Event type: Talk

Professor Brian Cox

 

After performing his smash-hit show ‘Horizons’ to nearly half a million people across the world, Professor Brian Cox is back with his new world tour Emergence. 

Brian has appeared in many landmark science programmes for BBC radio and television over the last 15 years, from the Peabody Award-winning Wonders of the Solar System to the world-wide hit series The Planets.

Professor Brian Cox said: “I’ve loved creating Emergence – it’s the most ambitious live show I’ve ever written. I’ve been very lucky to collaborate with a wonderful group of scientists, musicians, filmmakers and graphic artists to bring cosmology, biology, philosophy and history to the largest and most advanced LED screens available, with the best sound and lights I could find. I hope the show is an all-encompassing experience, and I hope it leaves everyone, whether they love science or music or history, or simply contemplating the beauty of Nature, with something new to think about.” 

 

An Evening With Danny McNamara

An Evening With Danny McNamara, from Embrace.

Danny McNamara is the founder and lead singer of one of the most iconic bands of the last 20 years, Embrace. Having sold more than two million albums to date, their debut album, The Good Will Out, was released in 1998 and became one of the fastest-selling debut albums by a British artist. It was certified gold on the day of its release and went on to sell over half a million copies. The band has also had three number one albums and six top 10 singles.  

Now Embrace are celebrating their 30th anniversary and Danny will tour the UK for a special evening of tales about one of Britain’s best-loved bands. With a new book published about the band’s early years, he’ll be telling stories, answering questions, and signing copies of Embrace’s new book. 

Southport Palette Club: Celebrating 100 Years of Art

The Southport Palette Club held it’s first exhibition at The Atkinson Art Gallery in 1921 to showcase the talent of local artists. With a few lost years due to wars and covid, 2026 marks their Centenary Exhibition.

This talk delves into the archives, bringing to light stories and artwork from those 100 years of art.

Header Photograph: 67th Sefton Open in 1992

Highwaymen: What About The Women?

Highwaymen! What About The Women? – A talk by Margaret Holbrook

There were highwaymen a plenty in 17th and 18th century England but there were also quite a few women within these ranks.

Some worked the highways alone, others with their husbands or lovers. It was an exciting life, and one that held a certain romance but the excitement and romance didn’t always last. If caught and convicted, there were chances you would be hanged. If you managed to escape the hangman’s noose you might face transportation.

These risks were known and seemed to be accepted as a risk worth taking – but for some of the women their final journey was to the gallows.

Based on the book of the same title, this talk looks at the lives of the women who also rode the highways.

The book will be available for purchase on the evening and the talk will be followed by a book signing.

Free for members / £5 for public. Pay on the door.

 

About Margaret

Margaret is a writer of fiction, poetry and playwright.

She has received awards for several of her plays and in October 2012 she was a finalist at the Ovation Theatre Awards with her short play, ‘Soup for Starters’, receiving an Honourable Mention.

Her short story’ Pig Man’, was shortlisted in the 2015 Cheshire Prize for Literature and is published in Patches of Light, the Cheshire Prize anthology.

A prizewinning poet, Margaret’s poems and short stories have been published in several anthologies and magazines worldwide.

Her latest plays, ‘The Bus Stop’ toured in 2019 and was performed at Buxton Fringe Festival 2021. Margaret lives in Cheshire where she grew up.

Before writing finally found its way to the fore she worked variously as a sales assistant, bookkeeper and at one point ran her own floristry design business.

When she’s not writing Margaret enjoys reading (a lot!), walking, gardening and visiting bookshops.

She is a member of the SWWJ (Society of Women Writers and Journalists) and SoA (Society of Authors)

Haunted Book Club at Norton Priory

A Book Club you don’t have to do the reading for.

We will read something unsettling to you…

For enjoyers of eerie tales, curious to know more about the stories that make their skin crawl.

Join ‘Norton’s Narrator’, Gav Cross and author John Reppion as they delve into the stories behind some of your favourite spine-tingling tales.

Whether you’re a seasoned ghost story expert or a newcomer to the realm of creepy fiction, Haunted Book Club welcomes all new members with open (and possibly skeletal) arms.

Joining the Phantoms at Norton Priory we will be bringing ‘The Curfew’ by Lucy M. Boston.

This haunted story of open graves and lost bell towers, is widely considered to be inspired by Norton Priory.

Lucy M. Boston, perhaps best known for her ‘Green Knowe’ series of children’s books, lived on the estate before the final demolition of the house.

Whatever you do. Don’t ring the bell on the way out…

Join in the conversation or sit quietly in the dark. Whatever you choose.

Keep glancing over your shoulder…

 

John Reppion is a writer, born in Liverpool. Since 2003 he has co-written comics in partnership with his wife, Leah Moore, as Moore & Reppion. John’s solo-scripted comics work has also appeared in 2000 AD, Judge Dredd Megazine, and Heavy Metal Magazine. He has written books and articles on Weird History, Folklore, Superstition, and Magic for the likes of The History Press, Fortean Times, Daily Grail Online, and Hellebore Zine. John’s Horror and Weird Fiction has appeared in anthologies from the likes of Titan Publishing, PS Publishing, Swan River Press, and Sarob Press.

Gav Cross is a storyteller and performer. He creates weird and scary shows for grown ups and families. ‘The War of the Worlds – An Abridged & Performed Reading’, he brings humour, heart, and a touch of chaos to venues, festivals, and theatres across the UK. Currently ’Norton’s Narrator’ for Norton Priory, bringing terror and shouting to the good people of the area.

Haunted Book Club is an online bi-weekly free Substack gathering.

12+ Suggested.

90 mins plus an interval.

Queer Book Club: May 2026

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… In Memoriam, by Alice Winn; Quinn’s debut novel, a gripping, heart-shattering love story between two soldiers in the First World War. 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.

Access

We want to make Queer Book Club as accessible to as many people as possible and therefore we will hold two pre-bought copies of the book. Either contact Britney via britney@heartofglass.org.uk or call in to The Book Stop to borrow a copy. Additionally, as a QBC reader, you also receive 20% off your copy of the chosen book this month at The Book Stop in St Helens by quoting “Queer Book Club” at the till.

Safer Spaces

These events will use Heart of Glass’ Safer Spaces Agreement to create a space that aims to be as welcoming and respectful as possible.

Queer Book Club: June 2026

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… Golden Boys, by Phil Stamper; a heartfelt summer friendship story, starring four queer boys with big hearts and even bigger dreams. 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.

Access

We want to make Queer Book Club as accessible to as many people as possible and therefore we will hold two pre-bought copies of the book. Either contact Britney via britney@heartofglass.org.uk or call in to The Book Stop to borrow a copy. Additionally, as a QBC reader, you also receive 20% off your copy of the chosen book this month at The Book Stop in St Helens by quoting “Queer Book Club” at the till.

Safer Spaces

These events will use Heart of Glass’ Safer Spaces Agreement to create a space that aims to be as welcoming and respectful as possible.

Queer Book Club: April 2026

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… All That’s Left in the World, by Erik J. Brown; a post-apocalyptic queer YA adventure romance following two teens navigating survival and love after a deadly pandemic wipes out most of the population. 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.

Access

We want to make Queer Book Club as accessible to as many people as possible and therefore we will hold two pre-bought copies of the book. Either contact Britney via britney@heartofglass.org.uk or call in to The Book Stop to borrow a copy. Additionally, as a QBC reader, you also receive 20% off your copy of the chosen book this month at The Book Stop in St Helens by quoting “Queer Book Club” at the till.

Safer Spaces

These events will use Heart of Glass’ Safer Spaces Agreement to create a space that aims to be as welcoming and respectful as possible.

Release the Archive: Nina Edge

 

Reflecting on four decades as an artist, Nina Edge is joined by art historian and curator Alice Correia and the Bluecoat’s Bryan Biggs to discuss her long engagement with the arts centre.

The panel will consider the development of Edge’s art as reflected through the archive, from early shows at the Bluecoat to inclusion in Tate Britain’s Women in Revolt. The challenge of documenting such a broad multidisciplinary art practice will be addressed alongside wider questions about how art histories are made and what is excluded from them.

Event supported by DACS whose grant has enabled Edge to develop her own archive, and The National Archives.

 

DoES Salon – All about Repair Cafes

About this event

We’re back from our winter break and kicking off the new season of DoES Salon by teaming up with Circular Arts Network LCR to talk all things Repair Café.

What are they? How do they work? Where can you find one? And how can you get involved?

We’re going to watch a short film about them and then we’ll hear from Mike Gorman, who runs the Repair Café in DoES Liverpool and will tell us more about them in general and why and how it got started.

Schedule

MCQN Ltd and the Circular Arts Network LCR are sponsoring the pizza and refreshments from 6:30pm with the event starting at 7(ish)

6:30 – 7:00: Networking & Nibbles
7:00 – 7:10: Short film “If it’s broke. Fix it.”
7:15 – 8:00: Mike Gorman – What is a Repair Café and why did we start on in DoES Liverpool?
8:00 – 8:30: Mingling until the drinks run out!