To celebrate our fifth birthday we wanted to hear from the people who give us our purpose – our audience – about their favourite moments from the past five years.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Click here to send it to us, we’ll be updating this page regularly.
“I felt like this lucky audience at HOME, including me were part of this film’s success”
“I adored the film Moonlight and then I heard Barry Jenkins was doing a last minute Q&A for the film. So I returned to HOME to see it for a second time. To see this hot to trot film maker in the flesh, following a second viewing of his brilliant film pre Oscars was fantastic. He was warm, witty and humble and Jason Wood gave him the kind of questions which the audience wanted to hear.
“When the film won Best Picture following envelope-gate and La La Land, I felt like this lucky audience at HOME, including me were part of this film’s success. I returned to HOME to watch Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk with memories of that brilliant night fresh in my mind.”
Glenn Meads
#HOMEisFive coming to see Moonlight in the presence of the film’s brilliant director @BarryJenkins with an insightful Q&A by @jwoodfilm it was a great night. One that I will never forget.
— Glenn Writer (@Glenn_Writes) April 21, 2020
“The lasting benefit of this was the connections I made with the other people at the screening”
My favourite memories of HOME include watching Jacques Rivette’s Out 1 over 2 days in Marina’s Cinema. The longest film ever made at nearly 13 hours. The lasting benefit of this was the connections I made with the other people at the screening. A select group indeed!
Another highlight was watching Abel Gance’s five hour Napoleon in Cinema 1. A sold out screening, which just goes to show that silent films can still pull the crowds.
Stuart Wilson
“A wonderful relationship formed”
The wonderful work they’ve done with Manchester School of Theatre over the years. So many incredible students have passed through and performed there and the 2020 Actors Showcase was the last time the students will use HOME as a performance space. Bittersweet for all involved but a wonderful relationship formed. The students will never forgot the opportunity to perform on those stages.
Sarah Kate
“A standout show”
Favourite moment was seeing the great Tom Robinson band. Fantastic. At age 73 and 75, and a lifetime of gig going, this was a standout show.
But… we frequently come to Home for cinema and a meal. All kinds of things. It’s a great place, despite misgivings when the wonderful Cornerhouse shut down. We love it. Thanks everyone. Best ticket team in Manc. And best restaurant team.
Lesley Hampson
“Simple, but effective”
Gemma Hepworth
“Our favorite place for culture, great films, theatre and like minded people”
Since you opened this has been our favorite place for culture, great films, theatre and like minded people. Feels like a special outing film and meal or just drinks, great place to meet up with friends. I always recommend HOME – long may it continue, can’t wait for lock down to end and we can visit.
Elaine Arathoon
Our youngest-ever member?
One of your youngest ever members, our daughter Zoe bum-shuffling around the ground floor of HOME.
Richard Donlan
“HOME is part of us. And we are part of HOME”
I’ve seen so many wonderful things at HOME I couldn’t begin to choose between them – but my favourite moment of the last five years was my partner’s face when she saw ‘our’ seat plaque in Theatre 1, dedicated to her, that the wonderful Emma had arranged to have in place in time for last November’s supporters’ day.
HOME is part of us. And we are part of HOME.
I expect my next favourite moment to be the day we can come back to see everyone…<3
Stuart Bishop
“A genuine pleasure”
It’s hard to choose one moment, as I’ve been lucky enough to attend so many Q&As and see some incredible films at HOME. If I had to choose one though, I’d probably opt for the moment I met Ken Loach after the Q&A for I, Daniel Blake. I don’t tend to try and meet anyone, but as I was walking out another attendee asked if I’d take his picture with the great man. As he’d finished I found myself in front of him and shaking his hand before I realised I was doing it! It wasn’t planned, but it was a great moment to be able to thank him for the film he’d made, and his reaction was as gentlemanly and understated as you’d expect. A genuine pleasure.
Robert Sherard
You can watch Ken Loach’s Q&A again by clicking here.
“It’s a welcoming environment which has an eclectic offering of things to see and do”
Watching live streams of productions from the Royal Opera House; seeing the brilliant play Returning to Reims as part of MIF 2017; simply spending time with friends or family at the HOME restaurant – honestly, it’s hard to decide! I think what my indecision does show is what I like most about HOME in general – it’s a welcoming environment which has an eclectic offering of things to see and do, and yet which also still feels cohesive and retains a general identity.
Joe Jarvis
So many good memories of HOME over the last five years
So many good memories of HOME over the last five years, especially getting to watch as many film recommendations as possible featured in the HOME film podcasts. My two favourite memories are getting to meet Matt Johnson after the screening of The Inertia Variations, as well as randomly bumping into Johnny Marr after the Jon Savage event, when the 1979 Apollo Joy Division gig was shown. The latter resulted in Johnny giving my kids a custom plectrum each which he happened to have on him!
Pravin Gorajala
You can hear from Returning to Reims director Tomas Ostermeier by clicking here, or read emerging actor Ali Gadema’s blog about being part of the show, here.