Homemakers: A Small Gathering with HOME

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Homemakers: A Small Gathering with HOME
Image courtesy of HOME Manchester.

A Small Gathering at HOME Manchester, Manchester 31 December 2020 Entrance is free — Visit now

The ever-brilliant Ad Infinitum return to HOME with their first-ever film. A Small Gathering is a trio of twisted shorts that you can watch online in your own home. The project is part of Homemakers, an online festival featuring new commissions created by artists working from home.

So wash your hands and settle down for this darkly comic triple bill: ‘Mr Pink’ created by Nir Paldi and George Mann and performed by Nir Paldi; ‘Rewilding’ directed and performed by Deb Pugh and ‘Cynthia’s Party’ directed and performed by Charli Dubery.

Witty and hugely unique, each short depicts a character in endless solitary isolation. Surreal, funny and frightening in parts, each short incorporates familiar everyday items – toilet roll, bars of soap and cups of tea – into each character’s distorted and paranoid state of mind. The absurd and uncanny elements in the film really do reflect the strangeness of lockdown – the emotional ups and downs and our new lived reality.

Running at just under 20 minutes, A Small gathering is recommended for ages 16 and over.

Other works in the Homemakers series include Bryony Kimmings’ 15-minute film, I am falling in love with you and it’s making me do stupid things; Homelands by Plaster Cast Theatre, in which contributors are invited to write a response to a short story, and Tell Me by Yusra Warsama and Chris Thorpe, a question and answer game played by two friends.

A Small Gathering at HOME Manchester, Manchester 31 December 2020 Entrance is free Visit now

What's on at HOME Manchester

Where to go near Homemakers: A Small Gathering with HOME

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Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
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The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
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Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

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Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

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This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

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The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally patriotic name The Ancient Britain.

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