What's on

Word Central Open Mic Night

WORD CENTRAL open mic poetry and spoken word hosted by Tony Curry February's special guest poet is Ben Mellor Ben is writer, performer and facilitator who has worked in theatres, festivals, schools, colleges and prisons nationally and internationally. He has created seven touring theatre shows incorporating spoken word, storytelling, theatre, music, beatbox and vocal looping. […]

Common Salt

Common Salt Sheila Ghelani and Sue Palmer Common Salt is a performance around a table – a ‘show and tell’. It explores the colonial, geographical history of England and India taking an expansive and emotional time-travel, from the first Enclosure Act and the start of the East India Company in the 1600s, to 21st century […]

£5

An Evening with Rosie Garland and Friends

Celebrate LGBTQ History Month with the wonderful Rosie Garland and her favourite Manchester based LGBTQ performers, poets and authors! Novelist, poet and singer with post-punk band The March Violets, Rosie Garland has a passion for language nurtured by public libraries. Her work has appeared in Under the Radar, The North, Spelk, Rialto, Butcher’s Dog, Ellipsis, […]

£2

Celebrate Harry Potter Day

Media Lounge

Join us for lots of enchanting arts and magical crafts as we celebrate all things Harry Potter! Suitable for families. Under 8's must be accompanied by an adult Free – please drop in

Always Something Moves

Mark Devereux Projects presents a new performance by artist Sophie Lee with SHE Choir, Manchester. Taking place in various spaces within the venue, the artist has written and produced a new song combining words and phrases from forgotten books as part of her touring project, Always Something Moves. Free-please drop in

Queering the Archive with the LGBT Foundation

Performance Space

Join us for an exploration of Manchester's LGBTQ+ history specially curated by the LGBT Foundation Archive team. There will be a chance to find out more about the LGBT Foundation archive and the work of the volunteers who manage it and to share memories and information. There will be a chance to view some of […]

Behind The Scenes at Manchester Central Library

What do George V, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bernard Bresslaw have in common? Which musician was once thrown out of the Language and Literature Library? What would you find now in the space where Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren - amongst many others - played their first roles? All these questions - and many more […]

£12.50

Angel Delight’s Valentine Party

Once, twice, three times a lady! The gorgeous Angel Delight is back by popular demand for her 3rd party night at Central Library! This time we're celebrating LGBTQ History Month with lots of games and fun, including a queer version of Mr and Mrs! Over 18's only. Doors open at 6.30pm Bar open all evening […]

£8

LGBTQ+ Family Saturday Spectacular

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with Manchester Libraries! We've lots of events for all families, including a - Drag Queen Storytime with Angel Delight Family craft sessions Green screen photography Celebration disco Free – please drop in

World Book Day Costume Workshop with Clore Art Studio Costume Factory

Media Lounge

Get costume ready for World Book Day on Thursday 5th March! Let us help you get your character ideas flowing and costumes started! Come along for inspiration and assistance in designing, cutting and stitching felt masks, head-dresses and logos to bring your Gruffalos and Gangsta Grannies to life! Free – please drop in 

Debate Club

Seminar Suite, Floor Two

Join young people who want to discuss and debate a range of subjects in this informal setting. This month’s debate club coincides with Refugee Week, and young people will be discussing issues faced by children torn from their home. If you are a young person who has relocated to the UK, come and join us and share your […]

Unspeakable: John Bercow – In Conversation

Blackwell's Manchester and Manchester Libraries are honoured to be hosting JOHN BERCOW at Manchester Central Library on Tuesday 18th February. The former Speaker of the House of Commons will be talking about his new biography Unspeakable. About the book: Unspeakable is John Bercow’s characteristically forthright and incisive account of his unique vantagepoint into British politics. […]

£8.90 – £26.92