Festival of Debate 2019: Continuing this month all over Sheffield
Now Then's parent company, Opus, also co-ordinates Festival of Debate, which returns for its fifth year in 2019.
The festival kicked off last month and runs through till 1 June. Below are a few of the larger keynote events, but grab a printed brochure or visit festivalofdebate.com to see the full programme, including the many smaller events coordinated by our partner organisations.
Sat 11 May | 11:30am-9:30pm | Theatre Deli | £5 Suggested Donation
Our second Festival of Debate 'hub day' exploring the environment, our understanding of it and how we act positively to influence change. Topics include zero-waste lifestyle, fracking, nature documentaries, sustainable energy and direct action, with an evening performance from pianist Lola Perrin accompanied by a talk from Asad Rehman (Executive Director, War on Want).
Mon 13 May | 6:30-8pm | SU Auditorium | £5/£3
Broadcaster and author Hirsch discusses her Sunday Times bestseller and its exploration of everyday racism. Chaired by Desiree Reynolds, journalist, author and trustee of Racial Justice Network.
JAMES O'BRIEN - HOW TO BE RIGHT
Sat 18 May | 7:30-9pm | Pennine Lecture Theatre | £12/£10
James O'Brien, the star broadcaster with a million weekly listeners to his LBC show viral YouTube debater, national columnist and podcast sensation, shows how to be right in a world gone wrong.
ASHLEY BLAKER & IMRAN YUSUF - PROPHET SHARING
Sun 19 May | 7-10:30pm | Leadmill | £15
The descendants of Abraham may have gone their separate ways, but now stand-up comedian friends Ashley Blaker and Imran Yusuf are joining forces in the most unlikely double-act since Kermit and Miss Piggy.
Thu 23 May | 7:30-10pm | Sheffield City Hall | £16.80-£30.80
Podcaster and comedian Deborah Frances-White and her guests explore the noble goals of 21st century feminists whilst confessing the insecurities, hypocrisies and paradoxes which undermine those goals.
Sat 25 May | 2-4pm | Charles St Lecture Theatre | £5
Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism & Future of Neurodiversity, discusses his work. Silberman's book won the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2015 and is considered essential reading for those interested in the topic.
PAUL MASON - CLEAR BRIGHT FUTURE: A RADICAL DEFENCE OF THE HUMAN BEING
Wed 29 May | 7:30-9pm | Pennine Lecture Theatre | £10/£8
A call for resistance against the politicians and corporations who are trying to exert new forms of technological control. 'A radical defence of the human being' means fighting for universal rights, for human-centric institutions, and for the right to resist control of our lives by algorithms. Paul Mason is a celebrated journalist, broadcaster and author.
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OUR TICKETING PARTNER
Our ticketing partner for this year is local good cause platform Tickets For Good, so the majority of Festival of Debate tickets are available via ticketsforgood.co.uk.
We are also offering free tickets to the service users of third sector organisations and charities in the region via The Ticket Bank. For more information on this, visit theticketbank.org/how-it-works.
