Re/Place(d) for Didsbury Arts Festival at The Old Parsonage

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Author Nicholas Royle. Credit Zoe McLean
Author Nicholas Royle. Credit Zoe McLean.

Re/Place(d) at The Old Parsonage, Manchester 1 — 2 July 2017 Tickets from £0.00 — Book now

Six writers have been specially commissioned to create and perform brand-new pieces inspired by place as part of Didsbury Arts Festival 2017, which has been going since 2009 and whose theme this year is “roots” (more here).

From the Gates of Hell to a grand railway hotel gone to the dogs, and from a Victorian villa with unique stained glass windows to an Art Deco block of flats with a mysterious safe, Elizabeth Baines, Sarah Butler (pictured), Sarah-Clare Conlon, David Gaffney, Nicholas Royle, whose latest book, Ornithology, is just out with Confingo, and Adrian Slatcher invite you to take a tour of local places and people, past and present. This is Re/Place(d) – Stories that are right up your street.

Each writer will read their site-specific short stories against a backdrop of archive and contemporary film footage, some provided by the North West Film Archive, courtesy John Newton, and edited by Steve Hanson, plus specially curated not-the-usual-suspects Manchester-relevant music. The event takes place at The Old Parsonage, one of the oldest buildings in Didsbury, and close by St James’s Church (the oldest building) and the amazing Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden.

Re/Place(d) – Stories that are right up your street is a follow-up to 2015’s popular Re/Place project for Chorlton Arts Festival and is supported by Arts Council England. The day before the performance event, a creative writing workshop (Friday 30 June, 3-5pm, also The Old Parsonage) will be led by micro fiction experts and two of the project’s artists, Verbose host Sarah-Clare Conlon and David Gaffney, whose latest book, All The Places I’ve Ever Lived, was published last month. Tickets for the workshop are £5 each and need to be booked here.

Didsbury Arts Festival continues until Sunday 2 July, with the literature strand featuring Man Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson in conversation with Re/Place(d) project collaborator Nicholas Royle.

 

Re/Place(d) at The Old Parsonage, Manchester 1 — 2 July 2017 Tickets from £0.00 Book now

Where to go near Re/Place(d) for Didsbury Arts Festival at The Old Parsonage

Manchester
Park
Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden

Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury Village incorporates the Alpine House and Parsonage Gardens, and eventually leads down to the River Mersey via boardwalks through Stenner Woods.

Cheese and Win platter by Cheese Hamlet
Didsbury
Shop
Cheese Hamlet

Head to the Cheese Hamlet in West Didsbury for a huge range of cheese, must have deli items, and preserves.

Didsbury
Restaurant
The Wishing Well

A new gastro pub in Didsbury Village, specialising in hearty meals and high-quality drinks. 

Didsbury
The Art of Tea

Nestled in the leafy side streets of Didsbury high street, The Art of Tea is the perfect place to grab a heart warming brew and read a book.

Didsbury
Restaurant
Rudy’s Didsbury

Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza serve up world-famous pizza at multiple UK branches, including this new Didsbury branch.

Didsbury
Café or Coffee Shop
Home Community Café

Independent, volunteer-run, and super family-friendly cafe in Didsbury serving cakes and proper coffee.

Cineworld ententertainment center Parrs Wood Didsbury
Manchester
Cinema
Cineworld Didsbury

With only 11 screens (only!), this is one of the smaller multiplexes in Greater Manchester – but its advantage is its location in the lush surrounds of Didsbury, not far from a roster of good bars, cafés and restaurants.

Riverside Park
Macclesfield
Park
Riverside Park

Nestled just off Palatine Road in Northenden on the banks of the River Mersey, the Green Flag awarded Riverside Park offers cycling paths, scenic views, a children’s play area, sculptures and trails.

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