That’s What She* Said Live

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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That's What She* Said Live

21 August 2020

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

Poet and theatre-maker Maria Ferguson.
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This year, For Books’ Sake – the hardworking indie organisation behind critically acclaimed, award-winning night That’s What She* Said – celebrates its tenth birthday, and, to celebrate, you’re invited to a special online birthday party. Championing women and non-binary writers across the UK and beyond via writing workshops and retreats, along with live events and spoken word nights in Manchester, London and Bristol, For Books’ Sake have grown the operation since 2010 with zero external funding.
Maria Ferguson is an award-winning writer and performer from Essex, whose debut poetry collection Alright, Girl? was published by Burning Eye Books in March
Join them for this special That’s What She* Said Live online on 21 August and help raise money for more great programming while getting to enjoy “three of the best spoken word performers around AND a chance to win some absolutely amazing prizes, from us and a selection of our all-time favourite writers, publishers and other organisations”. The Birthday Raffle includes books and goodies from the likes of Rosie Garland, Toria Garbutt, Boudicca Press and Burning Eye Books, editing and feedback sessions, creative coaching packages with FBS founder Jane Claire Bradley and more.
The evening itself, meanwhile, features two lots of performances each by EMY.P, Malaika Kegode and Maria Ferguson. EMY.P is an award-winning spoken word artist, BBC London-featured poet and musician born and raised in Essex, and featured in the list of Top 50 Neurodivergent Women 2019. Bristol-based Malaika Kegode is a poet, promoter and workshop facilitator, working with organisations such as Arvon and Cheltenham Literature Festival. Malaika’s debut poetry collection Requite was published by Burning Eye Books in 2017 and she has performed around the UK, from London’s Tongue Fu to BBC at the Edinburgh Festival.
Maria Ferguson is an award-winning writer and performer from Essex, whose debut poetry collection Alright, Girl? was published by Burning Eye Books in March and described by Salena Godden as: “Flawless. An essential read for the 2020s.”  She has been a resident artist for the Roundhouse and Battersea Arts Centre and has been commissioned by the Royal Academy of Art, Stylist magazine and BBC Radio 1. Her debut show, Fat Girls Don’t Dance, won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show. Her follow-up, Essex Girl, was shortlised for Soho Theatre’s Tony Craze Award and won Show of the Week at VAULT Festival 2019. Both are published by Oberon Books.

Where to go near That’s What She* Said Live

Interior of George St Chapel
Manchester
Event venue
George Street Chapel

This beautifully restored former Independent Methodist Chapel in the heart of Oldham is as much a creative hub as a heritage landmark.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Pho Cue

Family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. Prepare to queue for Pho Cue.

Come to Swithens Farm for a great family day out in Leeds. Our farm has plenty to offer whatever age you are!Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around. We now have a farm shop, café, playbarn and petting farm. When we first opened we only had the usual farm animals – cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and it was free entry. We now have llamas, alpacas, meerkats, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys and a pony.On the working farm, we breed our own cows, pigs and sheep and we sell the meat through the farm shop and the café. If you buy a sausage sandwich from the café the sausage will be from the butcher who has made the sausage by hand using our own pork. We also produce our own free-range eggs.
Leeds
Swithens Farm

Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around.

Peak District
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The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is a 16th century, family-run, traditional country inn with an impressive dining space. The Peak District at its best.

Testbed Main Space
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TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
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Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

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Deryn Rees-Jones. Credit Alison Dodd Photography
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