Free things to do in Manchester this week ft Russell Hicks + Rusholme Festival of Ideas

The first week of the month usually gives cause to splurge but following the decadence of Halloween weekend many a pocket will be left feeling lighter. Luckily, the Rusholme Festival of Ideas will be providing free events all week -but this isn’t the only place to get you midweek kicks on the cheap.

Russell Hicks at Quippopotamus (pictured)
As featured in our comedy picks of the week, US comic Russell Hicks makes his way to Odd Bar’s Quippopotamus, the top Northern Quarter comedy night. Support is provided by award-winning acts Freddy Quinne and David Stanier – the latter of whom is testing material for the semi-final of the BBC Radio 2 New Comedy Awards. The whole night is tied together by madcap host Jack Evans, who promises a few surprises of his own.
Tue 4 Nov, Odd Bar, Thomas Street, 8pm – 10.30pm, www.facebook.com

James Baldwin 90th Anniversary Special
One of the many things going into Rusholme’s Festival of Ideas is the screening of the 1968 documentary Baldwin’s Nigger, a film about African-American writer and essayist James Baldwin, covering a discussion between Baldwin and comedian Dick Gregory on the civil rights movement Britain. The screening also features an introduction by Manchester University’s Dr Douglas Field. This event is free, but online registration is recommended.
Tue 4 Nov, Trinity House Community Resource Centre, Grove Close, Rusholme, M14 5AA, 6pm – 9pm, www.festivalofideasrusholme.com

Future Fires: The Negatives at Contact
The Future Fires programme was set up by Contact to support young artists from all mediums to engage with their local communities. One upshot of this programme is this new free exhibition running from the end of September straight through to Christmas, which displays photographs taken by companions and outreach workers from the poverty and homelessness charity Emmaus. The exhibition seeks to challenge perceptions of homelessness, and cast light on the challenges faced by Emmaus companions and their foil.
Mon 29 Sep – Sat 20 Dec, Contact, Oxford Road, M15 6JA, www.contactmcr.com

Find more FREE things to do in Manchester by clicking ‘What’s On’ or ‘This Week’ in the search bar above.