Watch...Shelagh Delaney’s Salford in this film made in 1960 by Ken Russell. She was only 22 and is incredibly confident and articulate. The film shows her love of Salford and its people and a glimpse of what life was like in the northwest at that time. This year she is going to be honoured by Salford Council (!!) and in November there are going to be a series of events to celebrate her life. There is also a new biography of her called Sweetly Sings Delaney: A Study of Shelagh Delaney’s Work 1958-68 by John Harding.
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Go see….a free screening of the Song of the Shirt, at the Tate in Liverpool on 29 April, based on a poem by Thomas Hood this film was made in the 70s by radical filmmakers. Made in black and white it is about the seamstresses who worked in the clothing industry in the east end of London in the 1840s. It comments on women, sexuality, politics, music, early photography and fashion. See
One of the filmmakers, Sue Clayton, will be there and is also showing her latest gallery interpretation of the film’s themes and putting it into a contemporary setting. Have a look at

Join in …a discussion about what kind of press we want at the Friends Meeting House on 29 April from 730pm. Speakers include local seeker of truth, Stephen Kingston, of the Salford Star and Granville Williams of the Campaign for Press Freedom. Granville will be speaking about his new book; Settling Scores; the Media, the Police and the Miners’ Strike. He is founder member of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. Further details see

Lobby Bolton’s CCG board meeting on Friday 2 May at 12. The campaign has got lots of support from the public but they need people to show the CCG that they are not prepared to allow them to decimate the service. Further info see

Go to a show….which links Karl Marx and vampires!! Burjesta Theatre have a new show called the Reign of the Vampires. They say; “In the 19th century Karl Marx used the vampire as a metaphor for the capitalist class he saw around him. We’ve taken his idea and applied it to the 21st century, thrown in a bit of ‘Blade’, a sprinkling of Jason Bourne and a great soundtrack of music to get your feet tapping and your hips swaying”. Further details see

See…some new plays at Studio Salford. From April to June there is an interesting mix of plays including comedies and dramas. On 5&6 May there is the opportunity to see some new plays including the fascinating When the Rich Wage War, It’s The Poor Who Die…can’t wait! Further info see

Listen to...feminist historian Jill Liddington discussing her new book, Vanishing for the Vote…at the Pankhurst Centre on 20 May. The book is readable, contains new information about the suffragette movement in 1911, and for me is an inspiration in my own politics. Highly recommended. Further info see