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
Push Festival 2019 is supported by The Edwin Fox Charitable Trust
#Push2019
If you are in France, check the Catalogue Carrefour page for shopping!
In this festival
Opportunities
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.
Opportunities
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…
Opportunities
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…
Opportunities
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
Opportunities
Propel: Artist Call-Out
Propel is a platform for artists across the country to try out new ideas.
Opportunities
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,…
Opportunities
PUSH Festival 2019 Festival Assistant Internship
Be part of Push Festival 2019.
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…
Guest blog
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…
Staff blog
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...
News
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…
Blogs
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...
Art
#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…
Previously in this Festival
event
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…
Cinema
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.
event
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…
event
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…
Exhibition
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…
Theatre
Dorna Arts presentsEye 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…
Theatre
Collectif and then presentsFram & Dunt
An hour of dancing, music, spinning & silliness, in a show that explores death, dreams & deep space.
Cinema
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.
event
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.
Theatre
Emma Geraghty presentsFat Girl Singing
A funny & compelling anthem for those who have ever felt that their body is up for debate.
Theatre
Gareth Cutter presentsCome Closer
A queer dreamscape of pulsing music & neon shadows where the story of a lone figure unfurls...
Exhibition
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.
event
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…
Cinema
Push Virtual Reality Cinema
A virtual reality programme exploring different facets of VR’s artistic potential; from storytelling to presence and emotion.
event
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.
event
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…
event
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.
event
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…
event
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…
Theatre
Outside The Frame Arts presentsCuts 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…
Exhibition
Alicja Mrozowska: Unpacking
Unpacking sheds light on emotional complexities of migration, family and identity that come together when visiting ‘home’.
event
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…
Theatre
House of Ghetto & Gemma Parker presentsThe 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…
Theatre
Lettuce Laugh Comedy presentsRachel Fairburn + Hayley Ellis
Double bill from two of the region's best up & coming comedians with their hit Edinburgh Fringe shows.
event
Talk: Cheryl Martin
For this talk, Cheryl Martin will discuss the ideas and methods behind the creation of raw, honest, autobiographical solo shows.
event
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.
event
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,…
Exhibition
Nwando Ebizie: Distorted Constellations
Distorted Constellations is an immersive sensory environment inspired by artist Nwando Ebizie.
Theatre
Sheba Arts presentsDance 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,…
Theatre
Indoors Too Much presentsLearning 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,…
event
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…
Theatre
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…
event
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.
event
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…
event
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.
event
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…
Theatre
Most Wanted Theatre presentsLife 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.
Theatre
Chanje Kunda presentsPlant 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.
Theatre
Most Wanted Theatre presentsWalk the Dog
A script in hand reading of Eve Steele’s new play.
event
Streaming & Filming Panel Discussion: Capturing Live Performance
Join a panel of industry professionals to hear the latest expert advice on capturing your live performances
event
Writing for Fundraising
Learn the essential skills in writing for fundraising and how to create a strong and persuasive funding application.
Theatre
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.
event
Workshop: Unpacking
Create your own piece of art inspired by the practice and themes in Alicja Mrozowska’s exhibition Unpacking.
event
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.
event
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…