Protest: Stories of Resistance at the Working Class Movement Library

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Visit now

Protest: Stories of Resistance at the Working Class Movement Library

11 April 2018

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

Author Michelle Green.
Author Michelle Green.
Book now

To coincide with the anniversary of the National League of the Blind March, which took place on 25 April 1920, and to commemorate a centenary of the first votes for women, this special event – part of the Invisible Histories series – sees poet and author Michelle Green and historian Dr Francis Salt read their contributions to the Comma Press anthology Protest: Stories of Resistance.

Protest brings together 20 stories which reimagine key moments of British history from 1381 to the present day, with authors from Kit de Waal and Sara Maitland to Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Alexei Sayle teaming up with historians, eye witnesses and crowd scientists to create historically accurate fiction.

This event will see Michelle read her story, There Are Five Ways Out of this Room, which focuses on the Suffragette movement and the struggles of women who were imprisoned and force fed, and discuss the writing process and the influence of her historical consultant, Elizabeth Crawford. Frank was the historical consultant on Sandra Alland’s story about the Blind March, and his essay accompanies the piece and gives his insight on the protest.

Where to go near Protest: Stories of Resistance at the Working Class Movement Library

Manchester
Music venue
Peel Hall

One of a few remaining Gothic concert halls in the United Kingdom. It has tiered seating for 370 and is housed in the Peel Building which stands at the front of the Peel Park Campus.

Manchester
Park
Peel Park

Peel Park in Salford is the oldest public park in Britain and the first of three to be opened in 1846.

Laura Daly: The Storm Cone at Peel Park, Salford
Salford
The Storm Cone, Peel Park

The Storm Cone is a digital artwork and soundscape by artist Laura Daly and composer Lucy Pankhurst, which simulates lost park bandstands and explores their forgotten histories.

Salford museum and art gallery exterior
Manchester
Museum
Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a friendly city museum close to Peel Park with special appeal to families; the highlight is Lark Hill Place, a charming Victorian Street installation.

Manchester
Gallery
Hot Bed Press

Hot Bed Press, based at the Casket Works in Salford, is a not-for-profit printmakers’ studio, is now the largest open-access print workshop in the region.

Salford
Restaurant
Old Pint Pot

This lively spot could be considered a jack of all trades – pub, restaurant, events space and live music venue.

Manchester
Gallery
Centenary Building

One of The University of Salford’s School of Arts and Media facilities. The Centenary Building won the RIBA Award and Stirling Prize in 1996 and the Civic Trust Award in 1997.

Salford
Gallery
GK Gallery

This Chapel Street gallery and tea room hosts 8-12 week long exhibitions giving emerging artists a chance to showcase their work.

Chapel Street
Gallery
Islington Mill

A former cotton spinning mill, Islington Mill in Manchester now houses artists’ studios, galleries, a recording studio, a nightclub, cafe and B&B.

Manchester
Event venue
7 Spot Pottery

Part of Salford Makers, 7 Spot is a 360 square foot ceramics studio offering classes and workshops as well as studio space for members.

What's on: Literature

Sarah Hall. Photo by Richard Thwaites.
Until
LiteratureLancashire
Litfest 2025 at various venues and online

One of the oldest literature festivals in the country, Lancaster Literature Festival, or Litfest to its friends, has been bringing an exciting and varied programme to audiences since 1978.

From £3.00
Deryn Rees-Jones. Credit Alison Dodd Photography
LiteratureLiverpool
Deryn Rees-Jones at Open Eye Gallery

For the seventh Matt Simpson Memorial Reading, hosted by Liverpool Poetry Space (LiPS), Deryn Rees-Jones will be reading from her new collection, Hôtel Amour.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries in the North are far from spooky this October - instead you'll find tactile sculptures, plant magic and curatorial experiments.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.