Henry Normal in conversation online

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Henry Normal in Conversation

7-28 September 2022

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Poet Henry Normal
Writer Henry Normal.
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Join Henry Normal online every Wednesday in September as he chats and shares poems with award-winning wordsmiths from Salford-based Flapjack Press. Brought to you by Flapjack Press, Manchester Libraries and New Poetry Society, and including the chance to ask your own questions, these weekly get-togethers are free, although you’ll need to book a place via Eventbrite.

Starting on 7 September with John Darwin and ending on 28 September with Rob Steventon, joining Henry for his chats in between will be Janine Booth and David Viney.

Starting on 7 September with John Darwin and ending on 28 September with Rob Steventon, joining Henry for his chats in between will be Janine Booth and David Viney. All have books with Flapjack Press, shortlisted for Saboteur Awards’ Most Innovative Publisher and Northern Soul Awards’ Best Northern Publisher, and coordinator of the monthly Word Central spoken word shindig in association with Manchester Libraries at Manchester’s Central Library. You can also catch a Flapjack showcase at this September’s Chorlton Book Festival.

John Darwin was part of the acclaimed touring troupe A Firm of Poets and his solo poetry show, Happy Hour, won the Best Spoken Word Performance Award at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival 2021. His new collection, Ultrasilence, is published this autumn and Matt Abbott, co-organiser of Tubthumping over the hills, says: “His words are visceral, delicate, vulnerable and utterly engrossing.”

Janine Booth co-edited Flapjack Press’s new anthology NeurodiVERSE, a unique poetry anthology about the neurodivergent experience by neurodivergent writers, which features over 50 contributors from the UK and across the world, including Kate Fox and Andy N, co-host of Chorlton’s Speak Easy. Janine’s poetry and prose collection The Big J vs The Big C details her journey from detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, through surgery, to – in her words – “getting over it”. Poet and musician Attila the Stockbroker says: “Her words encourage and motivate … an inspiration.”

David Viney has been poet laureate for Kendal Calling festival, written for and performed on BBC radio, and written and performed two shows at Salford’s Lowry Theatre. His new collection, In Orbit, Back Soon, is part poetry, part comic book, part screenplay, and a rhythmic ride through right now.

Rob Steventon is founder of Punk in Drublic, the Saboteur Award-winning poetry and comedy night. His debut collection How I Made My Millions is available now and he co-edited NeurodiVERSE, alongside Janine, Flapjack head honcho Paul Neads and Kate Fox, who calls him: “A vital new voice in stand-up poetry. Young, angry and very funny.”

Henry Normal is a poet, writer, TV and film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Manchester Literature Festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. His latest title, Collected Poems Volume Two, is available now from Flapjack Press, and an all-new collection, The Fire Hills, is coming soon. You can catch him performing at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range in October.

Henry Normal co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family and The Mrs Merton Show and its spin-off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1999, he executive produced and script edited shows including Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf, Nighty Night and Alan Partridge – he has collaborated extensively with Steve Coogan, including on the Oscar-nominated film Philomena. In 2017, he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to television and, since retiring, has written and performed seven BBC Radio 4 shows in his ‘occasional series’ A Normal…

Where to go near Henry Normal in conversation online

Stevenson Square
Manchester
Stevenson Square

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CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
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CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

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Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
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Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

The Pavilion Gardens, which also houses the Pavilion Arts Centre, is a beautiful, historic venue dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. Set within twenty three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, the venue provides the perfect setting for fun and relaxing family days out, with great food and drink, shopping and over 100 events and festivals throughout the year.
Buxton
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A historic gem in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, Pavilion Arts Centre houses an intimate 360-seat theatre and cinema.

Leeds
Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery is an outstanding new gallery, of pure sculpture, showcasing the work, not only of the six owners but guests also.

A club bedroom at Malmaison Leeds
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Malmaison Leeds is a historic and dramatic building, full of character and individual style. Beautifully refurbished quirky bedrooms with power showers, blackout curtains and great beds.

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
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On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

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Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

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