Event type: Talk

Arts for Social Change Showcase

An evening of quick-fire presentations by people passionate about using the arts for social change

About this event:

Collective Encounters is delighted to be programming another fascinating night of presentations exploring participatory arts projects, practice and passions.

Join us for an evening of quick-fire presentations by people passionate about using the arts for social change. The showcase is a great way to grow your ideas, share and celebrate your achievements, rage about something or highlight something that needs to change. Presenters will show up to 15 slides about their theme, project, issue, community, infatuation and/or themselves. Each presentation will last no more than 5 minutes.

This event is a great opportunity to connect, network, get feedback and generate new ideas. Presenters can be theatre-makers, producers, participants, funders, community groups, charities…anyone with a curiosity or passion for arts & social change.

There will be up to ten presentations, with opportunities to ask questions of the contributors throughout.

Expressions of Interest: If you are interested in presenting at this event please fill out the expression of interest form available soon.

Ticket Cost: £5.00

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

Access: This event will use live transcription. 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

 

John Lydon: I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right

He’s a legend and an icon, a revolutionary and an immortal. John Lydon – aka Johnny Rotten – changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution.

The frontman and lyricist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd (PiL) caused a political earthquake and transformed music for good. To coincide with the publication of his new book, the brilliant, funny and insightful I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right, he is touring the UK. Lydon will talk about how he sees life, along with his unique and extraordinary career, and take audience questions during a pyrotechnic, one-off tour. Lydon will be sharing his thoughts with audiences.

He Could Be Wrong. He Could Be Right.

A Weaving Marvel: the Ramesses Girdle

A talk by Ashley Cooke, Head of World Museum.

This exceptional example of ancient Egyptian royal clothing in the collections of World Museum (National Museums Liverpool) has been described in various ways since it first went on display in 1855—sometimes as a scarf, a belt, or a girdle. Tomb and temple paintings suggest it was worn wrapped around the chest and fastened at the waist. Woven in bright colours and decorated with rows of ankh hieroglyphs meaning “life,” this remarkable textile is a masterpiece of ancient linen craftsmanship. This presentation will explore its provenance, interpretation, and manufacture, shedding new light on this rare archaeological survivor.

Ashley Cooke is Head of World Museum, home to one of the UK’s largest and most significant collections of Egyptian antiquities. He has worked with Egyptian collections in museums for over twenty years and has over ten years of fieldwork experience at five archaeological sites across Egypt. He earned his PhD in Egyptology from the University of Liverpool in 2006, the same year he was appointed Curator of Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities at World Museum.

Damien Lewis: Who Dares Wins

The Secret History of the SAS

Step into the hidden world of the SAS with Damien Lewis – award-winning war reporter and bestselling author – as he brings to the stage the secret history of the world’s most legendary special forces unit.

From their daring birth in WWII to high-stakes modern-day operations, this gripping live show reveals real-life stories of heroism, sacrifice, and strategy. Lewis shares untold tales of sabotage missions, undercover rescues, and extraordinary acts of courage, all drawn from years of frontline reporting and exclusive access to classified sources.

With vivid storytelling and powerful insights, Who Dares Wins offers a rare look behind the curtain of the SAS – the missions they undertook, the lives they changed, and the legacy they forged.

Whether you’re a fan of military history or edge-of-your-seat true stories, this is an unforgettable theatrical experience you won’t want to miss.

Book now – and uncover the secrets of the SAS.

Age 14+

“Exhaustively researched, powerfully written and utterly gripping. Blows the door off!” – Bear Grylls

“Highly distinguished and inspirational” – Ant Middleton

“A true story that reads better than any thriller” – Dan Snow

“Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller” – Lee Child

“Modern drama at its best” – The Mail on Sunday

“A tale of bravery against desperate odds” – The Sunday Times

“Revelatory” – Sky News

“Scrupulously detailed … Le Carre fans will be delighted” – The Daily Telegraph

“As good as any thriller I have ever read. This is the lowdown” – Frederick Forsyth

Linny Venables: Sweet Factory

Artist Linny Venables talks about the making of Sweet Factory; a vibrant and playful exhibition celebrating the rich, shared histories of sweet making, working-class food traditions, and seaside culture.

Linny shares the inspiration, playful research, and hands-on processes behind the work, offering a glimpse into her socially engaged practice.

–

Visit the Sweet Factory exhibition: Mon – Sat. 10am – 4pm. 18 Oct 2025 – 7 Mar 2026.

Sweet Factory is curated by Linny Venables and supported by Arts Council England and At The Library.

The History of Art

Join Dr Anna Maddison to learn the history of Art using examples from The Atkinson’s collection.

3 Sessions: Thursday 11/18/25 September. 11am – 1pm.

The Atkinson’s collection has works of art dating from the 17th to the 21st centuries and is currently concentrating on collecting more contemporary art.

Highlights of the 20th century collection include several paintings by Walter Sickert and fellow members of the Camden Town School such as Charles Ginner as well as paintings by Scottish Colourists, namely Arthur Melville, JD Fergusson and Samuel Peploe. Key works from World War I include a painting of a mounted trooper by Alfred Munnings and a battle scarred landscape by Paul Nash. The collection of 20th century British sculpture is small but very high quality and includes good examples by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink and Jacob Epstein.

These sessions will also be looking at a number of works currently on display as part of The Atkinson’s 150th Anniversary Exhibition.

 

Isaac Hart: Halloween Through the Ages

Writer and “Ghost in the Museum” podcaster Isaac Hart returns to The Atkinson on Halloween Night to discuss the deep origins of the spooky season.

From ancient pagan traditions to modern panics over trick or treating, Halloween has always been the time of year that we welcome the weird and the uncanny into our lives rather than pushing it away, with often strange and surprising results…

Craig Revel Horwood: Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing

Craig Revel Horwood 

Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing 

Craig Revel Horwood is a national treasure. The longest-serving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing is the master of the Glitter Ball. After starting as a dancer, he worked on the nation’s biggest musicals and became a choreographer, director, and best-selling author. Craig’s also a remarkable singer, and following the release of his debut solo album, Revelations, he’s on the road with an evening of music, dance, drama, and song. Expect a Fab-U-Lous night of big songs, tall tales, and glamour – and, yes, there’ll be tales from the Strictly Come Dancing set. 

Meet & Greet: £85 – Best seats, goody bag, pre-show meet & greet with photo and autograph  

VIP Tickets: £50 – Next best seats and goody bag  

Standard Tickets:£34 

Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture

Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture: pools, piers and pleasure around Britain’s coast

Grab your bucket and spade and enjoy a nostalgic stroll around Britain’s seaside architecture.

In this illustrated talk, based on her new book, author and historian Dr Kathryn Ferry uses picture postcards to highlight how design trends including Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern and Brutalism, shaped our seafronts between 1920 and 2000. Southport highlights will include the Pier and Sea Bathing Lake.

As the heyday of domestic holidays gave way to a dramatic decline in popularity, new attractions continued to be built. Kathryn will share local examples alongside her favourites, taking in everything from hotels, lidos and entertainment pavilions to beach huts, amusement arcades and leisure centres.

CANCELLED: Ainsdale to Albania

Due to unforeseen circumstances this talk has been cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to reschedule. 

_

Ainsdale to Albania: The Wartime Career of Anthony Quayle

A talk by Dave Roberts

Before Anthony Quayle became a celebrated British actor and stage director, he was a man of quiet heroism, trading Shakespearean soliloquies for sabotage behind enemy lines. Born in Ainsdale, in 1913, Quayle’s early life gave little hint of the daring exploits that would follow. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the British Army and soon found himself recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE)—the shadowy wartime organisation tasked with espionage, sabotage, and supporting resistance movements in Axis-occupied territories.

Quayle’s wartime career included stints in Gibraltar and with one of the most secret organisations, the Auxiliary Units, but his most notable wartime service came in the Balkans. In 1943, he was dropped into German-occupied Albania to aid partisan fighters. It was a perilous assignment: mountainous terrain, hostile forces, and the constant threat of betrayal. Yet Quayle not only survived but proved himself a capable and courageous leader, building strong relationships with the Albanian resistance and enduring harsh conditions with quiet resolve.

From the quiet shores of Ainsdale to the rugged peaks of Albania, Anthony Quayle’s journey through war was as dramatic and complex as any role he played on stage or screen.