Lemn Sissay: Something Dark at HOME

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Lemn Sissay: Something Dark

HOME Manchester, Manchester
13 October 2017

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

Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay.
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It’s National Poetry Day on Thursday 28 September, taking “freedom” as its theme. Almost on cue, Lemn Sissay is on stage, exploring identity and our place in the world as part of Journeys Festival International and Orbit Festival 2017, which brings together innovative work from writers and theatre-makers across the globe.

One year on from the publication of his first book in eight years, Gold from the Stone, the celebrated performance poet (and Chancellor at the University of Manchester) is back at HOME; this time with his moving one-man play, Something Dark. The powerful and dramatic monologue tells the real-life story of Lemn Sissay’s upbringing in children’s homes and foster care, and the search for his blood family.

Originally directed by head honcho of Manchester International Festival John McGrath for National Theatre of Wales, the piece has since been performed around the world to critical acclaim and adapted for broadcast on BBC Radio 3. This is a rare chance to catch it on home turf.

 

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Where to go near Lemn Sissay: Something Dark at HOME

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally

Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
Castlefield
Gallery
Castlefield Gallery

The influential Castlefield Gallery sits at the edge of Manchester’s exciting Castlefield district, an ideal home for thought-provoking contemporary art.

What's on: Literature

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