Mervyn Morris in conversation with Jackie Kay at John Rylands Library

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Visit now

Mervyn Morris UK Tour – Manchester event with Jackie Kay

3 May 2017

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

Mervyn Morris in conversation with Jackie Kay.
Jackie Kay.
Book now

On a rare visit to the UK, one of the most distinguished literary voices of the Caribbean Mervyn Morris is in conversation with National Poet for Scotland Jackie Kay (pictured).

In the final few months of his tenure as Jamaican Poet Laureate, the first post independence, he celebrates the launch of his new collection Peelin Orange: The Collected Poems of Mervyn Morris on Carcanet Press. The book represents half a century of carefully crafted invention and re-invention in a range of Englishes – from the Standard to Jamaican Creole – and poetic forms, whilst moving between the local and the universal, the humorous and the deadly serious. As fellow writer Andrew Salkey noted, in his poetry Mervyn Morris is ‘an engraver in short, sharp slashes that go deep’.

This event is in partnership with the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing with the support of The John Rylands Library. The tour has been funded and supported by Speaking Volumes.

Where to go near Mervyn Morris in conversation with Jackie Kay at John Rylands Library

City Centre
Restaurant
Gusto

Gusto Manchester is a lavish Italian restaurant just off Deansgate, with 1920s décor and an extensive menu.

Manchester
Restaurant
KAJI

Tokyo meets Manchester in a series of awe-inspiring dishes and drinks at KAJI.

City Centre
Restaurant
Stow

The small plates at Stow are more impressive than most fine dining dishes, minus the fussiness. Powerful, fire-based cooking on Bridge Street.

City Centre
Restaurant
Six By Nico Deansgate

This famously affordable six-course fine dining restaurant has a new Mad Hatter menu – and it’s up there with the best.

City Centre
Restaurant
Portfolio

Portfolio is a Champagne boutique on Manchester’s Bridge Street, offering a set menu of fine-dining small bites.

Culture Guides

Food and Drink in the North

It's heatwave time, so set your small talk phasers to 'weather' and get out there and grab some cold drinks and delicious food.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

Discover the summer's most rewarding theatre in libraries, pubs, Fringe venues and unexpected spaces across the North.

“the ripple” artwork by Crowns & Owls courtesy of Good Machine.
Music

From post-industrial romance to experimental country, here's a hot new batch of weird gigs in small venues.

Blue triangles with white clouds on them against a beige backdrop. A gold sun is in the middle.
Exhibitions

Five exhibitions worth your time this month - and between them, a lot of ground covered.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.