Join the team 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.