Brand new online works in response to the Coronavirus outbreak and created in isolation will allow viewers to experience innovative artistry for our times – commissioned by HOME as part of their Homemakers Series, with projects from Bryony Kimmings, Ad Infinitum, Plaster Cast Theatre and Chris Thorpe & Yusra Warsama the first to be announced.

HOME

Plunge into an immersive creative experience… without leaving the house! The Homemakers series is specially designed to invite artists to create work in isolation to share online with an audience also isolated by the Coronavirus lockdown – leading to a remarkable shared isolation, as well as an inspiring encounter in itself! The works will go on sale via the HOME website on 1 May and most will be able to be experienced from the same day!

What does this include? A Small Gathering is the title of a series of video shorts presented by Ad Infinitum, a creative company who are no strangers to thinking outside the box within their thought-provoking work. This will be an additionally special experience as A Small Gathering marks the first time the company have worked with film; creating a surreal experience laced with black humour and sure to enchant audiences.

Meanwhile, loneliness in lockdown and turbulent emotions are at the centre of Bryony Kimmings’ I’m falling in love with you and it’s making me do stupid things… looking at single life during this time of isolation, though these are themes likely to be resonating with many. The audience will join Bryony (pictured below) as a night in lockdown unfolds, following the course of finding an email address of a potential lover and the subsequent identities that can unravel in all of us as we appeal for closeness at a time of being lonely. Flicking through stereotypes, from flirtation to desperation and everything in-between, this is set to be a thought-provoking consideration of how a craving for closeness can alter our behaviour… even take us by surprise.

Bryony Kimmings

There is a game to play at home too! How? Chris Thorpe and Yusra Warsama have created Tell Me, a game (emailed as a PDF) designed to be played by two friends who join the experience virtually if in lockdown separately, or in-person if locked down together! Tell Me will reveal hidden aspects and angles to friendship, including what we really know about another person and inviting us to consider what we may make up or assume.

These are works that respond to the uncertainties and yet unity in these unstable times, with real variety. Plaster Cast Theatre’s commission, titled Homelands, explores the consequences of life as we know it turned upside down… and puts participants at the centre! In a limited series of 50 hand-written short stories set in a range of imagined worlds and sent by post to ticket-holders, Plaster Cast Theatre invite participants to play with upheaval themselves: able to choose which world they enter into depending on their mood. This is imaginative exploration at the cutting-edge, and sure to be popular.

And that is not all! Further works as part of the Homemakers series will be announced, including a piece by Javaad Alipoor, plus the results of three open-call commissions, as well as details of additional National commissioning partners.

According to Kevin Jamieson, Head of Programme at HOME:

“In these very challenging times performing art venues can’t operate as business as usual. Our Homemakers project allows us to commission new work from a diverse array of live art makers from all over the country to explore new ways of making art that continues to push boundaries. These projects will range from playful to thoughtful, interactive to personal, and we are looking forward to finding out how theatre can continue to connect people, artists and audiences in these isolating times.”

Experience the works for yourself  from Friday 1 May, when they will be available via the HOME website on a 'pay-what-you-can’ basis, with ticket prices available at levels from free to £100.  Accessibility will also be embraced, as HOME strives to make the series as accessible to as many people as possible, with measures taken to provide audio description, captioning and relaxed options where appropriate. All financial contributions will be divided equally, with half going to the artists involved and the other half re-invested into HOME’s Response Fund, which was set up in the wake of the announcement that arts venues across the country would close due to the Coronavirus. The fund means that HOME can continue to secure its financial stability and go forward supporting and involving artists in ever-innovative ways… an inspiring thing in its own right, as the support behind the Response Fund meant that Homemakers could be announced less than a week after HOME confirmed it would have to temporarily close to the public.

For more information, visit the HOME website:https://homemcr.org/article/homemakers-tickets-may-1/

By Emily Oldfield 

Images provided by HOME