What’s on – Spoken Word

25 May 2012 at The DrumThe Nubian Readers’ Book Club continues to meet at The Drum on the last Friday of each month to discuss books written by African, Caribbean, Black British and African American authors. It’s a popular forum for literature enthusiasts and a one of its kind in promoting and discussing Black literature. The group has had a steady increase […]

29 May 2012 at Birmingham CathedralFREE […]

22 May 2012 at Birmingham CathedralFREE Canon Nigel Hand's series of Tuesday Talks, Old Laws for a Contemporary World, Commandments for the Workplace, continues with a talk on Keeping your Integrity. […]

30 May 2012 at Waterstone's, High StreetBirmingham High Street is pleased to welcome back crime superstar and author of the latest James Bond novel 'Carte Blanche' Jeffery Deaver. Jeffery will also be discussing his latest Kathryn Dance thriller 'XO'. […]

25 May 2012 at Moseley Park (suitable for under 18s) Headline acts: knight training, storytelling, crafts […]

22 May 2012 at Memorial Hall One of Laughing Cows' favourite comedians, VG Lee will present a book reading of her latest book, set in 1960s Birmingham, "Always you, Edina". An often funny, at times bittersweet novel, Always you, Edina tells the story of endlessly good-natured child narrator Bonnie as she negotiates family and school life in 19 […]

27 May 2012 at macIn February 2012, Capital Theatre Festival ran a 6-week Writing for the Stage course at mac birmingham. The workshops provided twelve local writers with a comprehensive introduction to the tools and techniques of playwriting. Writers were encouraged to develop their own ideas for a one-hour stage-play as the course progressed. Four of the w […]

26 May 2012 at macIn February 2012, Capital Theatre Festival ran a 6-week Writing for the Stage course at mac birmingham. The workshops provided twelve local writers with a comprehensive introduction to the tools and techniques of playwriting. Writers were encouraged to develop their own ideas for a one-hour stage-play as the course progressed. Four of the w […]

26 May 2012 at macFREE If you are a theatre-maker, working in the West Midlands at the moment, what are the things you feel the sector should be talking about? We'll be asking this question via twitter in the weeks leading up to the festival - and will be using your suggestions to provoke the discussion and help shape the calls for action drawn up at th […]

25 May 2012 at macIn 2012 Talking Birds will be 20 years old. Perhaps less widely known, 2012 is also London's Olympic year and so, to celebrate both those things, we are embarking on a year long project called Decathlon - ten artworks, each inspired by the decathlon's ten sporting disciplines. It is designed to involve a wide range of people as pa […]

24 May 2012 at macSix writers and theatre practitioners will pitch their ideas for digital theatre projects in front of a live audience and panel of judges. The pitches will explore the relationships between virtual and live spaces. A unique and lively event where contestants find innovative and imaginative ways to win over both the judges and the audience. […]

17 May 2012 at The PublicFREE Do you enjoy writing poetry, prose, plays, film scripts, short stories or even a novel? West Bromwich Writer's Group covers all aspects of Creative Writing. The group have been running for the past six years at West Bromwich Central Library and moved to The Public early this year. West Bromwich Writers group is an informal […]

17 May 2012 at Soho HouseCelebrate Local and Community History Month by booking your place on this special tour. While Soho House is closed for the redevelopment of its visitor centre, we are conducting limited tours. Come and learn more about Soho House and Matthew Boulton with this exclusive tour between 11:00am and 12:30pm, light refreshments included. Pr […]

26 May 2012 at Weoley CastleFind out more about this fascinating medievel manor house 2pm £3.50 […]

21 May 2012 at Birmingham Buddhist CentreWith John Whiteman […]

26 May 2012 at macFREE In these straightened times, what are the avenues for new work and new writing? How can writers build relationships with theatres, both regionally and nationally? Is self-producing an option? How does that impact on efforts to build a sustainable career? A valuable and informative insight into the artistic policies of producing theatre […]

25 May 2012 at macFREE A lively and topical discussion about the practices and processes of developing new work. Where are the crossovers between the traditional models of “new writing” and the collaborative nature of devised theatre? Is it even useful to preserve a distinction between the different ways of making and sharing work? An expert panel of practit […]

24 May 2012 at macFREE It what ways can writers, artists and practitioners effectively and creatively harness social media and digital technologies? How does online collaboration, interaction and audience participation enrich a theatre-making process? This discussion offers an in-depth look into the creative possibilities of new media. […]

20 May 2012 at Birmingham Museum & Art GalleryConservation and other scientific work has been going on on the Staffordshire Hoard for more than a year now. In this talk Deborah Magnoler and David Symons will describe this work and reveal some of the discoveries that the Hoard research team have been making. Dr David Symons came to Birmingham to study arc […]

24 May 2012 at Ikon Gallery** Does Birmingham appreciate its heritage?** As part of our on-going collaboration, Ikon and The Lunar Society co-host an evening debate exploring different aspects of heritage such as the social, cultural and economic history of the Birmingham and how these are considered in current and future planning, design and development. Ch […]