Event type: Talk

Queer Book Club: October 2025

 

Queer Book Club is an inclusive reading group open to anyone from St Helens to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature. Founded in Autumn 2023 by a group of local queer artists, producers and book-lovers, Queer Book Club is a space to share a love of queer novels, memoirs and writing.

This month we’re reading…

Cemetery Boys by Mae Peterson; an LGBTQIA+ (young adult) ghost story about magic, acceptance and what it means to be your true self. A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave.

Queer Book Club is drop-in, meaning you don’t have to have been before to take part, but we encourage you to read the book ahead of the session.

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Open Day

 

Liverpool Philharmonic throws open its doors for a day filled with music! Everyone’s welcome, so drop in, enjoy a packed programme of musical taster sessions and experiences, and discover everything we’ve got on offer… 

Whether you’re a regular, or you’ve never been to the Hall before, come along and explore a whole world of musical opportunities right on your doorstep.  

This is a free event. Please note, there is no advance booking available for this event and seating is unreserved

 

Inside the Criminal Mind: A Night with a Forensic Psychologist

7:30PM
During this event, Dr Keri Nixon will take the audience through three high profile murder cases. She will explore the details of the cases and delve into the psychology of the perpetrators involved, helping the audience to understand what can lead to such horrific acts. In addition to exploring the crimes, this evening will offer a glimpse into the work of a Consultant Forensic Psychologist. At the end of the night the audience will have the opportunity to untangle any remaining thoughts during the question and answer session.

Against All Odds: Class and Resistance in the Arts

6:00pm

Join us for a powerful discussion on class, creativity, and resilience in the arts.

Against All Odds brings together a stellar panel of artists and writers who have challenged barriers and defied expectations. From poetry to fiction, from script to screen and from performance to activism, they have each carved a space for working-class voices in the cultural landscape.

Featuring Joelle Taylor, Ashleigh Nugent, Barrington Paul Robinson, and Jayshree Patel, this event will explore the struggles of working-class creatives, the systemic obstacles they face, and the triumphs they’ve achieved along the way.

How do we dismantle these barriers? And how do we celebrate the successes? Expect an evening of passionate conversation, personal insights, and inspiration from those who have paved the way.

Joelle Taylor is an award-winning poet, playwright, and author, Joelle Taylor’s work focuses on identity, power, and resistance. She is the winner of the 2021 T.S. Eliot Prize for her collection C+nto & Othered Poems.

Ashleigh Nugent is a writer, performer, and director of RiseUp CiC, Ashleigh Nugent explores race, identity, and class through his work, including his acclaimed novel LOCKS, based on his real-life experiences.

Barrington Paul Robinson is an Ethical Producer, he broke into HETV in 2020 on award winning, BAFTA nominated drama, The Responder, then A Town Called Malice for SKY, Disney+, period drama, A Thousand Blows, returning home for the second series of The Responder. Based in Liverpool, he is Co-founder of the BFI Creative Producer Lab and founder of his production company Redbag Pictures. Inspired by the past – powered by the future….he ain’t done yet!

Jayshree Patel is a writer on Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road and Casualty and advocate for diverse voices on screen. A champion of underrepresented perspectives, Jayshree is passionate about working for and with young people.

 

This event is a partnership between Writing on the Wall (WoW) and the Poverty Research and Advocacy Network (PRAN), an independent advocacy network which aims to bring together various stakeholders to amplify voices fighting against poverty and injustice, both regionally and nationally. 

We encourage people to use public transport to travel to events where possible.

 

*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be treated in confidence.   

The Horne Section’s Hit Show

 

They have two series of their own Channel 4 TV show, an iTunes-chart-topping podcast and now they’re tuning up their instruments once more to tour the country: it’s the Horne Section’s Hit Show!  

“Britain’s Funniest Band” (The Guardian) have made appearances on The Last Leg (Channel 4), Peter Crouch’s Year- Late Euros (BBC One), they are Dictionary Corner regulars on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and the only band to ever host Never Mind The Buzzcocks.  Separately, members of The Horne Section have performed with recording artists including Robbie Williams, Madness, Florence and the Machine, Amy Winehouse, George Ezra, Basement Jaxx, Disclosure and Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds.  

Unruly, ridiculous, and surprisingly satisfying, the six-headed comedy band includes five outstanding musicians and one non-musical stand-up. There’ll be comedy, songs, enthusiastic dancing, and a lot of mucking about. A brand-new show from the hugely talented band and Alex Horne, the creator and co-host of the BAFTA and National Comedy Award winning Taskmaster.  

 

Age guidance: 12+ (parental discretion advised) – U16s must be accompanied by an adult.This show may contain mild language and some adult references.

 

Queer Book Club: June 2025

Queer Book Club is an inclusive reading group open to anyone from St Helens to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature. Founded in Autumn 2023 by a group of local queer artists, producers and book-lovers, Queer Book Club is a space to share a love of queer novels, memoirs and writing.

This month we’re reading…

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers; a historical romance novel. Set in 1957, the novel follows Jean Swinney, journalist for a local newspaper who investigates the claim of a woman who says her daughter was the result of a virgin birth.Queer Book Club is drop-in, meaning you don’t have to have been before to take part, but we encourage you to read the book ahead of the session.

BOARC – SSTRAPP: Synthesizing Space

We are delighted to announce that artist, lead producer, DJ, of the collective Distribution of Power, and analog synthesizer researcher  Zara Truss Giles will be coming back to lead this SSTRAPP three-day weekender together with Inigo and Maeve, and we’re sure its gonna be just as amazing as the first one we did with them back in October 2023 (Synthetic Disruptions). This will be a special SSTRAPP because we are working in collaboration with the incredible Iklectik Art Lab, who have generously loaned us their spatialized sound system.

In the theory sessions in the mornings we’ll have presentations about space, synthesis, spatial perception in auditory cognition, and spatialized composition and sound diffusion. We will use our usual diagramming method for discussing and working through the ideas together in groups. In the afternoons Edu and Isa from Iklectik will demonstrate how their spatial sound system can be used and Zara and Maeve will lead us on a practical exploration of spatialized sound synthesis.

Bidston is an anti-racist, trans-inclusive, intersectional feminist space where we welcome everyone who abides by this accountability agreement.

There are no requirements for attending, everyone is welcome, whatever their knowledge, abilities, etc., and the theory and practice should be accessible for those with no background in them.

We recommend arriving at Bidston sometime on Thursday so we’re ready to start working on Friday morning, but if you can’t make it then you can still join later. 

It is possible to participate with or without accommodation. We will do collective meals together, which is also an optional extra cost. The cost for participating in the workshop are as follows:

Workshop fee: On a sliding scale from £20-£30 per day, or £60-£90 for the total three days. Please pay more if you can, the lower end of the scale is for those who really couldn’t afford it otherwise, the cost is very cheap for what you’re getting!

Accommodation fee: On a sliding scale from £30-£40 per day, or £90-£120 for the total three days. If you’re struggling financially, e.g. on benefits, get in touch and it may be possible to reduce the cost.Meals fee: £15 per day

If you’d like to join, please get in touch by sending an email to sstrapp@proton.me

Recurring events in Liverpool

Liverpool is a city full of Irish culture. There is always something happening that you join in with. Below is a lit of regular and recurring activities, delivered by our that you can pick up at any time.
Liverpool Irish Centre
The Liverpool Irish Centre runs a shop full of Irish produce, open 7-days a week. It receives Irish food deliveries fortnightly on a Wednesday/Thursday. The main bar hours are Fri and Sat, 2pm-midnight and Sun, 12.30pm-9pm, with live music 4/5pm. Follow them online to stay up to date with events. The venue is a hireable space and can be booked for parties or functions. The recurring programme looks like this:

Monday

Gardening class,10am, The Shed
Comhaltas, 6.30pm

Tuesday

Sequence dancing, 1pm
Liverpool Irish Choir, 6.30pm

Wednesday

JJ’s lunch club, 1pm
Yoga, 6pm
Irish language, 6-8pm
The Lowlands, 7pm
Liverpool Irish Fluteband, 7.30pm

Thursday

Tea dance/Bingo, 1pm
Irish language, 6pm
Bolger-Cunningham Irish dance, 6.30pm
Liverpool Irish Rovers social run, 6.30pm

Friday

25 cards, 9pm

Saturday

Bolger-Cunningham Irish dance, 10am
Tin whistle class, 10.30am, The Shed.

In addition, Liverpool Irish Rovers run regularly through the week. Contact them directly to join. The Centre runs Supper Céilí on the last Wednesday of every month at 8.30pm and hosts a monthly seisiún on the third Sunday of every month.
Comhaltas
Running classes regularly at the Liverpool Irish Centre, Comhaltas is your go to organisation for anything relating to Irish music. See day listing above for class times.
Conradh Na Gaeilge Learpholl
Irish language is on the rise again, not least because of the astounding work done at community level by groups such as Conradh Na Gaeilge Learpholl. Based at Liverpool Irish Centre, there are all sorts of lessons to join in with. Look at the day lists above for details of Wed/Thurs clubs. They also host Lon Gaeilge sessions at 12.30pm on the first Friday of every month at The Railway on Tithebarn Street. Guests to this are invited to bring 10 new words per session to use in conversation. Conradh Na Gaeilge Learpholl are the lead organisers of the annual Tony Birtill memorial lecture and scholarship.
Irish Community Care Merseyside
With 60-years of Irish community championing, Irish Community Care Merseyside is a first port of call for those needing to access welfares services. It undertakes year-round work to improve life-chances and build communities.
Liverpool Irish Famine Trail
Conserved and updated by Liverpool Irish Festival, the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail has an app and self-guided maps that you can take yourself through. There ar recurring walks taking place across the year – see our events page using the Events menu above, or this link.
The Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool
An academic centre of excellence with a year round programme of events, talks, activities and archives to share. Sign up for their events mailings.

Liverpool Irish Famine Trail lecture (online)

Liverpool Irish Famine History Group Leader, John Maguire, and Festival Director, Emma Smith, present a Liverpool Irish Famine Trail lecture.

Initially provided on 23 Feb 2023, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council commissioned the lecture. It featured within their Irish Famine Lecture series under The Impact of Irish Refugees in Shaping Liverpool.

The lecture details the 7 plaque and single memorial site that form a part of the trail. It doesn’t feature all 15 sites, which includes sites of Irish influence. This was to introduce people to the geography of the city and the movement of the Irish Famine poor through it. Thus, providing a focus for an overview lecture. More details on all the Trail sites can be found by

downloading a print-at-home map, and/or
visiting our enhanced Googlemap

which detail all 15 sites.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have made this lecture publicly available, meaning you can now watch the recording of the lecture and the lively Q&A that followed, here:

We have been informed that on some devices the film above does not present itself. If you have a blank space above, use this YouTube link to see the film directly (URL: https://youtu.be/I8Ax8RNxsmg).

This was lecture 11 in a run of 12 provided over six weeks. Interested in other lectures? Please visit Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s YouTube page, to find lectures from this series and others.

Buy the book: Liverpool Irish Famine Trail: Revive.