Fleur Adcock reads from her long-awaited poetry collection, Dragon Talk, which explores her relationships with her native New Zealand and adopted England, as well as her family members. Adcock has long been celebrated for her conversational style and sardonic eye, charming audiences with an irresistible blend of warmth and wit. She has published thirteen previous collections and was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2006. This unique reading takes place in Manchester Museum’s atmospheric Prehistoric Life Gallery.

 

Strange Stones explores the life of Mary Anning, the unsung heroine of 19th century palaeontology. Using beautifully crafted puppets, storytelling and music, the production explores Mary’s extraordinary story, from her finding of the first complete Ichthyosaur fossil at the age of 12, to her later years as a pioneering natural scientist, against the odds of class and gender. This captivating event is suitable for children aged 6+ and can be enjoyed by all the family.