In the grip of a climate emergency, as culture wars and real wars rage, WoWFEST: FAHRENHEIT 2024 is an arena for ideas and a call to action.
The New World Order is causing disorder and destruction on an unprecedented scale, with global warming, polluted air, raw sewage poured into the sea and rivers, soil degradation, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity all the result of the pursuit of profit over people and the planet. Forty-five armed conflicts are raging in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, with countless people maimed and killed; toxic bombs equal a toxic environment. Still the bombs keep dropping, still they turn their heads.
WoWFEST: FAHRENHEIT 2024 will unite writers, artists and audiences to highlight the urgent need for change through writing, performance and activism to fight for the preservation of our planet.
This year’s festival title is inspired by Ray Bradbury’s prescient 1951 book Fahrenheit 451, a dystopian novel set in a near-future, where books are outlawed and Firemen create fires, burning any discovered books, leading protagonist Guy Montag to question his role in preserving knowledge. Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which books burn. WoWFEST is concerned about the temperature at which the world burns.
Despite facing censorship in apartheid South Africa and certain U.S. schools, Fahrenheit 451 stands as a critical success and a powerful critique of censorship and intellectual suppression. It draws inspiration from Nazi Germany’s book burnings and repression in the Soviet Union and although the book was written in 1953, it bears a resemblance to society today. Several US states have introduced anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including the banning of books containing descriptions of ‘sexual conduct’ from educational institutions and libraries as well as the banning of public drag shows. Authors whose books are challenged are disproportionately female, black and from LGBTQ+ communities. Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison’s book The Bluest Eye is one of the most banned books in school districts across America.
In America now we see life imitating art, with books being banned from schools and libraries, and right-wing Republican candidates using flame throwers to burn books. Censorship and laws to hinder or ban protests are on the rise across the world.
“At Writing on the Wall social justice and collective action are at our core. Now, more than ever, it’s time to stand up, mobilise, and utilise writing and creativity as tools for transformation.” Mike Morris and Madeline Heneghan, WoW Co-Directors
Join us throughout May as WOWFEST ignites the city with the voices of local, national, and international writers, activists, performers and audiences to explore, discuss, and challenge these burning issues.
WoWFEST: FAHRENHEIT 2024 Festival Programme
Jon Ronson: Things Fell Apart (Friday 3 May)
Jon Ronson’s Radio 4 Podcast Things Fell Apart, now in its second series, reveals some truly astonishing stories as he draws out the threads of the origins of the culture wars and interviews some of its main players. Don’t miss this unique chance to hear from Jon himself, appearing live, virtually from New York, revealing further insights from his work – from COVID conspiracies and Antifa hysteria, to racial and gender identity politics, free speech and protests against lockdown that spiralled out of control, and answering your most pressing questions.
The Welsh Connection (Saturday 4 May)
Featuring Manon Steffan Ros, Gareth Twamley & Iwan Steffan. Expect a combination of scintillating conversation and shining performances from these talented Welsh artists representing a mixture of literary styles, bringing you the word from Wales its original form and translated into English.
Sarah P Corbett: Craftivism as a form of Gentle Protest (Tuesday 7 May)
Award-winning activist and author Sarah P Corbett joins Roger Phillips, award-winning former BBC Radio Merseyside broadcaster, in conversation at Leaf. They will be discussing her new book, The Craftivist Collective Handbook, her work around the world and how Liverpool has shaped her activism.
Stephen Small: In The Shadows of The Big House (Tuesday 7 May)
Stephen Small, Professor at the Dept of African American Studies, University of California, Berkeley, valued WoW collaborator and author of the Small Talk series, makes his in-person debut at WoWFEST to discuss his latest book; In the Shadows of the Big House: Twenty-First-Century Antebellum Slave Cabins and Heritage Tourism in Louisiana (Atlantic Migrations and the African Diaspora). Stephen, in conversation with WoW’s Creative Heritage Project Manager, Janaya Pickett, will trace the historical trajectory of plantations and slave cabins since the Civil War and explore what representations of slavery and slave cabins convey about the reconfiguration of the past and the rearticulation of history in the present.
Lights Bearing West: Book Launch, with Tony Wailey (Wednesday 8 May)
Tony Wailey’s latest book, Lights Bearing West, is about memory, place and distance, messages sent, delivered, picked up, put down, kept or discarded. Going away, having adventures and coming home, whether these adventures are first hand or tenth hand, is part of everyone’s trilogy in Liverpool – even for those who have never left the river. Tony will be signing copies of his book at this event at Smithdown Social Arts Hub.
Turning A Book Into A TV Series (Wednesday 8 May)
Ashleigh Nugent and Tom Thostrup, co-founder and Managing Director of 2LE media, will talk through the process of how Ashleigh’s electric debut novel, Locks, was optioned for TV. This event promises to be an inspirational experience for any budding screen writers, as well as a fascinating glimpse into the real-life struggles portrayed in this irreverent and authentic black identity debut.
Danny Morrison: The Dirty War (Thursday 9 May)
Danny Morrison returns to Writing on the Wall for a one-off exclusive on the Stakeknife affair and how he was lured into a trap by Britain’s biggest spy in the IRA. Danny will be in conversation with Stuart Borthwick, chair of Writing on the Wall and author of The Writing on the Wall: A Visual History of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
30 Years of Train Spotting with Irvine Welsh (Friday 10 May)
Irvine Welsh returns to WoWFEST for a no-holds-barred celebration of 30 years of Trainspotting and its cast of outcasts. Irvine will be in conversation with Peter Hooton, frontman of the acclaimed Liverpool Band The Farm and co-founder of legendary fanzine The End.
Salena Godden: Love, Grief and Fury (Saturday 11 May)
Join Salena Godden for an intimate evening of readings and captivating conversation, discussing her latest collection, Love, Grief and Fury. Her latest work contains love poems for people and the planet, poems of grief brimming with compassion, and poems of fire and fury that kick some ass.
It’s The End of The World and They Knew It: Dystopia – Then vs. Now (Monday 13 May)
WoW partners with Liverpool University to explore dystopian literature, taking you on a journey through the evolution of dystopian literature and how authors and artists eerily predicted our present and future.
Pity: Andrew McMillan, with Paul Farley (Tuesday 14 May)
Two award-winning poets come together at WoWFEST to launch a debut novel! Andrew McMillan, whose Physical was the only poetry collection to ever win the Guardian First Book Award, will be reading from his debut novel Pity, and in conversation with multi-award winning poet Paul Farley.
Polari at Writing on the Wall (Wednesday 15 May)
London’s award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon comes to WoWFEST 2024.
The inimitable Polari founder and author Paul Burston, presents a dazzling line up of award-winning talent; the multi-talented Rosie Garland, Irish word smith Ciaran Hodgers and the legendary Gerry Potter.
Your Local Arena – George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four (Thursday 16 May)
Writing on the Wall presents: Film Screening and Panel Talk. Come and watch this classic film about one of the country’s finest writers and listen to a talk afterwards about how near we are to a nineteen eighty-four-type world. Speakers: Dolan Cummings, Director of the Manifesto Club; Director of English PEN Daniel Gorman; and freedom of speech expert Sara Whyatt. The event will also include a new poem inspired by the film by Francesca Beard.
Our Hands, Our Mouths – Poverty and Resistance (Friday 17 May)
This event, by Writing on the Wall and the Poverty Research & Advocacy Network (PRAN), has been organised to respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the unprecedented and devastating level of poverty in the UK. Featuring some of the most powerful and prominent voices standing up against poverty and social injustice today, including Prof Danny Dorling (University of Oxford), Prof Imogen Tylor (Lancaster University), Liam Thorp (Liverpool Echo), Ian Byrne MP (Liverpool West Derby), and Amina Ismail (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), will also explore and celebrate examples and opportunities for supporting resistance to austerity and poverty by communities across the country.
Rewriting the Future: Workshop with Francesca Beard (Friday 17 May)
Join spoken word poet Francesca Beard for a workshop informed by George Orwell’s chilling dystopian world in the literary classic, 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four).
Francesca will perform her specially commissioned piece on the film George Orwell (Part V) film at WoWFEST’s screening and panel talk, Your Local Arena: George Orwell (Part V), on Thursday 16 May at Toxteth TV Studios, produced in partnership with Your Local Arena.
This workshop is based on the book and film Nineteen Eighty-Four and the event discussion topic of dystopia, which implores us to consider: just how close are we to Orwell’s vision — or are we already there?
Creative Heritage Day at WoWFEST24 (Saturday 18 May)
Creative Heritage Day at WoWFEST24 will showcase WoW’s highly successful projects including the George Garrett archive, Great War to Race Riots, L8 Archive Project, and the Dorothy Kuya archive project.
On display will be copies of archive material from each of our projects, as well as artworks and our heritage bookstall. Guests will also be able to experience our Creative Heritage ‘living library’, where they can chat to specialists about each of our projects, as well as Creative Heritage activities for children.
The event will feature special guests and a panel discussion about the importance of community in the preservation of heritage and in presenting a more complete history of Britain and beyond.
Leechcraft with David Ward (Sunday 19 May)
WoW are delighted to host the launch of Dave Ward’s Leechcraft, a haunting new poetry collection teeming with folkloric power.
Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee (Wednesday 22 May)
Thwarted in his attempts to hold a street party by the philistines on the council and unable to shift the over-ordered commemorative plates, Luke Wright does what a poet does best, and takes a deep dive into himself. What follows is his most confessional show to date.
Beyond A Radical Practice: A Bright Future for Primary Care? (Thursday 23 May)
GPs Katy Gardner, Iona Heath and Nadja Van Ginneken, with host, former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips, discuss the ever-shifting role of general practice and primary care.
An Evening with Jackie Kay (Friday 24 May)
May Day, the much-anticipated new poetry collection from Jackie Kay, one of the UK’s best loved poets, casts an eye over decades of political activism: the international solidarity of the Glasgow of Jackie’s childhood; her parents’ Socialist campaigns; the feminist, LGBT+ and anti-racist movements of the 80s and 90s, and the global pandemic and urgency of Black Lives Matter. Join Jackie Kay for an unmissable evening as she delves below the surface of received narratives and brings to life a cast of influential figures: Fanny Eaton, Paul Robeson, Angela Davis and Audre Lorde.
Banned Book Club: Writer’s Marketplace (Saturday 25 May)
Step into the world of literary rebellion and celebrate the power of words at the Banned Book Club: Writer’s Marketplace! At our Banned Book Club Marketplace we’re encouraging the sale of as many banned books as possible – highlighting female, LGBTQ+, black voices and more.
Jah Wobble: Memoirs of a Geezer (Saturday 25 May)
For one night only, Jah Wobble, top geezer, legendary bass player and founding member of Public Image Limited with former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, makes his debut appearance at WoWFEST discussing his newly released expanded edition of Dark Luminosity: Memoirs of a Geezer. Get ready for an enthralling night of storytelling as Jah Wobble, arguably the greatest bass player of his generation, recounts tales from his frank and fascinating memoir. WoW’s own Lord Borthbury will be on the decks playing music selected by Jah Wobble from his roadmap of musical memories.
Beatrix Campbell: Secrets and Silence (Wednesday 29 May)
Join acclaimed journalist Beatrix Campbell as she reveals untold truths and hidden government agendas in her latest book, Secrets and Silence: Uncovering the Legacy of the Cleveland Child Sex Abuse Case.
The Haunted Body Workshop with Joelle Taylor (Wednesday 29 May)
We are delighted to welcome Joelle Taylor, winner of the 2021 TS Eliot Prize and the 2022 Polari Book Prize to Quaker Meeting House for The Haunted Body, a masterclass in writing. Joelle will take participants through some of her tried-and-tested techniques used to create her poetry collection, C+NTO & Othered Poems, and her new novel The Night Alphabet, a web of interconnecting stories recently published to great critical acclaim. Joelle will explore the poetics of the body, from character sketches to praise poetry, through to the invention of form.
Joelle Taylor: The Night Alphabet (Thursday 30 May)
Set across geographies and timespans,The Night Alphabet is a dazzlingly bold and original work, a deep investigation into human nature and violence against women.
Joelle will be reading from The Night Alphabet and in conversion with Roger Hill, freelance director, performer, writer, lecturer and broadcaster.