Event type: Festival

A poetic exploration of Oglet Shore, a fragile green edgeland clinging to the Mersey that is being threatened by local industry.Liverpool Dead Good Poets Society are hosting a poetic exploration of the fragile green edgeland clinging to the Mersey and threatened by the expansion of local industry and Liverpool Airport.

Featuring the work of DGPS and other local poets, with a focus on the beauty of the shore as it is now, looking at the threats to its future from commercial development and climate change, and celebrating the community activities designed to conserve ‘Liverpool’s last survivng wilderness.’

‘The Oglet moon on winter nightsalights on backs of otterswhile egrets sleep an d bats skim lowacross the silver waters.’-Greg Quiery

In association with Save Oglet Shore (SOS) and Writing on the Wall (WoW).

All post-expense proceeds go to Save Oglet Shore.

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end Second World War. Gary Younge, renowned journalist, author and broadcaster, returns to WoWFEST to highlight how, following the war, despite the huge role that they played in WW11, black people have been written out of the story.

The 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris offers an opportunity to explore the discrepancy between race-based mythologies around Black involvement in the Second World War. Revisiting a photographed moment from near the end of the second world war, ‘through the eyes of the colonised’, Younge will ‘explore a range of mythologies about who fought and what they were fighting for’. and what that tells us about Europe as a whole and how Black people’s presence here is misunderstood. He will also ‘unpick what that tells us about Europe as a whole and how black people’s presence here is misunderstood today’.

Gary asks how  conversations about responsibility, patriotism, immigration, integration, equality, and justice would be understood if the contribution of black people was written back in rather than written out, and their role fully acknowledged?

Gary Younge is an award-winning author, broadcaster and a professor of sociology at the University of Manchester. Formerly a columnist at The Guardian, he has written six books, most recently Dispatches From the Diaspora. Winner of the 2023 Orwell Prize for Journalism and the 2025 Robert. B. Silvers Prize for Journalism, he has written for the New York Review of Books, Granta, GQ and The New Statesman, among others, and made radio and television documentaries on subjects ranging from gay marriage to Brexit. His fifth book, Another Day in the Death of America, won the J. Anthony Lukas Prize from Columbia School of Journalism and Nieman Foundation.

In partnership with: Libraries, Museums and Galleries University of Liverpool.

It’s a proud moment for WoW to host the Liverpool launch of The Singh Twins‘ latest book, Slaves of Fashion: Art of the Singh Twins – Personal Reflections on Hidden Stories of Empire, Colonialism, and Their Legacies (Manchester University Press, 2025).

This richly illustrated, artist-designed book showcases ‘Slaves of Fashion’, an award-winning series of portrait-based allegorical and narrative works by contemporary British artists The Singh Twins. ‘Slaves of Fashion’ explores diverse histories and legacies of empire and colonialism through the history of Indian textiles. It is a global story of conflict, conquest, exploitation, slavery, intercultural exchange, and changing fashion.

The series connects these themes to the trade in luxury goods during an age of maritime exploration, colonisation, and industrialisation—all driven by the commercial interests of competing and expanding European imperial powers, from the fifteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. The book includes detailed interpretations of the artworks, representing The Singh Twins’ personal reflections on this story and its relevance to topical debates around racism, cultural ownership, decolonisation, ethical trade, and consumerism. It also offers insight into the making of the artworks, which draw on academic research, historical archives, and museum collections.

The Singh Twins will discuss their work and this incredible publication, illustrated with images from the ‘Slaves of Fashion’ series, and will be signing copies of Slaves of Fashion.

Slaves of Fashion has been produced with the generous support of Sikhlens, USA. Sikhlens is a non-profit organisation based in California that is dedicated to promoting Sikh history, heritage and culture across the globe through diverse educational and arts initiatives, and grants.

The Singh Twins are internationally recognised contemporary British artists, known for their highly detailed narrative, symbolic, and eclectic style, combining hand-painted and digital techniques. Through their work, which they describe as Past-Modern, they comment on modern-day society, politics, and culture, challenge Eurocentrism in the art world, and demonstrate the contemporary relevance of history and tradition. They have each received many awards, including being made Honorary Citizens of Liverpool in 2009.

Following Tom Hall’s successful WoWFest audio plays, Bartleby: A Tale of Wall Street (2023) and Anything for a Laugh (2024), One Hour Theatre Company presents two short plays for radio, as a collective listening experience.

Set in Argentina during economic collapse, but with a British tone, My Own Free Voice features Jane Hogarth as an un-named woman, and the drama explores the centrality of family relationships to the maintenance and projection of happiness, loyalty, and the nation, under military dictatorship.

Both plays are directed by Victor Merriman, featured in I Live Alone as the Protagonist, who takes another man’s turn in an A&E waiting room. Chancing his arm, this loquacious and jocular working-class Dubliner sets in train a series of unpredictable events reminiscent of the dark comedic writings of Flann O’Brien. Sound design, recording, and editing: WeZ Nolan.

When is a Nazi salute not a Nazi salute? When performed – twice – by Elon Musk, Trump’s loyal Mitläufer (hanger-on). Orwellian dystopia unfolds: protesters jailed, activists punished, and the BBC bowing to right-wing pressure – all just in the UK. In the US, Green Card holders are detained for lawful protest, scientists deported over critical phone comments, and Venezuelans falsely branded as criminals. Meanwhile, Trump flirts with Putin, excusing an invasion his own supporters recently condemned.

And then there’s Gaza. ‘Never again,’ we said, but only one side meant it. As the Israeli State commits genocide in broad daylight, democratic leaders barely raise a whisper in protest.

Yet, as Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.’ WoWFEST’s panel, featuring Chris Nineham, Niheer Dasandi, and Roger Hill, discusses democracy under attack—and how we can fight back.

More guests to be announced!

Chris Nineham is a founder and vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition. Arrested in 2025 during a pro-Palestinian march, he pleaded not guilty to Public Order Act charges. He helped organise the historic 2003 anti-war protests, the 2001 Genoa G8 protests, and the European and World Social Forums. A regular media commentator, he writes for Stop the War, Counterfire, and others.

Niheer Dasandi, author of Is Democracy Failing (2018), is Professor of Global Politics and Sustainable Development. His research focuses on human rights, development, climate change, and foreign policy. He co-chairs the Lancet Countdown’s Public and Political Engagement Working Group. Niheer’s has published a range of books, and his work appears in leading journals.

Roger Hill hosted the UK’s longest-running alternative music show on BBC Radio Merseyside for nearly 40 years. A key figure in Youth Theatre, he has worked at Liverpool Everyman and beyond, now focusing on Live Art and storytelling.

Acclaimed poet Anthony Anaxagorou, and writer and performer lisa luxx, gather for an evening of poetry, discussion, and critical engagement with the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

In keeping with Writing on the Wall’s commitment to freedom, social justice, equality, and universal human rights, the event seeks to amplify marginalised voices while fostering deeper understanding and solidarity. Through powerful literary expression and lived testimony, the speakers will explore the cultural, political, and humanitarian dimensions of the Palestinian experience. This gathering offers a space for reflection, unity, and resistance, and affirms the call for a just and peaceful resolution that upholds the rights and dignity of all people in the region.

Anthony Anaxagorou is a British-born Cypriot poet, writer, and publisher. His books include How To Write It (2020), After the Formalities (2019), shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize, and Heritage Aesthetics (2022), which won the RSL Ondaatje Prize. He is the artistic director of Out-Spoken, a poetry and music night at London’s Southbank Centre, and publisher of Out-Spoken Press. He also edits Propel Magazine, which features emerging poets, and curates WriteBack, a British Library literary series. During the lockdown, he was a Writer in Residence for WoW’s online centre, The Writer’s Bloc. In recognition of his contributions to literature, he was made an honorary fellow at the University of Roehampton in 2019 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.

lisa luxx is a writer, poet, and performer known for her powerful explorations of identity, feminism, and activism. Her work has been featured on BBC Radio 4, in The Guardian, and at international literary festivals. As a spoken word artist, she has performed across the UK and beyond, using poetry as a tool for social change.

Proceeds will be donated to MAP (Medical Aid for Palestine).

Join the team for an insightful conversation as Sam Wetherell discusses his critically acclaimed work Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain, a profound exploration of the city’s role in shaping the narrative of modern Britain. Sam will be interviewed by Janaya Pickett in the magnificent Concert Room of St George’s Hall, Liverpool, as part of the Writing on the Wall Festival 2025.

Expect an engaging dialogue that delves deep into themes of history, identity, and the radical rethinking of Britain’s story, all set against the backdrop of one of the most storied cities in the UK. This event promises to be a thought-provoking evening for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of Liverpool’s past and its far-reaching impact on the present.

This is an unmissable event for lovers of history, literature, and the evolution of British identity. Book your tickets now and join us for a conversation that will challenge and inspire.

Fem de la Femme called, and you came…so much so that we can’t fit you all through door!  Soo, we have some very exciting news for you…drum roll please… this spring we are launching – Fem de la Festival!

Fem de la Festival brings you 3 whole nights of all your favourite women comics downstairs at the Everyman. The crème de la crème of Fem de la Femme will be performing 5 utterly hilarious  shows, plus some open mic mayhem on our final night.

The Fem De La Femme women comedians will be taking over downstairs at the Everyman from Thu 22 May to Sat 24 May 2025, with stalls from female led businesses too. We are also offering Find Your Funny Workshops that are open to all and a Q&A panel session for all those women trying to navigate the industry.

Fem De La Festival 2025: Thursday Double Bill (22 May, 7.45pm – 10.30pm)

Celtic Connections + Little Smith Sunshine – Book Now.

Fem De La Festival 2025: Friday Double Bill (23 May, 7.45pm – 10.30pm)

The Newlywed + Autism Mama – Book Now.

Fem De La Festival 2025: Workshop (24 May)

Workshops run from 11am – 1pm & 3.15 – 5.15pm on May 24th. Book Now

Fem De La Festival 2025: Q&A (24 May)

Q & A runs from 1.30 pm – 2.45pm on the May 24th. Book Now

Fem De La Festival 2025: Saturday Double Bill (24 May)

Open Mic + Generation Wars – Book Now.

 

Writing on the Wall are delighted to welcome back historian John Rees to present his compelling work of narrative history, The Fiery Spirits: Popular Protest, Parliament and the English Revolution.

As WoW proudly celebrates 25 years of radical storytelling, John uncovers the hidden stories of influential MPs and their allies who envisioned a kingdom without a crown. The so-called ‘fiery spirits’ who brought a desperate nation to the brink in the Civil Wars include the future regicide Henry Marten, the firebrand William Strode, the formidable colonel Alexander Rigby and Sir Peter Wentworth, descendant of a long line of anti-monarchists.

More than a book of political intrigue, The Fiery Spirits is a testament to the power of the people. Its reflections on mass demonstration resonate deeply today as four independent candidates sit at Westminster as a direct result of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

John Rees is an influential historian, broadcaster, campaigner. His books include Timelines: A Political History of the Modern World, The Leveller Revolution and A People’s History of London, co-authored with his partner Lindsey German. He also produces documentaries and presents current affairs programmes for the Islam Channel. Currently, he is a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a National Officer of the Stop the War Coalition, which opposes the British establishment’s disastrous addiction to war, and a founding member of the organisation Counterfire.

In December 2023, the world lost a singular voice. Refaat Alareer, poet, editor, teacher, and mentor, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, along with six members of his family. His final poem, If I Must Die, written just weeks before his death, echoed across borders and languages, giving voice to the grief and resistance of a people under siege.

Refaat Alareer was a Palestinian writer, poet, and professor of English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. A passionate educator and mentor, he was a co-founder of We Are Not Numbers, a platform amplifying young Palestinian voices. His poetry and essays captured the struggles and resilience of life in Gaza, making him a vital literary figure. Through his teaching, writing, and activism, he shaped a new generation of Palestinian storytellers.

But Refaat’s legacy did not end there. A towering figure in Palestinian literature, he helped shape a new generation of writers and thinkers, not only through his words, but through his presence, his mentorship, and his belief in the power of storytelling.

Join them for a special evening of remembrance, reflection, and resistance, as they celebrate the life and work of Refaat Alareer and the community he built around him.

With readings from his poetry and prose, and reflections from three people who knew him personally: Yousef Aljamal, Gaza-based writer, translator, and editor of If I Must Die: Poetry and Prose, a tribute to his former teacher, Ahmed Nehad, writer, translator, and fellow lecturer at the Islamic University in Gaza, who Refaat mentored for many years, and Basma Ghalayini, translator and editor of Palestine +100 and Palestine -1, two ground-breaking science fiction anthologies imagining past and future Palestine’s.

This event, in partnership with Comma Press, is part of Liverpool’s growing cultural response to the ongoing crisis in Palestine, rooted in solidarity, shaped by stories, and driven by the belief that voices like Refaat’s must continue to be heard.