Poets & Players with Hannah Silva at The Whitworth

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Poet Hannah Silva. Photo by Field and McGlynn
Poet Hannah Silva. Photo by Field and McGlynn.

Poets and Players at The Whitworth, Manchester 24 March 2018 Entrance is free

Appearances by top-notch performers of words and music while you gaze out over a park view through the floor-to-ceiling picture windows of an art gallery, you say? Welcome to one of Manchester’s best-looking poetry gatherings – what’s more, it’s absolutely free!

This month’s smorgasbord of entertainment comes courtesy RNCM’s Septentrion Duo of harpists Kathryn Mason and Alice Roberts, the London-based founder of Menard Press Anthony Rudolf (whose collected poems European Hours came out on Carcanet last year), and playwright, poet and performer Hannah Silva. Known for her innovative explorations of form, voice and language, Hannah’s solo performances layer up vocal sounds and poetry, creating sonic explorations of meaning and sense, while on the page, her collection Forms of Protest, out on Penned in the Margins, was highly commended in the Forward Prizes.

In the morning, Hannah will also be leading a workshop, when she’ll be introducing a variety of techniques to help poets keep their words alive in the moment, and find “the antidote to autopilot”. Sound Like Yourself runs 10.30am to 12.30pm, and costs £20 – email davidborrott@btinternet.com if you fancy signing up for a fully action-packed day for the literature lover about town.

Meanwhile, pop Poets & Players’ next event in your diary – headlining is Bloodaxe-published Pascale Petit, creator of a whole collection of poems inspired by Frida Kahlo. She will read alongside the winners of this year’s P&P poetry competition at the event on 12 May.

Poets and Players at The Whitworth, Manchester 24 March 2018 Entrance is free

What's on at The Whitworth

Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Traces of Displacement

See ‘Traces of Displacement’, the Whitworth’s major new exhibition which uses the gallery’s collection to explore the issue of forced displacement.

free entry
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
(Un)Defining Queer at The Whitworth

Through a fantastic collection of classical and contemporary artists’ work, ‘(Un)Defining Queer’ examines the use of language, histories and narratives to explore what ‘queer’ really means today. free entry

OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Until
ChildrensManchester
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Enjoy fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely in the fresh air, while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

free entry

Where to go near Poets & Players with Hannah Silva at The Whitworth

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Big Hands

Big Hands is the one-time haunt of legendary Manchester band Elbow; it’s shabby, loud and dark, with a jukebox and excellent roof terrace.

The Giving Tree
Manchester
Restaurant
The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a cafe and community hub based in Rusholme, a short walk from the city centre.

Pankhurst Centre
Manchester
Museum
The Pankhurst Centre

The Pankhurst Centre houses a small museum and heritage centre that remains as a legacy to the Pankhurst family and the Suffragette movement born in this city.

Cafe at the Museum
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
The Cafe
at the Museum

Manchester Museum’s cafe is run by the people behind award-winning cafe Teacup Kitchen. The menu features home-baked cakes, the finest loose leaf teas and breakfast, as well as a wide selection of mains and meals for kids.

Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy 3

Brilliant venue for catching a touring band on the rise. The boringly titled Academy 3 or more interesting Hop and Grape, as it was once known, is a self contained…

Manchester Academy music venue on Oxford Road Manchester.
Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy

The Manchester Academy is a mid size, modern warehouse venue adjacent to the University of Manchester Students’ Union. It lacks any architectural merit and has always been a difficult place…

Christie’s Bistro, Manchester. Courtesy Christie’s Bistro
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Christie’s Bistro

This wood-panelled former science library – part of a cluster of neo-Gothic buildings designed for the University of Manchester by Alfred Waterhouse (he of Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum fame) – has a wonderfully bookish interior that turns lunch into something of an event.

What's on: Literature

Writer Nicholas Royle. Photo by Zoe McLean
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Levenshulme Old Library has commissioned brand-new festive ghost stories from six writers for three special atmospheric lantern-lit reading events after hours in the Carnegie building.

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Poetry at the Dusty Miller is a brand-new night with invited readers, organised by Carcanet-published Carola Luther and Judith Willson in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub.

free entry
Nathan Parker
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Verbose at The King’s Arms

One of Manchester’s longest-running monthly spoken word and live literature events, Verbose welcomes two invited headliners to the stage each month, plus a selection of open mic performers.

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Music in Manchester and the North

Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.