Electronic Sound Past, Present and Future: Delia Derbyshire Day 2025
The tenth anniversary of Manchester-based charity Delia Derbyshire Day celebrates the unique work and legacy of this electronic music pioneer. Join us for an array of family-friendly creative activities. Be inspired, play with weird and wonderful sounds, and experience new artworks that reflect this fascinating heritage. Delia’s most famous work was the original Doctor Who theme in 1963, and her archive is based in Manchester.
Drop-in activities/displays:
- Listening stations with creative electronic music by Delia Derbyshire and other pioneers
- Play a game inspired by Delia’s music-making with Morse Code
- Play with dreamy sounds and effects with Flowfal motion control accessible tech
- Enjoy a hands on tape demo by North West Sound Archive
- Explore some of the heritage of the Delia Derbyshire Archive
- Create your own art and 3d models at the crafts station
- Enjoy the quiet space with sensory/low stimulation listening and hands on creative activities
- Explore new creative commissions available to listen to/view
Performances/screening:
2:30pm – Live audio-visual performance of ‘Glimmers’ – a collaborative 2025 commission by Zolatec (music) & hippiezilla (visuals). A 10 minute piece about resilience, hope and inspired by Delia’s playful spirit and innovative approach to sound.
3pm – Screening of ‘Daydreams’ (1972, 8 mins) – Delia Derbyshire composed the soundtrack for this experimental short film by Madelon Hooykaas and Elsa Stansfield. The film will be introduced by Madelon Hooykaas herself!
3:30pm – Live audio-visual performance of ‘Glimmers’ – a collaborative 2025 commission by Zolatec (music) & hippiezilla (visuals). A 10 minute piece about resilience, hope and inspired by Delia’s playful spirit and innovative approach to sound.
This event is supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Library Live at Manchester Central Library, Northwest Sound Archive, John Rylands Library
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
