to motto's of the new age, especially those which were internet-centric. These mantras, in block text which clashed with their bright background colours ignited curiosity in most, as they tried to see which one applied most to them and which ones they were guilty of uttering. I'll leave it for you to look at the picture and see which one is yours. Often the slogans would match up with others, I personally found myself drawn in to grouping them together. Whether this was the intended aim, or just a happy coincidence which acted to hold my attention for longer, is unknown to me.

How long is it around for?

The exhibit began with HOME's opening back in May and runs until 26th July, as part of a greater overarching theme called Transactions of Desire, which involves various plays and talks. The exhibitions, such as this one, are free to enter and there is often some entertaining theatre on. If you haven't been to HOME already, I'd definitely check it out, as it looks like it's on its way to becoming the cultural hub of Manchester.

The Dumb Waiter

Hello, I'm back! 2015 is upon us and I'd love to say I've been incredibly busy. However, the truth is I haven't been particularly rushed off my feet (other than exams), so I don't have a great deal to tell you. Well, that's if you don't count my recent trip to see The Dumb Waiter at HOME...

The What?

The Dumb Waiter! A Ransack Theatre production, part of HOME's Re:play Festival 2015, which was performed on the 15th and 16th January. Taking place in HOME's new home on First Street, The Dumb Waiter was a production of the play written by Harold Pinter. If, like myself, you're not familiar with the works of Mr. Pinter, I'll give you a brief synopsis of the play, watch out for spoilers!

1.) Show starts. Two men, Gus and Ben, both in suits, are waiting in a grotty basement. The younger man (Gus) asks the older, more weary man (Ben), a series of questions about their next 'job' and other related (and unrelated) topics.

2.) The two men bicker about a series of items, ranging from whether Man City are playing this weekend, to the term 'put the kettle on'. It becomes evident the two men are actually hitmen (shock, horror!)

3.) A series of food orders arrive from the floors above, the two men panic. Hilarity ensues.

4.) Hilarity ends when the men receive their orders for the next 'job', causing betrayal.

Gus waiting for the next job. Photo: HOME

So there's a brief run-though of the play, without ruining too many plot details. At an hour long, this was a one-act play, which was well-received. Any longer and the story line would have been stretched thin, like butter scraped over too much bread. A two-man play can be a tricky thing to master, as if the actors don't fit together, then the audience will be lost relatively quickly. However, James Warburton (Gus) and Alastair Michael (Ben) were perfectly matched, with Michael's performance as the short tempered, wearier, Ben being of note.

The simple set design helped portray our duo's lack of control over their next job, a dingy, windowless room with two beds and a gas cooker which doesn't light. Almost a third companion, it helped amplify the rising tensions and the claustrophobia that accompanied the darker moments of the play.

How Much?

Tickets to the play cost £8 for students, and £10 normally. The play was run as part of the Re:play Festival, where the best fringe drama from the last 12 months in Greater Manchester is brought together for another run. The Re:play Festival has ended now, but I am in no doubt that HOME will run it again next year.