Word Central Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word, presented by Flapjack Press and Manchester Libraries.

Tuesday 17th February, 6.00pm – 7.45pm, at Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD.
Doors open 5.40pm and free entry.

Our first special guest of 2026, Zena Barrie, lives in Manchester and is the founder and co-director of Camden Fringe. She co-hosted the award-winning spoken word night Verbose, and ran the Gtr Manchester Fringe for a few years, the King’s Arms Pub and Theatre in Salford, and the Etcetera Theatre in Camden, as well as working in a wide variety of roles at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her novel, Your Friend Forever, was published in 2021, and her book of short stories, Two Similar Looking Men with Umbilical Hernias, illustrated by Claire Robinson, was published in 2025.

Hosted by Tony Curry.

Book your open mic slot from noon on Tuesday 3rd February via mail@flapjackpress.co.uk.

Open mic slots are 3 minutes per performer – it is essential that you stay within this timeframe.

Performance slots are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis from the stated booking time. If they are already filled you will be offered a place on the reserve list.