Against All Odds: Class and Resistance in the Arts
Against All Odds is a dynamic and thought-provoking event that delves into the intersections of class, creativity, and resilience within the arts. Bringing together a powerhouse panel of artists and writers- Joelle Taylor, Barrington Paul Robinson, Stephanie Greer and Johanne McAndrew- this discussion highlights the struggles and triumphs of working-class creatives who have fought to make their voices heard in an often exclusive cultural landscape.
Each speaker brings a unique perspective:
Joelle Taylor is a T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet, playwright, and author whose work tackles themes of identity, power, and resistance. Her acclaimed poetry collection C+nto & Othered Poems exemplifies her bold and fearless voice.
Barrington Paul Robinson is an Ethical Producer who entered the world of high-end TV with The Responder. He is also the founder of Redbag Pictures and Co-founder of the BFI Creative Producer Lab. His work, rooted in Liverpool, blends historical inspiration with a drive toward the future.
Stephanie Greer is an actor and an aerialist based in Liverpool. She trained at Bretton Hall gaining a 1st class honours degree in Acting and has worked both nationally and internationally for over 15 years. Alongside performing Stephanie has worked extensively with Equity and her activism has focused on creating better opportunities for working class artists and creatives. She was a founding member of Equity’s Class Network and remains the Chair.
Winner of the BT Best New Talent in Film Award, Johanne McAndrew has almost 30 years experience in scriptwriting with 120 primetime credits. She created the drama Nice Guy Eddie and co-created 3 other series – Candy Cabs, Pitching In and Daylight Robbery – a smash hit for ITV with a huge 44% audience share.A frequent contributor to Casualty, Footballer’s Wives and Dalziel and Pascoe, she was a core team writer for Holby City and Hollyoaks, both nominated for BAFTA and Writers Guild awards. A finalist of the BBC Northern Laughs scheme, Jo has created several sitcoms and has had many adventures pitching to the various networks in Hollywood. In 2020 she was selected in the inaugural cohort for the MSt. Writing for Performance at Cambridge University. In 2023 she was a finalist for The Observer/Anthony Burgess Critical Writing Award for her piece on The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills (her favourite show!)
This event promises an evening of candid conversation, personal stories, and collective insight into dismantling systemic barriers in the arts—and celebrating those who’ve paved the way for future generations.
For the second year in a row, PRAN is absolutely delighted to partner with Writing on the Wall (WoW), a Liverpool-based organization that champions creative writing, social justice, and community empowerment through literature, festivals, and arts projects.
This event will be part of WoWFEST, Liverpool’s annual literary festival, taking place in May.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Social Policy Association (SPA) for supporting this event.
