This reading and discussion group will focus on Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, the multi-disciplinary poet, filmmaker, and artist, and her groundbreaking work Dictee (1982).
Wed 2 Apr, 5.30-7.30pm
Led by poet Jennifer Lee Tsai, currently an Artist in Residence at Bluecoat through the Wittenham Bursary, we will read and share our thoughts, ideas, and reflections on this powerful and innovative work in an inclusive, friendly, and encouraging space. All are welcome.
Free, booking required
Completing the Trilogy begun with Genius 2.0 and The Work of the Devil, Have We Met? finds Simon standing, like Ulysses in Tennyson’s famous verse, gazing out over the moaning deep and the twinkling rocks and wondering whether to seek a newer world? To smite the sounding furrows? To strive, to seek, and to find? Or whether in fact, to put the kettle on, crack open the Hobnobs and simply yield?
Drawing on Joyce, Proust and the career of Philip Schofield to make sense of his own tangled past and possible future, Evans skilfully weaves comedy, pathos and narrowly averted cancellation into an unforgettable two hours of unique entertainment.
Launch party for Sean Watkin’s debut novel, Black Water Rising at LEAF on Bold Street.
Copies of the book will be on sale on the night.
The legendary Liverpool Book Market returns to the Garden Room in the Bluecoat.
Browse a fantastic selection of books from a range of local booksellers, including ‘still Out-of-Print’ of Smithdown Road and the Bolshie Bargain Bookstall.
Bargains, rarities and a cornucopia of subjects for the literary mind!
Enquiries: ‘still Out-of-Print’ Antiquarian and Secondhand Bookshop 07440 501099
Look out for future dates:
Fri 25th & Sat 26th April
Fri 16th & Sat 17th May
Join the group for an evening celebrating the beauty of Asian poetry! A performance evening with poets Jennifer Lee Tsai and Kit Fan. They will read selected work followed by a discussion of their work. The chair, Dr Sarah MacIennan of Liverpool John Moores’ Creative Writing programme, will then discuss with Jennifer and Kit Fan about their work, career and pathways to writing.
Kit Fan, born in Hong Kong in 1979 and now based in the UK, is an acclaimed poet, novelist, and critic. His debut poetry collection, Paper Scissors Stone (2011), won the Hong Kong University International Poetry Prize, while his subsequent collections, including The Ink Cloud Reader (2023), have earned significant accolades such as nominations for the Forward and T.S. Eliot Prizes. His novel Diamond Hill (2021) explores 1980s Hong Kong and has been widely praised. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Fan’s work examines themes of identity, history, and transformation.
Jennifer Lee Tsai is a British-Chinese poet, editor, and critic whose work explores memory, migration, and identity. A fellow of The Complete Works and Ledbury Poetry Critics programs, her poetry has appeared in leading journals and anthologies like Poetry London and Ten: Poets of the New Generation (2017). Her pamphlets include Kismet (2019) and La Mystérique (2022).
Join deaf author Natalie Denny for a special DaDaFest International 40 Storytime where Natalie will share her much loved ‘Keisha Jones’ series, telling the story of a young girl finding her activist voice.
This family event will inspire listeners young and young at heart to spot and speak out against injustice, finding that ‘quiet riot’ our festival theme alludes to.
About DDFI40
DaDaFest International returns 8th-31st March 2025 to celebrate DaDa’s 40th Anniversary and this time they are coming with ‘RAGE: A Quiet Riot’.
DDFI40 will showcase work by disabled artists that captures all shapes and sides of rage. From the internal quiet frustrations and righteous rage, to overt injustice and activism, DDFI40 will explore disability rights, disability arts, access, ableism and ‘Rage’ in an explosion of creativity.
Join local poet Amina Atiq for performances of her work, developed especially for DaDaFest International 40 reflecting on the theme of ‘Rage’, along with some of her existing poems.
About DDFI40:
DaDaFest International returns 8th-31st March 2025 to celebrate DaDa’s 40th Anniversary and this time we are coming with ‘RAGE: A Quiet Riot’.
DDFI40 will showcase work by disabled artists that captures all shapes and sides of rage. From the internal quiet frustrations and righteous rage, to overt injustice and activism, DDFI40 will explore disability rights, disability arts, access, ableism and ‘Rage’ in an explosion of creativity.
This workshop is part of Ignite, DaDa’s artist development programme to help you re-engage with your inner creative.
Whether you’re an emerging artist looking for advice, established and wanting to try something new, or just interested in expanding your horizons and kickstarting creativity in your life, then come along to a free workshop and ignite that creative spark.
What will be covered
How to find and express your voice confidently
Natalie will guide you through creative exercises and prompts to support you to find/develop your authentic writing style and voice and feel empowered to use it.
The magic of storytelling and story forms.
Explore the magic of storytelling mechanics and techniques and try them out.
The workshop will be a mixture of listening and group discussion. We will explore FAQ’s relating to becoming a successful writer.
DaDa welcome published author and writing expert Natalie Denny to share her insights on developing your writing voice and understanding story telling techniques.
About Natalie Denny
Natalie Denny is the published author of the Keisha Jones series of children’s books, and is an EDI advocate who is d/Deaf.
Natalie is the award-winning force behind Skywriters Ltd, a creative education social enterprise. Her roles include writer, activist, tutor and EDI Consultant for Anthony Walker Foundation. Natalie is also a recipient of the BBC Radio 1Xtra Future Figures Award 2023.
Natalie is also co-founder of The Goddess Projects, an organisation with the mission to empower, inspire and assist Black women and women of colour to develop and achieve in their communities.
Natalie graduated from The Open University with an open degree which incorporated creative writing. Natalie was runner-up in Writing on the Wall’s ‘Pulp Idol’ 2019 competition and author of the children’s educational book ‘Her Hair: A Crown’, a resource developed in partnership with Manchester University, Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Centre, and Cedar Mount Girls group, to diversify the curriculum in Manchester Schools.
The Windows Project WRITING ADVICE DESK
WEDNESDAY 5th FEBRUARY at Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street L3 8EW
Drop in between 5.30pm and 7.00pm for one-to-one appraisal of scripts, stories, poems
and details of publishing opportunities, performance venues, workshops and courses
with MARIA ISAKOVA BENNETT, Poet, Writer in Residence Mersey Care, NHS Trust, Editor ‘Coast To Coast To Coast’
DAVE WARD
Author and poet
Editor ‘Smoke’ magazine
Nominated for Carnegie Medal
Please book in on arrival.
Each individual session usually lasts 20 minutes.
West Kirby Bookshop are thrilled to welcome debut novelist Ferdia Lennon to the bookshop, to celebrate the paperback publication of his award-winning book, Glorious Exploits.
Join them on Thursday 13th March, 7pm when Ferdia will be reading from the book, before being in conversation with Jordan from the bookshop, answering questions from the audience and signing copies of Glorious Exploits.
Tickets are £6/ £13 (including a copy of the book) and complimentary drinks will be provided.
Tickets are non-refundable and if you can’t make the event and would like to reserve a signed/ dedicated copy of Glorious Exploits, do get in touch.