Outspoken at Central Library

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Outspoken

14 February 2018

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

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

Manchester Town Hall
TourManchester
The Magical Mystery Bike Tour

Hop on your bike for this guided cycling tour, exploring fascinating corners of Manchester you may never have seen before.

From £25.00
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

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.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ban Di Bul

Ban Di Bul is a longstanding Korean restaurant in the very centre of Manchester.

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.

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.

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.

City Centre
Tourist Attraction
Albert Square

A public square in the heart of Manchester which plays hosts to festivals and major events. Home to the Albert Memorial and statues of Bishop James Fraser, John Bright, Oliver Heywood and William Ewart Gladstone.

What's on: Literature

LiteratureLeeds
Lisa Jewell at the Old Woollen

“Twisty page-turners. Domestic dramas. Bone-chilling suspense.” That’s how #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell is described by her publisher Simon & Schuster on their home page for her.

From £18.00
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

Culture Guides

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.

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.

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.

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.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.