Lemn Sissay: Something Dark at Oldham Coliseum

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Book now

Lemn Sissay presents Something Dark

Oldham Coliseum, Manchester
25 January 2018

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

Poet Lemn Sissay.
Poet Lemn Sissay.
Book now

If you missed his recent performances at HOME, Chester Literature Festival and so on and so forth, in the new year, Lemn Sissay reprises his award-winning one-man play Something Dark in the boroughs.

Exploring identity and our place in the world, this is a moving and powerful one-hander in which the now fifty-year-old Lemn tells his real-life story of being brought up in children’s homes and foster care in Wigan, and how he embarked on the search for his blood family, who hailed from Ethiopia.

Originally directed by Manchester International Festival CEO John McGrath for National Theatre of Wales (commissioned by Contact Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre), Something Dark is a dramatic piece that has been performed around the world to critical acclaim and which was adapted for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 a couple of years back.

The event in Oldham also includes a Q&A session with the celebrated performance poet and charismatic broadcaster (not to mention Chancellor at the University of Manchester), whose collection of new selected poems, Gold from the Stone, is out now on Canongate – so start thinking up some good questions!

 

Where to go near Lemn Sissay: Something Dark at Oldham Coliseum

Oldham
Event venue
Hack Oldham

Hack Oldham is an event space that also offers co-working, community groups and crafting in the heart of Oldham.

Gallery Oldham, in Oldham Cultural Quarter
Manchester
Museum
Gallery Oldham

Gallery Oldham provides a wide range of exhibitions and activities targeted at different audiences of all ages within Oldham and the surrounding area.

The Yoga Seed Oldham
Manchester
The Yoga Seed Oldham

The Yoga Seed is an intimate studio just outside of Oldham town centre. Run by Sharon it offers small classes including a men only class.

Liverpool
Hotel
Epic Apart Hotel

The Epic Apart Hotel offers 14 serviced apartments – and right righin the middle of the Ropewalks district, right behind FACT.

Theatre
Middleton Arena

The Arena has a regular programme of arts and entertainment including live music, concerts, comedy and dances with stage shows and national tours. With two licensed bars this is the perfect location for a great night out.

What's on: Literature

Jenn Ashworth at Blackwell's Manchester
LiteratureManchester
Jenn Ashworth at Blackwells

Jenn Ashworth is back at Blackwells bookshop for the Manchester launch of her latest work, reading extracts and chatting to Helen Mort about how The Parallel Path came about.

From £4.00
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

Free entry
Poet Mike Garry. Photo Paul Wolfgang Webster
LiteratureManchester
Word Central at Central Library

Word Central is a long-standing live literature favourite at Central Library and features open mic performers and a special guest, brought to you by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press.

Free entry
Cover of a book with a canal boat on it saying boater by Jo Bell
LiteratureManchester
Jo Bell at The Portico Library

Poet and now memoirist Jo Bell invites you to join her “for a friendly evening” at The Portico Library when she’ll be talking about her new “smart, funny” memoir Boater.

From £6.00

Culture Guides

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

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.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.