Performer Ruby is cleaning out her dad’s static caravan following his death, and the decisions of what to keep and what to chuck are triggers for memories – some good, some bad.
“…entertaining the bloody kids while their parents were off playing bingo or getting drunk.”
“Everyone! Get on this…she got down to the last ten for the Spice Girls.”
The belongings of the colourful characters from her days working in a holiday camp on the ‘Welsh Riviera’, and the shadows cast by Eddie, the ‘touchy-feely’ magician to whom she was the 18-year-old assistant, are her companions in a six-berth caravan as she roots through her belongings and her past.
Moving and funny, peppered with Elaine’s Liverpudlian wit, Static explores a volatile childhood, the shadier side of the ‘business called show’ and its disappointments, classism, ableism, and always being the outsider.
Waterstones Liverpool welcomes Jonn Elledge who joins us to discuss A History of the World in 47 Borders – The Stories Behind the Lines on Our Maps. Eye-opening and entertaining in equal measure, Elledge’s geo-political history of the world is filled with fascinating narratives about our ever-abiding pre-occupation with drawing lines and upholding ideas of nationhood.
People have been drawing lines on maps for as long as there have been maps to draw on. Sometimes rooted in physical geography, sometimes entirely arbitrary, these lines might often have looked very different if a war or treaty or the decisions of a handful of tired Europeans had gone a different way. By telling the stories of these borders, we can learn a lot about how political identities are shaped, why the world looks the way it does – and about the scale of human folly.
From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilisation, to the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, to the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy, this is a fascinating, witty and surprising look at the history of the world told through its borders.
John will be in conversation with Neil Atkinson. The discussion wil be followed by an audeince Q&A and then a book signing.
Jonn Elledge is a New Statesman columnist and a contributor to the Big Issue, the Guardian, the Evening Standard and a number of other newspapers. He was previously an assistant editor at the New Statesman, where he created and ran its urbanism-focused CityMetric site, spending six happy years writing about cities, maps and borders and hosting the Skylines podcast. He has written three books, as well as over a hundred editions of the Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything. He lives in London.
Neil Atkinson is a broadcaster and author and is one of the hosts and founding members of The Anfield Wrap.
Any Other Business + two shorts. A feature play with two short plays in a night of drama, comedy and the unusual brought to you by 4th Wall Productions.
Any Other Business – A life – and a committee – in disarray. Will Gerard be able to reconcile looking after his sick mum with his role as treasurer, or will it all come tumbling down?
The Interview and Starting Out are two 10 minute shorts that will make you think and make you smile.
April 11th 2025 at 7.30pm at their new premises, Studio Beyond, first floor 63 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AL Doors open at 6.45pm
Trigger Warnings: References and portrayals of dementia. Some swearing.
Age Guidance: 12+/Parental Guidance
Film Night!
George (Bob Hoskins) is a small-time crook just out of prison who discovers his tough-guy image is out of date. Reduced to working as a minder/driver for high class call girl Simone (Cathy Tyson), he has to agree when she asks him to find a young colleague from her King’s Cross days. That’s when George’s troubles just start, as he begins to fall in love with Simone as she harbours a secret..
One of Britain’s finest noir films of the 80s, it’s a title often overlooked with it’s portrayal of the seedy underbelly of the Capital and the characters that populate it. A thrilling meditation on obsession, deception and mystery. Join Kitty’s Launderetee for another great film in their series of British Gems.
Tea, coffee and popcorn provided!
Doors: 7pm
Film Starts: 7:30pm
Film Duration: 105 minutes + 10 minute intermission.
Whether you’re a performer looking to add a new skill to your toolbox, a singer who would like to make moves on the Burlesque scene or a newbie looking to have fun and learn a new skill, this is for you!
Taught by Tilly Mint- Spare Rib co-producer, burlesque performer and singing host. Tilly has been lucky enough to have a varied performance career and draws upon her time working on contracts abroad, singing and comparing on the hotel circuits and 10yrs+ singing for Burlesque and Cabaret shows.
They will look at song choices, how to adapt to the style and examine the possibilities of sing and fling!
Accessibility: The Arts Bar is accessed by a stair case. Once inside the studios can be reached by an internal lift or stairs. If you have specific access needs or concerns please do not hesitate to contact them at thesparerib@outlook.com
They realise times are hard and, reflecting this, they have a limited number of pay as you can tickets available.
Save the dates in your diary! Wirral Open Studio Tour returns this June with its biggest event yet. Throughout the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June, over 100 artists from across the peninsula will invite the public into their studios and creative spaces.
Now in its 15th year of celebrating visual arts across the peninsula, the tour has become a firm favourite with art lovers, with thousands of visitors finding inspiration each year from the incredible talent that Wirral has to offer.
The FREE event offers an exciting opportunity to meet artists and find out more about their creative processes, look around some of their working spaces and perhaps take home a piece of unique art.
Alongside tour regulars, there will be work from 31 new artists to enjoy and around 60 venues to explore this year. From painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture to glass, textiles, photography and woodworking, there’s something that will appeal to everyone.
“This special weekend is a wonderful chance for people to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at spaces not usually open to the public,” tour organiser and glass artist Helen Smith says.
“And with so many artists taking part this year at locations across the whole peninsula, the printed brochure and interactive map on our website will really help you plan your weekend.”
All studios are open from 10am – 5pm on Saturday 14th June and Sunday 15th June, with a selection also open from 6pm – 9pm on Friday 13th June.
Visit the wirralarts.com website for more information and to download the free tour brochure listing all the artists and venue locations. You’ll also find printed copies at galleries, cafes, community centres and libraries in the run-up to the event.
Director Menelick Shabazz had already caught the turbulence of this time period with ‘Blood Ah Go Run’, a documentary following the protests around the tragedy of the New Cross Fire in January of the same year.
For his first narrative feature, Shabazz takes the cinematic tradition of social realism to craft a beautiful story about a young woman called Pat, and her journey of self discovery. Though she initially seeks security in the thought of becoming a wife to her volatile boyfriend Del, their lives are turned upside down when he is arrested in an instance of police brutality. Throughout the film, we get to see her power and autonomy blossom outside of patriarchal expectations: from a strong sense of political solidarity with women in her community.
A truly fantastic film about the working class struggle from the perspective of Britain’s first, Black female protagonist.
There will be hot drinks and refreshments provided.
Please stick around for a post-screening discussion!
Blindness is often misunderstood, shaped by misconceptions that can lead to social exclusion. What is Blindness? The World Unseen brings these misconceptions to light through powerful storytelling, sharing the lived experiences of visually impaired individuals.
Join them at FACT’s cinema in Liverpool on April 22-23 for a compelling film screening followed by a Q&A panel with researchers, creatives, and individuals with lived experience. Together, we’ll challenge common myths and explore the rich, diverse perspectives of those navigating the world with visual impairment.
This event is part of Bring Your Own Brain, a public engagement programme linked to the British Neuroscience Association’s Festival of Neuroscience.
Yeeee bunch of haaaaws! We cum in peace and this time it’s personal!
Join The Secret Circus for a cowboys and aliens themed cabaret in a church! BYOB, in house bar, merch, stalls, stilt walking freebies and more!
Details to come in 2025..
HOSTS:
The Queen of Heartbreak
Naffrodite
Beija Flo
LINE UP:
Cake Boi
Emma Lippitt
Socratena
Paddy Clarke
Athena Barbital
Ida Sanguine
Doors open at 7pm
Wheelchair Accessible
18+
Limited bar, BYOB welcome
Tickets £20 on the door
A unique educational exhibition of hats, all responding to an aspect of neuroscience or neurology.
Try some on!
Held weekdays only (excluding Good Friday), open 10am to 12pm on dates:
8th -11th April
14th – 27th April.
