Manchester Literature Festival reveal all talks, poetry and new commissions for 2023

Manchester Literature Festival has revealed a thought-provoking programme of events that celebrate imagination, creativity and ideas; offering new perspectives from which to view our fast-paced and shifting world.

Manchester Literature Festival is a celebration of imagination, ideas, stories, and voices from around the world. It is part of Manchester’s rich cultural tapestry and is committed to bringing together the most exciting storytellers, poets, and thinkers for everyone to enjoy.

Taking place across the city in an array of venues – from Manchester Art Gallery and International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Central Library to Contact Theatre, HOME and The Lowry – the line-up this year includes Zadie Smith, Jeanette Winterson, Deborah Levy, Max Porter, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Elif Shafak, Kate Mosse, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Simon Armitage, Natalie Haynes, Annie Macmanus, Afua Hirsch, George Monbiot, Gaia Vince, Jeremy Deller, Lisa Nandy and Yanis Varoufakis.

Preview and Bookend events include Arlo Parks (9 September), Lemn Sissay (16 September), Yanis Varoufakis (26 September), Thurston Moore (17 November), Doon Mackichan (20 November) and Naomi Alderman (29 November).

Manchester Literature Festival main programme

Internationally acclaimed author and founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Kate Mosse will hold a special ‘How to Write Historical Fiction’ Masterclass for the festival. Kate will share what drew her to the genre, the inspiration behind her bestselling novels like Labyrinth, Sepulchre and The Burning Chambers, how she evokes convincing historical details and how to balance factual research with compelling characters and storytelling.

Kate will also discuss her new novel, The Ghost Ship, and the real 18^th century female pirates that inspired her in an In Conversation hosted by novelist Beth Underdown (The Key in the Lock).

Novelist and memoir writer Deborah Levy (The Cost of Living, The Man Who Saw Everything, Hot Milk) will be in conversation about her forthcoming novel, August Blue. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing & Creative Manchester. 

Cult author Max Porter (Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Lanny) performs a dramatic abridged reading from his new novel Shy with a live electronic score by musician Roly Porter. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing & Creative Manchester.

Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak returns to the festival to discuss some of the writers and poets that have influenced and inspired her, some of the books she returns to regularly for pleasure or guidance and her own life-long passion for reading, writing and storytelling.

New York Times bestselling author of four novels, Lauren Groff (Matrix, Fates and Furies) will be in conversation about her forthcoming novel, The Vaster Wilds, sisterhood, strong characters and writing historical fiction. Lauren was one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists in 2017.

A giant of contemporary literature, Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard rocked the literary world with his My Struggle cycle of six autobiographical novels. He makes his debut at MLF to talk about his forthcoming novel, The Wolves of Eternity, an intimate journey into the experiences of a half-brother and half-sister in two different – yet deeply connected – lives.

Irish broadcaster, Changes podcast presenter and author Annie Macmanus (Mother Mother) talks about her new novel The Mess We’re In, her passion for music and stories, and her journey from sharing other people’s stories to writing her own. Sponsored by The Edwardian Manchester.

American author Sandra Newman (The Heavens, The Country of Ice Cream Star) makes her MLF debut to discuss her distinctive fiction and how dystopia mirrors the world around us. Sandra was chosen by the Orwell Estate to write Julia, a bold feminist retelling of George Orwell’s 1984.

Award-winning actor Richard Armitage, star of Spooks, The Hobbit, Captain America and Oceans 8, joins us to discuss his page-turning debut thriller, Geneva, and his journey from performing characters on stage and screen to writing them. Harlan Coben described Geneva as ‘an outstanding debut – ingenious, fast-paced and unpredictable.’ Sponsored by The Edwardian Manchester.

Two of the brightest new stars in fiction discuss their brilliant debuts, strong women characters and narrative voice. Monica Heisey is a Canadian television writer (Schitt’s Creek) and the author of Really Good, Actually. Sheena Patel is a writer, assistant director for film and TV, and part of the 4 Brown Girls Who Write collective. Her brilliant, acerbic debut is I’m A Fan.

A prolific and inspiring storyteller, Jeanette Winterson (FRANKISSSTEIN, Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?) returns to MLF to launch her new book, Night Side of the River: Ghost Stories. She will read a new short story and share some of her real-life encounters with the occult. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.

Culture programme

Greek author and economist, Yanis Varoufakis, joins us to talk about his boldest book yet, Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Drawing on stories from Greek myths to pop culture, from Homer to Mad Men, Yanis will guide us through the game-changing transformation and how it holds the key to understanding our times.

Master storyteller Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short, Flash Boys) launches his highly anticipated new book, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon which chronicles the high-octane story of Sam Bankman-Fried, the young billionaire at the heart of one of the 21^st century’s most spectacular financial collapses via crypto currency. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing & Creative Manchester. Sponsored by Weightmans and Investec Wealth & Investment.

One of our most fearless voices on nature, climate change and the environment, George Monbiot returns to MLF to discuss his latest book, Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet. In a special in conversation hosted by Sarah Bridle, Professor of Food, Climate and Society at the University of York, George will consider how we can grow more food with less farming and transform our relationship with the Earth. Presented in partnership with Manchester Lit & Phil.

Award-winning science writer and broadcaster Gaia Vince discusses two of the most urgent issues of the day: climate crisis and migration. For Adventures in The Anthropocene, Gaia spent 2 ½ years travelling to over 50 countries to map the ways humans are changing the planet forever. In her latest book, Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval, Gaia suggests planned and extensive migration is the key to surviving the climate crisis. Presented in partnership with Manchester Museum and hosted by Museum Director Esme Ward.

One of the most respected voices in frontline politics, Lisa Nandy is MP for Wigan and the Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Her book All In: How We Build A Country That Works looks at the crises happening in Britain from political division and economic turmoil to underinvestment, and suggests how we can build a better, fairer country for everyone.

Award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author Afua Hirsch (Brit(ish)) returns to the festival to talk about her new book, Decolonising My Body with host Jackie Kay. A radical exploration of rituals and beauty, the book looks at how notions of beauty are constructed and stripped away, empowering people to reconnect with their own ancestral heritage and heal their minds and bodies.

Friends and fellow authors Christie Watson (Quilt on Fire, The Language of Kindness) and Lorraine Candy (What’s Wrong With Me?) make smart, funny, relatable contributions to the growing conversation about women and midlife. How do women navigate perimenopause, parents and friendships with brain fog, sleepless nights and changing brains and bodies? Audiences will hear these fabulous women share their experiences and feel less alone in navigating a momentous change in life.

Playful and original, artist Jeremy Deller won the 2004 Turner Prize and represented Britain in the 55^th Venice Biennale. He created an inflatable Stonehenge for Glasgow International and collaborated with Manchester International Festival and the public on Procession and What Is The City But The People? He comes to the festival to talk about the power of imagination, creativity, collaboration and his joyful book Art is Magic.

Poetry events

Poetry is always an important component of the festival and this year includes some special events alongside a new commission.

Singer, songwriter and poet Arlo Parks (My Soft Machine, Collapsed in Sunbeams) joins us for an intimate event to launch her poetry collection The Magic Border. The Mercury Music Prize winner will read and discuss some of the poems she’s been quietly writing for years. Sponsored by The Midland Manchester.

Award-winning writer, poet and playwright Lemn Sissay launches his latest poetry collection Let the Light Pour In. A collection that celebrates his morning practice of beginning every day by writing a short poem.

Pioneering Jamaican reggae poet, performer and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson will perform a short set from his extraordinary collection Selected Poems. Then he will discuss his considerable contribution to Black British culture and the artists and activists who have inspired and nurtured him with host Jackie Kay. Presented in partnership with Manchester Poetry Library.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has always been inspired by music as much as the written word and his new book Never Good With Horses collects a rich assembly of the lyrics he’s written for film, theatre and his bands. He joins us to read some of his lyrics and discuss his love of language, his creativity and collaborations, and some of the songwriters and lyricists that have inspired him. Presented in partnership with Manchester Poetry Library.

MLF and Carcanet celebrate the 50^th anniversary of influential poetry journal PN Review with a special event featuring poets Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Sasha Dugdale and Will Harris. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.

New commissions

To mark Manchester Art Gallery’s 200^th anniversary, MLF and the gallery have co-commissioned award-winning poet Jason Allen-Paisant (Thinking with Trees, Self-Portrait as Othello) to create a new trio of playful and sensual poems inspired by paintings and garments in the gallery’s collection.

Icelandic novelist, poet and lyricist Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir (Animal Life, Hotel Silence, Miss Iceland) returns to the city to share new fiction inspired by her Writer’s Residency in Manchester earlier this summer. Presented in partnership with Manchester UNESCO City of Literature, John Rylands Research Institute and Library and Creative Manchester.

Talented young writers from Manchester, Aalborg and Aarhus, Billie Meredith, SAF-S2E, Cassandra Marie Geyti, Silas Toft, Marie Laurberg Nielsen and Selina Rom Andersen, present new poetry inspired by explorations of each other’s cities as part of the Cities Untold residency project.

Bookends

Thurston Moore, guitarist, songwriter and one of the founding members of cult band Sonic Youth, comes to the city for a rare in conversation to talk about his eagerly awaited memoir, Sonic Life. He’ll discuss his passion for music, his expedition from small-town Connecticut and New York’s East Village to headlining Festivals, and his many decades of creation, experimentation and wonder. Sponsored by The Midland Manchester.

British actor, comedian and writer Doon Mackichan (Two Doors Down, Brass Eye) launches her memoir, My Lady Parts: A Life Fighting Stereotypes. The co-creator of Smack the Pony, Doon studied drama at Manchester University and started her stand-up career in the city. She will be talking about her career on stage and screen and the feminism that has characterised her career and life. Sponsored by Weightmans and presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.

Award-winning novelist, game writer and radio broadcaster Naomi Alderman launches her thrilling new novel The Future and discusses her fascination with speculative fiction and creating strong feminist characters on page and screen. Naomi’s last novel The Power won the 2017 Women’s Prize for Fiction and was adapted into an electrifying television series for Amazon Prime. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.

Events for Young Readers

Set in Manchester’s unique skatepark, Projekts, participants will learn how to design their own comic book character with the help of illustrator and zine maker, Ed Syder (Thrasher Magazine, Santa Cruz, Emerica, Secret Curb Club) to then be painted onto individual recycled skate decks to take home.

Author Nathan Bryon and illustrator Dapo Adeola’s loveable character Rocket has already taught us about space, how to tackle ocean pollution and now, in Speak Up,! she’s back to save her local library, which she is horrified to learn is closing for lack of funding. Hear how Dapo and Nathan created Rocket and what inspired her adventures in this action-packed event about speaking up for what you believe in.

Award-winning storyteller Danyah Miller brings best-selling children’s author Michael Morpurgo’s treasured story I Believe in Unicorns to life in a dazzling adaptation at Z-arts.

Cathy Bolton & Sarah-Jane Roberts, Co-Directors of Manchester Literature Festival said: “We can’t wait to welcome all our inspirational guest writers, artists and thinkers to Manchester to share their words, passion and unique insights with audiences this autumn. From Kate Mosse’s swashbuckling tale of eighteenth-century female pirates, The Ghost Ship, to Naomi Alderman’s fast-paced, cataclysmic vision of The Future; and from George Monbiot and Gaia Vince’s radical proposals for combatting the climate emergency to Thurston Moore and Jeremy Deller’s reflections of decades devoted to art, creativity and collaborations, we’re buckled up for some fun, literary adventures.”

Gareth Gavin, Director of the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester said: “Once again, the Manchester Literature Festival promises to deliver a compelling and captivating programme of events. As readers, writers, students, and teachers, we savour the opportunity to listen to such a rich and exciting range of authors read and discuss their work, and we look forward, too, to the ongoing conversations that the events spur. The Festival is a landmark chapter in Manchester’s cultural calendar, and we’re very proud to be continuing our partnership this year.”

Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester Literature Festival will once again be leading the way in bringing top literary talent to the city when it makes a welcome return this autumn. With a packed programme on offer of top literary talent that befits Manchester’s standing as a UNESCO City of Literature, MLF has pulled out all the stops this year with an amazing and unmissable line-up and opportunities to see and hear from some of the best and most interesting writers around. We can’t wait to welcome them and literature lovers new and old to the city – don’t miss it!”

Jen Cleary, Director North, Arts Council England said, “Manchester Literature Festival is always a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar and we’re delighted to support it as one of our national portfolio organisations. And, in its 18th year, the programme looks as exciting and innovative as ever. I’m looking forward to experiencing some fantastic discussions and events this autumn.”

View the full programme and book here

The full programme will be on sale for MLF Get Closer Members on Tuesday 15 August and on general sale on Thursday 17 August. Membership starts at £20 per annum and includes Priority Booking.

Book tickets for Manchester Literature Festival

Some events offer both standard Tickets & Ticket & Book, please check the website for details.

View the full programme and book here