Free things to do in Manchester this week ft. Calais Children + more

Last Chance to See Nature Through Roman Eyes at Manchester Museum (pictured)
Our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this week is this exhibition at Manchester Museum, which ends its run on Tuesday. It pulls from a wealth of archive material, including archaeological specimens and written documents, to bring to life the work of Pliny the Elder – the Roman scholar who authored Naturalis Historia, one of the first recognisable encyclopedias. Each artefact is accompanied by a small cartoon from Merseyside cartoonist Bill Tidy.
Until Tue 30 Oct, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, 10am – 5pm, events.manchester.ac.uk

Bad Language Does Halloween at Gullivers
Live literature night Bad Language is hosting a spooky special this Wednesday. Gracing the stage in Gulliver’s ballroom is Beth Underdown, author of lauded historical fiction novel The Witch Finder’s Sister, and the current writer-in-residence at Quarry Bank Mill. Underdown will be reading from her latest commissioned work Love Makes As Many, an anthology that focuses on the lives of women mill workers at the end of The Great War. There will also be performances on the night from a number of up-and-coming young writers. This is a pay-as-you-feel event, so you are encouraged but not compelled to give generously at the door.
Wed 31 Oct, Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW, 7.30pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com

Intimacy, Sexuality, Consent at The Whitworth
One free thing you can take part in on Thursday is this discussion event at The Whitworth, which is part of the museum’s Thursday Lates series. A talk by Italian art historian Sara Riccardi will take a critical look at art, and how it has represented affection, desire and consent over the ages. This discussion is followed by a workshop led by creative sex educator Alison Pilling, looking at these issues alongside cutting-edge thinking on the subject of mutually satisfying relationships. No need to book, this is a drop-in session.
Thu 1 Nov, The Whitworth, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER, 6pm – 7.30pm, events.manchester.ac.uk

Calais Children Screening at St. John’s Church
In 2016, Goldsmiths Professor and filmmaker Sue Clayton documented the dismantling of the Calais Jungle, and the displacement of 2000 child migrants thereafter. Her film, Calais Children: A Case To Answer went on to move and mesmerise audiences, scooping awards at the London Independent Film Festival and the first London Independent Documentary Festival. It even became primary evidence in a legal case against the UK government. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director, and a broad discussion of the issues raised and their ongoing relevance. This is a free event, but its requested that you make a donation on the door.
Thu 1 Nov, St John’s Church, Ayres Road, Stretford, M16 7GX, 6.45pm – 9pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk