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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Festival of Debate

Founded in 2015, Festival of Debate is an annual series of panel discussions, debates, Q&As, artistic responses, keynote speeches and other public events in Sheffield, exploring politics, economics and society. It’s coordinated in collaboration with over 50 partners across the city, from grassroots campaign groups to the city’s largest institutions.

Past keynote speakers have included Yanis Varoufakis, Reni-Eddo Lodge, Ed Miliband, Prof David Nutt, Owen Jones, Melissa Benn, Afua Hirsch, Francesca Martinez, Polly Toynbee, Nick Clegg, The Guilty Feminist, John Pilger, Grayson Perry, James O’Brien, Julian Assange, Paul Mason, Steve Silberman and George Monbiot.

Unfortunately their 2020 event programme was cancelled in late March due to the Covid-19 crisis but they’ve launched the brand new Festival of Debate Online, providing a digital platform for discussion and debate of the key social, political, environmental and economic issues of the day.

See the Festival of Debate Online programme.

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What We Are Made Of

Untold stories of British Asian refugees of the African diasporas. Based on journalist/playwright Wersha Bharadwa’s interviews with women largely marginalised in history – their accounts of love, loss, courage and the effects of the British Empire.

The Hot Seat With Director Mojisola Elufowoju

Mon. 2 November 2020

Mojisola Elufowoju is an award-winning theatre director and workshop facilitator of Nigerian descent, and the founder and artistic director of Utopia Theatre. Join her in a conversation moderated by British-Nigerian playwright Dr. Oladipo Agboluaje.

DNA Repair to the Rescue

Delve into the world of DNA damage and repair with Professor Sherif El-Khamisy and his team of molecular biologists. Play games that explore how our cells repair DNA damage. Live from 10am on Sunday 31 May. Recommended for ages 10+

All About Ears

Join Professor Walter Marcotti’s Hearing Research Group for a journey inside the ear, with audio-visual illusions, a simulation of age-related hearing loss, and more. Live from 10am on Friday 29 May. Recommended for ages 10+, some activities 7+ / 5+