Unmasked

In Unmasked Ushiku Crisafulli uses hip hop, comedy, soundscapes and theatrical monologues to explore autistic authenticity and autistic enjoyment.

It will also feature an exhibition of masks created in partnership with Filipino artist Miel Timtiman that challenges infantilising language around autistic enjoyment and autistic authenticity while also offering a global south perspective on the importance of creating art from recycled materials and environmentalism that were created using a micro bursary from Graeae as part of the Beyond Programme..

There will also be art commissioned from Accrington based Jonny Lindsey and Nigerian artist Akilo Joseph.

Following on from the initial sharing Ushiku made a conscious decision to include an array of incredible supporting artists whose own experiences include those of dyslexia, dyspraxia, mental health and neurodiversity.

Tom Juniper is an autistic and genderqueer poet based in Sheffield, UK. They have been shouting rhymes at microphones for almost two decades.Tom writes poems about identity, oppression, politics and monsters. They enjoy playing with poetic form, nicking ideas from folklore and making everything a bit gay if at all possible. They don’t have any merch to promote at the present time but a pint after the show is always appreciated if you want to show your support.

Sketch is a rapper, producer and poet based in Manchester, England. Since signing with madness records Sketch became 1/5th of ‘The Commission’, the labels own gangster racket posing as a hip hop collective.

Kate Ireland is an artist, writer and performer hailing from Glasgow currently living in London. Her work explores capitalism, empathy, mental health and the mundane.

Anthony Briscoe is a performance poet and socially engaged artist from Blackpool, currently living in Manchester. His poetry ranges from socio-political commentary, space, advertisements replacing love and even clown funerals. Anthony likes to mix the serious and the silly to discuss meaningful issues through an absurdist lens, using his background in theatrics (BA HONS in contemporary theatre – Lancaster university) to add an energetic, engaging and entertaining performance to all his material.

We will also be joined once more by Liverpool’s own Jonny Holland whose computer game inspired metal instrumentals will thrill you while giving you a taste of 90s nerdstalgia.

Doors: 6pm.
Start: 7:30pm.
Doors: 6pm.
Start: 7:30pm.

£5/£8 OTD