When is a Nazi salute not a Nazi salute? When performed – twice – by Elon Musk, Trump’s loyal Mitläufer (hanger-on). Orwellian dystopia unfolds: protesters jailed, activists punished, and the BBC bowing to right-wing pressure – all just in the UK. In the US, Green Card holders are detained for lawful protest, scientists deported over critical phone comments, and Venezuelans falsely branded as criminals. Meanwhile, Trump flirts with Putin, excusing an invasion his own supporters recently condemned.
And then there’s Gaza. ‘Never again,’ we said—but only one side meant it. As the Israeli State commits what Amnesty International and others have described as genocide, democratic leaders barely raise a whisper in opposition.* Peaceful protest is being criminalised, with anti-war activists arrested and charged, with others, including an 87 year old holocaust survivor, taken in for Police questioning in an attempt to intimidate and weaken a growing movement.
Yet, as Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.’ WoWFEST’s panel, featuring Chris Nineham, Juliet Stevenson, Niheer Dasandi, and Roger Hill, discusses democracy under attack—and how we can fight back.
Chris Nineham is a founder and vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition. Arrested in 2025 during a pro-Palestinian march, he pleaded not guilty to Public Order Act charges. He helped organise the historic 2003 anti-war protests, the 2001 Genoa G8 protests, and the European and World Social Forums. A regular media commentator, he writes for Stop the War, Counterfire, and others.
Juliet Stevenson (CBE) is a distinguished English actress celebrated for her extensive work across film, television, and theatre. She gained widespread acclaim for her role in the romantic drama Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991), earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her filmography also includes notable performances in Emma (1996), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Being Julia (2004), Infamous (2006), Wolf (2023), and Reawakening (2024) . In recognition of her contributions to drama, Juliet was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Beyond her acting career, Juliet is known for her political activism and support for the arts, emphasizing the importance of representation and funding in the industry.
Niheer Dasandi, author of Is Democracy Failing (2018), is Professor of Global Politics and Sustainable Development. His research focuses on human rights, development, climate change, and foreign policy. He co-chairs the Lancet Countdown’s Public and Political Engagement Working Group. Niheer’s has published a range of books, and his work appears in leading journals.
Roger Hill hosted the UK’s longest-running alternative music show on BBC Radio Merseyside for nearly 40 years. A key figure in Youth Theatre, he has worked at Liverpool Everyman and beyond, now focusing on Live Art and storytelling.
We encourage people to use public transport to travel to events where possible.
The Black-E is an accessible venue; however, please note that the walkways are narrow and may not be suitable for larger motorized wheelchairs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@writingonthewall.org.uk
Hearing loops available at this venue.
* Please note, this text has been changed from ‘As the Israeli State commits genocide’ to ‘As the Israeli State commits what Amnesty International and others have described as genocide’. Our intention was not to state a position, but to reference to positions held by other organisations on this issue. We also want to point out that this does not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors, but was made in good faith to exemplify the attacks on democratic rights and protest in the UK.
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.
The Black-E, 1 Great George St, Liverpool L1 5EW
£5.00
Date: May 19, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Ends: 9:00 pm
To kick off the WoWFEST 25th anniversary celebrations with a massive boot up the proverbial, we’re delighted to bring you Irvine Welsh: Resolution!
Date: May 2, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Writing on the Wall’s 25th Birthday Party with Special Guest Frank Cottrell Boyce
Date: May 4, 2025
1:00 pm
Find Out More
From 1979 to today, Phil Scraton’s research exposes decades of institutional abuse and the challenge of turning cases into issues.
Date: May 6, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Environmental writers and activist Mike Berners-Lee and Simon O’Brien plus guests from the Liverpool Shift Sustainability Network, invite you to join with them continue raising our voices to highlight the ongoing Climate Emergency, and share ways we can continue to force action.
Date: May 7, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Spycops is a powerful talk exposing decades of state-sanctioned abuse, where undercover police officers infiltrated activist groups and deceived women into intimate relationships
Date: May 8, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
the RIBA Writing Academy has become one of the most important institutions of our times, empowering Ukrainians all over the world to preserve their language, culture, literary heritage and to document and archive the war through poetry, prose, novels and non-fiction.
Date: May 8, 2025
5:00 pm
Find Out More
Join us for a special performance by internationally acclaimed poet and urban griot Levi Tafari, as he performs from his new powerful new collection, Being Human.
Date: May 9, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Dive into the raw, untamed heart of storytelling with 'Wild Writing,' a festival exploration of memoir, fiction, and the spaces in between.
Date: May 12, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Beyond Black America: Insights from Brazilian History is the focus of this compelling online talk by friend of WoW Professor Stephen Small, urging us to look beyond familiar narratives of the Black experience.
Date: May 12, 2025
6:00 pm
Find Out More
We're welcoming Kit de Waal back to WoWFEST to discuss her new novel The Best of Everything
Date: May 13, 2025
6:00 pm
Find Out More
Join our panel to reflecting on our shared experiences and learn from the evolving story of Ireland. It's more than just a conversation — it's about connecting the dots between communities and cultures.
Date: May 13, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Brian Bilston and Henry Normal appear together for the first time in a show which one critic has described as “two people reading some poems."
Date: May 14, 2025
8:00 pm
Find Out More
Join author Stephen May for an evening exploring Green Ink, a gripping reimagining of Victor Grayson's mysterious disappearance amid scandal, secrets, and post-war political intrigue.
Date: May 14, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
This event sees John Finucane MP, in conversation with Prof Paddy Hillyard of Queens University, Belfast to discuss the impact of MI5’s secret intelligence-led counter-insurgency strategy in the context of both the Stalker investigation and the killing of John’s father Patrick.
Date: May 15, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
A poetic exploration of Oglet Shore, a fragile green edgeland clinging to the Mersey that is being threatened by local industry.
Date: May 15, 2025
6:30 pm
Find Out More
Gary Younge returns to WoWFEST to highlight how black people, despite the huge role that they played in WW11, have been written out of the story.
Date: May 16, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Come together for an unforgettable night of music and spoken word, celebrating diversity and combating racism in one of Liverpool’s most iconic venues.
Date: May 17, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
The Singh Twins. 'Slaves of Fashion' explores diverse histories and legacies of empire and colonialism through the history of Indian textiles.
Date: May 18, 2025
2:00 pm
Find Out More
WoWFEST’s panel, featuring Chris Nineham, Niheer Dasandi, and Roger Hill, discusses democracy under attack—and how we can fight back.
Date: May 19, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
WoWFEST’s panel, featuring Chris Nineham, Niheer Dasandi, and Roger Hill, discusses democracy under attack—and how we can fight back.
Date: May 19, 2025
5:00 pm
Find Out More
Anthony Anaxagorou, lisa luxx, and Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah explore the Palestinian crisis through poetry and discussion, amplifying marginalized voices and advocating for justice and peace.
Date: May 20, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
A special screening of powerful one-minute films created by emerging filmmakers from our most recent Digital Filmmaking Bootcamp
Date: May 21, 2025
5:30 pm
Find Out More
Sam Wetherell discusses his critically acclaimed work Liverpool and the Unmaking of Britain, a profound exploration of the city’s role in shaping the narrative of modern Britain.
Date: May 21, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
At this special hybrid event we will be joining all schools together for a sharing performance event, as well as announcing competition winners.
Date: May 22, 2025
Find Out More
When more than ever before politics feels like parody, what role does satire have left to play? Can laughter still challenge authority, expose hypocrisy, and spark change — or has the joke already worn thin?
Date: May 22, 2025
8:00 pm
Find Out More
Whether it be the amazing professional artists and writers we’ve worked with, some of our thousands of project and festival participants, or our dedicated staff, we want to raise a glass to all that women have achieved through Writing on the Wall.
Date: May 23, 2025
Find Out More
WoW are delighted to welcome back historian John Rees to present his compelling work of narrative history, The Fiery Spirits: Popular Protest, Parliament and the English Revolution.
Date: May 27, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Against All Odds brings together a stellar panel of artists and writers who have challenged barriers and defied expectations.
Date: May 27, 2025
6:00 pm
Find Out More
‘From Spellow to Southport…with Love’ is a day for all families, young people and children, featuring three of the UK’s best, and best-loved poets, lyricists and performers, Michael Rosen, Jackie Kay and Jordan Stephens,
Date: May 28, 2025
12:00 pm
Find Out More
Join us for a special evening of remembrance, reflection, and resistance, as we celebrate the life and work of Refaat Alareer
Date: May 29, 2025
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Join us for a special evening of conversation and performance with English performance poet Dr. John Cooper Clarke.
Date: May 30, 2025
7:30 pm
Find Out More
Calling creatives, commissioners, health providers, community/voluntary sector organisations and individuals with lived experience connected to arts and health. Health inequities are on our doorstep – avoidable and unfair differences in health across the Liverpool City Region which, if left unaddressed, will only get worse, resulting in poorer health outcomes for the most vulnerable people in our region. Whilst these …
Date: March 18, 2025
10:00 am
Find Out More
Writing on the Wall’s Pulp Idol 2025 Grand Final is Here! For seventeen years the Pulp Idol competition has uncovered the best new novelists the city of Liverpool has to offer and 2025 is no different. Many new novelists, including Ariel Khan (Raising Sparks, Bluemoose Books), James Rice (Alice and the Fly, Walk, Hodder and Stoughton …
Date: February 21, 2025
7:30 pm
Find Out More
Join us for the launch of Silent Victims: Part One by Gary Millar! In 1958 Thalidomide, marketed as a new ‘wonder drug’, was first used in the UK, promising relief from morning sickness for expectant mothers. It’s impact was devastating, leading to countless miscarriages and causing over 10,000 children to be born with a range of severe …
Date: February 27, 2025
6:30 pm
Find Out More
The Great War to Race Riots tour, delivered since our first Black History Month festival in 2016, explores anti-black race riots that occurred in Liverpool and other seaports across the country in 1919.
Date: October 6, 2024
11:00 am
Find Out More
The Dorothy Kuya Walking Tour explores the impact of Dorothy Kuya's anti-racist activism in modern Britain as we explore the Liverpool and the L8 area.
Date: October 13, 2024
11:00 am
Find Out More
We're thrilled to welcome Diane Abbott and Gary Younge to BHM 24 to discuss Diane's new book: A Woman Like Me
Date: October 23, 2024
7:00 pm
Find Out More
Join us in remembering and celebrating the impact and legacy of sound system culture in Liverpool, with an evening of discussion, deejays and dancing. Featuring music from the original Strugglers' Sound System, from the days of The Frontline.
Date: November 23, 2024
6:30 pm
Find Out More