Event type: Concert

Art, Change and ‘Public Good’: OPEN SPACE

 

Calling question: What ‘good’ can participatory or socially engaged arts do in partnership with public and government agencies?

About this event:

“Culture is not just about the provision of goods and services to the sovereign consumer but a crucial aspect of citizenship and the empowerment required for the flourishing of human capabilities, of spiritual freedom”

Justin O’Connor, Culture is not an industry: Reclaiming art and culture for the common good

The power of the arts, culture and creativity is undeniable. Engagement with participatory, community and socially engaged arts is a transformative experience for many.

Aiming for change, this work often includes partnerships with public and government agencies such as hospitals, social care settings, the prison and probation system, and in education. 

Yet, these settings have been hit hard under austerity, leading to cuts to provision, staffing shortages and weakened infrastructure. Inequality is also rife across these contexts and perpetuated by unfair policies which leave the most vulnerable worse off. 

This event will reflect on what is possible in these contexts.

_ _ _

This open space event is part of Collective Encounters’ Radical Retrospectives Festival, celebrating 21 years since the founding of the company. 

Radical Retrospectives aims to look back over more than histories that are meaningful for our communities and imagine the future of theatre for social change in Liverpool City Region and beyond.

Event Format: Open Spaces are participant-led events where the agenda and discussion are driven by those in the room. At the beginning of the event guest speakers will introduce some key ideas, principles and practices behind the theme and offer provocations for discussion. Together we set the agenda and you will be able to move freely between conversations.

Ticket Cost: £5.00

We also have a small number of bursary places available for those with limited funds, please email info@collective-encounters.org.uk

Access:

This event will take place in the Black-E which has step free access to the main entrance and an accessible lift to all levels. For more information see the Black-E accessibility statement: https://www.theblack-e.org/the-black-e-facilities/the-black-e-accessibility/

If you require BSL interpretation, please get in touch no later than two weeks before the event. If you have any other access requirements please email info@collective-encounters.org.uk

 

 

Archive Launch (Online)

Join Collective Encounters as we launch our new digital archive, celebrating 21 years of theatre for social change in the Liverpool City Region.

This evolving archive brings together the voices, memories and stories of the many people who have shaped Collective Encounters. It reflects on what cultural memory means and how we tell, preserve and question our shared histories.

The launch includes a live performance from Heritage Police, who invite us to interrogate who decides what counts as heritage—and what gets left out.

All are welcome to come along, explore, and reflect on what it means to build a shared cultural memory.

There will also be an in-person launch event happening on the same day, find out more here.

 

The Druids

The Druids Irish Folk Band are back with another master show, featuring captivating new blends of traditional Irish folk music and storytelling. This type of performance highlights the band’s rich musical heritage, weaving together timeless Irish ballad songs with the powerful narratives that have been passed down through generations.

The combination of music and stories would give audiences a deep dive into Ireland’s cultural history, offering a mix of lively jigs, heartfelt ballads and tales that reflect the country’s folklore, struggles, and triumphs. Irish folk bands often use this format to connect with their audiences on a more emotional level, while also providing an immersive, entertaining experience.

PICTISH TRAIL

Pictish Trail, AKA Johnny Lynch, has just completed work on a brand-new album — a sticky, shimmering swirl of sound and slime (both metaphorical and literal). To celebrate, he’s embarking on a series of special solo shows, previewing songs from the forthcoming release. These intimate performances will see Lynch in raw, exploratory mode, armed with an acoustic guitar, a sampler, and a warped imagination — expect tenderness, weirdness, and a generous dollop of goo.

Tickets on sale now.

THE WYTCHES

The Wytches come to Future Yard on Friday 24th October.
First breaking onto the scene in 2014 with their debut album, Annabel Dream Reader, an explosive collection of 10 tracks that weave seamlessly between explosive riffs, slick surf, furious garage rock, and fine tuned introspection. The record’s combination of visceral energy and haunting themes immediately struck a chord, introducing the band to a whole new audience – touring the world throughout the year, headlining shows and also sharing stages with the likes of METZ, Cloud Nothings, Blood Red Shoes, Pixies and Jamie T.

Since then, The Wytches’ discography has expanded to three further albums and countless EPs. Most recently, 2023 saw the band release their fourth album, Our Guest Can’t Be Named, via cult label Alcopop! Records – a testament to both their evolution and staying power.

They return to form in 2025 – with a new covers EP Replica out 5th July, and brand new original music out 25th September – keep those eyes peeled!

DU BLONDE

Du Blonde comes to Future Yard!
The audacious alter ego of multi-instrumentalist, producer, and visual artist Beth Jeans Houghton comes to Birkenhead on Friday 14th November – a Newcastle-born creative whose trajectory has taken her from folk-rock curiosity to full-throttle alt-rock juggernaut as Du Blonde, a firebrand persona defined by snarling punk edges, fuzz-drenched guitars, and a fierce do-it-yourself ethos.

Her latest album, 2024’s Sniff More Gritty, sees Du Blonde pushing her sound to newfound extremes, layering explosive riffs and searing vocals into an eclectic collage of punk ferocity and power-pop hooks. Capturing the chaotic spirit of a live performance, the record veers from unbridled aggression to disarming vulnerability—a testament to her unwillingness to be fenced in by genre lines or industry norms.

Celebrated for her raw, cathartic live shows, she leaves audiences enthralled by her commanding stage presence and unvarnished passion. For fans and newcomers alike, Du Blonde stands as a symbol of creative reinvention and unflinching authenticity in modern alt-rock—an artist who refuses to play by anyone else’s rule.

OH MY GOD! IT’S THE CHURCH

After stunning us at their Birkenhead debut in August last year, we’re delighted to welcome back the one-and-only Oh my God! It’s The Church to Future Yard on Saturday 13th December.

The filthiest rock’n’roll service here to save your soul, they join us after a year of stunning audiences around the globe at festivals and beyond.

Tickets on sale now.

Safer Spaces Exchange FT. Karman

Liverpool-based project Where are the Girlbands and Oxford’s YWMP present a one-night-only live event: Safer Spaces Exchange featuring Karman, taking place at Future Yard on Thursday 11th September.

The night features a headline performance from Karman, a boundary-pushing songwriter known for confessional and genre-resisting work. They will debut new songs from an upcoming conceptual album in collaboration with Bolton-based visual artist Charlie Currin, in a site-specific, choreographed performance.

Also performing is Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani, Director of YWMP. Zahra’s set is accompanied by the screening of a new short film reflecting on her journey from young person engaging in community music in Oxford, to leading YWMP today. The film traces her practice through the lens of her lived experiences as a second-generation Irish-Iranian immigrant in Oxford. Zahra will also introduce a trial safer spaces policy developed through national consultation and co-created with young people.

This event is part of the Safer Spaces Exchange, a two-year long project led by YWMP, in collaboration with Where are the Girlbands. This includes open discussion, policy sharing, and a focus on artist-led models for change in music. This event marks a return to Merseyside following a consultation event a year ago.

Where are the Girlbands is a grassroots project celebrating women in music, advocating for artists in the North West and working towards structural change in the music industry from the ground up.

The night will be filmed and includes opportunities to connect with artists, organisers and others working across care, music and community.

Tickets on sale now. 

Under-5s Concerts: Magic Forest

Saturday 21 February, 1pm & 2.45pm

Join presenter Claire Henry and musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as they take you on a journey through an enchanted forest. Claire might need your help casting some spells along the way!

Tickets for under-6 months are free but must be booked in advance with an adult ticket.

 

Under-5s Concerts: Blast Off

 

Wednesday 12 November, 11am, 1pm & 2.45pm

Help astronaut Claire Henry and musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to power the rocket and blast off into space! We’ve lined up a concert full of exciting space music and our audience will be very busy helping to make the launch a success. 

Tickets for under-6 months are free but must be booked in advance with an adult ticket.