What's on

Nick Hornby: Dickens & Prince

Performance Space

At first glance, it seems unlikely that the white English Victorian writer Charles Dickens and the Black American musician Prince Rogers Nelson have anything in common. But as two of Nick Hornby’s ‘artists who have shaped me, inspired me, made me think about my own work’ he set out to see whether there was anything […]

£12

After Sylvia

Performance Space

With Moniza Alvi, Romalyn Ante, Rebecca Goss, Ian Humphreys & Carola Luther One of the most dynamic and admired American writers of the 20th Century, Sylvia Plath’s legacy as a fiercely intelligent, confessional feminist poet and novelist continues to inspire generation after generation. After Sylvia: Poems & Essays in Celebration of Sylvia Plath marks the 90th anniversary […]

£10

Mariana Enriquez & Max Porter in Conversation

Performance Space

‘“Is it true?” Gaspar had asked. “Is it true that the dead travel fast?” His father had finally looked up and said, simply: “Some do.”’ Argentinian mistress of dark literature, Mariana Enriquez joins us in Manchester to discuss her superb, brutal novel Our Share of Night (translated by Megan McDowell). Gaspar is six years old when the […]

£10

creative:connection

Performance Space

We are delighted to partner with the award-winning charity Create once again. The creative:connection project brings together disabled and non-disabled children to create, build connections and break down barriers. Children from four schools in Manchester and Salford joined forces with top class musicians to write songs and create new pieces of music inspired by nature […]

Susanna Clarke & Max Porter in Conversation

Performance Space

Piranesi lives in the House. Having no memory of how he arrived or even who he is, Piranesi keeps careful records of the labyrinth of halls, the many statues and the weather. Once a week he meets his friend the Other, but he has no contact with any other living person until someone begins to […]

£12

Natalie Haynes

Performance Space

Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes’ latest feminist mythological retelling, is the story of how a young woman became a monster. And how she was never really a monster at all. It’s the story of Medusa, the mortal raised by her Gorgon sisters, mistreated by Poseidon, and hunted by Perseus. It’s a version that sheds light on […]

£12

George Saunders in Conversation

Performance Space

‘The best short story writer in English – not “one of”, not “arguably”, but the best’ – Time. In his latest short story collection, Liberation Day, George Saunders considers what it means to be human and a member of communities whose actions impact each other. Through inventive scenarios including an underground amusement park and a household […]

£12

Word Central

Performance Space

Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word presented by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press Tues 25th October, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (doors open 5.30pm) Free entry Hosted by Tony Curry with guest poet Stevie Turner Book your open mic slot from noon on Tues 11th October via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk NB Open mic slots are 3 minutes […]

History of Carnival Workshops by Linford Sweeney

Performance Space

The history of Caribbean Carnivals is much more complex than many realise.  Carnival has origins based in colonialism and religious conversion, but it has now become a festival and celebration tied to freedom and emancipation from slavery.  Learn about how established African-Caribbean communities transferred the traditions associated with carnival to Manchester as we explore the […]

We Are Carnival! Party

Performance Space

Explore historical carnival memories through archives via an exhibition, film provided by North West Film Archive, music by Manchester Carnival affiliated DJ and host Kemoy Walker, a family arts workshop by local artist Tina Ramos Ekongo, spoken word performances by Young Identity and delicious Caribbean food courtesy of Buzzrocks Caribbean Restaurant. Book via www.racearchive.org.uk/events/black-history-month/

Manchester Loving Earth Project – Textile Exhibition

Ground Floor

This exhibition of over 70 Loving Earth Project textile panels will be at six city centre venues in Manchester. Central Library is one of these venues and has 10 panels on display. Each panel is individually crafted and depicts places, creatures and other things that the maker loves, but which are threatened by growing climate […]

Dominic Berry & John Darwin Book Launch

Performance Space

Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries invite you to the book launch of new poetry collections of two of Manchester's finest. John Darwin: Ultrasilence From the provincial peccadilloes of Prestwich in Manchester to coffee houses and bars by the Bosporus in İstanbul, John Darwin explores life’s three stages of arriving, staying for a bit, and then […]