What’s On: New Ideas, Urgent Questions, and Work in Progress with Fuel
Posted on: 15th April 2025
Fuel presents two new live events and highlights further work-in-progress performances.
Stained Metal by Inua Ellams
28 May 2025 | 5:30pm | Manchester Museum (Kanaris Lecture Theatre)
Inua Ellams – acclaimed poet, playwright, and performer – launches his latest work Stained Metal, in collaboration with Fuel, Museum of West African Art, Creative Manchester and Manchester Museum. The event celebrates his appointment as Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester.
Stained Metal begins with a powerful gesture: sending his MBE medal to four countries once colonised by Britain — Kenya, India, Canada, and Jamaica. Artists in each will be invited to respond to a letter from Inua and to the medal itself. This live launch introduces the concept with a reading, poetry, and a conversation hosted in partnership with Manchester Museum Lates and part of the city’s Africa Day celebrations.
Fuelling Change: Values and Ethics in Cultural Production
3, 10 & 17 June 2025 | Oxford
At a time when the cultural landscape faces complex ethical questions, how do values shape leadership and production? Curated and hosted by Fuel’s Artistic Director & CEO Kate McGrath, as part of her Visiting Fellowship with the Cultural Programme at Oxford University, this three-part series of public conversations in Oxford invites artists, academics, and cultural leaders to explore how principles guide practice in today’s world.
Held at The Story Museum, Old Fire Station and Oxford Playhouse— these events cover ground from founding organisations from scratch, to leading national institutions, to working independently and beyond traditional structures. Featuring guests including Farooq Chaudhry OBE, John McGrath, Deborah Frances-White, Maria Balshaw, and David Lan, the series will also be recorded and released as podcasts on Fuel Digital and other platforms.
AI, AI, Oh… by Will Adamsdale
5 May | Machynlleth Comedy Festival
25 May | Exeter Comedy Festival
Huge congrats to Will Adamsdale – the work-in-progress performances of AI, AI, Oh! at Mach Comedy Festival and Exeter Comedy Festival are now SOLD OUT!
These showings mark the next step in the development of the show, following its performances at FuelFest. Watch this space for more dates in future.
Whether you’re looking for a deep conversation, a poetic provocation, or a laugh that might make you think twice, Fuel’s upcoming programme is all about opening space — for dialogue, discovery, and new ideas.
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