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

Balance Taproom
Manchester
Restaurant
Balance Taproom

Manchester has a glut of taprooms, and Balance Brewing’s is far and away the best. Drinks, decor, service – all a cut above.

Richard Hards ‘Strangeways’
Manchester
Gallery
Moon Grove

A Georgian front room in Rusholme houses Moon Grove, an independent gallery with an unusually ambitious international programme.

In Focus: Chinese Contemporary Art.
Manchester
Gallery
New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery

New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery opened in 2016, providing a permanent space to showcase the University of Salford Art Collection within the New Adelphi School of Arts and Media.

Cumbria
Restaurant
1863 Restaurant

1863 offers a seven-course Lake District tasting menu that overdelivers at every turn. Cumbrian ingredients, clever ideas and classical cooking techniques.

City Centre
Bar or Pub
Schofield’s Bar

Schofield’s could be Manchester’s most grown-up bar. Very precise drinks in an upmarket city centre venue. It’s not cheap, hey, but true class costs.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

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Woodhill by LUNG Theatre.
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Matt Spratt.
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Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
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