HOME have announced their Black History Month programme, with events including live and online theatre, a specially-curated film programme and a new exhibition in the Inspire Gallery.
And this year the programme will extend beyond October, with the return of HOME Comedy
Club and HOME Sound Sessions to Theatre 1.
From 11 to 17 October, Complicité have partnered with Fehinti Balogun for Can I Live? a journey into the world of environmental activism, as Fehinti tells the story of how, as a young Black British man, his path has been forever changed by what he’s learnt about our planet. This onlineshow is available on a pay what you decide basis.
A post-show discussion on 14 October will focus on the response to climate change from people from Global Majority ethnicities.
In the cinemas, a specially-curated film season will include The Story of a Three Day Pass,
Barbershop, No Place Like Home, Waiting to Exhale, The Story of Lovers Rock, Hollywood
Shuffle and Amazing Grace.
Also in the cinema will be the return of A City Seen, HOME’s quarterly film programme exploring the creativity of our city’s most essential charities, community groups and voluntary organisations.
To celebrate Black History Month, the guest selection will be curated by Rainbow
Noir, who provide a voice for LGBTQI people of colour in Greater Manchester.
In HOME’s Inspire Gallery, Michelle Ayavoro is working with Recovery Pathways for an
exhibition designed and delivered online during lockdown to create a powerful testimony from those who have lived experience of mental ill health and recovery. The resulting works will bedisplayed in HOME’s café bar from October 1.
And on Whitworth Street West, there’s still the chance to enjoy Venessa Scott’s joyful mural,Together We Are.
Throughout the month, there will be the chance to enjoy online events including a female-
focused Black Creatives: In Conversation and Storytime Sessions, where families can join
Steely the Steel Drum on his musical journey to discover the beauty of how he was made and what he was made from, narrated by Carla Henry who was recently seen at HOME’s outdoor popup venue, Homeground, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The sessions will be accompanied by a storytelling workshop during the October half term.
Continuing beyond the end of October, on Saturday 13 November there will be A Night of
Positive Laughter, in association with Laff Til Ya Fart.
The brainchild of local actor, MC and comedian Trevor Dwyer-Lynch, the evening will present comedy lovers with a stellar line-up from the UK’s Black comedy circuit. Headlining the event is Vince Atta, creating on-the-spot musical entertainment with loop pedal and beatboxing. Support is from Annette Fagon, nominated as Best Newcomer at the 2006 Black Entertainment ComedyAwards, and Roger D, a regular performer at Jongleurs, The Glee and major comedy clubsthroughout the UK.
Completing the line-up is Clayton Jones, whose observational comedy
covers everyday topics of marriage, kids, being mixed raced, school life and living in Wigan.
Then to round off the year, on 11 Dec HOME Sound Sessions features soul singer Yemi
Bolatiwa, SheBeKeke, who has supported the likes of Kae Tempest, The Last Poets, Saul
Williams and OSHUN, and Nigerian-born, Manchester-based, alternative soul and pop artist
Zahyón.
For more information about the programme, visit homemcr.org/bhm2021
