Four for April
1 Apr
A quick round-up of four enjoyable shenanigans, in Manchester, in April. Watch, listen, do!
This month: cameras, sunflowers, theatre and – first up – flash fiction
1. FlashTag creative writing competition
Open now – closes 27 April (free entry), part of Chorlton Arts Festival 17-27 May
The FlashTag writing collective bring a flash fiction writing comp to Chorlton Arts Festival. I’m assured there will be a glittering awards ceremony to announce winners and all that business, during the festival on 23 May. But not just awards, oh no, they’ll be snugly wrapped up in a fun-filled literary evening.
FlashTag consists of five flash fiction writers, all Manchester Blog Awards winners: David Hartley, Tom Mason, Benjamin Judge, Sarah-Clare Conlon and Fat Roland. The collective has collaborated on a number of writing projects, including the popular Flash Mob short story competition and spoken word evening at Chorlton Arts Festival 2011 and the sell-out Quickies: Short Stories For Adults anthology and associated Smut Night at Didsbury Arts Festival 2011.
More at flashmobmcr.wordpress.com
2. Was It Something I Said?
13 & 14 April (£7 full, £4 concessions). Capitol Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Russell Road
Support the next generation of Manchester theatre-makers, as norfox Young People’s Theatre Company (resident at The Library Theatre) brings Was It Something I Said?, to MMU’s Capitol Theatre. Devised entirely by the company, Was It Something I Said? is about how to get your voice heard in a world full of confusing messages.
7.30pm both nights. Buy tickets from Cornerhouse box office 0161 200 1500 or online www.librarytheatre.com
Could your garden look like this?
3. Turing’s Sunflowers
Sow your seeds April/May
2012 marks a centenary celebration of Alan Turing, who made a unique impact on the history of computing, computer science, artificial intelligence, developmental biology, and the mathematical theory of computability. Why sunflowers? Turing noticed that the number of spirals in the seed patterns of sunflower heads often conform to a number that appears in the mathematical sequence called the Fibonacci sequence. But you already knew that, didn’t you? Anyway, celebrate Turing’s centenary, brighten up your garden and the city by growing a sunflower (maybe more than one)
More at http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/connect/getinvolved/sunflowers
Join in the conversation on Twitter: @turingsunflower #turing #sunflowers
4. Camera Obscura
5 April. Across Manchester
A project to test the good nature, trust and creativity of the world. A simple premise, which drew me in as soon as I heard about it. Keep an eye out for a camera, wherever you are in Manchester on Thursday 5 April. If you find a camera, there’ll be instructions but basically: take it, take it somehere, take a picture, leave it for someone else to find. And, lo! the adventures continue…
More at http://www.cameraobscuraproject.co.uk/
Follow updates on Twitter @_camobscura
Hi there – delighted to find such a useful blog on artsy things in Manchester.
Can you find room in your ‘Four for May’ blog for a mention for Streetz – a brand new musical for Manchester? (info below). You’d also be very welcome to come and review it. It’s not a professional show but a million miles from your average ‘am dram’ performance – I guarantee you wouldn’t be disappointed.
Streetz: a new musical for Manchester
An original musical written by the North West Youth Theatre School, Streetz is a funny, gritty show about the lives and loves of families living on a North Manchester street. Back by popular demand for a second run and featuring a host of memorable songs. “The production is so polished it’s hard to believe you’re not watching a professional show.” (Gary Damer, CBBC actor)
Venue: Abraham Moss Theatre, Crescent Road, Manchester M8 5UF
Dates: Friday 4 and Saturday 5 May 2012, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 adults, £8 concessions, £32 family of four
Booking line: 07866 569/0161 908 2466
http://www.northwesttheatreartscompany.co.uk