Manchester's new arts complex, HOME, has announced its opening programme for May 2015.
HOME's new building, part of the First Street North development off Whitworth Street West around Oxford Road Station, will bring together the independent cinema and art exhibitions of Cornerhouse with the live performance of the Library Theatre Company under one roof and one organisation.
The opening bank holiday weekend, starting on Thursday 21 May 2015, reflects all of these artforms. In theatre, Walter Meierjohann will direct a new version by Simon Stephens of Kasimir and Karoline by Ödön von Horvárth titled The Funfair.
In visual arts, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things will be a group exhibition exploring the dark side of the funfair co-curated by Sarah Perks and Omar Kholeif. In film, the year-long Music and Film project, featuring Manchester-based musical talent performing original scores alongside artist film, archive footage and silent film, will be launched.
Prior to this, internationally acclaimed choreographer Hofesh Shechter will present the first section of a new three-part evening of short works created by him for his company throughout 2015, with a working title of The Bad. This co-commission with Sadler's Wells in London and several other European theatres will be the first performance in HOME's largest performance space when it runs from 30 April to 2 May 2015.
Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo and built by Wates Construction, the new building features a 500-seat theatre, a 150-seat flexible theatre, a 500m2, 4m high gallery space, five cinema screens, digital production and broadcast facilities and a café bar and restaurant.
HOME's director and chief executive Dave Moutrey said, "this gives a little taste of our artistic ambition for HOME when it opens in May next year.
"We’ll be a HOME for everyone, staging challenging and critically engaged art, yet connected with our city and communities.
"Our opening will introduce audiences to new and extraordinary experiences of outstanding art and show off to the world just what is possible in our beautiful new building."
Councillor Rosa Battle, Executive Member Culture and Leisure, Manchester City Council added, "the opening of HOME marks the newest high-profile addition to Manchester's renowned cultural scene, a scene that brings with it huge economic benefits and is a big part of what makes the city a place that people want to live, work and invest in.
"Its unique location in the heart of First Street has been a catalyst for the creation of a new cultural and commercial quarter that is fast developing in the surrounding area, and that looks set to bring even more jobs and further investment into the city."