The Home We Made – HOME, Manchester

Co-creators & Directors: Chloe Barlow & Joshua Wilkinson

This original piece of theatre is a love letter to Manchester. Hearing the real accounts of people who belong in Manchester feels heartfelt and organic.

The play focuses on three main characters. Demereece Green, Elizabeth Cameron, and Verity Walker-Sherrif all play themselves and tell their stories in their own words. The show centres on a theme of belonging, which shines through from the very start. It encourages audiences to reflect on their own sense of belonging and places value on the groups where people most feel themselves. It asks the question: what does “home” mean?

Demereece Green tells the audience, with passion, what it means to be part of an online gaming community. He appears confident and authentic, drawing the audience in with his presence on stage. His virtual community is contrasted with the physical sense of belonging found in craft groups, choirs, and women’s groups, as portrayed by Verity and Elizabeth. One engaging moment in the production occurs when supporting actors enter the stage carrying illuminated lanterns made by the craft club.

The performance loses its way slightly once the three main monologues conclude. Actors enter the stage and dance, leading into a lengthy monologue focused on dancing and clubs. This section feels disconnected from the earlier part of the performance.

What elevates this production into a piece of art is its use of a digital set and projection. The audience is welcomed by screens on stage shaped like a home. The projected images show the three houses of the main characters and are used throughout the performance to display images and footage of the groups discussed in the monologues. A particular highlight is the footage of the clubs supported by the Home from HOME community programme, especially the young people speaking about their experiences of Manchester. This footage feels authentic and engaging.

Overall, the production requires some polishing and improved pacing, but its heart is clearly present and its message comes through. The sense of community is palpable, and an authentic vision of Manchester is presented for all to see. That the production is created by Home from HOME community groups and local artists makes it a special project. Home from HOME’s mission to reduce isolation through art is at the core of this show.

Runs until Saturday 31st January 2026