Outspoken at Central Library

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
OUTSPOKEN at central library manchester as part of queer contact featuring JACKIE HAGAN Image by Lee Townsend
Poet Jackie Hagan, by Lee Townsend.

Outspoken at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 14 February 2018 Tickets from £5.00 — Book now

This year’s Queer Contact presents Outspoken – featuring an all-female line-up for a night of spoken word, poetry and prose – exploring life, love and Queer identity.

Outspoken is produced by Manchester’s Contact Theatre, which is currently closed due to an exciting redevelopment project. Pleasingly, the evening will be held in the apt and awesome surroundings of Central Library.

The night will be hosted by Afshan D’souza-Lodhi, the event (supported by Superbia by Manchester Pride, Manchester Libraries and Manchester Metropolitan University) will feature readings from Seni Seneviratne, Mandla Rae and Louise Wallwein, plus the airing of new work from Superbia’s Manchester Chapbook project.

The award-winning playwright, performer and poet Jackie Hagan will also be stepping up to the mic. With her direct, honest and optimistic style – Hagan has a real flair for delivering verse with drama and glittering humour. Following her recent success at Manchester’s Royal Exchange with Cosmic Scallies and her striking autobiographical solo show Some People Have Too Many Legs, this is a superb chance to experience Hagan’s luminous performance style. Describing herself as “a working class, queer amputee”, Jackie received a Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship in June 2017 and her latest work, This is Not a Safe Space will begin touring in spring 2018.

The night also sees the first sharing of new work from The Superbia Chapbook Project. The initiative showcases new and emerging talent from Greater Manchester and offers young, promising writers ongoing mentoring and a place on a development scheme. This gives you the opportunity to see the next generation of LGBTQ brilliant young writers first.

Outspoken promises to be an evening of striking performances and storytelling – enjoyable and inspiring, and most importantly holding the power to educate.

Outspoken at Manchester Central Library, Manchester 14 February 2018 Tickets from £5.00 Book now

Where to go near Outspoken at Central Library

St Peters Square Manchester
City Centre
St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square is a public space in Manchester – home to the city’s iconic library, town hall, Pankhurst statue, art gallery and famous Midland Hotel.

Manchester Art Gallery. Photo by Andrew Brooks
City Centre
Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery

The Charles Barry-designed, Grade I-listed Manchester Art Gallery is one of the city’s leading galleries and is back open for visitors once more.

Chinatown
Hotel
The Alan

This high-end city-centre restaurant has an excellent afternoon tea option that more than matches up to the superb main menu.

Chinatown
Restaurant
1847

1847 Manchester is an excellent vegetarian restaurant in the centre of town.

Salut Wines
Chinatown
Bar or Pub
Salut Wines

Salut wines pride themselves in offering “wider horizons beyond the safe choices.” With 42 wines by the glass and a regularly changing selection of bottles in their Enomatic wine preservation machines (or  “wine jukebox,” as they’re colloquially known), this is one of be best bars in Manchester for exploring new vintages.

City Centre
Event venue
3Space Manchester

The building consists of five floors of 10,000sqft in an L shape configuration – three of which are open-plan and the other two floors are divided into studio size spaces.

Manchester
Restaurant
Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

Manchester
Restaurant
Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe

Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Manchester Town Hall

Re-opening in 2024, Manchester Town Hall is a monument to Victorian Manchester’s ambition, and one of the city’s most-loved landmarks.

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Writer Nicholas Royle. Photo by Zoe McLean
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