Join us for two weeks of inspiring, creative experiences fresh from the North West when we will be entirely dedicated to showcasing some of the most exciting film, theatre and visual arts from the region. PUSH festival also offers great opportunities for artists and creatives to meet industry professionals, share ideas, inspiration and develop their skills across a broad range of topics with an array of workshops and events to get involved in.
In association with
In this festival
Opportunities
Want to get advice and feedback during PUSH?
For the duration of PUSH 2018 Festival, you can book one to one sessions with a range of professionals on your practice and/or project.
Opportunities
Call for Submissions / North West Artist Film (shorts)
Open call for short artist film submissions not exceeding 20 minutes.
The Push Festival 2018 Podcast
HOME's Senior Theatre Producer Kevin Jamison returns to host our second stage podcast with PUSH Festival guests Samuel Ward from YesYesNoNo, Sarah McDonald Hughes from…
Previously in this Festival
Theatre
Square Peg Theatre presentsThe Return
When a small community is beset by tragedy their only hope for salvation is a pilgrimage to a new land. A new work in development…
Theatre
Josh Coates & Ali Pidsley presentsUntitled A.I. Project Interactive Workshop
Ali and Josh have been thinking about robots. They wondered what would happen if they were to make a show about artificial intelligence, for fun.
Theatre
Yandass Ndlovu and Anna Berentzen presentsSee Me After
See Me After is an explosion of dance, spoken word and sound, devised by some of the most exciting young talent in Manchester.
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Workshop/ On the Brink Draw Club
On the Brink invites people of all artistic abilities to draw together, share their work, mingle and have fun in a creative environment.
Theatre
Offstage Theatre & Most Wanted presentsThe Political History of Smack and Crack
Neil and Mandy’s paths cross as kids on the night of the Manchester uprising in 1981. Little do they know how this event will shape…
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Panel Discussion/ A Room of One’s Own: Artist Studio Space
Ever fancied getting your own artist studio? Do you suspect it may make you more productive by creating a space to think and work that…
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De(Construction) – Developing the Creative Scene, DIY Style
Instigate Arts presents a night of creative and artistic Do it Yourself, bringing together Manchester and Salford’s cutting edge, innovative and leftfield creatives, collaborators, collectives…
Theatre
In The Mirror Theatre Company presentsNarcissist in the Mirror
A dark comedy about life, ambition and millennial expectation laced with acerbic wit, punchy dialogue and intricate spoken word.
event
Mothers Who Make Jan 2018
Mothers Who Make is a growing national network aimed at supporting mothers who are artists, working in any discipline and at any stage of their…
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Workshop/ Introduction to Theatre Producing
Join Jake Orr, Theatre 503 producer and co-director of Incoming Festival, to discuss and demystify what and who a producer is for theatre companies.
Theatre
Meraki Collective presentsOnly Speak When Spoken To
Laugh with us and at us, as we play with rules that govern polite behavior. Only Speak When Spoken To is a bright and bold…
Theatre
Young Identity presentsHatch Home
Encapsulating the spirit and essence of Manchester, with metaphor and rhythmic performance, Hatch Home brings the city’s finest and most fierce poets to centre stage.
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Workshop/ Film Producing 101
In this talk Dana Bruce will explore how producers and directors work together, go through all the practical details you should think of when developing…
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Random Acts North Weekender
Random Acts North offers their artists a programme of training and personal development further their creativity, networks and career. As we share similar ambitions and…
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The Acting Class Q&A
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with actors Julie Hesmondhalgh and Andrew Ellis, and directors Mike Wayne and Deirdre O’Neill.
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PUSH 2018 Launch/ Manchester International Roots Orchestra
Join us and the Manchester International Roots Orchestra (MIRO) to mark the opening of PUSH 2018 with an evening of celebratory music with a global…
Theatre
Box of Tricks presentsPlayBox: Land’s End by James Harker
Two girls, one thousand miles, no hope. A riotous road trip featuring death, dancehall and the redemptive power of Cliff Richard.
Theatre
Box of Tricks presentsPlayBox: 30 Days by Furquan Akhtar
It’s the start of Ramadan. Adil is consumed by guilt as his love and faith are tested to their limits. As fasting begins, will he…
event
Creative Intervention: Morag Rose
Hungover Eris - who brings creative mischief and random adventure to our everyday lives - will share her real and imaginary traveller’s tales and inspire…
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Panel Discussion/ Making it as an Artist Filmmaker
We will be rounding up a bunch of artist filmmakers at different stages in their career, from those just starting out to those with a…
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Creative Intervention: Raven Rhada
Raven Radha is a Spoken Word Artist, based in Liverpool. Her poem The Kid (A Personification of the Media) tells the story of innocence being…
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Workshop/ Afro-Ancestral Ritual Movement
Inspired by Haitian folklore, ritual movement, rhythm and song, participants in this workshop will be led by artist and performer Nwando Ebizie in group improvisation…
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Workshop/ Marketing 101 – Branding & Selling Yourself
In this two hour workshop suitable for creatives of all fields they will introduce you to branding and marketing - equipping you with the tools…
Cinema
The Acting Class
A documentary that deals with the lack of working class representation on our stages and on screen, The Acting Class follows actor Tom Stocks who…
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Pen:Chant Presents: Standup Masterclass with Victoria Cook
Pen:Chant presents a creative masterclass delivered by one of the special guests appearing at our PUSH North West showcase event on Sat 13 Jan. Stay…
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Preview/ Jez Dolan: Anders Als Die Andern
Join us for a preview of our new Granada gallery exibition Jez Dolan: Anders Als Die Andern.
Theatre
Pen:Chant PUSH 2018
Pen:Chant return back to HOME for a PUSH special, presenting a line-up drawn from the best talent that the North West has to offer.
Theatre
Monkeywood Theatre Company presentsThe Manchester Project
Monkeywood have commissioned 18 astounding Mancunian writers to write 18 tiny but titanic new plays exploring Manchester and its people.
Theatre
Truth Be Told presentsTrue Stories
Produced by Remi Adefeyisan, a critically acclaimed lyricist from Manchester, Truth Be Told brings together people from different backgrounds who have settled into Manchester but…
event
Creative Matchmaking
Are you a composer and/or musician itching to work on a film or theatre piece? Are you a filmmaker or theatre maker looking for an…
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Panel Discussion/ Setting up as a Freelancer
Are you considering going freelance? Join a panel of people who have done exactly that, as they discuss their journeys into freelancing.
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Disabled Artists Networking Community Launch
A round table and networking event to encourage dialogue between theatres, art galleries, venues, TV companies and disabled artists and performers from all creative practices.
Cinema
Spit That Out: North West Artist Film Programme
For PUSH 2018 we present a round-up of work selected by Bren O’Callaghan, Senior Producer, Visual Art at HOME, drawing upon artists who are living…
event
PlayBox Takeover
A day-long takeover by Box of Tricks to showcase new plays from current PlayBox playwrights and connect with local writers and theatremakers.
Theatre
YESYESNONO presents5 Encounters on a Site Called Craigslist
Desperately hilarious and achingly bleak, 5 Encounters on a Site Called Craigslist is an intricate and tender question mark around our attempts to encounter each…
event
Workshop/ Don’t forget to look after yourself: Wellbeing for Freelancers
Independent arts producer Louise Blackwell explores what’s important to put in place and prioritise to keep a balanced work/life when you are a freelancer.
Exhibition
Jez Dolan: Anders Als Die Andern
Jez Dolan’s work focuses on queer identity, often using secrecy, hiddenness and codification of language, working with archival material in the creation of new work.
event
Panel Discussion/ Getting your film on the big screen
In this informal and lively discussion with filmmakers, venues and festival programmers, you’ll get to hear about the many factors that could bring your film…
Theatre
Elmi Ali presentsSaid the Seismograph About the Tremor
1970's post-revolutionary Somalia meets post-war, present day Mancunian diasporic sensibilities in this scratch performance.
event
PlayBox Takeover: Writers’ Breakfast
Join Box of Tricks and current PlayBox playwrights for coffee, pastries and a chat about how they develop new plays and support the next generation…
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Workshop/ The Beginners Guide to Applying for Funding
Do you need funding for your project or practice? Are you struggling to put your artistic ideas into a format that might appeal to funders? …
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Show & Tell Jan 2018
Come and get a taste of what’s happening in the minds of the city’s creatives.
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Become Takeover
Become has programmed an afternoon of inspiring talks and poetic performances with plenty of networking opportunities, featuring established and emerging speakers who will get you…
Theatre
Manchester Collective presentsCabaret: A Show About The End of Love
Comprising some of the most exciting musical talent from a new generation of international instrumentalists, Manchester Collective make their debut at HOME with a musical…
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Workshop/ Creating Content To Engage Your Audience
In this workshop, Marketing Manager Sian Ediss, will explore what makes engaging content. From blogs to videos and social media tips, this workshop will provide insider tools and examples…
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Workshop/ Performers Playground: Freeing up your Creativity
This workshop is perfect for performers and artists who are looking to rediscover the fun in their practice and build a playful relationship with fellow…
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Workshop/ Making Your Participatory Activities Accessible
This practical workshop will demonstrate how access can be added through creative layers to your work; thereby gaining the skills in making access an art…
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Creative Intervention: Ben Mellor
Poet and spoken work artist Ben Mellor will perform a creative intervention to accompany the 20.25 screening of The Post of Wednesday 24 January