Events

 

Francesco Sani   Scholar and theatre practitioner Francesco Sani explores the use of community-based theatre to discuss political economy and labour rights. Francesco has undertaken research aimed at identifying modalities of engagement with the practice of political theatre that would be accessible to non-traditional theatre audiences and explores different possibilities of performance production outside of the professional industry. The applications of this work can range from education to community-oriented cultural activities.   All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover  costs.  ...

 We have a break in our programme at Yuletide, Easter and in the summer holiday period. The new programmes commence in January, April and September.

Ned Newitt   The Shoe Strike Girl", a true story about a girl who was at the centre of a strike at the Co-operative Society Boot and Shoe Factory in Enderby, Leicestershire, in 1913. The unfair dismissal of 19 year old Olive Coulson led to an eight week strike which involved 1,800 workers. The film was made by Pudding Bag Productions, a community heritage group which involves local people in making historical drama films. The film is about 30 minutes long and will be introduced by Ned who undertook the research which provided the starting point for Wendy Freer's script and film.   Ned has written several books, most relating to the history ...

Vignesh Rajahmani & Karthick Ram Manoharan   This public conversation brings together Vignesh Rajahmani (The Dravidian Pathway) and Karthick Ram Manoharan (Periyar: A Study in Political Atheism, co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to Periyar) to explore how the Dravidian movement reshaped the meaning and practice of secular politics in India. From Periyar’s radical anti-caste and rationalist critique of religion to the DMK’s transformation of social reform into a durable political project, the discussion will examine how secularism can function as a mass political ethos grounded in social justice, dignity, and democratic mobilisation. Vignesh Rajahmani is a researcher affiliated with King's College London and KITLV-Leiden, specialising in Indian and Indonesian politics, with a PhD from King’s College London. His work spans public policy, political strategy, and democratic development. Karth...

Joshua Thorpe Elizabeth Heyrick was a pioneering abolitionist and philanthropist whose contributions to social justice have been largely forgotten. This talk will explore her life, her impact on Leicester and beyond, and the reasons her memory has faded. It will also highlight the work of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society.  Joshua is Chair of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society. He gained an MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2020 and then  taught English and History in Girona, Spain. He is now a UK Civil Servant, working for the Department for Business and Trade. Joshua is originally from Leicestershire and has deep roots in the county.  ...

An informal evening with the creative talents of Red Leicester Choir and Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling. Hear songs with a story to tell and enjoy tales to make the heart sing.   Members of Red Leicester Choir Red Leicester is Leicester’s socialist choir singing songs expressive of social and political protest, and songs of worldwide celebration, struggle and change. To find out more about them, including how to join, please click here.   The Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling is a not for profit community association and, using their brand ‘The Story Tree’, aim to promote the traditional oral storytelling art in Leicester and Leicestershire. This is done by: running a free monthly club night to which anyone is welcome to come and tell a story or simply to listen to others tell; ...