This LGBT+ History Month at Stockroom, we are exploring Stockport’s LGBT+ stories.

In particular, we are shining a light on our Christopher Isherwood Family Collection, part of the Local Heritage Library. Christopher Isherwood was born in High Lane in 1904, and went on to become an early figure of the Gay Liberation movement.

Andrew Biswell, Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University, presents Come to the Cabaret, a talk exploring Isherwood’s life and work.

“Christoper Isherwood was one of the most successful writers of the twentieth century. He is still known across the world for his novels Goodbye to Berlin and Mr Norris Changes Trains, which inspired the award-winning Hollywood musical Cabaret, starring Liza Minelli and Michael York.

Despite this global fame, many people are not aware of Isherwood’s strong family connections to Stockport and the surrounding area. He was born in High Lane and his family owned large amounts of land between Lyme Park, Stockport and Heaton Moor.”

Andrew Biswell’s talk will cover the major points in Isherwood’s life, with a focus on his origins in Stockport and his creative partnership with Don Bachardy.

The talk is free to attend as part of the LGBT+ History Month programming.

Andrew Biswell is Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has published several books about twentieth-century literature, and is writing a biography of W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood. He lives in Stockport.