Top 5: Manchester’s feminist festival Wonder Women returns

Coinciding with this year’s International Women’s Day (on Sunday 8 March), Manchester welcomes back Wonder Women, its feminist festival, with a month-long roster of events. There are films, exhibitions, theatre productions, tours and mini-festivals spread across the city across the whole of March and, while you can find the comprehensive listings page here, we’ve rounded up our top five picks…

Basic Sound Engineering for Women
Do you like to listen to music? Are you interested in a career in sound engineering? As part of the Sugar & Spice conference (from the Lesbian and Gay Foundation), this free course is ideal for those wanting to go into events management and sound engineering, from volunteering and then gaining a paid role. By the end you’ll know about the basic types of PA systems and how to set them up, an insight into live mixing desks and how to set up DJ equipment and other on-stage necessities.
Sat 7 Mar, The LGF, 5 Richmond Street M1 3HF, 1-3pm, FREE, Email info@dulcetsounds.co.uk to book

Nirbhaya
This award-winning play recreates the tragic incident that played in December 2012 in Delhi, where a young woman boarded a bus to go homewards but never got there. Written and directed by Yaël Farber, it explores and lays out on the table the silence around women who have been affected by violence. A talk after the performance will take place. Part of the SICK! Festival.
Sat 14 Mar, Contact, Oxford Road, M15 6JA, 8pm, £10-15, www.contactmcr.com

Mary Quaile Day: Discussions
One of the most well-known trade unionists in Britain in the 1920s, Mary Quaile was an Irish migrant in Manchester who inspired regular events on working class history and contemporary political issues through the Mary Quaile Club. With themes of class, peace, feminism, socialism, race and migration, these discussions have invited a number of speakers including Selma James (Global Women’s Strike), Ciara O’Sullivan (Mary Quaile Club), Alison Ronan (historian) plus more.
Sat 14 Mar, Lincoln Room, Methodist Central Hall, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, M1 1JQ, 10am – 4.30pm, £1 – £5, www.maryquaileclub.wordpress.com

Sex and the stereotype
How does our society’s views on women relate to sexual stereotypes? This evening looks into this very question, and includes Cornelia Parker’s latest show, a pub quiz and a performance from a band (to be announced).
Thu 26 Mar, The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M15 6ER, 6-9pm, FREE, www.wellcomecollection.org

The Ladies’ Room
Rounding off Wonder Women, for one day Stevenson Square will host this mini festival that celebrates the radical history of the square through Mancunian women back then and now. The venue stretches to the old Koffee Pot café (Hilton Street), a private rooftop garden and an underground bank vault. The day will involve workshops, tours, talks and performances from the likes of Elizabeth Alker (BBC) and Helen Pidd, and also historians, artists, architects and human geographers. Have a game of table tennis on the lawn of the square or make some kites while sipping a cocktail specially made by Art bar – this day will be jam-packed.
Sat 28 Mar, Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DN, 11am-8pm, FREE,

Throughout March 2015, Full listings at www.creativetourist.com