Lemn Sissay at Contact

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Book now

Lemn Sissay at the 8th Black and Asian Writers Conference

Contact Theatre, Manchester
8 October 2016

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

Benji Reid
Book now

It’s National Poetry Day on 6 October, so why not celebrate by catching Lemn Sissay, practically the poet laureate of Manchester, not once but twice? Lemn, famous round these parts for his Tib Street pavement poems and his Landmark Poetry, including ‘Rain’ on Gemini chippy and ‘Hardy’s Well’ (which may soon disappear if the pub of the same name’s fate is sealed by demolition), is launching his first book in eight years, Gold from the Stone.

First off, the Chancellor at the ‘University of’, no less, and official poet for the 2012 London Olympics, will be reading from the much-anticipated collection of new and old work, chatting to Dave Haslam and answering questions at HOME on 2 October. Then, at Contact on 8 October, he closes the eighth day-long Black and Asian Writers Conference, part of Manchester Literature Festival. And to round it all off, nip down to the Museum of Science and Industry Wonder Materials: Graphene and Beyond exhibition to see a specially commissioned poem by Lemn in situ until June.

What's on at Contact Theatre

Where to go near Lemn Sissay at Contact

Manchester
Music venue
The Deaf Institute

The Deaf Institute is a vibrant gig venue and nightclub for which it is well worth taking a jaunt out of the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Catalog Bookshop

Find Peter and his Christiania cargo bike around All Saints Park, a hop, skip and a bunnyhop from Manchester Poetry Library.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sandbar

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating.

Johnny Roadhouse store
Manchester
Shop
Johnny Roadhouse

Buffeted by fried chicken outlets, legendary musical instrument emporium Johnny Roadhouse has been serving the local music community for over 50 years.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Eighth Day

Eighth Day is a co-operative shop that sells ethically-sourced food, wine and cosmetics. There’s also café that serves hearty, healthy meals in the basement.

Manchester
Event venue
The Proud Place

Based in the heart of Manchester on Sidney Street, The Proud Place houses The Proud Trust and serves as a community hub for the wider LGBT+ population across Greater Manchester and beyond.

What's on: Literature

Andrew McMillan and Maria Ferguson
Until
LiteratureLeeds
Leeds Lit Fest 2025

The award-winning Leeds Lit Fest is back, this year running from 14 to 22 June 2025, and bringing together local talent and big-name authors for a lively programme.

From £0.00
SLAMCHESTER Poster
LiteratureManchester
SLAMCHESTER at 53Two

This June, Manchester welcomes the launch of SLAMCHESTER, a one-night-only spoken word slam featuring a a special performance by Jardel Rodrigues.

From £6.00
Poet Tom Sastry.
LiteratureManchester
Verbose at The King’s Arms

Verbose is one of Manchester’s longest-running spoken word events, and welcomes Tom Sastry and Molly Naylor for June.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

From scorched-earth techno to off-grid audiovisual festivals, our latest music picks lean into transformation – of space, genre and expectation.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Experimental performance, thought-provoking new writing and our picks of Manchester International Festival - here’s what’s taking centre stage this summer.

A painting called Daphne, 2021, by Carolien Walker. The painting features Caroline’s own daughter as a toddler.
Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

A young boy with a white sash around his left arm cries.
Cinema in the North

Outdoor cinema announcements, a major retrospective at HOME, and the best of indie cinema.