When politics feels like parody, what role does satire have left to play?
WoWFEST welcomes Armando Iannucci, a towering figure of British storytelling and satire, to seek answers to the question — can laughter still challenge authority, expose hypocrisy, and spark change — or has the joke already worn thin?
Armando Iannucci, creator of iconic TV and film, including The Thick of It, Veep, In the Loop, and The Death of Stalin, has spent decades turning political dysfunction into brutal, brilliant comedy. With a signature blend of intelligence and irreverence, Iannucci has held a mirror to power, exposing its absurdities with scalpel-sharp precision. Armando Iannucci will be in conversation with writer, comedian, actor and creator of The Room Next Door, Michael Spicer.
Alongside plenty of laughter, there will be a serious reckoning with the role of comedy within a collapsing political landscape. From the rise of populism to the spread of disinformation, from protest movements to public apathy, satire’s evolving role will come under scrutiny: as resistance, critique, catharsis, and maybe even survival.
This isn’t just for laughs, it’s a deep, timely, dive into the fault lines of truth, power, and the stories we tell to make sense of them.
Armando Iannucci is a writer, director, and broadcaster whose critically acclaimed work spans television, film, radio, and stage. In 2005, Armando created the BBC series ‘The Thick of It’. The show received widespread recognition, earning thirteen BAFTA nominations and five wins. The success of the series also led to the 2009 film ‘In the Loop’, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Armando then went on to create the HBO series ‘Veep’. The show explored the American political system through the character of Selina Meyer, winning several prestigious awards, including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 2017 he published ‘Hear Me Out’, a new book on classical music and released the feature film ‘The Death of Stalin’ which received two BAFTA nominations and won Best Comedy at the European Film Awards. In 2019, he directed ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’, which won Best Screenplay at both the WGBA and BIFA, while also earning a Golden Globe nomination. Iannucci returned to HBO with ‘Avenue 5’, a sci-fi comedy about a luxury space cruise ship that goes off course, starring Hugh Laurie. The series was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Emmy. In 2024, Iannucci adapted Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Dr. Strangelove’ for the stage, reimagining the film as a live theatrical production. The stage version received acclaim for its bold take on Kubrick’s political satire and marked Iannucci’s return to working with Steve Coogan, with whom he created the character, Alan Partridge.
Michael Spicer is a writer, comedian and actor who rose to fame with a series of viral sketches entitled The Room Next Door. The Room Next Door – which depicted a frantic adviser feeding lines into the hidden earpieces of politicians and public figures taken from real-life interviews – accumulated 90 million views (and counting) on social media and has led to a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show, a nationwide tour, a book deal, a radio series, a Writers’ Guild award and several appearances on The Late Late Show in the US. He has over half a million followers on Twitter, 200,000 on TikTok and over 200,000 subscribers on YouTube. Away from The Room Next Door, Michael has appeared as a regular performer on The Mash Report on BBC2, as well as guest appearing in major TV series such as After Life, Bridgerton, Avoidance, Buffering, The Sister Boniface Mysteries and Disclaimer directed by Alfonso Cuarón. He has appeared in all three series of Mandy on BBC2 playing a variety of roles and was the producer for series two. Michael also appeared in the film My Mother’s Wedding, written and directed by Kristin Scott Thomas. Michael’s situation comedy on BBC Radio 4 about life as a viral sensation entitled Before Next Door won two British Comedy Guide awards. He is currently working on a second series of his BBC Radio 4 solo sketch show Michael Spicer: No Room.
This event is presented in partnership by Writing on the Wall and the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
We encourage people to use public transport to travel to events where possible.
Public Transport:
Bus: 75, 80, 86
Nearest bus stop(s): Sugnall Street (Approx. 1 min walk)
Nearest train station(s): Liverpool Central (Approx. 13 min walk), Liverpool Lime Street (Approx. 16 min walk)
*These are difficult times. We 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.
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BP
Tickets Start at £20.00
Date: May 22, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ends: 10:00 pm
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