Join Kitty’s Launderette to celebrate the life of the Irish revolutionary Bobby Sands, who died at 27 years old, 44 years ago on the 5th of May.
A screening of HUNGER (2008) by Steve McQueen.
SYNOPSIS:
Within Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, Irish republican Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbinder) along with fellow prisoners take part in a ‘dirty protest’ in pursuit of countering a criminalisation policy by the British government and gaining recognition as political prisoners. These protests soon escalate into hunger strikes, where the young man withstands great moral and political pressures in pursuit of freedom for the Irish people. For his first feature film, McQueen crafts an intimate account following Bobby’s final weeks, till his eventual death on the 5th of May, 1981.
They’ll be serving up some hot Colcannon soup before the film starts on a first-come, first serve basis.
Afterwards, a loosely guided discussion about the film and its portrayal of state violence. Please stick around to share your thoughts!
Suggested Donation is £5
(This covers cost of ingredients and printing our programming notes.)
Timings:
DOORS: 6:45pm
FILM + INTERMISSION: 7:30pm
POST-SCREENING DISCUSSION: 9:15pm
END: 9:45pm
Accessibility info:
Kitty’s Laundrette is step-free and has a disabled toilet.
Film screened with closed captions unless mentioned, and a midway toilet break.
Free Theatre History Walking Tours in May,
Guided walking tours exploring Liverpool’s theatrical past, led by eccentric Victorian actors, Bartholomew Garrick & Wildman Stageham.
Join the pair as they reveal Liverpool’s hidden theatre gems, starting at The Bluecoat you will be led to the #lightsuponliverpool Theatre History exhibition at The Hornby Library Liverpool Central Library for a special tour of the exhibition.
Plus on two of the dates you have the opportunity to visit the Central Library Archive Rooms and see some of the rare artefacts from the exhibition in the flesh.
Dates:
Fri 2nd May – Walk at 11am, meet at The Bluecoat – One Hour Archive Tour (a maximum of 15 people) – 2 till 3pm & 3pm till 4pm
Sat 3rd May – Walk at 11am, meet at The Bluecoat – One Hour Archive Tour (a maximum of 15 people) – 2 till 3pm & 3pm till 4pm
Sat 24th May – Walk at 11am, meet at The Bluecoat – One Hour
Email: artgroupie@outlook.com
please state the date/time and number of places required to reserve.
Kindly supported, by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players to offer free heritage activity in connection with the ‘Lights Up on Liverpool’ exhibition currently on display at Liverpool Central Library which launched in November.
‘Lights Up on Liverpool’ is ArtsGroupie CIC’s first public heritage exhibition in partnership with Liverpool Central Library Liverpool Libraries and Information Services. It explores the city’s vibrant theatre heritage, showcasing historic playbills, props, and programmes from the archives at Liverpool Record Office. The exhibition was extended to May 2025 due to its popularity and warm reception from the public.
Tower Block Tales dives into the dark underbelly of a run down housing estate. It’s the everyday stories of the have nots who struggle to survive on the dark side of town …
May 24th 2025 at 7.30pm at our new premises, Studio Beyond, first floor 63 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AL Doors open at 6.45pm
Trigger Warnings: Strong language, violence and sexual themes
Age Guidance: 16+
“Join Studio Beyond for an evening of monologues and sketches. No issues… Just a whole lot of laughs.”
May 3rd 2025 at 7.30pm at their new premises, Studio Beyond, first floor 63 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AL Doors open at 7.00pm
Trigger Warnings: Excess laughter
Age Guidance: 12+/Parental Guidance
They’re thrilled to invite you to an extraordinary evening at ACC Liverpool as part of the International Festival of Neuroscience. Join us on Monday, April 28th from 6:30-7:30pm for an exclusive public lecture exploring the fascinating science behind how reading shapes our minds.
The Queen’s Reading Room presents an enlightening discussion on how literature influences the way we think, feel, speak, and even sleep – featuring an exceptional panel of speakers:
• Ann Cleeves OBE – Bestselling author behind TV’s beloved crime dramas Vera and Shetland
• Professor Frank Cottrell-Boyce – Acclaimed screenwriter and children’s fiction novelist
• Sally Dynevor MBE – Known for her long-running role as Sally Metcalfe in Coronation Street
• Professor Sam Wass – Leading child psychologist and neuroscientist specializing in child concentration and stress
This special event is part of the wider programme for the International Festival of Neuroscience – the flagship conference of the British Neuroscience Association. It’s also connected to a month-long public programme of interactive neuroscience installations taking place across Liverpool venues, bringing scientific discovery to our community.
All proceeds will be shared equally between the British Neuroscience Association and Queen’s Reading Room as a donation to their charitable activities.
Sharon Colpman is your facilitator who has developed this characterisation workshop after her struggles with one very tricky character that hid in the shadows of a play she was writing. It led her to examine what it means to be human and which parts of ourselves do we hide or hold up for examination.
Sunday 4th May at 12.00 to 1400
What to expect:
Finding your character
Setting out the four different aspects of your character with the help of an actor
P typing your character
Evolving a character throughout your play
Putting a character in difficult situations
Please be on time, wear comfortable clothes and bring a notebook and pen.
Kiefer Wes Williams, who’s play Orton Fallen Angel is on at Shakespeare North and his work has toured as part of Grin Theatre, is your facilitator for this course. Renown for his fast paced and touching dialogue he will introduce you to real dialogue within the structure of a play.
Sunday 1st June at 10.30 to 12.30
What to expect:
The key function of dialogue in a script
Writing effective dialogue and what it is.
Making people sound different using hierarchy, mood and local colour
Developing natural Dialogue
Practical exercises to explore what we have learnt
Editing your dialogue and avoiding bad habits
Please be on time, wear comfortable clothes and bring a notebook and pen
Edward Gray writer of Passing Moustache and director of obscurest style plays will be your facilitator. Learning his craft in an era of protest and political theatre Ted’s work could never be called dull or predictable.
Sunday 22nd June 12.00 to 14.00
What to expect:
The essence of storytelling
What defines a great story
How to break the rules
How to turn left instead of right
How to avoid the pitfalls of predictability
Going outside what you know without falling for stereotypes.
Please be on time, wear comfortable clothes and bring a notebook and pen
Theatre legend Emma Rice takes on a film legend in this riotously funny reworking that turns the original thriller on its head.
With just six performers, a fabulous fifties soundtrack and a lot of suitcases, this production plays with the heart, mind and soul. Join us for a night of glamour, romance, jeopardy and a liberal sprinkling of tender truths.
A movement ritual of care & resilience.
How has colonialism impacted the care we have received from our elders?
How did we experience their resilience?
What nurturing strategies can we share with each other to help us thrive, in a
mainstream society that seeks to racialise and dehumanise us?
Can we create rituals and spaces to care for ourselves?
Women from the Global Ethnic Majority whose families have been impacted by colonisation share their own histories of care, resilience, legacy, and how these stories live in their bodies. Going beyond everyday storytelling, transforming those energies into a live experience. This performance brings to audiences their latest research and development phase of this project, where they focused on weaving personal storytelling, movement, dramaturgy and community.
