Join acclaimed US author Attica Locke for her debut WoW appearance as she explores the themes of her latest novel, Guide Me Home. In the third and final novel in the Highway 59 trilogy, Texas Ranger Darren Mathews is forced out of early retirement to investigate the disappearance of a Black college student from her all-white sorority despite his disillusionment in an America forever changed by the presidency of Donald Trump. Known for her award-winning works from Bluebird to Pleasantville and powerful writing for Emmy-nominated TV shows like When They See Us and Little Fires Everywhere, Locke masterfully blends crime fiction with powerful social commentary. Hosted by Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, this event offers a compelling insight into Locke’s storytelling and the issues shaping her work.
Join us for the launch of Queue Up and Dance new book celebrating Quadrant Park, the legendary Bootle club with speakers artist Dave Evans, author and archivist of DIY movements Emma Warren, and DJ Melissa Kains.
Queue Up And Dance features a collection of interviews with a variety of people, from those who went to the club, to the DJs that played there, about their experiences of ‘the Quad’. Together, these highlight the club’s particular social and cultural context, why it was so important to so many, and how its legacy lives on 35 years later.
The book also contains an introduction by writer and researcher Emma Warren, author of Dance Your Way Home: A Journey Through the Dancefloor, and an afterword by Melissa Kains, the founder of female and non-binary DJ collective Sisu Crew.
Queue Up And Dance is the outcome of a year-long, artist-led project of the same title. It invited those who went to the club in its heyday, and young people living in Bootle today, to collaboratively develop an archive, exhibition, and other creative projects inspired by Quadrant Park and the early DIY culture of rave.
Please note this event takes place at Rough Trade, Hanover Street, Liverpool
Reserve your free ticket via DICE here
At The Library produce a programme of artist-led workshops, projects, commissions and happenings in Sefton Libraries. Email us on hello@atthelibrary.co.uk with any questions, access needs or for a chat about any of our projects.
The L8 Activism Walking Tour invites you to take a stroll down the beautiful, tree-lined Victorian boulevard and explore the rich history of Liverpool 8 — the traditional home of the Black community since the mid-20th century. This tour traces the area’s development from its origins as a merchant-class neighbourhood in the mid-to-late 19th century, when Liverpool was considered the second city of the British Empire — its prominence largely built on the Transatlantic Slave Trade — through a period of economic decline, and finally to its resurgence as one of the most desirable places to live in 2025.
As the tour progresses, we cover the vibrant nightlife and culture of the 1950s and 60s and the Black and anti-racist activism that developed throughout the 1970s and early 1980s and which responded to local and international issues. We consider the discrimination faced by Liverpool’s Black community, which Lord Gifford in his enquiry into the causes of the 1981 uprisings, described as ‘uniquely horrific’ which brought worldwide media attention to the area. At the Rialto which, during the uprisings, was set ablaze, we view the area where battle lines were drawn and consider why certain buildings were targeted.
The L8 Activism Walking Tour culminates on the former site of the Liverpool 8 Law Center, an organisation which arose out of the ‘81 Uprisings and which played a key role in the support and empowerment of L8 and the Black communities and then onto empty plinth where William Huskinson once stood. Join us to find out what happened to him and much more history that you won’t find in books.
Starting point: Princes Park North Gates, L8 3TA End point: Former site of Huskinson statue, Princes Road, L8 1TH
*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 Liverpool & Slavery Walking Tour was developed and inspired by our Dorothy Kuya Archive Project, in collaboration with National Museums Liverpool. During the project our team revealed the extent of Dorothy’s involvement in the establishment of the Atlantic Slave Trade Gallery, Slavery Remembrance Day and the International Slavery Museum. Along with Liverpool activist and historian Eric Scott Lynch (1932-2022), Dorothy delivered slavery walking tours in collaboration with NML in the mid 1990s. It is local Black activists like Dorothy and Eric that have played an integral role in how Liverpool remembers and commemorates its heavy involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
On this tour we explore the many sites and streets with direct links to the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Liverpool city centre. We discuss the depth of the city’s connections to the trade of enslaved Africans and the goods they produced long after its abolition in Britain. This tour also considers the legacies of the Atlantic Slave Trade, the origins of anti-Black racism and white supremacy, which in the 18th and 19th centuries were seen as justifications for horrific oppression and continue to encourage racial hatred violence in the present day.
Starting at The Pump House, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AN, the tour will then cover the L1 and L2 districts, ending at Liverpool Town Hall. Starting point: The Pump House, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AN End point: Liverpool Town Hall, High St, Liverpool, L2 3SW
*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 Great War to Race Riots tour explores anti-Black race riots that occurred in Liverpool and other seaports across the country in 1919.
This tour covers the area now known as Chinatown and the Baltic Triangle, which at the beginning of the 20th century was a densely populated and multicultural neighbourhood known locally as ‘sailor town.’ The tour follows the last journey of Charles Wotton, a young Bermudan seafarer who was murdered during the race riots. It finishes at the Queens Dock where Charles was chased into the River Mersey.
During the tour we present press reports from the run up and aftermath of the riots which, although over 100 years old, echo the fear-mongering of today. The tensions around the immediate post WWI economic slump, industrial unrest and mass demobilisation were manipulated so that Black people become the scapegoat, culminating in the racial violence on the streets of Liverpool. In August of this year, history was repeated when race rioting broke out, fuelled by the ‘divide and rule’ tactics of the politicians and the mainstream media. The events of 1919 contain important lessons for today.
The Great War to Race Riots book is available here, containing the full archive and original documents surrounding the 1919 riots. Starting point: Chinese Arch, Nelson Street, L1 5DW End point: Queens Dock, L3 4BX *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 Dorothy Kuya Walking Tour explores the impact of Dorothy Kuya’s anti-racist activism in modern Britain as we explore the Liverpool and the L8 area.
Dorothy Kuya (1933-2013) was one of Liverpool most prolific anti racist campaigners whose activism spanned seven decades. Born in Liverpool to a West African father and white English mother, Dorothy was aware of racial discrimination from a young age. At 13 she began attending Young Communist League meetings and would stay a dedicated and respected member of the CPGB until the 1980s. Inspired by the anticolonial sentiment of her youth and the pan-African radicals living in the North West, Dorothy would also go on to become an important member of the Movement for Colonial Freedom (now Liberation) and the National Assembly of Women. Dorothy had a local, national and international profile. As the first Race Relations advisor for Haringey Council, working closely with former MP Bernie Grant and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In Liverpool, Dorothy was a formidable member of the Granby Residents Association and integral to the development of the Atlantic Slave Trade gallery, the International Slavery Museum and Slavery Remembrance Day.
Learn more about the Dorothy Kuya Archive here and you can visit the archive at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.
Starting point: Corner of Falkner and Catherine Street, L8 7NE
End point: Jermyn Street, L8 2XA
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.
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
The Great War to Race Riots tour explores anti-Black race riots that occurred in Liverpool and other seaports across the country in 1919.
This tour covers the area now known as Chinatown and the Baltic Triangle, which at the beginning of the 20th century was a densely populated and multicultural neighbourhood known locally as ‘sailor town.’ The tour follows the last journey of Charles Wotton, a young Bermudan seafarer who was murdered during the race riots. It finishes at the Queens Dock where Charles was chased into the River Mersey.
During the tour we present press reports from the run up and aftermath of the riots which, although over 100 years old, echo the fear-mongering of today. The tensions around the immediate post WWI economic slump, industrial unrest and mass demobilisation were manipulated so that Black people become the scapegoat, culminating in the racial violence on the streets of Liverpool. In August of this year, history was repeated when race rioting broke out, fuelled by the ‘divide and rule’ tactics of the politicians and the mainstream media. The events of 1919 contain important lessons for today.
The Great War to Race Riots book is available here, containing the full archive and original documents surrounding the 1919 riots.
Starting point: Chinese Arch, Nelson Street, L1 5DW
End point: Queens Dock, L3 4BX
*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 Liverpool & Slavery Walking Tour was developed and inspired by our Dorothy Kuya Archive Project, in collaboration with National Museums Liverpool. During the project our team revealed the extent of Dorothy’s involvement in the establishment of the Atlantic Slave Trade Gallery, Slavery Remembrance Day and the International Slavery Museum. Along with Liverpool activist and historian Eric Scott Lynch (1932-2022), Dorothy delivered slavery walking tours in collaboration with NML in the mid 1990s. It is local Black activists like Dorothy and Eric that have played an integral role in how Liverpool remembers and commemorates its heavy involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
On this tour we explore the many sites and streets with direct links to the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Liverpool city centre. We discuss the depth of the city’s connections to the trade of enslaved Africans and the goods they produced long after its abolition in Britain. This tour also considers the legacies of the Atlantic Slave Trade, the origins of anti-Black racism and white supremacy, which in the 18th and 19th centuries were seen as justifications for horrific oppression and continue to encourage racial hatred violence in the present day.
Starting at The Pump House, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AN, the tour will then cover the L1 and L2 districts, ending at Liverpool Town Hall.
Starting point: The Pump House, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AN
End point: Liverpool Town Hall, High St, Liverpool, L2 3SW
Testimonials
“Found the walk very interesting and enjoyable.”
“Wonderful event! Please have a lot more of these through the year, if possible.”
“Fascinating walk and talk. Thank you!”
“Really interesting topics, anecdotal stories really brought me into the life.”
*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.
