The 5th Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair!
Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair is back for a fantastic fifth time this Saturday 18th March at the Black-e, Great George Street.
News & Comment
April Fuel’s Day
While strikes and protests over the cost of living have forced the government to keep the Energy Price Cap at £2,500, the average monthly bill will still rise by £66 from April.
The Hit List – March 2023
Welcome back to The Screaming Target, the home of new releases, and the hits just keep coming as we head into the new year with Cymande, Mary Elizabeth Remington, Everything but the Girl and others.
What Are You Going To Do With 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?
Nicholas Couchman reviews the screening of Lawrie Vause’s animation “What Are You Going To Do With 390 Photographs of Christmas Trees?” held at Granby Winter Garden.
Poetry from the Edgelands of the Mersey: Greg Quiery’s poetry collection Oglet
Cornelia Gräbner reviews Oglet, a collection of poems by Greg Quiery based on visits to edgelands on the banks of the river Mersey.
Imagine Living by Deborah Morgan
Sandra Gibson reviews the new book by Deborah Morgan, Imagine Living, the sequel to her acclaimed novel, Disappearing Home.
Stone On Stone – New play about James Larkin
Stone On Stone, a new play about James Larkin’s time in the notorious Sing Sing prison and his relationship with Charlie Chaplin, coming to the Epstein Theatre on 24th and 25th March.
Infrastructures to Plunder
Susanne Hofmann introduces the Interoceanic Corridor Project in Southern Mexico and Indigenous Resistance.
Do we need a ‘New Economic Paradigm Shift’ and how can this be achieved?
Tracey Dunn attended the lecture by Claire Dove OBE, at the Eleanor Rathbone Social Justice Public Lecture School of Law and Social Justice Building, University of Liverpool on February 8th 2023.
Empire of Light (15)
Chris Doran reviews the British romantic drama film Empire of Light, written and directed by Sam Mendes and starring Olivia Coleman.
‘STRIKE’ march and rally in Liverpool
Teachers, rail workers, museum and gallery workers, communication workers, creative workers, trade unions and many others came out for a march through Liverpool yesterday.
Babylon (18)
Nick Daly reviews the period comedy drama film Babylon, written and directed by Damien Chazelle and screening at Picturehouse.
Singing in Solidarity
Phil Hargreaves of Liverpool Socialist Singers introduces the choir and invites you to join them in singing for better world.
Local artist goes from strength to strength
Profile of prolific local artist Lawrie Vause who after a life of homelessness and alcoholism now creates animations, films and paintings.
Babes in the Wood at Valley Theatre
Coming soon to Valley Theatre, the great value festive panto “Babes in the Wood”, from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th January 2023.
RMT train strike picket at Lime Street railway station
RMT train strike picket at Lime Street railway station (or How Avanti West Coast literally make me ill!)
The Screaming Target Christmas List
Welcome to the Christmas Screaming Target featuring two new releases from Christine and the Queens and NoSo and another nostalgia trip with some ideas for Christmas presents.
Experimental Folk Review
Tommy Calderbank reviews The Experimental Folk night held at the Unitarian Church and featuring Lotus Blossoms, She’s In The Trees and Feral Wheel.
The Story of Harry Constable – Characters on the Docks
Episode 12, the final episode in story of Harry Constable, looks at the inspirational people from Harry’s life.
The Story of Harry Constable – The ‘Blue’ and the ‘White’
In Episode 11 the fight for union democracy comes to a head as thousands of ‘White’ Transport & General Workers’ Union) members decamp to the ‘Blue’ (National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union).
Don’t Pay – Strike 1 December!
Millions of us won’t be able to afford our energy bills this winter so Don’t Pay, a grassroots campaign opposing the rise in energy bills, are organising for a strike on 1st December.
The Story of Harry Constable – Dockers on Trial
In Episode 10 it’s 1951 and six dockers, including Harry, are arrested and charged with conspiring to incite workers to strike.
The Story of Harry Constable – Expulsion from the union
In Episode 9 Harry and other unofficial union organisers are instructed by union leaders not to coordinate unofficial strikes.
The Story of Harry Constable – Years of Turbulence
In Episode 8 it’s 1945 and Harry has become a registered docker. With the war in Europe finished, dock employers go on the attack. Dockers react by striking and the new Labour government sends in the troops.
The Story of Harry Constable – Work, War and “The Spike”
In Episode 7 times are tough, Harry gets casual jobs on the docks before going ‘On the Road’ to find work and then joining the army as a sapper.
The Hit List – November 2022
The Screaming Target presents the new reviews this time featuring new releases from Neil Campbell and Nicola Collarbone, and American singer songwriter Kramies.
The Story of Harry Constable – Fighting the Fascists
Episode 6, in October 1936 Mosley tried to march his men through the East End of London. The words on everyone’s lips were “enough is enough” and a quarter of million people gathered to block him.
Neil Campbell – Faldum
Tommy Calderbank reviews Faldum, the new album by Liverpool composer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Campbell, released on November 4th.
Energy Bill Strike on 1st December
Liverpool Don’t Pay, a grassroots campaign opposing the rise in energy bills. is organising for a strike on 1st December.
The Story of Harry Constable – Home, hospital and hardship
Episode 5, with rats, lice and infestations and only one toilet, there was a constant danger of disease in the overcrowded house where the Constables lived.
Don’t Worry Darling (15)
Nick Daly reviews the psychological thriller film directed by Olivia Wilde, Don’t Worry Darling.
Peel Port’s Charter to Build a Fiefdom
Liverpool’s Freeport will stretch 45 kilometres, from the Wirral to Skelmersdale, from Runcorn to Salford and will include John Lennon Airport.
The Story of Harry Constable – School Days
In Episode 4 Harry suffers corporal punishment which adds to his sense of injustice and helps shape his outlook on life.
The Story of Harry Constable – Walks through the East End
In Episode 3 Harry learns the history and culture of the East End, about the struggles for freedom of those who had sought asylum in the area.
The Story of Harry Constable – Family Life in Wapping
Episode 2, getting employment on the docks was never easy and the work was often dangerous. In the family women, who were the main organisers, visibly aged long before their time.
Building a National Right to Food Movement
Tracey Dunn reports from the Building a National Right to Food Movement event, held at the Black-E as part of The World Transformed festival.
Review of Cellular Vessel
Ritchie Hunter reviews an absorbing film about rhythm and health and how a community copes with living next to the main arterial route for freight in and out of the Port of Liverpool.
The Story of Harry Constable – Where the Sun Never Rose
Christopher Eccleston is the voice of Harry Constable. In this first episode of Harry’s life he speaks of his birth in the docklands of Wapping and his Irish republican family.
The Story of Harry Constable
Coming soon a series of podcasts telling the story of Harry Constable, the unofficial dockers’ leader in the 1940s and 50s, read by Christopher Eccleston and Eithne Browne, and based on recordings compiled by Bill Hunter.
Beyond Binary by Jay Farley
Beyond Binary is an autobiographical performance from the perspective of Little Doll, aka Jay Farley, at the Unity Theatre on Friday 16th September.
Nope (15)
Nick Daly reviews the sci-fi western film Nope, directed by Jordan Peele and screening at Picturehouse.
The Other Side of The Wall
The Other Side of The Wall, a poem by Tom George about division and building bridges.
Tribute to Sheila Donnellan
Sheila’s life was full of love, politics, art and music. She has died aged 92.
Enough Is Enough March in Liverpool
Photos and video by Tracey Dunn of the Enough Is Enough march in Liverpool on 20th August 2022.
1972, the year music rocked
The Screaming Target takes time off from new reviews to wallow shamelessly in a heady nostalgia trip.
The Great British Bus Rip-off
Chrissy Ashby, a local Arriva bus driver on why he is striking.
When Eve Span – a play about the Peasants’ Revolt
Writers Mark O’Brien and John Cresswell are fundraising to produce a play based on Mark’s book about the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381: When Adam Delved and Eve Span.
Review of Asteroid by Graculus
The Screaming Target reviews the album Asteroid by Graculus, featuring improvisations and electronic re-imagining. Graculus, named after the weird bird in Noggin the Nog, are based in Liverpool.
Protest against Flannels sale of real fur on the day its huge new department store opens
Protestors gathered outside Flannels’ new store in Clayton Square last Thursday to highlight their selling real animal fur from a range of species including foxes, minks, rabbits and coyotes.
The Hit List – May – June 2022
The Screaming Target returns to cover the new releases from May and June, what a mixed bag we have for you for this month….
Nature Snippets
A round-up of environmental news that’s been overlooked recently.
FestiValley Short Play Competition Takes to the Stage
Valley Community Theatre in Netherley will be opening its doors to three nights of original short drama from talented local writers from around the city.
A-Z of St Helens – Places – People – History
Colin Serjent reviews the book A-Z of St Helens by local author Sue Gerrard who reveals the history behind St Helens, its streets and buildings.
Liverpool campaigners say Stop Burning Trees!
Katy Brown reports on the demonstration held at Liverpool port on Wednesday 27th April against wood pellet imports, and in solidarity with campaigns to protect local green spaces and sacked P&O workers.
Activists continue fight for recognition of Animal Sentience on World Day for Animals in Labs
Katy Brown of Merseyside Animal Rights reports on last week’s World Day for Laboratory Animals march in Cambridge.