What's on

Spooky Sunday: Horrible Family Halloween Party!

Central Library opens its doors to little spooks and ghouls for a fun-filled family spectacular. Fearsome face painters, spooky silent disco, creepy crafts and maybe a few treats and scary surprises. Fancy dress is absolutely encouraged. So dust down your capes, polish your broomsticks and enjoy a spooktacular evening filled with ghoulish delights! £10 per […]

£10

3 Chord Ukulele Club

Henry Watson Music Library

Join us for an informal ukulele lesson and singalong. Ukulele's available. Beginners welcome! Free - please book by emailing catherine.rooney@manchester.gov.uk

Under the Little Red Moon

Performance Space

Join Lulu, Monty and their friend Tom on a vibrant and colourful journey in English Touring Opera’s new opera for babies, which explores the development of language with the help of music and movement. Composed by Russell Hepplewhite. Suitable for babies aged 6−24 months. Free - booking required below

How Manchester Made Shakespeare Modern – Rosa Grindon, the Suffragist Shakespearean Scholar

With Dr. Monika Smialkowska and Dr. Ian Nickson. Never previously recounted, Dr. Monika Smialkowska and Dr. Ian Nickson chart Rosa Grindon’s journey from modest beginnings in a Derbyshire village to becoming a leading figure in literary and theatrical circles in Manchester, a ground-breaking Shakespearean scholar and, as a Suffragist, an outspoken champion of women’s rights. […]

How to Find Where You Belong by Rose Condo

Performance Space

AUTHOR PERFORMANCE AND BOOK SIGNING WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LISA O'HARE AND SHARINA LEE SATTI. Twenty 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. This collection explores community, identity, personal growth and societal wellbeing through compassion, sharp political […]

Conserving Our Town Hall’s heritage: Pulling out all the stops – restoring the Town Hall organ

Performance Space

AFTERNOON SESSION 1PM EVENING SESSION 5.30PM Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work will include the conservation of many heritage features. Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating […]

Thurston Moore in Conversation

Performance Space

‘This is history—scuffed, slightly bent, plenty noisy, and indispensable.’ – Colson Whitehead One of the founding members of alternative rock band Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore’s memoir Sonic Life is fuelled by his passion for music and art. It takes us from Thurston’s teen years as a music obsessive in small-town Connecticut, to New York’s East Village in […]

£14

Mika Karhumaa: Unlocking the Secrets of Modern Music Business Management

Henry Watson Music Library

Unlocking the Secrets of Modern Music Business Management Join us for an engaging exploration of the cutting-edge strategies and principles that drive success in the contemporary music industry.Overview:In this dynamic lecture, we delve into the fascinating world of modern music business management. Discover the innovative concepts and techniques that are reshaping the music industry and […]

Doon Mackichan in Conversation

Performance Space

British actor, comedian and writer Doon Mackichan joins us to launch her memoir, My Lady Parts: A Life Fighting Stereotypes. Through the roles she’s played on TV, in the theatre and in life, Doon examines the stories we are telling in a culture that profoundly diminishes our power as women. Reflecting on 40 years in showbusiness, […]

£12

Delia Derbyshire Day

23 November 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and its hugely influential theme tune, realised by electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire. Join us for an afternoon of activity to celebrate the heritage of this iconic piece of music. Whether you are a fan of Doctor Who, electronic music, love the history of TV […]

Crime Central with Louise Swanson, Jose Carlos Somoza & Simon Michael!

Performance Space

Manchester Libraries, Blackwells Books and Instituto Cevantes present A Cracking Crime Central Christmas Special!! Rob Parker welcomes Louise Swanson, Simon Michael and Jose Carlos Somoza! Bringing the best from all over! Featuring the best and brightest crime writing talent both locally and from around the country - the big names are all coming to Manchester! […]

£2 – £8

Naomi Alderman in Conversation

Performance Space

The future is coming. The Future is here. When Martha Einkorn fled her father’s isolated compound in Oregon, she never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent on controlling everything. Across the world, in a mall in Singapore, Lai Zhen, an internet-famous survivalist, flees from an assassin. Martha and Zhen’s worlds are […]

£12