Rise Like Lions: A celebration of protest

Saturday 6 July, 5.30pm

Festival Square (Albert Square)

As part of Manchester International Festival, and in partnership with Manchester Histories, the Guardian are bringing the roots of protest to the heart of the city with a powerful performance celebrating the spirit of activism. Reading rallying cries from a history of unrest, these Manchester voices will stand up, be heard, and remind us all of the power in protest.

Reading rallying cries from a history of unrest, these Manchester voices will ring out against a specially commissioned backdrop video projection by acclaimed artists Greenaway and Greenaway followed by five poets and spoken word artists delivering famous speeches, poems and lyrics of protest from history. The piece will reach a rousing finale from the 30-strong Commoners Choir who on the same day walk into Manchester having carried a banner commemorating Peterloo – The Skelmanthorpe Flag – from Yorkshire.

Introduced by Katharine Viner, the Guardian’s editor-in-chief, and featuring Louise Wallwein, Michael Symmons Roberts, Ella Otomewo, Danny Collins and A.R.G.H KiD.

This event is part of Manchester International Festival 2019. For more information about other events and performances at this year’s Festival please click here.

Running time: 30 minutes, no interval.