York Festival Of Ideas Online

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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York Festival of Ideas Online

2-14 June 2020

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

Poet Vahni Capildeo.
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Taking place 2 to 14 June, this year’s York Festival Of Ideas heads online, with plenty to see and do – the full calendar of activities can be explored here. “Featuring world-class speakers, exhibitions, theatre, music, films, guided walks, family-friendly activities and much more”, events usually take place at venues throughout the city, but for 2020 the festival is “taking a smaller offering into the virtual world” – which is great, because it means we can go too!

Top of the list live literature wise for us is the event Words and Swords, featuring poets Vahni Capildeo and Mary Jean Chan on Sunday 7 June (7-8pm). We’ve seen Vahni read IRL here in Manchester in days of yore, and they are definitely worth checking out again. The Trinidadian poet won the Forward Prize for best poetry collection in 2016 with Measures of Expatriation, which came out on Manchester-based publisher Carcanet, who also published Venus as a Bear, shortlisted for the 2018 Forward Prize for Best Collection. Vahni’s latest book is Odyssey Calling (Sad Press, 2020), and, as Writer in Residence at the University of York’s Department of English and Related Literature, they will be introducing and talking to Mary Jean Chan about her work, exploring the unexpected connections between wordplay and swordplay. The event features live and pre-recorded segments – including fencing demonstrations! – and is a talk followed by a Q&A. (Admission is free, but advance booking is required. The event will be recorded and will be available on YouTube for anyone who might miss the live event on the day. You can now watch this event here.)

Top of the list live literature wise for us is the event Words and Swords, featuring poets Vahni Capildeo and Mary Jean Chan on Sunday 7 June

Originally from Hong Kong, London-based Mary Jean – a poet, lecturer and editor – will read from last year’s Costa Book Award-winning debut poetry collection Flèche (Faber & Faber), currently shortlisted for both the 2020 Dylan Thomas Prize and the 2020 Jhalak Prize. Mary Jean has twice been shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem, and is the recipient of an Eric Gregory Award. Mary Jean was recently guest co-editor at The Poetry Review, and was due to read at our very own Poets & Players before the event was cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

Scooting around the York Festival Of Ideas website, we’ve also spotted some interesting interactive creative writing workshops – including both cutout poetry and blackout poetry sessions from Found Fiction.

Where to go near York Festival Of Ideas Online

Creatures Comedy Club
Manchester
Theatre
Creatures Comedy Club

Whether you’re a die-hard comedy fan or just after a spontaneous night out, there’s something here for everyone. Open 7 nights a week.

The Loft
Manchester
Music venue
The Loft

The Loft is an intimate, industrial-style club tucked away on the edge of Manchester city centre. Known for its impeccable sound system and low-key vibe.

Stables Tavern
City Centre
Restaurant
Stables Tavern

The Stables Tavern is an olde style pub in the St John’s neighbourhood of Manchester, where the Rovers Return once stood.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ban Di Bul

Ban Di Bul is a longstanding Korean restaurant in the very centre of Manchester.

Bridge Cottage
Port Sunlight
Gallery
Bridge Cottage

Bridge Cottage is one of Port Sunlight’s most charming and architecturally distinctive Arts & Crafts homes. Often hold art Exhibitions and Tours.

A projected image of the Stockroom.
Stockport
Library
Stockroom

Stockroom is Stockport’s new centre for culture and creativity, with a library, a children’s play area and a whole host of exciting events.

A series of microphones hang from the ceiling with a muted warm light in the background.
Rochdale
Event venue
RISE Inavate Centre

RISE Inavate Centre will be used for a thought-provoking sound installation by Shilpa Gupta at Manchester International Festival 2025.

Interior Decorations - Viet Deli
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Viet Deli

Viet Deli is a small venue, not the kind of place for a sit down meal. Serving only bánh mì, traditionally street food in Vietnam.

Levenshulme
Restaurant
My Nawaab

Eye-catching banqueting hall in Levenshulme, with a wide-ranging buffet showcasing freshly-prepared Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

What's on: Literature

JE NE SAIS BLAH
LiteratureManchester
Je ne sais Blah at Cafe Blah

Je ne sais Blah is a brand-new spoken word night at the recently revenued Cafe Blah in the heart of Withington Village.

Free entry
Poet Tom Sastry.
LiteratureManchester
Verbose at The King’s Arms

Verbose is one of Manchester’s longest-running spoken word events, and welcomes Tom Sastry and Molly Naylor for June.

Free entry
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

Free entry

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