Culture Diary w/c 03-02-2025
Our pick of this week’s arts, design, film and music events from across Liverpool and beyond…
Monday – Exhibition Continues: Between the Earth and the Sky @ New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery, Salford University – FREE
A hidden gem of the region’s art spaces, New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery regularly showcases works from the University of Salford’s collection. Between the Earth and the Sky (open from last week) is the latest to catch the eye. With contemporary print, photography and video, the group show – which includes work by Darren Almond, Jessica El Mal, Mishka Henner, Bridget Riley, and Liang Yue – reflects on nature’s transitional and transformative moments.
In the Mood for Love 8pm @ FACT Liverpool – £8.50
Wong Kar-Wai’s films are synonymous with beauty, melancholy, and unexplored desire. To have seen one of his films is to have, for its running time at the very least, lived all of those things and more. For many, that film will likely be In the Mood for Love, starring a ravishing will they won’t they Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. Exploring their unconsummated relationship – which the pair toy with, and that we luxuriate in – the director has described it as akin to “two people dancing together slowly.”
Tuesday – The Merchant of Venice 1936 7.30pm @ the Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool – £11-£41
The play that opened my eyes to theatre and, specifically, Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice revolves around the titular merchant, Antonio, defaulting on his debt to moneylender, Shylock. Written in the 16th century, for this new adaptation the action has been transposed to a London on the eve of the Second World War, with the role of Shylock now occupied by TV’s Tracy-Ann Oberman. It arrives in Liverpool on the back of raves and sell out audiences in the West End.
Wednesday – Exhibition Opening: The Plant That Stowed Away @ Tate Liverpool – FREE
Bearing an exhibition title that, owing to its poetic ambiguity, puts one in mind of Biennials of yesteryear, The Plant That Stowed Away brings together Tate collection works to speak to the global movements of flora, positioning Liverpool as a starting point. Featuring works by Wirral-born photographer Chris Shaw and Atkinson Grimshaw’s Liverpool Quay by Moonlight, alongside an international cast of artists including Cristina de Middel, Kader Attia and Wangechi Mutu, it speaks to post-industrialisation, colonisation, and migration.
Macbeth 8pm @ FACT Liverpool – £22
Another reimagining of Shakespeare this week sees David Tenant and Cush Jumbo star in this new version of the Bard’s famed Scottish Play, filmed live at London’s Donmar Warehouse especially for the big screen.
Thursday – Exhibition Opening: Rave On 5pm @ Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool – FREE
With new exhibition For Your Pleasure’s lens trained on the queer club culture of 1990s UK, and Rave On’s celebration of the roughly overlapping 80s and 90s Liverpool rave scenes, Open Eye Gallery seems to have declared February to be party time. Get down to Mann Island for a nostalgic glimpse of clubbing pre Instagram and TikTok.
Exploring Family History, Migration, & Memory Through Poetry w/Jennifer Lee Tsai 5.30pm @ the Bluecoat – FREE
Jennifer Lee Tsai, poet and Bluecoat artist in residence, recently featured in the gallery’s But Does it Speak?, a season exploring language in a gallery setting, with the film, Fallen Star. She returns today for this free generative poetry workshop looking at family history, migration and memory.
Further Reading: Jennifer Lee Tsai’s Fallen Star
Friday – The Brian Jonestown Massacre 7pm @ the Liverpool Olympia – £36.85
90s psych-rock scene survivors, The Brian Joenstown Massacre, land in Liverpool tonight to get your weekend off with a bang. Their leader, Anton Newcombe (above), features on the latest podcast from our pals, Dead Air Records.
Further Reading: The Big Interview: Anton Newcombe
Saturday – The Graduate 3pm @ FACT Liverpool – £8.50
Best known for Mrs. Robinson’s seduction of Dustin Hoffman’s Ben (and the related soundtrack), from today’s perspective, that almost fabled film of ennui and in-between-ness, The Graduate, is also a strange insight into the cultural mores of the period – not least, a particular brand of male entitlement both on and off screen.
Sunday – Liverpool Poetry: Reading & Discussion w/Pauline Rowe 1pm @ Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool – FREE
More poetry to round off your week, coming in the form of this Pauline Rowe-led reading and discussion reflecting on 1967′s The Mersey Sound, an anthology which launched the careers of Liverpool trio Roger McGough, Adrian Henri and Brian Patten into the stratosphere. This workshop considers their legacy and asks what it means to be a Liverpool poet today.
Mike Pinnington
Images/media, from top: In the Mood for Love still; The Merchant of Venice 1936 trailer; Chris Shaw, Weeds of Wallasey, 2007-12 © Chris Shaw; Anton Newcombe; The Mersey Sound