Interest area: culture

Step into the world of James Hanley, the ‘Neglected genius of the novel,’ and discover why his powerful work remains overlooked by so many.

Despite his impressive canon of over 35 books and 28 radio plays, Hanley’s writing was banned by the British Establishment under Obscenity Laws, putting him in the same category as banned works like Howl by Allen Ginsberg and Lady Chatterley’s Lover by DH Lawrence.

But Hanley’s writing was not just controversial – it was ground-breaking. He refused to compromise on his Anarchic vision, shining a light on power relationships and featuring working-class characters for over 50 years. His impact was so significant that even Nobel prize winner William Faulkner could not help but praise his “good clean cyclone” of language.

So why has Hanley been so overlooked? Join us for a session of talks and films that delve into the reasons behind this neglect. Was Hanley just another angry scouser, or was his uncompromising vision simply too challenging for the literary establishment? Come find out and celebrate the legacy of this remarkable writer at our festival.

Writer Tony Wailey, a lifelong fan of the work of James Hanley, and George Ditton, an undergraduate at Edge Hill University, have created a short film focusing on Hanley’s Liverpool roots, which will be screened at the event.

Tony Wailey is a prolific author with a diverse body of work spanning eight books, including compact novels and three volumes of poetry. As a former seafarer himself, Tony’s writing reflects on the international character of the coastal metropolis.

Alongside Steve Higginson, Wailey co-authored the seminal book Edgy Cities in 2006, which explored Liverpool’s historical connections with global migration and cultural exchange. In 2017, he contributed to the editorial team that published George Garrett’s autobiography, Ten years on the Parish. Wailey’s current writing delves into the interplay between personal family history and the significance of place.

Join friends of WoW, Professor Stephen Small and community organiser Jimi Jagne, in a dynamic conversation centering on their recent publication 1981 – Black Liverpool Past and Present a fascinating and timely insight into the history of Liverpool’s Black communities.

Focusing on the 1981 Uprising as a pinnacle moment, Jagne and Small contextualise Liverpool’s Black history before and after. In doing so, they recognise the people who have shaped Liverpool and their stories of resistance and self-determination. Designed as an accessible starting point for studying Liverpool’s Black history, the stories within this collection will educate and entertain.

Stephen Small is a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, where he has been teaching since 1995. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, and his research focuses on the history and sociology of Black people in the diaspora.

He has held visiting positions at universities in several countries, including Great Britain, France, and Japan. Stephen is the author of several books, including 20 Questions and Answers on Black Europe, and is currently working on a new book on slavery and imperialism in Black Liverpool.

He is also co-editor of Black Europe and the African Diaspora, 2009. Stephen was born and raised in Liverpool and is a child of the Windrush Generation. He has been involved with various Black and multi-racial organizations and was a research assistant to the Right Honourable Bernie Grant, MP, in the 1990s.

Jimi Jagne is a local historian and L8 activist who is concerned about misconceptions surrounding the ’81 Uprising, which he believes was an uncompromising form of local resistance seeking justice. He has been involved in activism for over 41 years, starting with defending the streets from the National Front and being arrested for his involvement in the revolt.

Jimi has also been an anti-apartheid campaigner, managed a mentoring program, and co-founded Toxteth Against the Riots in response to disturbances in 2011. Jimmy has been featured in interviews with local and national newspapers, radio stations across the UK, and national radio including the BBC’s ‘The Today Programme’ and ‘Witness’ daily strand. He has also provided historical expertise on television productions such as ‘A House Through Time’ and has been profiled in two books on the L8 Uprising.

The event host is Janaya Pickett, WoW’s Project Manager, who is currently overseeing their Creative Heritage work on the archive of Dorothy Kuya at National Museums Liverpool.

In his brilliant new memoir, Getting Better, Life lessons on going under, getting over it, and getting through it, beloved poet and author Michael Rosen shares his experience of grief after the death of his son, suffering Covid and near death, and the lessons he learned along the way.

Through investigating the road to recovery, Michael explores how we can find it within ourselves to live well again after, or even during the darkest times of our lives. Despite his grief and trauma, Michael has survived and even learned to find joy in life in the aftermath of tragedy.

Michael Rosen is one of the most popular contemporary poets and authors of books for children. His titles include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, winner of the Smarties Book Prize, Sad Book and Totally Wonderful Miss Plumberry. The presenter of ‘Word of Mouth’ on BBC Radio 4, he received the Eleanor Farjeon Award for Services to Children’s Literature in 1997 and He served as Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009.

Jordan Stephens is best known as one half of Hip Hop duo Rizzle Kicks. He is an accomplished actor appearing in Rogue One (2016), Last Vegas (2013) and Why Him? (2016). He is also a producer, activist and writer. Jordan’s first children’s picture book, The Missing Piece is being published by Bloomsbury.

How Many More Women? tackles violence against women, one of the most pressing issues of our time, which has been prevalent for decades and unfortunately and still persists across the world today.

Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

Worldwide, almost one third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. The health sector has an important role to play to provide comprehensive health care to women subjected to violence, and as an entry point for referring women to other support services they may need.

Our panel boasts four experts who will share their experiences and insights on this critical issue: Keina Yoshida, an international human rights lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, an Australian human rights lawyer, Betsy Stanko OBE, an American criminologist academic and researcher, and Winnie M Li, an author and activist who survived a violent assault, will come together for a powerful and insightful discussion.

Keina Yoshida has worked with numerous organisations around the world to promote women’s rights and is an expert in international human rights law. Jennifer Robinson’s focus on gender and sexual orientation has helped to advance the rights of women and marginalized groups, while Betsy Stanko’s extensive research on violence against women and the criminal justice system has been described as feminist criminology. Finally, Winnie M Li, a survivor of sexual violence, has become a prominent voice in the fight against it and is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, “Dark Chapter”.

During the event, our panellist’s will discuss the challenges women face when seeking justice, the need for reforms in the legal system, and share their experiences and insights on the issue of violence against women and what can be done to combat it.

*Customers with disabilities who would like to discuss specific seating requirements can call 0344 335 0437 Mondays to Friday from 9am – 5pm.

Or you can visit them at the Ticket Quarter Box Office for over the counter ticket purchases:

Ticket Quarter Box Office, M&S Bank Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 4FP. The Box Office is currently open from 12 noon on M&S Bank Arena event days only.

Following a thought provoking and entertaining appearance in WoWFest 19, Writing on the Wall welcome back international bestselling author, Kit De Waal for an online conversation on her new memoir Without Warning and Only Sometimes, described by The Sunday Times as ‘Extraordinary, moving and heart-warming’. Kit will be discussing her working-class roots and how they have informed her writing.

Kit will be in conversation with WoW’s Project Manager Janaya Pickett, who is managing WoW’s Creative Heritage work on the archive of Dorothy Kuya at National Museums Liverpool.

Kit de Waal, born to an Irish mother and Caribbean father, was brought up among the Irish community of Birmingham in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Her debut novel My Name Is Leon was an international bestseller, shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award for 2017.

In 2022 it was adapted for television by the BBC. Her second novel, The Trick to Time, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize and her young adult novel Becoming Dinah was shortlisted for the Carnegie CLIP Award 2020. A collection of short stories, Supporting Cast was published in 2020. An anthology of working-class memoir, Common People was crowdfunded and edited by Kit in 2019.

Kit founded her own TV production company, Portopia Productions and the Big Book Weekend, a free digital literary festival in 2020 and was named the Future Book Person of the Year 2019. Kit is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Professor and Writer in Residence at Leicester University

Archie Bongiovanni, Minneapolis based cartoonist and illustrator discusses their latest book, Mimosa, and the challenges of portraying the lives of queer people as well as the challenges for artists working on comic books.

Exploring the messy and realistic highs and lows of queer friendship, Mimosa tells the story of a group of queer 30-somethings searching for purpose in their lives. Archie delivers this healthy dose of reality with their saucy attitude and humour.

Join them for an hour-long conversation with Archie as they explain the process of portraying the lives of queer people as well as delving into the difficulties faced by comic writers and getting funding compared to traditional forms of writing.

*These are difficult times. They know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be treated in confidence.  If you would like to purchase a gifted ticket for someone who can’t afford it, please buy directly from the event page and they will offer your ticket out.

WoW will host a discussion and archive handling session on Liverpool-born social justice crusader Dorothy Kuya (1933-2013).

Dorothy was a founding member of the Granby Resident’s Association (GRA), a community action group established in response to the continued degeneration of the area and proposals to demolish the majority of its houses.

During the 1990s, the GRA lobbied city council, scrutinising their plans and suggesting alternative action to save their homes. The original GRA disbanded in 2010 but this initial campaign paved the way for the formation of the Granby Four Streets Community Land Trust in 2011. Granby CLT would go on to partner with design collective Assemble on the regeneration of their homes, winning the prestigious Turner Prize in 2015.

Join them for a discussion led by Project Manager Janaya Pickett and Archivist Vicki Caren, exploring the life of Dorothy Kuya, as well as the chance to view a selection of archive material relating to the GRA and other causes Dorothy was involved in. This is a free event but booking is required, and tickets are limited.

Join acclaimed journalist and author Gary Younge on a journey through the black diaspora, in his latest book, Dispatches from the Diaspora from Nelson Mandela to Black Lives Matter.

In conversation with human rights activist and barrister, Shami Chakrabarti, Gary will share his first-hand experiences and observations on race, racism, and black life and death across the globe – from Africa and the Caribbean to Europe and the United States.

Dispatches from the Diaspora has received critical acclaim and is a testament to Gary Younge’s timeless and vital storytelling. According to Afua Hirsch, ‘No single journalist has done more to shape my understanding of black diaspora’s experiences in the world today.’

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from this award-winning author, broadcaster, and professor of sociology at the University of Manchester, as he shares his perspective on the black diaspora with Shami Chakrabarti, a human rights activist, barrister, and author of two books, On Liberty and Of Women, and is a frequent commentator on human rights issues in the media.

*If you require a wheelchair or accessible seat for any of their concerts and have not booked one, please contact their box office immediately on 0151 709 3789 as we have a limited number of these seats.

Writing on the Wall are proud as punch to host the launch of writer, spoken word artist and activist, Ashleigh Nugent’s debut novel Locks.

Ashleigh was a former finalist in WoW’s own Pulp Idol Novel writing competition, from which the original first chapter of Locks was published in Pulp Idol – Firsts 2014. Ashleigh gained representation by The Liverpool Literary Agency and was signed to Picador Books in 2021.

Locks tells the story of Aeon, a teenager from a multicultural background living in Liverpool who is struggling to find his Black roots and understand the Black identity imposed upon him by his friends and community. Despite having a Black dad and cousin, Increase, they do not fulfill his desire to connect with his heritage. Aeon’s father focuses on social climbing and ignores race, while Increase disrespects Black culture due to his father’s death as a Yardie gangster.

Frank Cottrell Boyce was born in Liverpool in 1959 to an Irish Catholic family. He graduated from Keble College, Oxford, where he continued his studies to receive a doctorate in English. Boyce became a screenwriter, notably for the long-running British soap Coronation Street, where he met Michael Winterbottom. The two collaborated on a number of film projects.

In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce adapted novels for the screen and soon began written children’s fiction. In 2004 his debut, Millions won the Carnegie Medal. His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal. His 2009 novel Cosmic was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In 2013, Boyce was made an Honory Doctor of Literature at Edge Hill University. He has also written a few episodes for Doctor Who.

DJ Rasp is true party rocker behind a set of decks, he made a name for himself on the battle scene winning 8 British DJ Titles (DMC and IDA champion). You can find Rasp captivating crowds in clubs and events worldwide with a healthy balance of musical selection, showmanship, and technical skills.

*You can call into the venue and ask a member of staff to book your tickets in person, Call 0151 433 7156 and a member of our team will assist you

WoWFest are honoured once again to host legendary poet, activist, and cultural critic, Linton Kwesi Johnson, as he discusses his latest book, Time Come.

This selection of prose reflects Johnson’s Jamaican roots and his experiences as a black British writer spanning five decades. The work features book and record reviews, lectures, obituaries, and speeches that explore the politics of race and black British experience.

Linton will discuss his reflections on the place of music in Caribbean and black British culture as a creative, defiant response to oppression, as well as his penetrating appraisals of music, film, and literature. He will also pay tribute to the activists and artists who inspired him to find his own voice as a poet and contributed to the struggle for racial equality and social justice.

Interviewing Linton is Paul Reid, Paul is the interim head of the International Slavery Museum (ISM) for National Museums Liverpool (NML) and a former director of the Black Cultural Archives (BCA) in London. Reid was the BCA director for more than 10 years, before stepping down in 2019. He has since set up an arts agency, Disrupt Space, which represents Black visual artists. Reid is a champion of community-led regeneration, equality, justice and how the role that the arts play in these areas.

*These are difficult times. They know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk.  All queries will be treated in confidence.  If you would like to purchase a gifted ticket for someone who can’t afford it, please buy directly from the event page and they will offer your ticket out.

If you require a wheelchair or accessible seat for any of our concerts and have not booked one, please contact their box office immediately on 0151 709 3789 as they have a limited number of these seats.