Rewriting the Future: Workshop with Francesca Beard

Join spoken word poet Francesca Beard for a workshop informed by George Orwell’s chilling dystopian world in the literary classic, 1984 (Nineteen Eighty-Four). 

Francesca will perform her specially commissioned piece on the film George Orwell (Part V) film at WoWFEST’s screening and panel talk, Your Local Arena: George Orwell (Part V), on Thursday 16 May at Toxteth TV Studios, produced in partnership with Your Local Arena.  

This workshop is based on the book and film Nineteen Eighty-Four and the event discussion topic of dystopia, which implores us to consider: just how close are we to Orwell’s vision — or are we already there?   

Francesca will encourage you to use your creative powers to resist Big Brother. Resistance has many faces, and in times of creeping dystopia, creativity can be a firm stance against oppression. Join this workshop to learn how to connect through spoken word poetry and make a nonsense of doublespeak by playing with language and improvisational story-telling techniques. The workshop aims to include participants of diverse ability and experience. 

Francesca Beard is an internationally acclaimed spoken word artist who makes interactive and transformational work for live audiences. She has over twenty years’ experience facilitating projects with a wide range of diverse communities, for organisations such as Apples and Snakes, Arvon, All Change Arts, B3 Media, the BBC, The Barbican, The British Council and The Young Vic. She has been artist in residence at Banff, Canada and The Mixed Reality Lab, Nottingham University, to develop story-telling platforms for live and on-line audiences with B3 Media and Kings Cultural Institute. 

Francesca has written commissions for institutions such as The Barbican, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and The Royal Court. As a facilitator and dramaturge, she’s worked with institutions such as BBC Radio 3, The Young Vic, All Change and ICT Young Company to create ambitious, public facing, participatory community-led shows.  She’s been called ‘Brilliant’ (The Scotsman), ‘Spine-tingling’ (The Independent) and ‘The Queen of British performance poetry’ (London Metro) . She comes from London, by way of Malaysia. To find out more, please visit www.francescabeard.com 

 Friday 17th May, 11am – 1pm 

Toxteth Library, Windsor St, Liverpool L8 1XF 

£5 

*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.   

If you would like to purchase a gifted ticket for someone who can’t afford it, please buy directly from the event page and we will offer your ticket out.