Rose Condo live stream book launch

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Rose Condo live stream book launch

9 November 2020

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Poet Rose Condo. Photo by Charles Leek.
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Rose Condo has been working the live literature and performance poetry scene for a while now, accumulating a fan base around the North West and beyond, but perhaps surprisingly this event marks the launch of only her debut collection. She’s been busy in all that time, though, winning numerous poetry slams and taking three acclaimed and award-winning poetry theatre shows on the road – and the new book, After the Storm (taking the title of one of her hard-hitting performance pieces), contains the unabridged scripts of those: The Geography of Me, How to Starve an Artist and, most recently, The Empathy Experiment.

Rosie Garland says Rose Condo’s work is “a steadying reminder of compassion in a world tipped off its axis”, and the new collection is published by Flapjack Press on 9 November.

Written and performed by Rose, The Empathy Experiment received critical acclaim at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe and was crowned Best Spoken Word Show at the 2019 Greater Manchester Fringe and shortlisted at the 2020 Saboteur Awards. It sees the Canadian poet wonder whether empathy is facing extinction as a result of our inability to survive without smartphones. Weaving together observations from her own Day Of No Mobile Phones, “ask the audience”-style live participation and expertly crafted poems, the show explores tech addiction and compassion. The first of the trilogy showcased in the book, The Geography of Me takes the audience on a trip through foreign and familiar lands, recounting hilarity and heartbreak, while the jam in the sandwich, How to Starve an Artist, is a series of poems and stories about creative nourishment and how to feed your inner artist.

Described as “innovative and inspirational”, After the Storm the paper version also includes QR codes to access accompanying original music composed by Eleonora Rosca, full colour artwork by Jen McDonald and a foreword by fellow poet and performer Tina Sederholm, who says of Rose: “One of the most polished and heartfelt wordsmiths on the spoken word scene. Her subtle lyricism cradles you in a warm embrace and then gently but firmly delivers an emotional and thought-provoking gut punch.” Her publisher stablemate Rosie Garland (whose As In Judy follow-up, What Girls Do In The Dark, has just come out with Nine Arches) says Rose Condo’s work is “a steadying reminder of compassion in a world tipped off its axis”, and the new collection is published by Flapjack Press in paperback and eBook on 9 November – the same day as this special live stream book launch – with signed copies available to pre-order now.

Based in Salford, Rose Condo is originally from Canada, where she studied Theatre & Drama at the University of Winnipeg before heading to the University of Leeds to do a Masters in Theatre & Development Studies. She was longlisted for the inaugural Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship and has supported the likes of Hollie McNish. Supporting her in this live captioned event is guest poet Kieren King, spoken word artist and long-time compère and organiser of well-respected Guy Garvey-endorsed Evidently and the Word War poetry slams – Rose took the belt at Word War One…

Rose Condo - After the Storm book cover
Rose Condo – After the Storm book cover

Where to go near Rose Condo live stream book launch

Stevenson Square
Manchester
Stevenson Square

Stevenson Square, the central hub of bars and cafes in Northern Quarter. Home to some of the best bars in the city.

CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
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CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

Ancoats
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Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
Manchester
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Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

The Pavilion Gardens, which also houses the Pavilion Arts Centre, is a beautiful, historic venue dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. Set within twenty three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, the venue provides the perfect setting for fun and relaxing family days out, with great food and drink, shopping and over 100 events and festivals throughout the year.
Buxton
Cinema
Pavilion Arts Centre

A historic gem in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, Pavilion Arts Centre houses an intimate 360-seat theatre and cinema.

Leeds
Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery is an outstanding new gallery, of pure sculpture, showcasing the work, not only of the six owners but guests also.

A club bedroom at Malmaison Leeds
Leeds
Hotel
Malmaison Leeds

Malmaison Leeds is a historic and dramatic building, full of character and individual style. Beautifully refurbished quirky bedrooms with power showers, blackout curtains and great beds.

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
Leeds
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On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

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Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

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