The Autumn season of Festival of Debate is in full swing and what better way to augment the festival than for our good pals at Abbeydale Brewery to brew another delicious beer to sip on between all those panel discussions, debates, Q&As and keynote speeches.
Abbeydale Brewery is renowned for conjuring up a whole host of special beers and this brew is certainly no exception. The beer in question is the sublimely named Why Not Give More of a Toss? It’s a 4.0% session pale ale brewed with Motueka, Cascade and Pacific Jade hops for a well-rounded, eminently quaffable brew with floral and spicy notes. Launched on 3 October, you can find it now at The Rising Sun and The Devonshire Cat and at pubs across Sheffield within the next few weeks.
And here are a selection of Festival of Debate events for you to take in between enjoying a pint or two of Why Not Give More of a Toss?
COMING OUT: A HISTORY OF LGBT IDENTITIES – JEFFREY WEEKS
Mon 17 Oct | 7:30pm | The Foundry | £7.50/£6
Part of Off The Shelf Festival of Words
From the barbaric oppression of the 19th century to the gay liberation movement of the 1970s and beyond, Coming Out maps the story of British LGBT identities and the ongoing struggle for equality, originally published to great acclaim in 1977. Research Professor Jeffrey Weeks OBE is an equal rights campaigner and commentator on LGBT issues. Buy Tickets
JOHN PILGER
Thu 27 Oct | 7:30pm | Crucible Theatre | £10/£9
Part of Off The Shelf Festival of Words
John Pilger is one of the world’s best-known investigative journalists and documentary filmmakers. At this talk with extended audience Q&A, John will talk about the updated version of his 2001 book, The New Rulers of the World. From the propaganda of the War on Terror to a look at the collective punishment called austerity, he fearlessly unearths the truth and reveals the illusions of modern imperialism. Buy Tickets
MARTHA SPURRIER
Thu 3 Nov | 7-8pm | Quaker Meeting House | £4
In Association with Liberty
Martha Spurrier is a barrister and campaigner, who in May 2016 took on the role of Director at independent human rights organisation Liberty. A passionate defender of access to justice and the rights of women, children and disabled people, Martha has organised campaigns opposing cuts to legal aid and the scrapping of the Human Rights Act. Buy Tickets
QUEER PROTEST & LGBT SHEFFIELD PRESENT: GUY FAWKES SPECIAL
Sat 5 Nov | 7:30pm | Moor Theatre Delicatessen | £8
Sheffield’s queer community returns to Theatre Deli to bring you an event that puts the party back into political. Confronting political issues through performance has long been a tradition in the LGBT community and this event will be following in that history with live music, drag, cabaret, film and DJs. Workshops and films throughout the day (individually priced). Buy Tickets
DUTY OF CARE: A PLAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE NHS
Tue 8 Nov | 7pm | Moor Theatre Delicatessen | Pay As You Feel
2003. Health minister Michael Alick is promoted at short notice. But with only four days to go, is the new Health Bill all it seems? Does the NHS have a future? Join us for a staged reading of Duty of Care, a new play by local writer Laurence Peacock, followed by a panel discussion of the issues raised. ‘Pay As You Feel’ on the night. Book Tickets
THE CHURCH OF JIM
Wed 9 Nov – Sat 12 Nov | 7:30pm | Moor Theatre Delicatessen | £7/£5
In association with Forest Sounds Theatre Join the Church of Jim for celebration, exegesis and live music as part of the Rise Up At Night season. What is Jim? Is the world going to end? Will there be cake? Come and find answers to some or all of these questions as the Church of Jim attempts to find hope in a hopeless world. NSA and secret police welcome. Buy Tickets
The Festival of Debate aims to create a meaningful dialogue around key social, political and economic issues. It is hosted by not-for-profit social enterprise Opus Independents in collaboration with a range of partners.
Words: Felicity Jackson
