Guest Blog: Lisa-Marie Hoctor Talks HOME Manchester's River Stage Takeover

This weekend, the Northerners are in town. Manchester comes to the National Theatre and with it is a celebration of the melting pot which is our glorious Northern city.

If you check out the line-up for HOME Manchester's National Theatre River Stage takeover, you'll see why Manchester is a city full of HEART and HOPE, and why it attracts such a diverse community of folk.

"This is Manchester, we do things differently here." Those infamous Tony Wilson words reverberate around our city. That city has seen some big changes recently, including the multi-arts centre HOME, which is situated on - wait for it - Tony Wilson Place. Northerners are loyal, you've got to love that.

HOME stands for Home Of Manchester Entertainment, which is why they are a perfect ally for this summer's River Stage curations, bringing a bundle of Northern artists to the South Bank.

HOME is exactly that: a home for artists to explore their potential, a sanctuary for creative risks, an open door and a cup of tea when you need it. It took one email to HOME for me to realise that maybe the community-led, gentle protest, social change work Mighty Heart Theatre longed to make did have...a home.

We believe that stories have the power to change the world and we are on a mission to empower communities across the North to connect, share, listen and celebrate their uniqueness. We're not big or showy, and we're using our working-class resourcefulness to create DIY social change.

So, for a spirit of resilience, community and hope look no further than the South Bank this weekend. A generous ensemble of performers awaits, eager to lift you up, nourish your soul and share the spirit of Manchester with you. There's poetry, dance, cabaret, comedy, theatre, DJs, and a brass band playing Hacienda classics to fill you up!

Here's a closer look at this weekend's HOME River Stage line-up...

On Friday, the sequin-clad satirical Bourgeois and Maurice invite us into their world. A highly theatrical kaleidoscope of current affairs, moral confusion and slippery social commentary, they write songs that we guarantee will stick in your head. They're funny and sharp, and spending Friday evening with them will be a riot. Legendary Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam then takes over spinning mad tracks, so make sure you bring your dancing shoes. You can even borrow our glow sticks.

Saturday begins with the gleeful Jukeboxes, re-creating classic pop music videos in a lip-syncing musical medley. Audiences are encouraged to sing or dance along with the show; whatever your age, there's a little something for everyone. Carry on in to Saturday afternoon with spoken word and poetry warriors Pen:Chant, and enjoy the lyrical flow of stand-up Northerner Kate Fox, plus special guests.

Another Saturday highlight is Aziz Ibrahim and Dalbir Singh Rattan's bringing their signature Asian-Mancunian guitar playing and songwriting to the South Bank. It's a beautiful Mancunian mash-up, the weaving of different cultures and the emergence of a new Asian-Blues sound.

Finish Saturday on a 1989 high with In Bed With My Brother's immersive theatrical rave We Are Ian - peppered with recordings of conversations the company have had with Ian and scored by buzzing 80s and 90s tracks.

Sunday begins with a Voguing masterclass - you better work! Keep it moving with Mr Wilson's Second Liners, who bring their colourful street theatre extravaganza, brass instruments and New Orleans vibes. There's a theatre-gig revolution in Little Soldier's production of Derailed and the thrilling Boy Blue's hip hop summer party.

Sandwiched between these world-changing artists you'll find us, Mighty Heart Theatre, collecting verbatim stories from the public, introducing our adorable 89-year-old puppet Bob, and conjuring some good old-fashioned community spirit with a game of Hopeful Bingo. We even have verbatim prizes for the winners..

See you there!

HOME Manchester's weekend takeover is 4-6 August at the National Theatre's River Stage. All events are free - find full details here

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