Event type: Performance

Of Mice and Men

OF MICE AND MEN

by John Steinbeck.

Adapted by Nigel Miles-Thomas.

Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International

Set against the harsh backdrop of the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men is the story of George and Lennie, two friends with a simple dream: to own a farm and live off the fat of the land.

There are times, though, when sharpwitted George feels the burden of looking after Lennie, while gentle giant Lennie doesn’t realise his own strength… As they drift from job to job, trouble’s never far away, and before long it’s time to move on again.

When the pair get work in Soledad, California, however, the dream looks set to become a reality. But a tragic turn of events threatens to destroy George and Lennie’s friendship and leaves George faced with an impossible choice…

 

Starring;

Nigel Miles-Thomas

Michael Roy Andrew

Directed by Larry Lamb

Bright Places

Join Carbon Theatre for the UK tour of Bright Places, Rae Mainwaring’s stunning debut play about living with MS.

I was 23 when it came crashing into my life; without warning, when everything was going so well, just when I was really, really happy… 

A three-woman, one-woman show about Multiple Sclerosis, MS for short, not to be confused with M&S or S&M. 

With 90s pop, a costume box and a whole heap of glitter, Bright Places is a darkly funny and deeply honest autobiographical story about growing up in the shadow of chronic illness. 

 

This award-winning play is written by Rae Mainwaring and directed by Tessa Walker. 

Presented by Carbon Theatre supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The play was originally commissioned by Birmingham Rep in 2020, with generous support from the Barry Jackson Trust. Proudly working with charity partner, Shift.ms: the digital community for people with MS.  

 

 

Content Expectations: The production contains swearing, strobes and flashing lights. Many references to illness (specifically MS) to medical procedures and to disability and ableism as well as moments of distress and upset.

WoWFEST: Jimmy Rose: a radio play in a theatrical setting

Pariah Productions presents Jimmy Rose, written and directed by Tom Hall, produced for One Hour Theatre Company, by Victor Merriman.

Jimmy Rose is presented as a radio play in a theatrical setting, offering WoWFest audiences a unique collective listening experience.

At a tender age Herman Melville experienced a reversal of fortune upon the sudden death of his father, a man of apparently substantial means.  The family was suddenly confronted with a mountain of debt and the ruin of all their immediate expectations. Perhaps this turn of fate prompted the many critiques of American capitalism which appear both as themes and traces in his body of work.

“Jimmy Rose”, draws on Melville’s short story of the same name, set in old New York before the Civil War, and foregrounding a glamorous bachelor plutocrat who has attained an Olympian stature in the city. Everybody knows Jimmy Rose, the great and the good seek to dine at his table, where he dispenses wit, bonhomie, and business advice.

Yet when quite literally his ship(s) fail to come in, this paragon of American success falls from that Paradise from whose heights he once projected ultimate authority and influence.  It is an honour to present “Jimmy Rose” under WoWFEST 2026’s theme, New World Disorder, not least because of the origins of contemporary upheavals in a febrile world-financial system forged in nineteenth-century urban America. – Tom Hall, Dublin. May 2026

Jimmy Rose is Tom Hall’s fifth play for WoWFest, his Bartleby: A Tale of Wall Street featuring in the online festival (2021), Anything for a Laugh (2024), I Live Alone and My Own Free Voice (double bill, 2025). Tom was born in Vermont, USA, and has lived in Ireland since 1995, following periods in Mexico, where he began writing. Jimmy Rose develops the production values of previous plays, which featured solo performers, David Llewelyn (2021), Victor Merriman (2024 and 2025a), and Jane Hogarth (2025b), respectively. Tom assembled a cast of well-established Irish actors to record the play at Les Keye’s Arad Studios, Dublin. Brendan Conroy, who is known to Liverpool audiences for his lead role in Lizzie Nunnery’s Intemperance (Capital of Culture production, Everyman Theatre), plays Jimmy Rose.

Victor Merriman is Emeritus Professor in Drama at Edge Hill University, and a founder-director of One Hour Theatre Company.

Date: Tuesday 19th MayTime: 17.30 – 18.30 (doors open 5.15pm)Venue: Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool (Beside Bluecoat Arts Centre)Tickets: £5

 

Nana Funk’s Not Night-TIme 90’s Rave

Remember when we use to rave into the wee hours? Want the euphoria of dancing with your arms high above your head to the best 90’s dance tracks, but don’t have a week to recover?

Well the Great Great Grandmother of good times, Nana Funk has teamed together with DJ extraordinaire Chris Herstad Carney to bring you Nana’s Not Night-Time 90’s Rave at The Kabin, Kazimier Garden, Seel Street. Burn off your breakfast and build up your appetite in time for tea.  

NANA FUNK is a Cabaret and Burlesque performer who shows that being awesome transcends age. Nana’s mission to challenge ageism is interspersed with a fair amount of body positivity and bringing joy to all around.  

“She’s feisty & fabulous.” Catherine Jones, Arts City Liverpool  

CHRIS HERSTAD CARNEY is a DJ, radio presenter, event & festival manager, educator and general creative brain from Liverpool. In his DJ career as a solo performer and with renowned collective Mixnots, Chris has played Glastonbury, Creamfields, Isle of Wight, Sound City, Kendal Calling, Standon Calling & Lake of Stars Malawi. Chris co-founded Threshold Festival of Music & Arts which ran for 11 years in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle district. Tickets also available on the door.

WoWFEST: Children’s Storytelling at the Palm House

Join Writing on the Wall this half term for a lively and inspiring morning led by much-loved children’s writers and performers Claire Weetman, Jude Lennon and Patrick Graham. This vibrant event will spark young imaginations, celebrate cultural heritage, and introduce children to the magic and power of stories brought to life aloud.

Through captivating tales and creative expression, young listeners will be inspired not only to listen but to dream up adventures of their own. Perfect for families looking for an enriching half-term activity, this joyful gathering celebrates community, creativity and the rich oral traditions of storytelling in one of Liverpool’s most beautiful venues.

Visual artist and storyteller Claire Weetman has worked with communities and schools in the North of England for over 20 years producing works including Giants Blankets and Dreams of Wonder, a community painting, the size of two tennis courts on the site of a former coal mine in St Helens; Constellations of Kindness, a series of sculptural installations in schools and community venues about stars, storytelling and the power of working together; and Walking Together/Walking Apart a gift box of cards created with women during lockdown that shared ways of supporting each other and standing up for our freedoms.

Jude Lennon is an award-winning children’s author and former Head of Early Years who now runs Little Lamb Tales, delivering storytelling sessions in schools, libraries and festivals. She has published over 20 books for children, spanning picture books, chapter books and educational titles, often exploring themes of mindfulness, inclusion and road safety. Crowned Disney Winnie the Pooh Laureate for the North West in 2014 and a recipient of the Points of Light Award for services to literacy, Jude is a passionate advocate for reading and creativity, serving as a Patron of Reading and supporting aspiring writers through workshops and mentoring.

Patrick Graham is a Liverpool-born poet, writer and performer and the creative force behind Black Out Productions. A familiar voice on Merseyside stages, he has performed at venues including the Liverpool Everyman and Unity Theatre, blending poetry, storytelling and history with powerful presence. His workshops span creative writing, drama and explorations of local and global Black history, reflecting his deep commitment to education and community empowerment. Patrick is also a member of the Liverpool Black History Research Group and brings a background in youth and community work, as well as immigration advice and advocacy. His latest book, The Golden Water and the Enchanted Forest, continues his dedication to storytelling that inspires imagination while carrying cultural depth and meaning.

Date: Wednesday 27th MayTime: 11-12:30Venue: The Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool, Merseyside L17 1APFree event

Radical Joy Cabaret

Join us for a riotous evening to find celebration even in the darkest of times.

Joy can be a radical act of resistance in this time of austerity. Come along to find out how we can use joy to mobilise and fight back.

Performed by Collective Encounters’ Adult Theatre for Social Change group, the cabaret will weave a story of radical joy through songs, sketches and scenes, and will reflect on the world through the lens of our assets, not our deficits.

The Brink, Parr Street, L1 4JN: Saturday 23 May, 7pm

Tickets: pay what you can

WoWFEST 2026: Writers Bloc Sharing Event

 

Join Toxteth Writer’s Bloc for this special sharing event where local writers will be sharing work they have created based around this year’s Festival Theme – NEW WORLD DISORDER. Powerful new work that will ignite conversations and gather us together to celebrate the impact of words shared within a community. 

Any queries please contact helen@writingonthewall.org.uk

Date: Friday 15th MayTime: Toxteth LibraryDoors open 11.45am. Event runs from 12.00-13.00Free tickets

Writer’s Bloc is Writing on the Wall’s dedicated creative writing centre in Liverpool – a welcoming space where writers of all backgrounds can write, connect and grow together. 

Launched online during lockdown, The Writer’s Block moved to Toxteth Library on 7 June 2024 with acclaimed Liverpool screenwriter Tony Schumacher, creator of the award-winning BBC drama The Responder. The Writer’s Bloc sits alongside our wider creative programmes and anyone with a passion for writing can attend – whether you’re just starting out or already developing your craft. 

Sessions currently run fortnightly at Toxteth Library, Bootle Library and Birkenhead Central Library and are a mix of ‘time to write’ sessions, where you can come and work on your own writing alongside others and sessions hosted by experience writers across various genres. 

Writer’s Bloc is a vibrant community of writers and creative thinkers from across the Liverpool City Region. It’s flexible, friendly and supportive: a place where inspiration and encouragement go hand in hand. Find out how to get involved HERE

 

Dear Zoo

Dear Zoo the timeless children’s classic book returns to the stage!

See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy.

Help your children learn as the book leaps onto the stage and share a magical experience as the story unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.

Rod Campbell’s best-selling lift the flap book has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published in 1982. And has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.

This production will delight all those who have read the book (both young and old) as it unfolds with child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction.

Join us at your local theatre to see what the zoo has sent: the perfect pet – in the end!

#DearZooLive

 

‘A must-see for fans of the book, and for any young child who likes animals!’

★★★★★ Whatsgoodtodo.co.uk

‘A superb theatrical production’

★★★★★ My Theatre Mates

‘This show is the perfect running time and there’s no interval, so momentum isn’t lost. If you’re looking for a family trip to the theatre, this is one of the best.’

★★★★★ Entertainmentviews.co.uk

WoWFEST: A Reason to Sing – The Popular Song Movement of 70s Chile

Join internationally acclaimed artist Francisco Carrasco for a powerful and deeply personal exploration of Nueva Canción Chilena, Chile’s revolutionary popular song movement of the 1960s and 70s. 

Blending traditional folk forms with urgent, socially conscious lyrics, Nueva Canción became the soundtrack of resistance. Artists including Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara, Inti-Illimani and Quilapayún gave voice to workers, challenged injustice and helped shape the cultural spirit of Salvador Allende’s Popular Unity government. 

After the 1973 military coup, many musicians were silenced, imprisoned or forced into exile — transforming the movement into a global symbol of resistance and solidarity. 

Arriving in the UK as a child refugee in 1975, Francisco Carrasco brings this history vividly to life through storytelling, live music and archival material. He reflects on how these songs sustained displaced communities including his own family who performed at solidarity events across Britain. 

Part cultural history, part lived testimony, this event is an invitation to explore exile, identity and the enduring power of music in times of struggle. 

Francisco Carrasco MA FRSA is a Chilean-born international artist, storyteller, world musician and cultural activist. Exiled to the UK in 1975, he has dedicated his life to using art as a platform for dialogue and social change. 

Based in Liverpool since 1983, he is the founder and Creative Director of LUMA CREATIONS and has led major cultural initiatives including LA FERIA International Festival of Latin American Arts & Culture and the Merseyside International Street Festival. 

In 2025, he received the LCR Award for International Reach. His forthcoming poetry collection, Oceans of Exile, continues his exploration of displacement, resilience and belonging. 

Date: Tuesday 19th MayTime: 6.30pmVenue: Victoria Gallery and Museum: Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3DRTickets: £5

Outer Waves Festival 2026

Liverpool’s underground music and arts festival OUTER WAVES is returning to Liverpool’s North Docks at Invisible Wind Factory and Make CIC on May 23rd & 24th 2026!  Dedicated to experimental, avant-garde, and underground music from across the world, the festival platforms international artists alongside commissioned local talent, with an integrated visual art programme and a programme of events extending beyond the main stages including workshops, artist interviews & panel discussions.

HeadlinersHeadlining the festival are ØXN (feat. Radie Peat of Lankum) and Dame Area, joined by Jarboe (Swans) feat. Thor Harris and Joy Von Spain and the world premiere of HAND TO MOUTH TO — a newly reimagined live performance commissioned by Outlands Network and Full of Noises, collaboratively composed and performed by Keeley Forsyth and long-time collaborator Matthew Bourne.

Final Lineup AdditionsThe final wave of artists joining the bill includes HHY & the Kampala Unit, Elspeth Anne, a Lesser Version, Those Holy feat. Ly Nguyěn, Jacques Malchance, and veve, joining a bill that already includes the incendiary ritual electronics of Lord Spikeheart, the Okinawan-Jamaican dub and traditional fusion of Waq Waq Kingdom, and much more besides.The festival also presents specially commissioned new works from local artists Coby Obi, S. Fearon, Quieting (in partnership with Music Futures), and Tomas Edgar (Dada Fest). The weekend will also feature panel talks, workshops, and afterparties.

Visual Art ProgrammeComplementing the music programme, OUTER WAVES 2026 features an expansive visual art programme transforming the spaces of the North Docks. Works will be presented by Kromavision, Sam Wiehl, Freddy Francke, Jasmine Murphy, and more, bringing immersive and site-specific installations that extend the festival’s sensory world beyond the stage.An International FestivalWith artists travelling from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond, OUTER WAVES 2026 is a truly international gathering. The festival’s lineup reflects a genuinely global underground, connecting Liverpool’s North Docks to experimental and avant-garde communities worldwide. Alongside the music and visual art, the festival will present panel talks, workshops, and afterparties across the weekend.

Full Line UpØXN (feat. Radie Peat of Lankum)Dame AreaJarboe (Swans) feat. Thor Harris and Joy Von SpainKeeley Forsyth & Matthew Bourne present HAND TO MOUTH TOHHY & the Kampala UnitElspeth Annea Lesser VersionJacques MalchanceveveLord SpikeheartWaq Waq Kingdoma.P.a.t.TCarmel SmickersgillDale De Saint Paul & Mariam RezaeiDomestic PartnersE the Artist (Nyahh Records)GermanagerGY!PAHAALHedgling (Nyahh Records)HaressKarl D’SilvaLuce MawdsleyMincemeatMohammad Syfkhan (Nyahh Records)MugstarUltan O’Brien (Nyahh Records)Coby Obi *S. Fearon *Quieting *Those Holy feat. Ly Nguyěn *Tomas Edgar (Dada Fest) ** Commissioned local artist