Event type: Talk

The Book of Damascus

Join Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2026 for a celebration of storytelling, writing, and critical thinking from the Syrian Capital, in association with Comma Press.

Damascus is a city of contradictions. Simultaneously the oldest city in the world, rich with Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic architecture, and one of the most modern and developed in the Middle East, it stands at a cross-roads between East and West, the past and the future, peace and war. The latest instalment in Comma’s ‘Reading the City’ series is filled with the perspectives of ordinary Syrians we never read about in the news – be they teenage boys scheming to raise funds for a longed-for Eid picnic; impoverished girls picking through rubbish dumps hoping to find gold, or more mystical characters like the mysterious guardians who watch over the seven planet-themed gates of the old town.

LAAF, in association with Comma Press, would like to invite you to join us for an evening of readings, translations and discussions about the challenges that Damascus has survived and what lies ahead for it, in these most precarious times.

The event will be chaired by Comma’s Ra Page.

About the speakers:

Odai Al-Zoubi is a Syrian short-story writer, essayist, and translator. Born in Damascus in 1981, he studied electrical engineering at Damascus University (1998-2004), followed by philosophy at Lebanese University (2003-2007). He has a PhD in Philosophy from University of East Anglia. He has published one travelogue – Moving Shadows (Khan Aljanub, Berlin, 2025), and five collections of short stories: Silence (Al-Mutawassit, 2015), Windows (Al-Mutawassit, 2017), The Book of Wisdom and Naivety (Mamdouh Adwan, 2019), Half-Smile (Mamdouh Adwan, 2022), and Shackled Hearts (Safsafa, 2024).

Zaher Omareen is a war correspondent, filmmaker, and writer whose creative work is inspired by the conflict zones in which he has worked: Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, and Iraq. He often explores the intersection of documentary and fiction, and his writing has been featured on BBC Radio 4, and in the anthologies Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations (Comma Press and Deep Vellum, 2018) and the bilingual Danish-English collection Eksil (Screaming Books, 2019), as well as in the journals Words Without Borders, Massachusetts Review, The Common, M-Dash and Trafika Europe. He co-edited the seminal Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline (Saqi Books/Dar Saqi, 2014) and is the editor of The Book of Damascus.

Majd Abu Shawish is a Gaza-born, Manchester-based translator, poet and writer. His translations from the Arabic have previous appeared in The Guardian and numerous Comma Press anthologies. He has an MA in International Studies from Sheffield University.

Responding, Repairing and Creating Together: Lisa Nash in Conversation with Dr Robert Simpson

Hear about the role of creativity and the arts in the aftermath of tragedy, reflecting on experiences after the Grenfell Tower fire and Manchester Arena bombing.

After the Grenfell Tower fire and the Manchester Arena bombing, communities spontaneously came together to share, reflect and heal through collective, creative activity and the creation of spontaneous memorials.

In this conversation, you’ll hear from socially engaged artist and curator Lisa Nash and the University of Manchester’s Dr Robert Simpson, who will share their experiences of the immediate aftermath of those tragedies. They will discuss their emerging research into spontaneous memorials around the world and explore the role of creativity and the arts after such events. Their discussion will include reflections on how a mosaic project gave a community a chance to stand together in solidarity and remembrance and how a song helped to unite a city in the face of collective trauma.

As part of Lisa Nash’s ongoing memorial practice, in collaboration with the Grenfell Foundation, floral tributes left at the base of Grenfell Tower on the eight-year anniversary were carefully preserved and transformed into memorial paper and printing ink. Following the conversation and as we approach the nine-year anniversary of the Grenfell fire on 14th June, Lisa will lead a creative memorial activity using this memorial paper with those who wish to take part.

Please note that this conversation will discuss traumatic incidents and loss. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or need support, you are welcome to step out or speak to a member of staff.

The national tour of Grenfell by Steve McQueen is made possible with support using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and from Art Fund. Each presentation will be free to visit and will be accompanied by a public engagement programme of talks, workshops and community events supported by the Grenfell Foundation.

If you would like to attend a screening of ‘Grenfell’ by Steve McQueen on the day, you will need to book a screening separately in advance here.

This event will have BSL interpretation.

Free, booking required

Loss, Legacy and the Law: Lessons from Grenfell and Hillsborough

 

Discover the legal legacies since Grenfell and Hillsborough and learn about the ongoing campaigns for justice.

Nine years on from the Grenfell Tower fire and with the Inquiry into the tragedy concluded, the survivors and families of the bereaved are still awaiting justice and accountability. Here in Liverpool, a city still living through the legacy of the Hillsborough disaster, this may sound like a familiar tale.

Join us for a panel discussion, with Grenfell United’s Natasha Elcock and Ed Daffarn who will share their reflections on the tragedy and the continuing campaign for justice. They will consider what progress has been made and what remains to be achieved to ensure that the failures of policy and process that led to the Grenfell fire can never be repeated.

They will be joined by Professor Helen Stalford and Professor Lydia Hayes from The University of Liverpool’s Centre for People’s Justice, whose mission is to bring law and social justice research closer to people’s hopes, interests and needs for stronger, fairer and more inclusive societies. They will discuss the long campaign for and the progress made towards the Hillsborough Law, which seeks to establish a legal duty of candour for public authorities and officials.

Please note that this conversation will discuss traumatic incidents and loss. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or need support, you are welcome to step out or speak to a member of staff.

The national tour of Grenfell by Steve McQueen is made possible with support using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and from Art Fund. Each presentation will be free to visit and will be accompanied by a public engagement programme of talks, workshops and community events supported by the Grenfell Foundation.

Free, booking required

 

Talking Culture: Public Discussion Group

Talking Culture is a series of friendly discussions where curious people can come together to think, talk, and explore today’s major issues. The next session will take place on Thu 4 Jun, and will reflect on the events that led up to the Grenfell Tower Fire.

‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’: The Grenfell Tower Fire

Around seven months before the Grenfell Tower fire, a group of residents wrote in a blog post that:

“Only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO)… It is our conviction that a serious fire in a tower block or similar high-density residential property is the most likely reason that those who wield power at the KCTMO will be found out and brought to justice!”

This was not the first time residents had pleaded for safer housing conditions, and the events of 14 June 2017 sadly proved them right. When it comes to justice, however, nearly nine years on, it has yet to be served.

In this discussion, we will reflect together on the events that led up to the fire and consider why accountability remains difficult in the current context. Themes including social housing, safety, necropolitics, and who does (or does not) have a voice in political processes will be explored. Attendees are also welcome to voice their own thoughts and bring along any themes of interest, but no prior knowledge is necessary.

Free, booking required

Chris Difford

Chris Difford co-wrote the classic Squeeze hits Cool For Cats, Up The Junction, Labeled with Love, Tempted, and Black Coffee In Bed, alongside Squeeze co founder Glenn Tilbrook. He has co written with Elton John, Jools Holland and worked along side such great people as Bryan Ferry while hosting songwriting workshops for over 30 years. He’ll be touring in Spring 2027, armed with a new book, for an evening of classic hits hilarious conversation and readings from the book itself. 

Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous

It’s almost easier to say whom Ruby Wax DIDN’T meet, interview and coax fascinating insights from in her huge TV shows ‘Ruby Wax Meets’ and ‘Full Wax’. Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, Pamela Anderson, Madonna and many more.

 

Her provocative, abrasive, incomparable style was – just about – kept in check by lifelong friend and A-list producer, Clive Tulloh. Together live on stage they review clips from the extraordinary shows, tell scandalous stories never before heard – and take the audience along for the ride.

 

Featuring Ruby Wax & Clive Tulloh.

 

★★★★ ‘Deeply thoughtful and resolutely frothy’ The Times

★★★★ ‘Fascinating’ The Telegraph

★★★★ ArtsHub

★★★★★ ‘Hilarious’ Entertainment Focus

 

Peer to Peer: UK/Ukraine Symposium @ online

Wednesday 13 May / 8am – 2.30pm / free, online / RSVP
What is the socially engaged approach in photography and education? How are contemporary challenges, including war, political instability, and environmental crises, reshaping approaches to teaching? How does photography respond to the ecological crisis? What are the decolonial approaches to working with archives in the East of Europe?

These questions will be discussed at Peer to Peer: UK/Ukraine is a one-day symposium in Lviv, organised by the Ukrainian Photography NGO in collaboration with Lviv National Academy of Arts, Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool), University of Salford (Manchester). The event will bring together cultural practitioners, teachers, curators, archivists, researchers and students for a direct exchange of knowledge and skills about different aspects of photography. 

Speakers will discuss socially engaged approaches to photography, photographic practices in higher education, photographic response to the ecological crisis, and aspects of decolonisation in the East of Europe.

The Symposium talks will be available online with English translation.

 
Programme
 

8am: Intro from Lucy Zoria, Head of Arts at British Council Ukraine

8.20am:  Photography and interaction with the public 

(Elena Subach, photographer, Ukraine; Sarah Fisher, Executive Director of Open Eye Gallery; Tadhg Devlin, photographer, teacher, Head of social practice at Open Eye Gallery) 

Elena Subach will talk about her new project, based on a socially engaged approach. Sarah Fisher will present the public gallery’s approach to socially engaged photography. Tadhg Devlin will share his experience in education, organisation and artistic practice. 

9.20am–9.30am: break 

9.30am–10.30am: Collections, commissioning and decolonial perspectives

(Lindsay Taylor, Director of the University of Salford Art Collection, Andrii Usach and Аnna Yatsenko, NGO After Silence (Lviv) 

10.30am–11.30am: Photographic Practices in Higher Education: Addressing Contemporary Challenges

(Daryna Skrynnyk-Myska, Head of the Department of Contemporary Art Practices at the Lviv National Academy of Arts; Caroline Edge, Co-Programme Leader BA  Photography at the University of Salford, Manchester) 

Daryna Skrynnyk-Myska and Caroline Edge will discuss how contemporary challenges, including war, political instability, and environmental crises, are reshaping approaches to teaching.

11.30am–12.30pm: break 

12.30pm–1.30pm: Ecological crisis, nature and photographic response

(Yan Wang Preston, artist, UK; Kateryna Pokora, artist, Ukraine)

Yan Wang Preston, who collaborates with the Royal Horticultural Society, and Ukrainian artist Kateryna Pokora will present new works, With Love. From Invader and The Colour of Cyan, respectively, exploring ecology, history and photographic coverage of the environment.

1.30pm–2.30pm: Photo archives of Eastern Europe and decolonisation

(Max Gorbatskyi, Head of Exhibitions at Open Eye Gallery, founder of Ukrainian.Photographies platform; Iryna Sklokina, historian and researcher, the Centre for Urban History (Lviv); Ileana L. Selejan, curator, lecturer in Art History, Culture and Society, University of Edinburgh)

Max Gorbatskyi, Iryna Sklokina, and Ileana L. Selejan will discuss methodologies, access, and collection narratives in their work with photographic archives. 

 

‘Peer to Peer: UK/Ukraine’ is supported by the British Council’s UK→Ukraine: Culture Sync programme.

Susie Dent: Word Perfect

A brand-new tour of the joys of the English language with ‘Britain’s best-loved wordsmith’.

 Following on from her hit show ‘The Secret Life of Words’, Susie Dent is back with a brand-new collection of facts and stories from the wonderful world of words. Have you ever wondered whether there’s a word for going to the fridge for the umpteenth time in search of something new? Or puzzled over the reason why a group of crows is called a ‘murder’, while owls form a ‘parliament’? Is teen slang actually designed to make us tear our hair out? And just how many words do we need for being drunk?  

  With the help of funny, insightful, and head-scratching examples, Susie will entertain and educate us with her pick of language’s greatest hits. Word Perfect will remind us just how unpredictable, wayward, and utterly magical our mother tongue can be. 

Against All Odds: Class and Resistance in the Arts

Against All Odds is a dynamic and thought-provoking event that delves into the intersections of class, creativity, and resilience within the arts. Bringing together a powerhouse panel of artists and writers – Joelle Taylor, Oliver James Lomax, and Bea Freeman with Roger Hill (host) – this discussion highlights the struggles and triumphs of working-class creatives who have fought to make their voices heard in an often exclusive cultural landscape.

The event is in partnership with the Poverty Research Advocacy Network (PRAN), co-founded by Natalia Atas, an academic from Liverpool Hope University and Vicki Dabrrowski,an academic from  Leeds Trinity University.

Joelle Taylor is a T.S Eliot Prize 2022 Prize winner for C+NTO & Othered Poems, Joelle Taylor is the author of 4 collections of poetry and a novel. C+NTO was adapted for theatre. A former UK SLAM Champion she founded the national youth poetry slams SLAMbassadors through the Poetry Society in 2001, remaining its Artistic Director until 2018. She is a co-curator and host of Out-Spoken Live, resident at the Southbank Centre, and an editor at Out-Spoken Press. Joelle is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and the 2022 Saboteur Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

Oliver James Lomax is a poet, educator, and trustee of the Working-Class Movement Library in Salford. His work champions cultural equality and amplifies working-class voices. A visiting poet with The Poetry Society and a Poetry By Heart Ambassador and Judge, he has written for film and TV and published four collections. In 2025 he won the Los Angeles International Poetry Film Prize and has been nominated for the Pushcart and Forward Prizes. His recent projects include Arts Council–funded poetry films on working-class history in Bolton, focused on raising class consciousness.

Bea Freeman is an award-winning Liverpool-based filmmaker, producer, and community organiser, whose documentaries including They Haven’t Done Nothing (1985) and Daughters of the Windrush highlight underrepresented voices and racial injustice. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards and is an Honorary Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University.

Host: Roger Hill is a freelance director,  with over 50 years’ experience in performance, writing, broadcasting, and arts in education. He is best known for presenting BBC Radio Merseyside’s long-running alternative music programme and for his influential work in youth theatre. He began his career at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre before moving into Live Art performance, and community arts. He has also taught widely in higher education and continues to create new work, including films, storytelling projects, and autobiographical performances. He currently specializes in work with people with dementia and babies.

FAO Artists: we have a limited number of free tickets for artists living and working in the Liverpool City Region. If you are interested in applying for one of these tickets please email info@writingonthewall.org.uk.

Date: Wednesday 13th May
Time:6pm
Venue: The Black-E,1 Great George Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 5EW
Price: £5FAO Artists: we have a limited number of free tickets for artists living and working in the Liverpool City Region. If you are interested in applying for one of these tickets, please email info@writingonthewall.org.uk

“Sumud versus the Sword”: Solidarity, Direct Action, and Palestinian Liberation

Join Palestinian youth organisers, student activists, former political prisoners, and international human rights observers from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Youth Front For Palestine (YFFP), and Jordan Valley Solidarity (JVS) for a discussion on the realities of what has been described by human rights organisations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Médecins Sans Frontières, as ‘genocide’ and ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Palestine. Speakers will share first-hand experiences of occupation, resistance, and organising in both the West Bank and UK, while exploring what sumud (steadfastness) and solidarity look like in practice. The event will examine the role of direct action, popular struggle, and Palestinian-led movements in confronting settler colonial violence and Israeli apartheid.

Individual names have been withheld for safety and security. Kindly note that select panelists will join online or via video from Palestine. Image by ActiveStills.

To read the first entry in the exclusive series, Breaking the Sword in Occupied Palestine, co-written by ISM, JVS, and YFFP organisers, visit Red Pepper Media.

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) emerged in 2001 during the Second Intifada after Palestinian popular committees called for international civic protection. Palestinians lead ISM’s work through consultation with grassroots communities and activists. As a movement, ISM is consensus-based and anti-oppression. Tactically, it uses non-violent direct action to deter Israeli settler and military violence, as well as break the isolation of apartheid. Social media: @ismpalestine

The Youth Front For Palestine (YFFP) launched in Spring 2022 after being inspired by the Unity Intifada of 2021. It is Palestinian-led, strives to uphold the Thawabet, and mobilises youth across the UK to take action against the Zionist entity. Through mass demonstrations, BDS campaigns, and community education events, the YFFP aims to pressure the government and businesses to end their complicity in the Gaza genocide and subjugation of Palestine. Social media: @y.f.f.p

The Jordan Valley Solidarity (JVS) campaign is a network of Palestinian grassroots organisations from all over the Jordan Valley, along with their international supporters. JVS aims to protect Palestinian existence and the unique environment of the Jordan Valley by supporting shepherding and farming communities across the West Bank. This includes monitoring to prevent the abuse of Palestinian human rights by the Israeli occupation. Social media: @jordan.valley.solidarity

 
Date: Wednesday 20th May
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Caribbean Centre, 1 Amberley Street, Liverpool L8 1YJ
Free