Manchester’s Spoken Word in November 2016

Manchester is host to a fine smattering of events this November which will warm the cockles of your heart better than any pumpkin spice latte – and most of them for cheaper than one too! Scribble Festival hits town on the 6^th and 7^th for a free festival of all things literature and spoken word-y, including music from Family Ranks and a poetry slam. Contact Theatre presents Home Is…Ilé La Wa: an interesting, topical explosion of poetry and theatre looking at how displacement narratives shape people’s concept of home in the context of Britain. Certainly not to be missed.

1st November / Word War 3MT Heat Ten / 3MT / 7:30pm / £3 / 

Let’s get ready to rumble one last time! 8 poets will battle it out for the chance to win £20 and a place in Decembers final where they can win £200 and the coveted Word War 3MT Trophy!

3rd November / Word Central / Manchester Central Library / 6pm / Free /

Word Central open mic poetry. A semaphore exploding mind flow hosted by Tony Curry, feautring Dermot Glennon.

3rd November / Speak Easy XII / Stretford Sip Club / 7:30pm / Free /

Speak Easy is Stretford’s friendly spoken word night at the Stretford Sip Club. Join us for some new work of poetry, prose and music.

6th-7th November / Scribble Festival / Chapter One Books / 1:30-8pm / Free / 

Join us for Scribble Festival, Tell Us Another One and Cartwheel Arts annual literature celebration. Inviting members of the public to come join us during Sunday afternoon for a day of creative writing workshops, live readings with some great artists from the North West and a chance to get your work published, followed by an evening of live music, a Poetry Slam with a cash prize and a poetry reading from our star guest. Monday’s morning session is an opportunity for writers and organisations to network and connect. We will be having panel discussions followed by speed networking and lunch.

7th November / FLIM NITE presents ‘Spirited Away’ / 3MT / 7:30pm / £2 suggested donation /

What would ‘Spirited Away’ look like distorted by poets, comedians, and performers? FLIM NITE is a monthly performance event based at Three Minute Theatre in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. At no point do we show the film in question! Each of our performers has been given a chunk of ‘Spirited Away’ to turn into something new. Come and watch as our acts transform a supernatural Studio Ghibli film into something unrecognisable for your viewing pleasure. We will not be showing a movie. We will be making a flim.

8th November / Quiet, quiet, LOUD / The Lloyds, Wilbraham Road / 7pm / £3 / 

Featuring Julia Webb and Steven Stroud.

9th November / Mumb by Cathy Crabb / Manchester Central Library / 6pm / Free / 

Cathy’s new poetry collection, a personal exploration of the dark side of motherhood and what it means to be ‘a woman of a certain age’. “Cathy Crabb writes beautifully, feels deeply and is not afraid to share the darker sides of being a mother.” – Janice Connolly AKA Mrs Barbara Nice Author reading and signing, with special guests Joy France, Alex Keelan and Isla Esme Donaldson.

12th November / Home Is…Ilé La Wa / Contact Theatre / 7:30pm / £11/£6 /

Poetry and theatre combine to explore how displacement narratives shape people’s concepts of home in the British context. On the same morning the Government unleashes ‘Go Home’ buses on the streets of London, four strangers find themselves detained together following a raid at a train station. As they speculate on the reasons for their detention and react to their predicaments and each other, their individual stories unravel a tale of subtle prejudices, displacement narratives not limited to migration as well as diverse coping mechanisms. Ilé la wa, which means ‘we are home’ in Yoruba, explores what happens when your idea of home conflicts with your reality. The play features writing from Tolu Agbelusi, Tshaka Campbell, Russenï Fisher, Jemilia Wisdom and Belinda Zhawi and performances by Tolu, Russenï, Belinda and Flo Wilson. Plus a curtain-raiser performance from Young Identity. whenifindhome.blogspot.co.uk

14th November / Evidently / Eagle Inn, Salford / 7:30pm / £3 /

Forget what you learned at school, this is poetry as entertainment. Featuring Scott Tyrrell and Lexia Tomlinson.

17th November / The Word / Home Community Café / 8pm / Free /

Open mic evening featuring guest poet Kieren King. He is best known as the co-creator and host of popular Manchester spoken word nights, Evidently and the Word War Slams, and formerly as a host of Bang Said The Gun: Manchester. He was recently hand-picked by Guy Garvey of Elbow to curate a Spoken Word event as part of the 2016 Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre in London. An experienced performer in his own right, Kieren has been writing and performing his work since 2008 and has performed at various festivals including: KendallCalling, Wychwood, 2000 Trees, Rebellion, Strummercamp and the Cheltenham Poetry Festival and has featured at a number of spoken word nights throughout the UK.

18th November / One Mic Stand / Contact / 7pm / £7/£4 /

Join Manchester’s finest young spoken word performers for a boisterous night of poetry, music and visual art. Featuring an open slam and special guests.

24th November / Chorlton Book Festival Open Mic / Chorlton Library / 7pm / Free (booking essential) / 

Featuring special guest Rosie Garland.

28th November / RAW (Rhythm And Words) / Contact / 8pm / Free / 

Contact’s regular free open mic event for poets, vocalists, and MCs, featuring the Freestyle Pyramid Competition with quirky prizes.

30th November / Bad Language / The Castle / 7:30pm / Free / 

Details TBC.