Library Live

Space-themed Day of Family Film Fun
2026-05-16 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
Calling all future star explorers to St Peter’s Square this Spring!
As the city keenly awaits the arrival of Planetarium Go! in Manchester this May, Central Library is delighted to confirm some special intergalactic events for all the family.
On Saturday 9 May, brace yourself for an afternoon of space hopping, wacky experiments, moon walking, moon rock races, and more!
Whereas those jetting into the library the following weekend, Saturday 16 May, can expect a special space-age edition of Central Library’s legendary Family Film Club, plus an afternoon of themed out-of-this-world activities.
Clustered around the Performance Space on the ground floor of Central Library, all of these stellar events within the library will be completely FREE to attend.
You can see the full itinerary below – just drop in….
Saturday 16 May, Performance Space 1-4pm, FREE Activity Plan:

1:30pm: Space-themed film screening starts
1-4pm: Crafts

*****
Planetarium Go! Manchester is an immersive pop-up planetarium experience that invites audiences of all ages to explore the wonders of the universe in a truly unique way. Inside a large spherical dome, visitors are surrounded by a 360º screen that transforms astronomy and science films into an unforgettable journey through space.
Popping-up in St Peter’s Square, Manchester (just outside the Central Library) between 1-23 May, tickets for all planetarium experiences can be purchased in advance here: Planetarium Go Manchester
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Word Central
2026-05-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word.
Presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.
Tuesday 19th May, 6.00pm – 7.45pm
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.
Hosted by Tony Curry with special guest Cathy Shaw.
Our special guest Cathy Shaw’s poems tend to be either gut wrenchingly sad or laugh out loud funny. Based in Hebden Bridge, she is a massage therapist and celebrant by day, and a poetry promoter and event host, creator of The Poetry of it All, and curator of the annual Heptonstall Spoken Word Festival.
Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 5th May via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.
N.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.
https://flapjackpress.co.uk/pages/word-central
https://www.facebook.com/WordCentral/
https://x.com/WordCentralMcr

'Malc's Boy'. Shaun Wilson in conversation with Tony Walsh.
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Hailed by David Keenan as “fierce, funny, poignant and real”, Malc’s Boy is being tipped as one of the most exciting debuts of 2026!

Brutal, beautiful, and darkly funny – a groundbreaking portrait of fathers, sons, and northern masculinity.
Malc’s Boy charts a son’s struggle and friendship with his father amidst a legacy of toxic masculinity and violence. Shaun grows up in Wigton, a small market town on the fringes of the Lake District, as the son of Malc, a prominent publican with a fearsome reputation. More concerned with establishing himself as an artist than making a name for himself in the town’s hierarchical pub scene, Shaun rebels against his father’s expectations. But when Malc is attacked by an old enemy, Shaun is forced to confront his father’s past and escape the life he’s been expected to lead.
Shaun Wilson was born in 1980 and raised in Wigton, Cumbria. In 2022, an early draft of Malc’s Boy won a Northern Writers’ Award, with an excerpt published by Granta. His work featured in Kit de Waal’s working-class anthology Common People published by Unbound, leading the acclaimed Kerry Hudson to tip him ‘for big things’ in The Observer.
He has featured at various book festivals, on BBC Radio, and recently completed a placement at Semiotext(e). He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Northumbria University and is currently an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at the Universities of Northumbria and Teesside.
Tony Walsh, the Longfella, is one of the UK’s most widely acclaimed professional poets; a writer and performer of remarkable breadth and depth, whose inspiring words regularly reach and inspire audiences of millions.
Manchester-Irish, working class and entirely self-taught, his powerful writing and electrifying performances have made him a regular on television and radio, much in demand for a huge range of high-profile occasions, and renowned internationally for the now iconic performance of his poem “This Is The Place” in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
Tickets are £3 entry or there is a book and ticket bundle for £12.99.

Behind the Scenes Tour
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Entrance Hall
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 – are answered on a tour of Manchester Central Library which will take you to all the areas not normally accessible to the general public and tell the story of this iconic building. Tours last around 90 minutes and include the chance to see some of our rarest treasures and archives.
Please meet in the main entrance (Shakespeare Hall) of Central Library from 5.45pm. The tour starts at 6pm.
Did you know, you can join our Library Lovers scheme and enjoy a free tour, plus discounts in our shop and cafe, and invites to other events and exhibition launches? Find out more and join online.
Book you place on this tour on eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

Half Term Holidays Programme
2026-05-26 09:00 - 2026-05-30 17:00
Looking for some family fun over the holidays? Check out our full half-term activity programme. With crafts, games, and activities to be found across the library every day of the holidays, come and discover a world of fun right here in the library. All materials will be provided – you just need to pack your imagination!

Children’s crafts for Eid

Tuesday 26 May, 2-4pm
Lower Ground Floor
Join us at Central Library for an interactive craft workshop as we prepare for Eid. We will provide all the materials to make Eid-themed bookmarks, just bring yourself! Suitable for children. Free entry, just drop in.

Ducklee Adventures Storytime

Wednesday 27 May, 2-3pm
Children’s Library (Lower Ground Floor)

Join local children’s author Sabrina Martins Alauf for a gentle storytelling and colouring session inspired by her children’s book series, Ducklee Adventures. Children and families will meet Ducklee, a curious and kind-hearted little duck who explores friendship, discovery and gentle adventures. The session will include an introduction to the story, an interactive chat with the children and Ducklee-themed colouring activities. Free entry, just drop in.

Railway-themed Crafts

Wednesday 27 May, 2-3.30pm
Lower Ground Floor
Join us for an interactive craft session as we draw the curtain on the 200th anniversary of the invention of the modern railway. We’ll be making some lovely paper trains and a colourful railway track. Suitable for children aged 4-10. All materials provided, just bring yourself. Free entry, just drop in.

Farsi Storytime

Thursday 28 May, 11-12
Children’s Library (Lower Ground Floor)
Join us for a fun and interactive storytime session in Farsi and English! Expect singing and crafts as we learn new words and make new friends. Suitable for children aged 4-7. Free entry, just drop in.

Polish Heritage Month Family Crafts

Thursday 28 May, 1-4pm
Performance Space
Join us for a fun and interactive craft session for children aged 4-7. We will be celebrating Polish Heritage Month by creating cardboard radios, and much more! We’ll provide all the materials, just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Free entry, just drop in.

LEGO Robotics Workshops (children)

Friday 29 May, 2-4pm
Lower Ground Floor
In this hands-on LEGO robotics workshop, children work in small teams to design and build their own racing robots without step-by-step instructions, encouraging creativity and problem-solving. They then program their robots using simple block-based coding to detect and avoid obstacles using motion sensors. Once complete, robots are tested through fun challenges, racing and navigating courses, combining engineering, teamwork and creativity in an engaging session. Recommended age: 8-13. Free entry, just drop in.

Italian Storytime

Saturday 30 May, 11.30am-12 noon
Children’s Library (Lower Ground Floor)
Our monthly sessions are interactive and fun, involving a blend of themed stories, rhymes and a final craft activity. Learn new phrases while gesturing, chanting and singing. We can’t wait to meet you! Suitable for children aged 4 to 7. Free – just drop in.

Spanish Storytime

Saturday 30 May, 12pm–12.45pm
Children’s Library (Lower Ground Floor)
Hola! Join María at our monthly sessions to listen to a story in Spanish, learn phrases and vocabulary, and have fun! We end each session with a simple craft to make something related to the story. Suitable for children aged 4 to 7. Free – just drop in.
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Children's Crafts for Eid
2026-05-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Join us at Central Library for an interactive craft workshop as we prepare for Eid. We will provide all the materials to make Eid-themed bookmarks, just bring yourself! Suitable for children.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Mieczysław Fogg - 1930s Cabaret to Wartime Resistance
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join us for a unique event celebrating Mieczysław Fogg, Poland’s legendary crooner on the 125th anniversary of his birth. Dive into the vibe of 1930s cabaret and discover how his music became a symbol of wartime resistance. With stories from cultural researcher and journalist Juliette Bretan, a visual journey through his inspiring life and melodies from singer songwriter Katy Carr. His unforgettable voice continues to affect contemporary musicians and listeners. Don’t miss out on this Polish Heritage event brought to you by Anna Kucewicz and Eva Szegidewicz.
Free – reserve a place on Eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below

Benengeli 2026: A Conversation about Libraries in Literature
2026-05-27 08:00 - 17:00
Instituto Cervantes Manchester celebrates International Week of Literature in Spanish with Benengeli 2026, this year’s theme – Libraries!

The Instituto Cervantes Manchester is once again taking part in Benengeli 2026: International Week of Literature in Spanish. We invite you to join us in this global celebration of literature, which brings together readers, writers and lovers of the written word across five continents.
This year’s festival centres on the theme “Libraries”, inviting audiences to explore how sensory perception influences contemporary literary creation. Get ready for an exciting week packed with in-person and online activities, designed to delve into this profound dichotomy in today’s literary landscape.
Don’t miss this in‑person event in Manchester: a conversation on the role of libraries in literature, the collective imagination, and literary creation, held in one of the city’s most iconic spaces, the Manchester Central Library. The event will bring together two leading voices in Spanish‑language literature, Santiago Roncagliolo and Marta Barrio, in an open and stimulating dialogue moderated by Lucy Popescu. A unique opportunity to reflect, listen, and take part in an exchange of ideas around books and the spaces that preserve them.

The conversation will be held in English. Limited capacity.

Free – book tickets on Eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below.

Ducklee Adventures Storytime
2026-05-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Children’s Library
Join local children’s author Sabrina Martins Alauf for a gentle storytelling and colouring session inspired by her children’s book series, Ducklee Adventures. Children and families will meet Ducklee, a curious and kind-hearted little duck who explores friendship, discovery and gentle adventures. The session will include an introduction to the story, an interactive chat with the children and Ducklee themed colouring activities.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Railway Themed Crafts
2026-05-27 14:00 - 15:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Join us for an interactive craft session as we draw the curtain on the 200th anniversary of the invention of the modern railway. We’ll be making some lovely paper trains and a colourful railway track. Suitable for children aged 4-10. All materials provided, just bring yourself.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Farsi Storytime
2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Children’s Library
Join us for a fun and interactive storytime session in Farsi and English! Expect singing and crafts as we learn new words and make new friends. Suitable for children aged 4-7.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Polish Heritage Month Family Crafts
2026-05-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us for a fun and interactive craft session for children aged 4-7. We will be celebrating Polish Heritage Month by creating cardboard radios, and much more! We’ll provide all the materials, just bring your creativity and enthusiasm!
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

LEGO Robotics Workshops
2026-05-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
A hands-on LEGO robotics workshop for children. Children work in small teams to design and build your own racing robots without step-by-step instructions, encouraging creativity and problem-solving. They then program their robots using simple block-based coding to detect and avoid obstacles using motion sensors. Once complete, robots are tested through fun challenges, racing and navigating courses, combining engineering, teamwork and creativity in an engaging session.
Recommended age: 8-13.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

POSTPONED: 'THE BEAUTIFUL DEATH OF OZZY OSBOURNE' with KEITH KAHN-HARRIS
2026-06-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
** PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBC
ALL TICKETS REMAIN VALID FOR THE NEW DATE OR REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AND OUR STAFF WILL BE IN TOUCH**
Acclaimed author Keith Kahn-Harris will be coming to the Henry Watson Music Library to discuss his new book ‘The Beautiful Death of Ozzy Osbourne’.
What is a ‘good death’? How about this: After years of terrible health, you gather friends and admirers for one last, glorious party. A couple of weeks later, you slip away, surrounded by your loving family. Then, the world comes to mourn. That is how Birmingham’s favourite son, Ozzy Osbourne, died.
By his death in June 2025 – at an age few believed he’d reach – Ozzy was much-loved, far beyond the metal world. Once a feared, demonic figure to some (and a joke to others), his Back to the Beginning farewell concert at Villa Park raised millions for charity.
In concise, arresting chapters moving from Death to Life via Art, Politics, Sex, Bodies, Voice, Family, Myth and more, Kahn-Harris explores how Ozzy – of all people! – attracted such generosity of spirit. The answer, he finds, is deeply embedded within the story and culture of metal – and has lessons for us all.
Keith Kahn-Harris has been writing about metal since the mid-1990s and he is one of the founders of Metal Studies as a discipline. Alongside his scholarly work, he has written metal journalism for many years, most recently for The Quietus, alongside books on language, and Jewishness.
Join Keith in person as he talks through the book at our Henry Watson Music Library on Monday 1st June at 6pm.
Tickets are just ‘pay-what-you-can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries.

Manchester Literature Festival presents Tayari Jones
2026-06-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
One of the most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction Tayari Jones discusses her highly anticipated new novel Kin. Born days apart, Vernice and Annie share loss and friendship. Growing up in segregated America, their paths diverge, until danger forces Vernice to risk everything. An exploration of love, loyalty and motherhood, powerful.
Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester and supported by Library Live.
Booking tickets here Tayari Jones | Manchester Literature Festival or ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Histories Festival 2026
2026-06-04 08:00 - 2026-06-06 17:00
Manchester Histories Festival returns for its 10th edition, bringing people together in and around Central Library to explore the theme of Civic Pride. Expect stories, creativity, conversation and community collaboration, celebrating Greater Manchester’s past, present and future. Join us on Saturday 6 June for the Celebration Day, including the Histories & Heritage Marketplace in Rates Hall. #MHF2026
To view all the events at Central Library please visit the Manchester Histories Festival 2026 website

Manchester Bomb 1996: Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Manchester IRA explosion
2026-06-04 08:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00 | Archives+ Ground Floor
Manchester Archives+ presents archive material, photographs and film footage from the Archives+ collections to remember the day when time stood still for the city. This exhibition captures Manchester’s drive to recover and rebuild, aided by the extraordinary wave of support from people, communities and institutions across the region and the world.
Free – just drop in
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Conversation Club
2026-06-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Ground Floor (Handling Tables)
Would you like to improve your English conversation skills? Join our friendly group to practice your English and meet new friends. Suitable for adults.
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Computer Music Workshop from YardYard collective
2026-06-04 17:00 - 19:45 | Henry Watson Music Library
YardYard present the second instalment of their Pendulum世界术 series in Henry Watson Music Library on Thursday 4 June.
Explore machine learning music tools in a special 2 hour session that will include a computer music workshop and interactive jam, followed by a live performance from rising talent: Nefo.
In the workshop, together we will look into acoustic musical instrument through Data Knot, a set of real-time audio processing machine learning tools. Data Knot is a set of machine learning tools that are optimized for low latency and real-time performance.
Providing a forum to jam for musicians of all abilities, the session will also utilise heritage instruments in the library’s collection including a lute, sitar and more.
This session is Mandarin + English friendly.
After the workshop, there will be a live set from emerging electonic talent: Nefo.
Nefo AKA Nefo Zhang (b. 2000) works in Audiovisual and experimental art. Inspired by natural sciences and imagination, unravel the primary element with curiosity. In transitioning from nature to abstraction, tune into the subtle perception of everything to liberate insight and resonate within the heart. Nefo presented the ‘Immanence’ live electronic music project in symbiotic sound synthesis within the oscillation field. In winter 2018, Nefo started an amateur hobby radio station, transmitting light signals and broadcasting inaudible sounds of nature in the wilderness.
The “Pendulum世界术” series is dedicated to events that allow creatives from all around the world to share their gestalt-free singularisation and the trace in their pursuit.
SET TIMES
17:00-19:00 – Computer Music Workshop/Jam (Drop In)
19:10-19:45 – Nefo (live)
Book tickets here or click on ‘Book Now’ below and ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries to support future activities.

Talk English Circles
2026-06-09 12:30 - 14:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Come along to Talk English Circles at Manchester Central Library to practise speaking English and meet other people.
Learn English, build skills and step into ESOL with this programme funded by Economic Activity Trailblazer and Manchester Adult Education.
Open to all levels.
Book your free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986065030971?aff=oddtdtcreator
Free – just drop in.
Please make a donation to support our Library Live cultural programme at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes or online

Festival of Libraries 2026
2026-06-10 08:00 - 2026-06-14 17:00
Join us for this celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries. The award-winning festival, supported by Arts Council England, features a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information and reading.
The full programme for the Festival of Libraries 2025, including event and activities at Central Library, can be found on the Festival of Libraries website here.

Festival of Libraries: MMU Manchester Skill Map
2026-06-11 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-13 11:00 - 14:00 | Ground Floor
Join us for an interactive activity connecting Manchester residents to skills, opportunities and each other. Discover skills you can learn, share knowledge and shape your future in this fun and engaging workshop. Find out more at https://rise.mmu.ac.uk
Free – just drop in
Please consider making a donation here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Storytelling & Moving Image Showcase: A Schools Takeover
2026-06-11 17:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
This June, Manchester Central Library hosts the showcase for SNE Studios Storytelling & Moving Image pilot – a programme delivered in partnership with St Peter’s RC High School and Manchester City of Literature.
Over eight weeks, students from St Peter’s have worked alongside professional creatives to understand the power of storytelling and narrative voice, get hands on with cameras and editing software, and transform poems by Manchester writers into short films of their own, exploring themes of place, belonging, and community voice.
The evening presents the finished films to the public for the first time, alongside an awards ceremony and a panel discussion, co-hosted by SNE‘s Executive Director Baka Bah and a student, and featuring representatives from Manchester Metropolitan University (RISE), St Peter’s RC High School, and Blackmagic Design.
This is the proof of concept for a wider vision: an annual moving image and media literacy programme for young people, built on the belief that the next generation of storytellers deserves the tools, the training, and the platform to tell their own stories.
FREE TICKETS CAN BE BOOKED HERE.

Festival of Libraries: Lifelong Learning Summer Roadshow
2026-06-12 10:00 - 14:30 | Lower Ground Floor
Join Trafford and Stockport College Group for Summer Roadshow. Take part in hands-on, interactive workshops where you can create your own floral buttonhole and jewellery, design a personalised craft box and discover new opportunities at our Gateway to Lifelong Learning information session. Come along, try something new, and leave with a renewed passion for learning.
Free – find out more and reserve a place on Eventbrite here or click ‘Book Now’ below.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Heartstone: KFOR AND KOSOVO +25 Event
2026-06-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Performance Space
On June 12th, the photo-documentary exhibition, ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’, is at the centre of an extraordinary event being staged at Manchester Central Library as part of Manchester’s Festival of Libraries.

Produced by internationally acclaimed photographer, Nick Sidle, covering the period 2000-1, in the aftermath of the 1999 Kosova war, the exhibition tells an uplifting visual story of the resilience of ordinary people recovering from a period of horrific ethnic cleansing and the role of the KFOR peacekeepers in bringing the stability and security from which peace followed. Many in the Greater Manchester region supported at the time with funds, blankets, toys and other items.
This event will bring together online for the first time some of the civilians pictured in the images, who have been located 25 years later in Kosova, and others who were part of this period in the North West and other parts of the UK. In Kosova, the event is taking shape from the National Library of Kosova opened by Kosova’s Minister for Culture, Saranda Bogujevci, herself a survivor of the Podujeva Massacre and one of those evacuated to Manchester in 1999.
Admission is free and there is no booking required, but please come early to be secure of a place at this event.
Header Photo by ©Nick Sidle.

A Dance for my Foremothers
2026-06-13 12:00 - 14:30 | Performance Space
Get ready to move and honor the powerful women who came before us with a dance experience full of soul and stories.

Dance has long brought people together and is a key part of the Baganda People of Uganda. This workshop explores how dance can challenge authoritarian rule, focusing on how Baganda dances strengthen community and empowerment.
Coordinated by Peninah Wampamba and Brenda Sempasa, the session connects dance with politics, health, and decolonisation. Participants will also take part in the dancing themselves.

Choirs Manchester - Live Performance
2026-06-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Come along to the Henry Watson Music Library for some exceptional choral music from: Choirs Manchester.
Choirs Manchester are a collective of choirs running in Chorlton and Withington. They are all about singing to feel good and love nothing more than performing their original arrangements of current and classic tunes. They have performed yearly at the renowned Manchester 10k, at Refuge, Manchester and are consistently part of local community events in South Manchester such as Chorlton Arts Festival and for the charity Emmeline’s Pantry.
Choirs Manchester are led by the talented Sarah Adams, who among her many other accolades has conducted the Manchester’s Survivors’ Choir and performed alongside Take That. As a singer/songwriter of her own accord, she has also performed in reputable venues across the city such as Band on the Wall, Manchester Academy, Bury Met, Deaf Institute and been part of the ‘Live at Lunchtime’ series at Bridgewater Hall.
Speaking about Choirs Manchester and their concerts, Sarah says:
“I pride myself on creating a relaxed, no pressure environment that is all about singing to feel good and my ability to encourage a sense of community during a session. It is an empowering activity, not just for an individual but also for connecting people as a group.”
This June, take a seat in the historic music library, sit-back, watch, listen, and immerse yourself in their uplifting vibe.
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Manchester Literature Festival presents Natalie Haynes
2026-06-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT
Bestselling author and broadcaster Natalie Haynes returns to Manchester Literature Festival to discuss her powerful new novel No Friend to This House – an extraordinary reimagining of the myth of Medea.
Based on Euripides’ classic tragedy, No Friend to This House explores love, vengeance, power and survival, as Medea faces an impossible choice that will change the course of her and her family’s lives. Known for her bold and compassionate retellings of Greek mythology, Natalie brings fresh life to this ancient story, placing one of literature’s most misunderstood women centre stage.
Join us to see experienced broadcaster Natalie Haynes discuss her enduring passion for the classics and why these ancient stories continue to resonate so powerfully today.
‘It’s superb: sharp, funny, inventive, powerfully humane…she is one of the most brilliant women in the media.’ Katherine Rundell
‘Muse, sorceress, high priestess, Haynes is all of these, but above all she is the consummate storyteller.’ Adam Rutherford
‘an illuminating and often thrilling work of feminist reclamation…Haynes creates an account of her maligned protagonist that is powerfully affecting in its complexity.’ Guardian
Natalie Haynes is a Sunday Times bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster. She is the author of novels The Amber Fury, The Children of Jocasta, a feminist retelling of the Oedipus and Antigone stories; A Thousand Ships, a retelling of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective and Stone Blind, a re-telling of the Medusa story. Her non-fiction books include The Ancient Guide to Modern Life; Pandora’s Jar about the women in Greek myths and Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth.
She has written and presented eleven series of BBC Radio 4’s Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics and is celebrated for bringing Greek myth and classical history to a wide contemporary audience.
A Manchester Literature Festival event supported by Library Live.
Booking tickets here Natalie Haynes | Manchester Literature Festival or ‘Book Now’ below

POSTPONED: Access Creative College presents ‘Live In The Library’
2026-06-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
** POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE **
This event has been postponed to 17 June – 10AM – 2PM. Thank you for your understanding.
*****
The Henry Watson Music Library invites you to experience ‘Live In The Library’, a brand new showcase event in collaboration with the Access Creative College.

As one of the city’s most respected music institutions, Access Creative College will be taking over the music library with a series of special live performances from its current crop of talented musicians.

An unmissable opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow, from the comfort of your library, this FREE daytime event will showcase performances from a wide range of rising talents across the college, including intimate sets from solo singers to frenetic full band arrangements.
Following the success of their inaugural launch event in the Spring, the 2026 cohort will be rounding the Summer term off with a bang. Full line-up TBC.

The event is open to the public, and completely free to attend. See you down the front!

Free – please drop in
Please consider making a donation to support our cultural programme if you can, either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library
