The fine folks behind the Manchester Literary Festival recently released the programme for this year. Taking pace in October, the Fest will feature over 100 established and emerging writers appearing at venues city wide. Over the course of 17 days, there will be many kinds of event, including readings, discussions, walking tours, and even theatrical performances. Tickets are now on sale and be sure to act fast, because several shows are close to selling out. The full line-up can be found on the official website, but to whet your appetite, five of the best events are outlined below…
The acclaimed author of ‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit’ will be performing one-woman show based on her new novel. The action cuts between Mary Shelley writing her classic novel ‘Frankenstein’ in 1816, and a present-day doctor researching the effects of Artificial Intelligence. The performance touches on subjects such as robotics, transgenderism, and having agency over your own body.
The Suede frontman and lyricist will read from ‘Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn’ – his brutally honest memoir about his dealings with fame. Anderson writes of his relationships with friends, lovers, and bandmates; how they impacted him creatively, and how they broke down. He contemplates Suede’s place in the music scene of the 90s and how these experiences shaped his life.
In a rare appearance, Kureishi will discuss his award-winning writings, such as the screenplays for ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’ and ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’, and also his forthcoming book, ‘What Happened?’. Dark but comic, this new collection of essays and fiction displays his observations about all manner of subjects, including social media, ancient classics, David Bowie, and the lesser-known Belgian philosopher Georges Simenon.
Cumbrian-born Sarah is the author of five novels, including the Booker Prize nominated ‘The Electric Michelangelo’. Exploring themes of identity, eroticism and existentialism, her stories mix the real with the mythical. She returns to MLF with her new collection of short stories, ‘Sudden Traveller’. Sarah will talk about her work within – and love of – the short story form with host Naomi Frisby.
- Words:
- A. James Simpkin
- Published on:
- Thu 15 Aug 2019
The more talkative half of the Pet Shop Boys will be at the RNCM discussing the art of song-writing, the joy of telling stories, and his literary and musical influences. Expect stories about his collaborations with artists like David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, and Derek Jarman. The ticket prices include a signed copy of his debut book One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem.