Event type: Workshop

Julie Dodd: Painting Watercolour Cells Workshop

Julie is an environmental artist mainly working with recycled materials and paper, constructing sculptural pieces. Books feature heavily in her work, often recycling other discarded materials to form artworks and constructions; bringing new life and meaning to them.

Discover the joy of watercolour in this inspiring workshop taking place at Kirkby Gallery. Guided by Julie’s beautiful organic style, you’ll learn key watercolour skills and create your own unique artwork to take home. This in-depth session is designed especially for adults who want to explore their creativity and develop new artistic techniques.

Tickets are just £20 for Friends of Kirkby Gallery or £34 for non-members—and every non‑member ticket includes a free annual Friends membership, giving you even more creative opportunities throughout the year.

Contact galleries@knowsley.gov.uk to book your place.

Butterflies on Wood Workshop

To complement her new exhibition ECHO, environmental artist Julie Dodd is hosting a series of workshops at Kirkby Gallery.

In this family friendly, nature themed workshop, you will use recycled books and off cuts of wood to make a joyful butterfly sculpture. You can you your family can team up to create a stunning 3D piece to take home. Julie will guide you on how to make a true one of a kind piece to treasure.

This is a fully funded, free workshop, but booking is essential. Contact galleries@knowsley.gov.uk to book your place.

Julie Dodd: Paper Corals Workshop

 

Be inspired by ECHO, the new nature and biodiversity themed exhibition at Kirkby Gallery, by environmental artist Julie Dodd.

Bring your creativity to this fun, family‑friendly workshop! You and your family will work together to create an amazing 3D sculptural artwork. Using driftwood or stone, along with simple paper‑sculpting techniques, you’ll build a unique piece inspired by Julie’s themes.

This is a fully funded, free workshop, but booking is essential. Contact galleries@knowsley.gov.uk to book your place.

 

Introduction to Multi-Colour Lino Cut

Learn the basics of Linocut, a beginner friendly process that makes a perfect introduction to printmaking. You will learn how to transfer an image onto your lino, carve your lino blocks and create a small edition of 2-colour prints.

You’ll explore the tools and materials involved, and receive helpful tips and expert guidance from our artist-facilitator to support your ongoing practice at home. This session is ideal for beginners eager to learn the art of linocutting. You’ll leave the workshop with your prints, your original lino blocks and the knowledge to continue the process at home.

Political Songs Workshop | Sing, March, Protest with Patrick Dineen

2-5pm

Political Songs Workshop -Sing, March, Protest with Patrick Dineen

Come along and experience the political songs that the Unity Theatre would have performed, 

written and experienced over the years from the Spanish Civil War to the 1960s. 

From rousing marching songs through to sophisticated cabaret. Listen and sing the wit and irony, dark humour of songs that speak of injustice and corruption.

Patrick Dineen is a composer and lyricist. He has written many scores for theatre and political 

cabaret over the years and has had a long standing relationship with The Unity Theatre. His work as a composer includes tv, film, dance, cabaret and directing his own music-theatre shows.

Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre. A talk

Rhiannon White, co-founder of award winning political theatre company, Common/Wealth, talks about the companies DIY origins

Rhiannon White will share our DIY origins, how we’ve made shows along the way and why making political theatre is critical and urgent now more than ever. There will be time for questions at the end and hopefully it will encourage you to do it yourself! A call to arms with some inspirational and practical tips along the way.

Rhiannon is co-founder and co-director of Common/Wealth, an award-winning, political, site-specific theatre company based in Cardiff and Bradford. Common/Wealth’s productions tackle the concerns of our time in collaboration with the people most affected by inequity. Most recent work includes Demand the Impossible, a show about police infiltration and injustice.

Working with people as collaborators, performers, participants and audiences. Rhiannon is a Clore Fellow and recipient of a Creative Wales Award. Rhiannon was a panel member on the Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society, chaired by Julia Unwin

Rhiannon is co-author of Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre.

Common/Wealth is a political theatre company based in Bradford and Cardiff, UK. We make radical, high-quality documentary theatre and other public events that are site-specific, experimental and push form – relevant, artistic work addressing social injustices and concerns of our times, in partnership with the people who are most affected by inequity.

Our ideas are rooted in socialist politics, working-class backgrounds, a keen interest in contemporary theatre, art and design, the people that we meet, and a radical ambition to shift things.

We often co-create our work with local people and present it in the heart of communities: a residential house, a boxing gym, a car park – places where people who might not go to the theatre might come to instead. The subjects we tackle are universally relevant, and we present our work locally, nationally, and internationally.

Part of Unity’s Heritage Lottery Funded project.  

Doing It Yourself: A Workshop by Common/Wealth

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and create something awesome with Common/Wealth in this chill DIY workshop.

This workshop will offer a brief introduction to a range of practical exercises to enable you to work with others to create political theatre and make social change. The exercises will give you an insight into Common/Wealth, how we make original theatre about the here and now, and with people who may not have been part of any theatre-making process before. We’ll share our DIY origins, why the company exists, and how we highlight social injustices through making high quality award-winning theatre.

Suitable for people new to theatre, experienced theatremakers, activists and community organisers. Part of Unity’s Heritage Lottery Funded project.  

Drag King Workshop | Canal Street Kings

Ready to unleash your inner king? Join our drag king workshop led by international drag king cabaret artist Wolfy, The King of Canal Street — founder of Canal Street Kings and an award-winning theatre maker with over a decade of experience commanding stages across the globe. This isn’t just a workshop. It’s a transformation. Whether you’re drag-curious, theatre-trained, or completely brand new, you’ll be guided through the full journey of building a magnetic, unforgettable king persona — from the inside out.

What you’ll dive into:

Finding and refining your unique king character Developing powerful physicality and stage presence Building your king’s world and backstory Drag king makeup basics and practical techniques Unlocking bold, unshakeable confidence

Wolfy brings years of cabaret chaos, theatrical craft, and real-world performance experience to help you not just create a character — but embody one. Expect hands-on exercises, creative exploration, and a supportive space where you can take risks, get messy, and discover what makes your king dangerous, dazzling, or devastatingly charming.

This workshop is about more than drag. It’s about stepping into a version of yourself that takes up space unapologetically.

Come curious. Leave crowned.?

Writing on the Wall – The Writer’s Bloc Toxteth

 

The Writer’s Bloc is Writing on the Wall’s dedicated creative writing centre in Liverpool – a welcoming space where writers of all backgrounds can write, connect and grow together.

The Writer’s Bloc brings together a vibrant community of writers and creative thinkers from across the Liverpool City Region. It’s flexible, friendly and supportive: a place where inspiration and encouragement go hand in hand.

Our next two Writer’s Bloc sessions at Toxteth Library will be:

Friday 10th April – Time To Write 

This session will start with a couple of writing prompts as a warm up and then the rest of the time is yours to work on whatever you like. There will be a chance to share your work at the end of the session if you choose to. 

Friday 24th April – Script Writing with Maurice Bessman 

Maurice is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. He began writing scripts for a BBC Radio Merseyside drama and wrote the drama series DOCTORS and a single drama SING OUR OWN SONG for BBC Radio Four.

His television work includes BROOKSIDE, CASUALTY, HOLBY CITY, ACCUSED, COURTROOM, HOLLYOAKS and a single comedy drama A LITTLE PINCH OF CHILLI.

Both sessions will take place at Toxteth Library, Windsor Street, Liverpool, L8 1XF

Please confirm your attendance at either session by clicking this link and filling in your details: Writer’s Bloc Registration Form  

Tea and coffee will be available at each session.

 

Trans Unity Quilt Workshop

As part of Pride is a Trans Led Protest!, join the team for a powerful, creative workshop rooted in care, resistance and collective action. 

Inspired by the long history of textile art in liberation movements, the Trans Unity Quilt is a growing, collaborative artwork, a patchwork of stories, stitched together by trans people and allies across the UK. Each square contributes to a bold, physical statement of trans joy, resilience and visibility. In this session, you’ll create your own patch to become part of the quilt, which will be unveiled and carried at London Trans+ Pride 2026, before travelling across the UK.

No experience needed, just come as you are, all materials will be provided. Free tickets, booking is required.