Peterloo – massacre or riot?

On June 20th 2019, The John Rylands Library staged a live performance event to mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre. It was a first for the library and I was excited to take the part of Jemima Bamford – one of the thousands of men, women and children who gathered at St Peter’s Field in August 1819. I donned bonnet and shawl and created a speech, imagining how she might have spoken out against the actions of the militia, who charged into an unarmed crowd, and murdered up to 23 people.

Then joined by 5 other actors, I took part in a public debate as we decide: was Peterloo a massacre or a riot? At the end of the debate, votes were cast, and Manchester decided overwhelmingly – massacre.

Finally, I can announce that I am inaugural Writer-in-Residence at The John Rylands Library in Manchester. It’s fantastic news.
How? I put together a proposal, & asked. The power of asking, indeed.

Read the article in the University of Manchester magazine, here:

“When I first moved to Manchester I was stunned to discover this incredible library with such a surprising history,” remembers Rosie Garland, singer with Leeds post-punk band The March Violets and writer-in-residence at The John Rylands Library.
“It’s always been one of my favourite places in Manchester and the idea that I’m now working in it and writing about it as the Library’s first writer-in- residence is a dream come true.”

Read full article here
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/magazine/features/novel-library-research/

There’s a great article in Visit Manchester about the walking tour of the city inspired by The Night Brother!

“A Gothic style novel inspired by the streets and stories of late nineteenth century Manchester – ‘The Night Brother’(2017) by Rosie Garland – is soon going to be coming to life, in the form of a unique walking tour on Saturday 3rd November at 3pm - 4.30pm.devised by Rosie herself and local guide Anne Beswick.

This walk will be titled ‘Manchester Dark, Manchester Light - the inspiration behind The Night Brother’ and certainly is special.

‘The Night Brother’ is after all a novel of urban exploration, familial intensity and a dark delve into Manchester at the turn of the twentieth century. Guests will be able to ponder this as they will take in the sites of the city – including Northern Quarter backstreets, Victorian markets and subterranean spaces…”

Read the full interview here:
https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/haunt-manchester/places-product-list/night-brother-novel

A stellar day in the neo-gothic pomp and circumstance of John Rylands Library's magnificent Historic Reading Room. It's been a dream of mine to read there... and dreams come true.
A delicious highlight of the event was the specially designed (and rather foxy) cake by the talented Annabel de Vetten of Conjuror's Kitchen.
Click to go to Manchester Gothic Festival page

Polari Salon

G-A-Y Manchester
63 Richmond Street
Manchester
M1 3WB
7pm – 10pm

Fresh from our sell-out event at the legendary nightclub Heaven, London's multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon rocks up in Manchester.
A night of cabaret, comedy, poetry and performance with a literary bent.
Hosted by author Paul Burston with special guests –

Author, poet and performer Rosie Garland (‘What Girls Do In The Dark')
Award-winning author and performer Karen McLeod as Barbara Brownskirt
LGBT+ History Month Poet Laureate, publisher and performer Adam Lowe
Author Paul Magrs ('The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy')
£8 in advance, £10 (£5 conc) cash only on the door
"The most exciting literary movement in London - crackling with energy, ideas, excitement" - Huffington Post
"Lively, funny and inspiring"- Patrick Gale
"Always fun, always thought-provoking – a guaranteed good night out" - Sarah Waters
Part of the Polari Prize Tenth Anniversary Tour, funded by Arts Council England.
PLEASE NOTE -
Tickets are being sold based on current Covid restrictions.
If restrictions are lifted on July 19, more tickets will be released.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/polari-manchester-tickets-159581856629

Mancunian Ways Anthology launch (Fly on the Wall Press)

FRIDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2020
FROM 20:00-22:00

Zoom link below! This event will be JAM-PACKED with Mancunian performers, loud and proud. Come for the accents, the imagery, the eccentricity and the pure northern grit.

The Mancunian Ways Anthology fuses poetry, art and photography to embody the spirit of Manchester and paint a picture of the changing city. We travel from rousing celebrations of resilience (in the light of the Manchester Arena bombing), to showcases of talent throughout history (Manchester’s inventors, artists, scientists and dreamers) and ultimately enjoy a vibrant mix of creativity from this vibrant city.

In collaboration with Manchester Poetry Library & Manchester City Of Literature
Supported by Arts Council England

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZYscu6vrzorE9E9...
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

https://www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/mancunian-ways-anthology

Museums at Night

The John Rylands Library
150 Deansgate,
Manchester M3 3EH

DETAILS TBC

As part of Museums at Night 2019, The John Rylands Library is delighted to welcome Manchester author and Writer-In-Residence Rosie Garland for a special late event.
She’ll be reading from her latest novel, The Night Brother, set in Manchester.

In a special Collection Encounter, she’ll also be showing some of the items in the library collections, and talking about how they inspired her when she was writing the novel.

She’ll also be giving a sneak preview of the new novel she’s writing during her residency in the Library!

https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/whats-on/

Gothic Reading Group, MMU: The Night Brother

Contemporary Gothic Reading Group
New Business School,
Ground floor cafe area,
Manchester Metropolitan University,
All Saints, All Saints Campus,
Manchester
M15 6BH
Free event – all welcome
17.30 – 18.30

Please join us for the first of the Modern and Contemporary Gothic Reading Group sessions for 2018/2019. We will kick-start the year with Rosie Garland's extraordinary Manchester-set Gothic novel The Night Brother (2017). We are also delighted to welcome the author herself, who is happy to answer your questions.

Attending this group is free and our approach informal - no prior knowledge is necessary, but a passion for the Gothic is essential! :) Tea, coffee and cake provided.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1963358480626178/

Celebrate International Women's Day with Flapjack Press!

Manchester Central Library
St Peter's Square,
Manchester, M2 5PD

5.30pm – 8pm
free event

Join us for an evening of poetry hosted by Rosie Garland ("literary hero" - The Skinny).
With performance from award-winning poets, playwrights and spoken word artists Cathy Crabb, Sarah Miller, Anna Percy, Melanie Rees & Geneviève L. Walsh.

Doors open 5.30pm for a 6pm start, 8pm finish.

Free entry. Refreshments provided.

Presented by Flapjack Press in association with Manchester Library & Information Service
www.flapjackpress.co.uk

Verbose

Fred’s Ale House
843 Stockport Road
Levenshulme,
Manchester M19 3PW

Free event
doors are at 7.30pm

The live literature night Verbose – first event for 2019!
Come to Fred’s Ale House in Levenshulme on 28th Jan for an evening of poetry and stories about magic realism & the surreal.

Our headliners are Rosie Garland, Gaynor Jones & Michael Conley, plus all your usual open mic faves. FREE ENTRY - don't miss it!

First up - Rosie Garland: novelist, poet, singer & flash fiction writer, dubbed one of the country's finest performance poets.

Northern Writer of the Year, Gaynor Jones, is known for her strange and often surreal stories, & final headliner for Monday 28th Jan is Michael Conley. We love his hilarious and surreal poetry and short stories and can't wait to see him perform.

Verbose brings words to the ’burbs with live literature in Levenshulme.

https://www.facebook.com/VerboseMcr/