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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260514T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260514T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20260429T094434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T094434Z
UID:13553-1778781600-1778787000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Manchester: One City\, Many Voices
DESCRIPTION:Join the Manchester Lit&Phil and MACFEST for a vibrant evening celebrating the power of words to bridge cultures\, spark understanding\, and illuminate the rich tapestry of our city. \nWe bring together a distinguished panel of poets\, whose award-winning works span continents\, traditions\, and lived experiences. \nThrough live readings and personal reflections our guest writers will explore what diversity and inclusion truly mean in a city shaped by migration\, creativity\, and community. Their stories – rooted in memory\, identity\, struggle\, joy\, and hope – offer a compelling portrait of Manchester as a place where many cultures not only coexist\, but flourish. \nThis unique event invites audiences to reflect on the ways literature can build empathy and connection\, celebrating Manchester as an exemplar of multiculturalism at its best. Come prepared to be inspired\, challenged\, and uplifted by voices that reflect the city’s past\, present\, and ever-evolving future. \nThis is a free public event\, designed to welcome audiences from all backgrounds and to highlight the unifying power of literature and the spoken word. There will be time for discussion and questions to the poets. \nPoets and Writers (photos below listed in the following order): \n\nNasima Bee\, performance poet\, producer and creative practitioner\nNóra Blascsok\, Hungarian poet based in Manchester\, one of the Manchester Multilingual City Poets in 2025\nPamela Galloway\, poet based in Canada and Manchester\nPeter Kalu\, poet\, fiction writer and playwright\n\nFor more information and biographies of the speakers visit Manchester Lit&Phil website.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/manchester-one-city-many-voices/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MacFest_2018.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260217T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260217T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20260121T190748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T190748Z
UID:12626-1771351200-1771356600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with special guest Zena Barrie.
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Zena Barrie. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 3rd February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come\, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur first special guest of 2026\, Zena Barrie\, lives in Manchester and is the founder and co-director of Camden Fringe. She co-hosted the award-winning spoken word night Verbose\, and ran the Gtr Manchester Fringe for a few years\, the King’s Arms Pub and Theatre in Salford\, and the Etcetera Theatre in Camden\, as well as working in a wide variety of roles at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her novel\, Your Friend Forever\, was published in 2021\, and her book of short stories\, Two Similar Looking Men with Umbilical Hernias\, illustrated by Claire Robinson\, was published in 2025.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-special-guest-zena-barrie/
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Feb-2026.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251204T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251204T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20251030T141003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T141259Z
UID:12035-1764871200-1764876600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Book Launch: Spit & Sawdust by Kieren King
DESCRIPTION:Join Great Northern Poetry Slam Champion Kieren King for the launch of his new collection. Including an author performance\, interview\, Q&A\, and book signing. \nPull up a stool\, mind your pint\, and drink in perfectly pitched poetry from the Great Northern Slam champion and four-time UK National Slam finalist. \nWith poems of pubs\, politics\, love\, and life in Salford\, Kieren King’s first solo collection is funny\, fearless\, and unapologetically Northern – poetry that belongs as much in the bar as on the bookshelf. \nFREE EVENT\, EVERYONE WELCOME. \n“Stunning.” Adam Farrer \n“Wonderful.” Mike Garry \n“Beautiful.” Oliver James Lomax \n“Alive with craft\, wit\, and spirit.” Reece Williams \n“The best of working-class poetry.” Louise Fazackerley \nFlapjack Press: flapjackpress.co.uk
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/book-launch-spit-sawdust-by-kieren-king/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Book Launch,Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/KK02-BL.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251125T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251125T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20251030T140214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T140243Z
UID:12029-1764093600-1764099000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Kieren King. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 11th November via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. N.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer\, it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come\, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest Kieren King is a Salfordian spoken word artist\, a four-time UK National Slam finalist\, and a Great Northern Poetry Slam champion. He was a host of Bang Said the Gun: Manchester\, and the creative mind behind the acclaimed spoken word nights Slamchester\, Evidently\, and the Word War slams. He has featured on BBC Radio 4\, performed for Musicians Without Borders and Amnesty International\, and at the Kendal Calling\, Edinburgh Fringe\, and Glastonbury festivals. Kieren has also been a special guest at former NME journalist and Haçienda DJ Dave Haslam’s Not Quite Light Weekender\, and been commissioned by Guy Garvey of Elbow to curate a spoken word event for Meltdown at the Southbank Centre\, by Sky to write and perform a poem to launch their channel Blaze\, and by Salford Red Devils Rugby League FC to celebrate their appearance in the Super League Grand Final. His new poetry collection\, Spit & Sawdust\, was published in September by Flapjack Press. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a performance poet\, playwright and workshop facilitator. Raised in Crawley by English and South African parents\, he has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre\, whilst his solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Tony has recently toured his solo show Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short (Flapjack Press\, 2012)\, at the Brighton Fringe and Chorlton Arts festivals.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-16/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WORD-CENTRAL-LOGO-jpg.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250930T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250930T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250902T131224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250902T131224Z
UID:11671-1759255200-1759260600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Lisa Moore. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 16th September via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come\, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest Lisa Moore is a Salford-born spoken word artist\, actor\, writer\, and scriptwriter whose work blends sharp humour with bold feminist themes. Her debut poetry collection\, And She Dances (Big White Shed\, 2023)\, has been praised by leading voices including Henry Normal\, Kate Fox\, and Ellen Taylor. She is now preparing to publish her second collection\, Pickled Women\, and will feature her full Pickled Women show at Morecambe Poetry Festival 2025. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a performance poet\, playwright and workshop facilitator. Raised in Crawley by English and South African parents\, he has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre\, whilst his solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Tony has recently toured his solo show Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short (Flapjack Press\, 2012)\, at the Brighton Fringe and Chorlton Arts festivals.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-15/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Publication1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250729T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250729T200000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250702T115302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T115302Z
UID:11281-1753812000-1753819200@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central 9th Birthday!!
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \n‘Now We Are Nine’ birthday celebration. \nTuesday 29th July\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm\, at Manchester Central Library\, St Peter’s Square\, Manchester M2 5PD. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Angela Smith. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 15th July via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come\, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest Angela Smith is Welsh by birth but has lived in Hulme long enough to be a Mancunian by adoption\, with her poetry influenced by both the Valleys and the city. She began writing at the age of 7\, but stopped for decades when a burglar stole her notebooks and her Muse. Inspired to begin writing again by online friends and the welcoming Manchester poetry scene\, she has poems in numerous anthologies and the published collection This Is the Me I Would Be If I Dared. Angela loves to play with form and style\, as can be seen in her blog here. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a performance poet\, playwright and workshop facilitator. Raised in Crawley by English and South African parents\, he has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre\, whilst his solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Tony has recently toured his solo show Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short (Flapjack Press\, 2012)\, at the Brighton Fringe and Chorlton Arts festivals. \n@WordCentralMcr
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-9th-birthday/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WORD-CENTRAL-LOGO-jpg.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250624T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250624T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250612T102142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T102142Z
UID:11139-1750788000-1750793400@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Kim Moore. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 10th June via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come\, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest Kim Moore is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and hosts a monthly reading series for Wordsworth Grasmere\, as well as running regular writing workshops for young people and adults. She has won an Eric Gregory Award\, the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize\, and the Ledbury Poetry Competition. Her first full length collection\, The Art of Falling (Seren 2015)\, won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and her second collection\, All the Men I Never Married (Seren\, 2021)\, won the Forward Prize for Best Collection. Kim has also been a judge for the Forward Prize and the National Poetry Competition\, and her work has been translated into many languages as part of the Versopolis project. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a performance poet\, playwright and workshop facilitator. Raised in Crawley by English and South African parents\, he has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre\, whilst his solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. Tony has recently toured his solo show Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short (Flapjack Press\, 2012)\, at the Brighton Fringe and Chorlton Arts Festival. \n@WordCentralMcr
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-14/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kim-Moore-Profile-Photo-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250608T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250608T160000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250508T111836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250508T124803Z
UID:10918-1749384000-1749398400@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Festival of Libraries Sunday Funday!
DESCRIPTION:Join us at Central Library for a special Sunday opening as we celebrate the final day of Festival of Libraries 2025. Expect special performances\, music\, exhibitions\, craft sessions\, and lots of fun for all ages! \nHighlights include:  \nOut of this World! 2pm – 3.30pm   \n \nJoin Wendy from Daresbury Laboratory and Dan Worsley\, children’s author and performance storyteller as they embarks on an extra special\, extraterrestrial storytelling journey. Dan will weave fact and fiction to prove that with a bit of imagination\, anything really is possible. A guaranteed out-of-this-world storytelling experience!  \nTickets are for Out of this World are free but limited and can be pre-booked here. \nStorytime Fun with Simon the Storyteller 12.30pm-1.15pm and 2.30pm-3.15pm \n \nCome and join Simon the Storyteller for fun interactive family story sessions. The sessions will include songs\, games\, parachute play and lots and lots of bubbles. These stories are great fun for all the family and will get everyone up on their feet singing and dancing.  \nSimon’s sessions will be at 12:30 and 2:30 and will last for 45 mins each. No booking required. \n‘The Space’ presents a Virtual Reality experience!!  \n \n\nWallace and Gromit Game\nThe Philharmonia’s Lark Ascending: A spellbinding 360 performance of Vaughan Williams’s piece\, featuring Nicola Benedetti.\nBerlin Blitz\nMonoliths – exploring England’s Northern landscape\n\nThere’ll also be crafts galore\, face painting fun\, activities for all and time to relax in the magical children’s library. \nFree. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online \n 
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/festival-of-libraries-sunday-funday-2/
CATEGORIES:Art,Family,Performance,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Simon-the-Storyteller-cropped.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250607T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250607T143000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250506T115914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T140350Z
UID:10915-1749304800-1749306600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:‘Threads’ by Coalesce Dance Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Threads is a poignant and powerful story about mental health\, friendship and identity. This latest work from Coalesce Dance Theatre uses stories from young people across the North of England to delicately weave together an emotive and uplifting contemporary dance and physical theatre performance about growing into adulthood.\nthreads turns the spotlight on mental health and how important friendship and support can be when it comes to navigating adolescence. \nPerformed amongst tossed away clothes\, and a large wardrobe structure\, two dancers use a highly physical movement language to connect and explore their intertwined experiences. \nCoalesce invites audiences to experience this socially urgent new work\, threads. \nEveryone is welcome but most suited to audiences 14+. Tickets are free\, the performance will take place in the performance space at Manchester Central Library. \nFree tickets – click ‘Book Now’ below or book here \nPlease consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/threads-by-coalesce-dance-theatre/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Dance,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/threads-coalesce-theatre.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250604T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250604T190000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250506T114642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T140031Z
UID:10908-1749034800-1749063600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:The Embassy of Utopia 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Embassy of Utopia came to Manchester Central Library in June 2024 as part of Festival of Libraries for its UK premiere\, and was a collaboration between Manchester UNESCO City of Literature and Capital of Culture 2024 Tartu UNESCO City of Literature. Due to popular demand\, we are running this event again for Festival of Libraries 2025.\nArtist and writer David Hartley will host over 60 performances during this year’s Embassy of Utopia event\, where bold individuals and community groups have been invited to share reflections on the theme of eco-futures and ecology in the broadest sense. Performances from members of Fuse Manchester and Muslim Social Justice Initiative\, our very own multilingual city poet Nóra Blascsók\, community members from the Let’s Talk Rochdale group\, international artists from Quebec and Nanjing\, and work developed via a special collaboration with the Sonder Radio Community will be programmed throughout the day. Expect storytelling\, academic reflections\, poetry\, music\, and more. \nPlease note that no hate speech will be tolerated and that there will be photography on the day. \nFree – click ‘Book Now’ below or book here \nPlease consider making a donation to support our Library Live programme here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/the-embassy-of-utopia-2025/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/embassy-of-utopia.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250429T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250429T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250402T175800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250402T175800Z
UID:10796-1745949600-1745955000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with Dominic Berry
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Dominic Berry. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 15th April via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest this April is Dominic Berry\, a Manchester-based performance poet renowned for his eloquent yet uncompromising stage shows and a desire to confront inequality. Dominic’s work has taken him across the continents of Europe\, Asia\, North and South America\, and Australasia. He has been Glastonbury Festival’s poet in residence\, won Manchester Literature Festival’s Superheroes of Slam and New York’s famous Nuyorican Poets’ Café Slam\, and has also twice been publicly voted Sabotage Review’s Best UK Spoken Word Performer. \nDominic’s new collection of selected poems\, How Can I Be Now?\, is published by Flapjack Press and available now. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nFREE EVENT. EVERYONE WELCOME. \n \n 
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-dominic-berry/
LOCATION:Seminar Suite\, Floor Two
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Dom-Berry.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250325T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250325T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250225T112819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T112819Z
UID:10516-1742925600-1742931000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with guest poet Lateral G!
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nTuesday 25th March\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Lateral G. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 11th March via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nPolitical\, quirky and authentic\, our special guest Lateral G tells stories of life from her downwardly mobile perspective\, with wry observations on society\, ageing\, and the general impossibility of living well in a capitalist system. It’s an engaging combination of serious stuff\, with an amusing performance. A nomadic traveller\, she lives on the road and has recently returned from a solo winter in southern Europe for a spring and summer of poetry events\, festivals and slams all over the North and as far south as the Midlands. You can keep up with her at lateralg.co.uk. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-guest-poet-lateral-g/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/lateral-g.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250225T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250225T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250204T150034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250206T114343Z
UID:10218-1740506400-1740511800@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with Mike Garry!
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Mike Garry. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 11th February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nFebruary’s special guest Mike Garry is a poet\, librarian\, and Doctor of Education. He’s been writing poems from the age of 5 and reading them from the age of 35. He’s toured the world with John Cooper Clarke for 15 years\, and worked with the likes of New Order\, Philip Glass\, Orbital and Joe Duddell. Mike’s performances are unforgettable. His voice is a musical instrument and his words are strings oscillating. He has worked with The Cassia String Quartet for 10 years and released their first album last year. \n“A Genius” – Peter Saville \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nFree – just drop in
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-mike-garry/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mike-garry.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250222T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250222T150000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250205T154336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T091807Z
UID:10223-1740232800-1740236400@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Geologise Theatre: Chrissie and the Skiddle Witch
DESCRIPTION:Join us and Geologise Theatre for their unique blend of storytelling\, songs\, and science\, in this uplifting show about a family trying to adapt to a changing world. \nThirteen-year-old Chrissie is a budding climate change campaigner\, but her family just don’t get it! When a huge storm hits her seaside town of Skiddle\, Chrissie reluctantly gets roped into helping a strange old lady. To Chrissie’s surprise\, she finds an unlikely ally with a big secret. \n“A feel-good musical” **** British Theatre Guide. \n“A delightful production that we strongly recommend” **** Starburst Magazine \n“Lively all-age friendly songs” **** Broadway World \nSuitable for ages 8+ \nFree – booking advised below (a limited number of tickets may be available on the door but can’t be guaranteed) \nNote – you will receive an automated email confirmation for booked tickets – check your spam / junk folder if not in your inbox
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/geologise-theatre-chrissie-and-the-skiddle-witch/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LISTING-IMAGE-Chrissie-and-the-Skiddle-Witch-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250128T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250128T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20250109T154126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T122613Z
UID:10108-1738087200-1738092600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with Guest Poet Griot Gabriel!
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nTuesday 28th January\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm\, at Manchester Central Library\, St Peter’s Square\, Manchester M2 5PD. \nDoors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Griot Gabriel. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 14th January via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nJanuary’s special guest Griot Gabriel is a poet from Manchester whose upbringing is rooted in Black urban culture and Nigerian heritage. His poetry explores masculinity\, political discourse\, identity\, faith and spirituality\, and inner-city experiences and challenges in context to historical and current social issues. Griot is founder of The Poetry Place\, and in 2022 wrote and performed for Warner Bro’s. In 2023 he was commissioned to work with CHANEL\, exhibiting at the Metiers D’Art Show\, and performed at the Glastonbury and Manchester International Festivals. In 2024 he represented Manchester and came second in UNESCO’s International City of Literature Slamovision. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries \nFree – drop in
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-guest-poet-griot-gabriel/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/wc1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241029T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241029T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20241017T132938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241017T132938Z
UID:9677-1730224800-1730230200@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Oliver James Lomax. \nTuesday 29th October\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm. Doors open 5.40pm and free entry. \nOctober’s special guest Oliver James Lomax is a poet\, educator and trustee of Salford’s Working-Class Movement Library\, whose poems are now taught in schools. He has published 5 collections including The Dandelion Clock and Burial of the Cameo (‘Dammed fine poems\, full of emotional resonance and vivid imagery.’ Ian Rankin). Oliver has written poetry for film and television\, and in 2019 released his first spoken word single\, described by Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) as ‘An unholy hybrid of John Cooper Clarke and Mark E Smith.’ In 2023 he released his debut album\, Working-Class Love Poem\, which he is currently touring across the UK. \n‘Poems that dance with originality and are tenderly unafraid of love and belonging.’ Mark Thomas \n‘Beautifully written poems from a unique voice of integrity and spirit.’ Maxine Peake \nEvent host Tony Curry is a poet\, playwright\, and workshop facilitator who runs literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His work has been exhibited at Manchester’s museum and art galleries\, and his play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Contact Theatre. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. In 2024 he will be touring his new show\, Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short [Flapjack Press\, 2012]. \n‘Tony’s words make great music for the mind. Modern\, understandable\, smart\, real.’ Neil Bell \n‘This is our poetry\, these are our poems. They smell of home and friendship.’ Tony Walsh \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 15th October via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-13/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/and-again.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240924T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240924T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240829T103302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240829T103302Z
UID:9247-1727200800-1727206200@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with guest poet Steve Mingle!
DESCRIPTION:Word Central hosted by Tony Curry. \nOpen Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 10th September via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nSeptember’s special guest is Steve Mingle\, a retired actuary turned football author who first trespassed into spoken-word world in 2019. His favourite pastime is swearing at strangers and he’s been delighted to discover that if you do it from behind a microphone then some people will call it art. Steve’s output so far comprises seven books about Manchester City together with a recently released poetry anthology\, More Poems About Rucksacks and Phones. Amongst this collection’s visceral rants and absurdist humour can be found traces of gentle nostalgia together with affectionate tributes to some of his heroes. However\, any temptation to suggest that he’s going soft in his old age should be strongly resisted. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a poet\, playwright\, and workshop facilitator who runs literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His work has been exhibited at Manchester’s museum and art galleries\, and his play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Contact Theatre. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. In 2024 he will be touring his new show\, Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short [Flapjack Press\, 2012].
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-guest-poet-steve-mingle/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/flapjack-Sept24.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240827T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240827T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240730T101801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240730T101812Z
UID:8855-1724781600-1724787000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 13th August via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nAugust’s special guest is Cathy Crabb\, a playwright\, poet\, screenwriter\, journalist and lyricist from Oldham who has written more than thirty plays for the stage. Her works have run at theatres including HOMEmcr\, Oldham Coliseum\, Studio Salford and Manchester’s Library Theatre\, where she was the last living playwright to have a production staged at its original venue. Her playwriting awards include the 24/7 Theatre Festival Manchester Evening News Theatre Award and the Buxton Festival Best Comedy Award\, whilst her poetry features on sculptures by Emma Hunter at the former site of Elk Mill in Chadderton\, the last mill to be built in Lancashire. Cathy’s Selected Plays was published in 2024 by Flapjack Press. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a poet\, playwright\, and workshop facilitator who runs literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His work has been exhibited at Manchester’s museum and art galleries\, and his play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Contact Theatre. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. In 2024 he will be touring his new show\, Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-12/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Author Event,Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cathy-Crabb.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240730T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240730T190000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240703T164536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240703T164536Z
UID:8722-1722362400-1722366000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central hosted by Tony Curry. \nOpen Mic Poetry and Spoken Word Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 16th July via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nOur special guest for July is Dave Morgan\, a writer\, community educator\, and arts organiser in the North-West of England. He co-founded the performance poetry organisation Write Out Loud\, and curates events for the Bolton-based arts collective Live from Worktown. Dave is co-author of China: an integrated study [George G.Harrap & Co Ltd\, 1975]\, and has two poetry collections with Flapjack Press – Chuang Tse’s Caterpillar [2016]\, several poems from which have recently been translated into Tamil for South Asian journal Thalam Quarterly\, and On Not Being Observed\, which was published earlier this year. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a poet\, playwright\, and workshop facilitator who runs literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His work has been exhibited at Manchester’s museum and art galleries\, and his play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Contact Theatre. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. In 2024 he will be touring his new show\, Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short. \n 
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-11/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Dave_Morgan_photo_by_Julia_Uttley-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240423T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240423T200000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240313T093734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240313T093734Z
UID:8394-1713895200-1713902400@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open mic poetry and spoken word.  \nPresented by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest poet Andy Millican. \nOur guest for April is Andy Millican\, a multiple poetry competition winner who has had several poems broadcast on the BBC and is host of Glossop Open Mic at Glossop Labour Club. In 2018 he was invited to write and record a series of poems for the Hollingworth Lottery funded project Centenary Word War\, and has also collaborated with Stockport Art Guild and artist Mark Sheeky. His debut collection\, Nebulous\, was published in 2019\, raising money for Liverpool Eye Cancer Unit\, and his latest\, Something Wicked This Way Grows\, was published in 2023. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a poet\, playwright and workshop facilitator who runs literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His work has been exhibited at Manchester’s museum and art galleries\, and his play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Contact Theatre. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre\, and he will be gigging his new show\, Tall Tales for All Men\, adapted from his collection Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short throughout the latter half of 2024. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 9th April via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer. It is essential that you stay within this timeframe. Performance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-10/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WC-April-24.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240305T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240305T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240201T171358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240201T171531Z
UID:8149-1709661600-1709667000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with special guest Joe Williams
DESCRIPTION:Word Central open mic poetry and spoken word. \nPresented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries. \nHosted by Tony Curry. \nA free event every month at Manchester Central Library\, St Peter’s Square\, Manchester M2 5PD. \nNext event: Tuesday 5th March\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm (doors open 5.40pm). \nWith special guest Joe Williams. \nJoe Williams is the founder and host of Chemistry in Leeds and Words on the Wall in Hexham. His latest book\, The Taking Part [Maytree Press]\, is a short collection of poems on the theme of sport and games. His other work includes This is Virus\, a sequence of erasure poems made from Boris Johnson’s letter to the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic\, and the verse novella An Otley Run\, which was shortlisted in the 2019 Saboteur Awards. Despite all of that\, he is probably most widely read thanks to his contributions to Viz. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 20th February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. \nIf they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-special-guest-joe-williams/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/joe-w-pub-window-colour-lores.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240130T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240130T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20240103T143231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240103T143231Z
UID:8045-1706637600-1706643000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central open mic poetry and spoken word. Presented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries and hosted by Tony Curry. \nWith special guest Lisa O’Hare. \nLisa O’Hare was a 2023 BBC Words First finalist and is co-host of Verbose. Her work has been featured on BBC Radio Manchester and in the UN Women UK’s virtual Safe Spaces Now gallery. She performed her Saboteur Award nominated spoken word show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 after a successful run of shows at Greater Manchester\, Camden & Morecambe Fringe Festivals. She also runs the social media account ‘Community Poetry Officer’\, sharing poetry opportunities and events across the UK. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 16th January via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk. \nNB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe. \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. \nIf they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-9/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WC-Jan-2024.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231208T200000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231208T220000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20231018T134055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231113T141636Z
UID:7912-1702065600-1702072800@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Christmas with Elvis!
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a Rock ‘n’ Rolling Christmas Celebration with Manc Elvis and his Magical Band. \nManchester’s premier Elvis tribute act present an evening packed with greatest hits and Christmas classics to get you up and dancing all night! Including… \nThat’s Alright Mama\, Merry Christmas Baby\, Jailhouse Rock\, Santa Bring My Baby (Back to Me)\, Viva Las Vegas\, Blue Christmas\, Burning Love\, Devil in Disguise\, All Shook Up\, Wonder of You\, Suspicious Minds and loads more! \nBar open all evening. \nBook your tickets now to save £’s! \nEarly bird tickets are £6 + Eventbrite booking fee \nGroup tickets discount (4 tickets for the price of 3) are £18 + Eventbrite booking fee \nTickets on the night are £9 each.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/christmas-with-elvis/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Music,Party,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/mancelvispromo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231109T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231109T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20231017T120823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231030T141523Z
UID:7899-1699552800-1699558200@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:How to Find Where You Belong by Rose Condo
DESCRIPTION:AUTHOR PERFORMANCE AND BOOK SIGNING WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LISA O’HARE AND SHARINA LEE SATTI. \nTwenty years since moving from Canada to the UK\, critically-acclaimed and multi-award-winning poet Rose Condo considers the features\, facets and philosophies for determining a sense of belonging. \nThis collection explores community\, identity\, personal growth and societal wellbeing through compassion\, sharp political observation and finely honed humour. It is a love letter to home\, wherever you might find it. \n“Beautifully written and deeply inspiring. Rose takes you on her journey; a journey with elements that you too have walked or felt. A book of community\, of love and friendship.” — Sharena Lee Satti \n“The deft balance of touching sentiment and formal confidence makes these poems stand tall and demand attention – but so does the verve\, the humour\, the unbridled humanity of this work.” — Kevin P. Gilday \n“Transitions from charm\, warmth and humour to quietly devastating poignancy. Filled with wonderfully honest observations on the human experience\, this book belongs on every bookshelf.” — Lisa O’Hare \nFree – drop in. Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/how-to-find-where-you-belong-by-rose-condo/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Book Launch,Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rose.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231024T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231024T193000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20231002T125643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231002T125643Z
UID:7825-1698170400-1698175800@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central with special guest Jolivia Gaston
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word  \nPresented by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press \nCelebrating Black History Month\nTuesday 24th October\, 6pm Free entry\nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Jolivia Gaston\n\nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 10th October via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk\n\nNB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe.\nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time\nIf they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-with-special-guest-jolivia-gaston/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WORD-CENTRAL-LOGO-jpg.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230926T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230926T194500
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20230913T113916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230913T113916Z
UID:7765-1695751200-1695757500@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word. Presented by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press Tuesday 26th September\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm. \nHosted by Tony Curry with special guest Janine Booth \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 12th September via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk \nN.B. Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list. \nEvent host Tony Curry is a performance poet\, playwright\, and workshop facilitator. Raised in Crawley by English and South African parents\, he has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. Tony’s solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre and his work has been exhibited at the city’s art gallery and museum. His latest poetry collection\, We Kid Ourselves\, is available from Flapjack Press. \nSeptember’s special guest is Janine Booth\, a Marxist\, trade unionist\, Labour Party member\, socialist-feminist\, supporter of Workers’ Liberty\, autistic\, bi\, author\, poet\, disaffected middle-aged woman and Peterborough United fan. She writes and delivers trade union training\, particularly on equalities issues\, and speaks widely on socialist politics\, history\, disabled people’s rights\, autism\, and neurodiversity. Janine co-edited the anthology NeurodiVERSE for Flapjack Press and her collection of prose and poetry\, The Big J vs The Big C: Issues\, Experiences and Poems in the Battle Against Breast Cancer\, is also available now. \n 
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-8/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/thumbnail_Janine_Booth_5-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230917T114500
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230917T170000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20230904T122938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230904T123611Z
UID:7750-1694951100-1694970000@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Black British Book Festival on Tour
DESCRIPTION:“Manchester has been unveiled as one of cities taking centre stage in a summer tour to celebrate the Black British Book Festival this year. \nIn its third year the Black British Book Festival is Europe’s largest celebration of black literature and a fast-growing and a widely acclaimed event showcasing black authors and providing a platform for established and up and coming writers across the country. \nChampioning emerging talent\, hear from leading voices in Manchester Central Library on Sunday 17 September and discover your new favourite Black authors at this family festival that aims to banish barriers to entry. \nStorytelling\, workshops and talks\, from key black authors including Derek Owusu\, Manchester based poet Jackie Kay and author Kehinde Andrews\, British academic and author specialising in Black Studies\, will be part of the festival event taking place in Manchester Central Library. \nOre Agbaje-Williams and Lola Jaye will lead workshops\, and children and adult and children’s authors Ella Phillips and Kimberley Whittam and Jaqueline Ro will also take part in the planned events. \nManchester Libraries & Archives and Read Manchester will also promote their See Myself in Book collections on the day\, which ensure books are racially inclusive. \nTickets for the event are free.  \nCouncillor John Hacking\, Executive Member for Skills Employment\, and Leisure said: \n” We have a wealth of interesting and creative talent in Manchester across diverse communities\, so I am particularly pleased that we are hosting this family friendly festival\, of established and emerging black British authors representing all literature genres\, in Manchester Central Library.  We need to be able to reach out to all communities to make literature more accessible and engaging and break down barriers to inspire a love of reading and light the spark for future generations in the city. This is a step in the right direction.” \nThe festival has partnered with major publishers including Pan Macmillan\, Hachette\, Penguin and SAGE.
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/black-british-book-festival-on-tour/
CATEGORIES:Book Fair,Family,Performance,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BBBF-logo.jpg-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230830T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230830T150000
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20230717T104839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230807T110939Z
UID:7455-1693404000-1693407600@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Paper Piano Presents: Gideon Conn
DESCRIPTION:Another “Paper Piano Presents”\, this time with Gideon Conn\, the first artist to appear on the label. Known for effortlessly blending acoustic soul\, jazz and hip hop\, Gideon has a unique performance style that makes people very happy. Thought provoking lyrics glide over catchy melodic hooks with guitar playing different from any you’ve heard before. \n\n\n‘The people of Britain may not know it yet but Gideon Conn is one of their national treasures.’ Scroobius Pip \n\nFree – just drop in
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/paper-piano-presents-gideon-conn/
LOCATION:Henry Watson Music Library
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/gideon.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230829T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230829T194500
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20230823T105322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230823T105322Z
UID:7687-1693332000-1693338300@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word \nHosted by Tony Curry \nPresented by Flapjack Press & Manchester Libraries \nA free event every month at\nManchester Central Library\, St Peter’s Square\, Manchester M2 5PD \nNext event: \nTuesday 29th August\, 6.00pm – 7.45pm\n(doors open 5.40pm) \nwith special guest poet Róisín Maguire
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-7/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WORD-CENTRAL-LOGO-jpg.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230725T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230725T194500
DTSTAMP:20260526T120817
CREATED:20230713T103939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230713T103939Z
UID:7449-1690308000-1690314300@librarylive.co.uk
SUMMARY:Word Central
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Winston Plowes. \nTony Curry was raised in Crawley and has lived and worked in Manchester for three decades\, running literature-in-the-community projects with a specific leaning towards mental health and wellbeing. His solo spoken word shows include Brit Boy\, Complicit Relations\, Moving and The Odyssey\, performed at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre. His play\, The Teddy Bear\, was staged at Manchester’s Contact Theatre. His has three poetry collections published by Flapjack Press\, The Noble Savage\, Tall Tales for Tall Men Who Fall Well Short and We Kid Ourselves. \nWinston Plowes lives in Calderdale aboard his floating home\, which doubles as lodgings for lost and wayward words. He teaches creative writing\, has been Poet in Residence for the Rochdale Canal Festival and The Hebden Bridge Arts Festival\, and worked in collaboration with The Arvon Foundation\, Glastonbury Festival\, UCLAN\, Manchester Museum and the BBC. He is also the inventor of the world’s first (and possibly last) Random Poetry Generating Bicycle\, the ‘Spoke-n-Word’. His published poetry collections include Misery Begins at Home [Rubberybubberyboy Parchment]\, Micro Chap-book Extras [Origami Press] and Telephones\, Love Hearts & Jellyfish [Electric Press]. \nFree Entry\, everyone welcome. \nBook your open mic slot from noon on Tues 11th July via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk \nNB Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe \nPerformance slots are allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis from the stated booking time.If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list
URL:https://librarylive.co.uk/event/word-central-6/
LOCATION:Performance Space
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://librarylive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WORD-CENTRAL-LOGO-jpg.jpg
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