What's on

Knock Out Blow

Performance Space

Join us for an evening of art and discussion dedicated to the life and legacy of Len Johnson— Britain's uncrowned boxing champion, dedicated local activist, and revered Manchester legend. The event will feature live music, poetry, an interactive play, archive photos of Len, and an exhibition, followed by a thought-provoking discussion on Johnson's life and […]

Northern Publishers’ Fair

Performance Space

Immerse yourself in the vibrant literary landscape of the North at the Northern Publishers' Fair, organised by Fly on the Wall Press. Discover dynamic new voices, meet authors and buy books directly from regional independent presses including Bluemoose, Carcanet, Comma, Commonword, Flapjack, Saraband, Salt, Northodox and many more. Enjoy live pop-up performances from Nicholas Boniface, […]

Manchester Central Library Fun Palace

Manchester Central Library will join hundreds of Fun Palaces nationally and internationally set to explode with free and fun activities for all. Join us on Saturday, 5 October, and master new skills from your neighbours, share hobbies with friends old and new, and celebrate the passions and enthusiasms of all of us! 10.30am-4pm: Informal Bookbinding Workshops (Ground […]

Mandarin Storytime

Children's Library

Bring the family along to join in our Mandarin and English Storytime. We will share the stories in Mandarin then English and it will be a chance for the children to have some fun and learn some new words. This session is suitable for children aged 4 - 7 years old. For more information, email […]

Yuan Yang

Performance Space

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENT IS NOW CANCELLED Yuan Yang is no longer able to travel to Manchester due to her new parliamentary commitments and constituency obligations and is very sorry to miss the opportunity to meet our audience. Quaytickets will be in touch with all existing ticket holders to offer a refund. In Private Revolutions: Coming […]

Lindsey Hilsum

Performance Space

‘I was standing outside an apartment block that had been split apart by a missile. The words of a poem came to me when I could no longer find my own.’ In the four decades she’s spent as a foreign correspondent, Lindsey Hilsum has always carried a book of poetry with her. Poetry has helped […]

Asako Yuzuki

Performance Space

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS CHANGED VENUE FROM WATERSTONES DEANSGATE TO CENTRAL LIBRARY 'There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.’ A Japanese bestseller, Butter is the story of gourmet cook and serial killer Manako Kajii. Convicted of seducing lonely businessmen with her cooking and killing them for their money, Manako is […]

An Evening with Alan Hollinghurst & Andrew McMillan

Performance Space

Unfortunately, due to illness we are having to postpone this event with Alan Hollinghurst. We are hoping to reschedule the event for later in the year. Quaytickets will be in touch with customers to offer the option of transferring ticket(s) to the new date once confirmed or receiving a refund now. ‘Did I have a […]

Paula Hawkins

‘Reminiscent of du Maurier and extremely hard to put down. The Blue Hour is destined to be a big hit.’ Mick Herron When a bone at the centre of a famous sculpture is identified as human, the life the recently deceased artist Vanessa Chapman led with her companion Grace on the remote tidal island of […]

Rumaan Alam in Conversation

Performance Space

‘This is what governs all of life. We agree to rules. Most of us. There are some, though, you know, who do not obey, who are not asked to observe them.’ When Brooke Orr starts a new job at the Asher and Carole Jaffee Foundation, helping an 80-year-old billionaire to give away his vast fortune, […]

Lord of the Flies with Aimee de Jongh

Performance Space

70 years after the publication of William Golding’s story of a group of British schoolboys who descend into savagery after being stranded on a desert island, Aimee de Jongh has created a stunning, first ever graphic novel version of Lord of the Flies. Aimee joins us to discuss her experience of adapting the book, her […]

My Beautiful Voice with Joseph Coelho

Join us for an exciting and heartwarming event as we welcome the Waterstones Children's Laureate: 2022 – 2024, Joseph Coelho! This award-winning performance poet, playwright, and children's author is ready to enchant us with his captivating storytelling and poetry. Get ready for a delightful journey into the world of Joseph's wonderful picture book, My Beautiful […]