In the first of four talks on the Devil and his disciples, author and journalist Gavin Baddeley traces the evolution of Evil, from the dawn of civilisation, to the Middle Ages. Gavin’s unusually qualified, as an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan, so this event promises to offer a fresh perspective on the matter. ‘The Problem of Evil’ – why there is cruelty and suffering in the world – is a question that’s exercised generations of theologians and philosophers.
How does the education system work in China? What are the social-cultural elements impacting Chinese people's beliefs and attitude towards education? In this talk, you will learn the reality of Chinese education, the famous 'gaokao' - university entrance exam in China and the recent changes in the Chinese education system.
To coincide with the blockbuster exhibition 'Francis Bacon: Man and Beast' at the Royal Academy of Art in London, we will have a dedicated talk on this iconic artist. Characterised by his incredible ability to represent inner psychological turmoils and emotional torments, the works we will focus on hauntingly resonate through time.
Every year between January 21st and February 20th, the Chinese celebrate the beginning of a Lunar New Year with a festivity called the Spring Festival. The celebration that marks the beginning of spring, starts on the first new moon every year and lasts for 15 days, ending with a Lantern Festival. As we approach the Chinese New Year of 2022 let's take a look at some of the traditions, iconography, and decorations that have both festive and symbolic role.
In this talk, just in time for Valentine's Day, we delve into romantic tropes of folklore and myth to derive a rich symbolic and cultural meaning from tales beloved and unknown. We will explore common story patterns and symbols to see what the tales we were told as children can tell us about the world we have come to inhabit.
Join us again for part 2 of our journey of discovery through history to learn about some more of the incredible heroes, heroines in Black British heritage. We will delve into some amazing stories of the contributions of Black people through the ages that have largely been forgotten or marginalised in our telling of British history today.
The art of Kintsugi originates from Japan where artisans began using lacquer and gold pigment to put shattered vessels back together. Nowadays, this process of mending broken porcelains, dusted with gold, or silver powder, aims to make what once was broken look even more attractive than ever. Join our online workshop dedicated to Japanese art of Kintsugi and experience the healing power of artistic restoration.
Are we as audiences drawn into idealistic worlds and stories because they can provide a blueprint for how best to undo oppressive structures in our own worlds? Do such performances serve as an optimistic and educational benchmark of culture or can utopia, if it is ever to be achieved, only exist on the stage or page rather than in the outside world? In this talk we explore the ways in which Utopia and Utopian ideals have been presented in performance and ask what the impact and effect of such performances has had upon us.
Language is a living thing and an important element of social activism. It is utilised to adhere to the social codes by cultural organisations, supposedly representing the people it serves. However, that representation of language needs further interrogation, because anti-racist terminology is often utilised for different reasons and overtime, shifts in meaning.
In collaboration with Book Club Bunch we are excited to announce new events: poetry pop ups! As before, join us as we delve into literary works and enjoy masterpieces read out loud by amazing actors!
