HOME marks ten years as Manchester's home for theatre, film and art

When HOME opened in May 2015, Manchester gained a new kind of arts centre: a single building where international theatre, independent film and contemporary art sit side by side. Ten years on, the venue at 2 Tony Wilson Place has become one of the city's most familiar cultural meeting points.

HOME was formed from the merger of two much-loved Manchester institutions, Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company. The new building, designed by the Dutch practice Mecanoo for Manchester City Council, was officially opened by film director Danny Boyle on 21 May 2015, and more than 25,000 people came through the doors over the opening weekend.

Inside, the building holds two theatres, five cinema screens and around 500 square metres of gallery space, along with rehearsal rooms and a bookshop. That mix means a single visit can take in a matinee, a foreign-language film and an exhibition, with plenty of people doing exactly that.

The anniversary year has given HOME a chance to look back on what it has achieved. Since opening, it has welcomed more than four million visitors, a figure that speaks to how quickly the centre settled into the life of the city and the wider region.

The 2025 theatre season showed the range the venue is known for. It included Kim's Convenience, a brand-new live adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest from theatre-maker Emma Rice, and a new musical adaptation of Coraline, bringing well-known stories to the stage in fresh ways.

HOME also continues to champion artists from closer to home. Its PUSH Festival, an annual celebration of creative talent from across the North West, returned as part of the season, giving emerging and established local makers a platform in one of the city's flagship venues.

The centre sits within the First Street area, part of the council's regeneration of this corner of the city centre, a short walk from Oxford Road and Deansgate. For many Mancunians it has become a natural place to meet friends before a film or linger after a show.

Programmes for theatre, cinema and exhibitions are published on HOME's website, where tickets can be booked online. It is well worth checking what is on before you visit, as the screens and stages change regularly.