Push Festival 2019

Push Festival is our annual celebration of the North West’s creative talents. Over two weeks, our stages, screens and spaces will be dedicated to showcasing fantastic works from around the region, as well as offering opportunities for creatives to meet industry professionals, share ideas and inspiration and develop their skills.

This year, alongside a programme of performances, works in progress, screenings, exhibitions and events, we are delighted to present five brand new pieces commissioned by HOME especially for the festival – Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board, Cuts of the Cloth, Dance Away the Spiders, Unpacking and Yes Man.

We’re looking forward to meeting you at the festival where you will experience some of the best creative work being produced right on your doorstep!

DOWNLOAD OUR PUSH 2019 SCHEDULE

DOWNLOAD OUR PUSH 2019 GUIDE

Push Festival 2019 is supported by The Edwin Fox Charitable Trust

#Push2019

 

If you are in France, check the Catalogue Carrefour page for shopping!

Can’t decide what to see in Push? Save money when you book for two or more festival events:

  • Book two or more theatre shows and save £2 per ticket
  • Book for two or more workshops, talks or discussions and save £1 per ticket
  • All tickets must be purchased at the same time. Excludes theatre shows priced at £7, Mighty Heart Theatre’s Cheerleading Chinwag and free events. Your discount will automatically be added to your online basket

In this festival

Propel 2.0 Artist Call Out

A call out for artists that want to explore making work on a larger scale by experimenting on our main Theatre 1 stage.

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Call for proposals / Exhibition Commission for PUSH 2019

Submissions are now open for original proposals for an exhibition to take place during PUSH in our Granada Foundation Gallery, open to creatives based in…

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Call-Out / Sound or Digital Art Commission for PUSH 2019

We would love to commission a new sound art or digital art for PUSH 2019. Submissions are now open for original proposals, open to creatives…

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Call for Submissions / Northern Artist Film (shorts)

Open call for short artist film submissions not exceeding 30 minutes to be screened during PUSH Festival 2019

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Propel: Artist Call-Out

Propel is a platform for artists across the country to try out new ideas.

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Push Festival 2019: Call out for Theatre Commissions

We are thrilled to open commissions for our annual Push Festival aiming to uncover some of the North West’s most exciting theatre makers and companies,…

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PUSH Festival 2019 Festival Assistant Internship

Be part of Push Festival 2019.

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Push Festival 2019 Round Up

Did you join us for Push 2019? If so, see if you can spot yourself in our video round-up of our annual celebration of North…

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Theatre Review: Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board

This year's Push Festival is in full swing. HOME Digital Reporter Allen Thomasson went to see one of the newly commissioned theatre shows and found…

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Capturing Live Performance: 4 Take Away Tips

Live performance capture got you scratching your head? Here's what we learned from Push 2019's industry expert panel...

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Getting Into The Media: 4 Take Away Tips

If you want to get into the media, knowing Talent Executives is a great starting point. HOME Digital Reporter Patrick Foley shares some top tips…

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In conversation with filmmaker Aaron Dunleavy

As part of Push Festival we welcomed filmmaker Aaron Dunleavy. HOME Digital Reporter Ryan Lee Gregory caught up with him after the event...

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#HOMEinspires Blog 5: Who Are You Calling Old?

Our Community & Outreach Programme Producer Anne Louise Kershaw and Nakib Narat from Chorlton Good Neighbours tell you more about the #HOMEinspires events at PUSH Festival…

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Previously in this Festival

Introducing Virtual Reality As An Art Form

Join Catherine Allen for this Virtual Reality workshop as she explores the fundamental differences between VR and ‘flat’ media, as well as explaining the technology…

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Spit That Out 2019: North West Artist Film Programme

Discover a selection of recent work from artists who are living in, working in, hailing from or have studied across the North West.

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Meet the Talent Executives: How to Find work in TV and Digital Media

Join Head of Creative Talent at Endemol Shine UK Melissa Clay-Peters, Talent Executive Victoria Roye (BBC Studios) and Tracy Walker (ITV) as they discuss who…

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Artists & Galleries Meet Up

Join us for an informal meet up where you can hear from a selection of Manchester spaces in quick fire presentations and chat in person…

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See My Dunya: See My World

Through photography, film, music and sculpture; See My Dunya: See My World brings to focus the seldom seen faces, stories and dreams that make up…

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Dorna Arts presents

Eye For An Eye

Eye For An Eye is a dark comedy about a deluded and out-of-touch ruler, whose idea of meting out justice is to take out a…

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James Monaghan presents

Forest

Have you ever consumed something out of compulsion? Is guilt part of why you like it? James once ate several battered Mars Bars in succession.

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Collectif and then presents

Fram & Dunt

An hour of dancing, music, spinning & silliness, in a show that explores death, dreams & deep space.

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Film Hub North Filmmaker Award Showcase

A programme of six short films shortlisted for the brand-new Film Hub North Filmmaker Award at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2018.

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Sell Your Art Not Your Soul: Copywriting Workshop

In this workshop, you’ll learn some of the tricks of writing copy to help sell your creativity without compromising your principles.

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Emma Geraghty presents

Fat Girl Singing

A funny & compelling anthem for those who have ever felt that their body is up for debate.

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Gareth Cutter presents

Come Closer

A queer dreamscape of pulsing music & neon shadows where the story of a lone figure unfurls...

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St Luke’s Art Project: Welcome to the Creation Lounge

Showcasing work from St Luke’s Art Project, which works with people isolated due to mental health in a creative, supportive and welcoming environment.

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AMP Workshop: Music Composition

In this workshop we explored classical music techniques through creative exercises with guidance from a professional musician. It was a workshop for music lovers with…

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Push Virtual Reality Cinema

A virtual reality programme exploring different facets of VR’s artistic potential; from storytelling to presence and emotion.

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Disabled Artists Networking Community

DANC is a space to network, create projects and partnerships and to discuss how together we can work to encourage change.

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Guerrilla Filmmaking for the YouTube Generation

An exploration of what makes this current digital generation tick and how to access You Tube's huge audiences with the most basic equipment in the…

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Yes Man: New Digital Sound Commission

During Push 2019 you'll be able to download and listen to the new commissioned work Yes Man here on the website.

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See My Dunya Exhibition Launch

An evening of DJs, poetry, and live music from HMD, Elmi Ali, Yusra Warsama and more to celebrate the launch of See My Dunya: See…

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Push Festival 2019 Launch Party

Come along to celebrate the start of Push Festival 2019! Get a first look at the festival exhibitions, see extracts from festival performances and see…

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Outside The Frame Arts presents

Cuts of the Cloth

Evoking the dystopian feel of A Handmaid’s Tale and George Orwell’s 1984, Cuts of the Cloth is a disturbing portrayal of a Muslim woman caught in the net of the…

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Alicja Mrozowska: Unpacking

Unpacking sheds light on emotional complexities of migration, family and identity that come together when visiting ‘home’.

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Panel Discussion: DIY Education; Creating Your Own Career Path In The Arts

Wediscuss the pros and cons (and inevitable ups and downs) of a DIY arts education with those who have first-hand experience and those leading pioneering…

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House of Ghetto & Gemma Parker presents

The Hidden Pin Up

House of Ghetto team up with artist Gemma Parker to look at the fetishisation of the black female body, from the hidden history of the…

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Lettuce Laugh Comedy presents

Rachel Fairburn + Hayley Ellis

Double bill from two of the region's best up & coming comedians with their hit Edinburgh Fringe shows.

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Talk: Cheryl Martin

For this talk, Cheryl Martin will discuss the ideas and methods behind the creation of raw, honest, autobiographical solo shows.

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Intelligent Design Workshop: Big Ideas for Small Vans

Manchester-based theatre company Box of Tricks host a 90-minute workshop exploring the creative relationship between director and designer when working on small-scale theatre.

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Mothers Who Make: January 2019

Join us for our peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers,…

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Nwando Ebizie: Distorted Constellations

Distorted Constellations is an immersive sensory environment inspired by artist Nwando Ebizie.

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Sheba Arts presents

Dance Away the Spiders

Dance Away the Spiders is a metaphor for the painful situations from which there seem to be no escape - a physical piece that explores trauma,…

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Propel

Start the new year by empowering yourself with a delicious evening of female performance. From the weird and the wacky to the northern and the…

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Indoors Too Much presents

Learning to Swim on an Ironing Board

Learning To Swim On An Ironing Board is the story of getting better at not getting better, therapeutic eavesdropping (not a widely used therapeutic tool,…

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Filmmaker in Focus: Aaron Dunleavy

Aaron will share his experience and learning so far, including how to get the best of your film’s protagonists, the differences between working on your…

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Mighty Heart Theatre presents

BINGE!

BINGE! is a full-bodied show about the strength of women, made from researching and soul searching. A show about finding your voice and speaking your…

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Propel 2.0

We're very excited to be hosting our very first Propel scratch night on the Theatre 1 stage, bringing work up to a bigger platform and…

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Women in Film & Broadcast Meet-up

Informal networking session to meet up with fellow female creatives involved in making or curating films, TV or any moving image work.

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Young Identity presents

Imprint

Imprint is an honest and introspective exploration of humanity, using poetry and theatre.

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Slate Social: Jan 2019

Slate Social is a place to meet other artists of colour in an informal setting. Whatever art form you’re working in, whether you’re starting out…

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Angels

A living, breathing, fanzine celebrating our No.1 angel, Charli XCX.

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Queer Artist Talking Circle

We invite anyone who is queer and creative in any way, or would like to be, to join our diverse and welcoming posse.

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Fat Girl Singing Workshop: Music and Body Image

Come and join musician, writer and performer Emma Geraghty for a relaxed discussion and some music-based activities where we’ll chat about body image, self-care, and…

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Most Wanted Theatre presents

Life By The Throat

Life by the Throat is the story of one man’s life from birth to death, written and performed by a woman.

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Chanje Kunda presents

Plant Fetish

Some women in Mexico, fed up with men, are getting married to trees. This inspired performance artist Chanje Kunda to fall in love with plants.

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Most Wanted Theatre presents

Walk the Dog

A script in hand reading of Eve Steele’s new play.

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Streaming & Filming Panel Discussion: Capturing Live Performance

Join a panel of industry professionals to hear the latest expert advice on capturing your live performances

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Writing for Fundraising

Learn the essential skills in writing for fundraising and how to create a strong and persuasive funding application.

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Platform Manchester: Empowerment

See the best Manchester choreographers showcase their hip-hop theatre work in Platform Manchester, celebrating the huge amount of talent to be found in our city.

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Workshop: Unpacking

Create your own piece of art inspired by the practice and themes in Alicja Mrozowska’s exhibition Unpacking.

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Babel Theatre presents

The Fall

Award-winning physical theatre company Babel Theatre present the beginnings of their next show, an original piece of contemporary theatre about how we dream and how…

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Mighty Heart Theatre: Cheerleading Chinwag

Join Mighty Heart Theatre and an all-female identifying panel to chew the fat and chat about the realities of working in the arts.

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Photography: It’s Your Business

Are you a photographer embarking on a professional career in photography? Join Paul Herrmann, Director of Redeye - The Photography Network, as he shares his…

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