This year Altrincham Word Fest is bigger and better than ever! With events and workshops on poetry, blogging, creative writing, comedy, crime fiction, Alan Turing ‘s Manchester and advice on publishing your own work we have something for everyone. Whether you want to learn, perform or just listen – you will find something to inspire you! All tickets on Eventbrite.
Saturday 11th May
Flash Fiction Workshop: Creating a Short Story in 150 words of the King of the form, David Gaffney
Time: 2pm until 4pm
Venue: altspace, Stamford Street, Altrincham
Cost: £10
Learn how to reduce a thousand words to 150 without losing a thing. Full of practical, fun exercises, this session will leave you wondering why anything has to be longer than a side of A4!
Sunday 12th May
Blogging and Beyond with award winning lifestyle blogger Susan Earlam
Time: 2pm until 4pm
Venue: to be confirmed
Cost: £7 ( includes afternoon tea)
Susan is a successful women’s lifestyle blogger who is now writing her first novel. She will be discussing blogging, ‘life online’ and her development as a writer with Digital Witch, Victoria Sorzano.
Tuesday 14th May
An Evening with Cath Staincliffe
Time: 7pm
Venue: to be confirmed
Cost: £7 ( includes refreshments)
An evening with Cath Staincliffe, creator of TV Series Blue Murder and award winning writer of the Sal Kilkenny private eye series. She will discuss her ‘life of crime’ and her latest novels which deal with contemporary issues like transphobic hate crime and an adoption that goes very wrong indeed.
Wednesday 15th May
That’s What She Said
Time: 7pm
Venue: Coco’s Lounge, Stamford New Road, Altrincham
Cost: £10
That’s What She Said is a spoken word night for women and non-binary writers. It usually takes place at Tribeca in Manchester but is coming for Altrincham for one night only! An exhilarating evening of the best new writing and performance hosted by Jane Clare Bradley
Thursday 16th May
Am evening of experimental poetry with Tom Jenks with visual artist Kevin Linnane
Time: 7pm
Venue: Pi Bar, Greenwood Street, Altrincham
Cost: £5
An evening of performance poetry from Tom, experimental poet writer, librettist and performance artist. Visual artist Kevin will produce his responses to Tom’s work during the evening.
Friday 19th May
Comedy Stand Up with What’s the Sketch
Time: 7pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: £7 (includes refreshments)
Improvised comedy night with themes provided by the audience. The event is a collaboration with ‘What’s the Sketch’, an Altrincham based contemporary theatre company. It’s going to be very interactive!
Saturday 18th May
Put Pen to Paper
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Altrincham Library
Cost: £10
A fun and informal workshop – all you will need to bring is a pen and paper! No prior knowledge of poetry or expressive writing is required, just a willingness to experiment with words in a supportive environment.
Saturday 18th May
Life Writing and Personal Narrative with Kate Feld
Time : 2pm until 4pm
Venue: altspace, Stamford Street, Altrincham
Cost: £10
Kate was so inspiring last year we had to ask her back! This workshop is suitable for total beginners and experienced writers alike, we’ll discuss examples of inspiring short-form memoir and personal essays, learn about different writing techniques and start work on a piece based on your own life experience.
Sunday 19th May
Poetry Workshop for Young Adults with the founder of Young Identity, Shirley May
Time: 2pm until 4pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: £10
A workshop for young people from 16 to 21. All levels of experience welcome. Shirley is the director of Young Identity writing collective and works with Home, Manchester’s centre for contemporary art, theatre and film.
Monday 20th May
Sonic Youth Slept on my Floor, Music, Manchester and More: An Evening with Dave Haslam
Time : 7pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: £5
Dave was a DJ during the Hacienda’s headiest days. His memoir documents his years at the iconic club and on the Manchester music scene, hob nobbing with Tony Wilson, Terry Hall, Neneh Cherry, David Byrne and many more.
Tuesday 21st May
Alan Turing’s Manchester with Jonathan Swinton
Time: 7pm
Venue: Pi Bar, Greenwood Street, Altrincham
Cost: £5
Jonathan Swinton’s new book is about the Manchester that Turing experienced on his arrival in 1948 and what it was like to make new friends and lovers in the bombed-out, post-war city and its suburbs, including Altrincham.
Wednesday 22nd May
Poetry Open Mic Evening
Time: 7pm
Venue: Coco’s Lounge, Stamford New Road, Altrincham
Cost: £5
For all poets no matter what vintage or level of experience. Don’t be shy, come and perform your work to a supportive audience at this informal evening. Or just come to listen!
Thursday 23rd May
An Evening with David Nolan – King of Manc Noir
Time: 7pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: £7
David will be discussing his career as a journalist, documentary maker and now writer of gripping Manchester based crime thriller, Black Moss, with David Prior, editor of Altrincham Today.
Saturday 25th May
How to Get Your Work Published
Time: 3pm until 5pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: £7
Nicholas Royle, is a writer, editor, publisher, creative writing lecturer and supporter of new writers. If you are looking for advice about finding a publisher, either on-line or in print, for your work – Nicholas has all the answers.
Sunday 26th May
Rant!
Time: 3pm until 5pm
Venue: tbc
Cost: Free
Aged between 14 and 18 and living or studying in Altrincham? We challenge you to tell us in just 250 words about something that really exasperates you! You can use either poetry or prose to let off steam about anything that makes you seethe!
Altrincham Word Fest 