We are excited to launch the ‘Power Not Pity Podcast’ as part of DaDaFest International 40, opening conversations about disability, arts and culture.
You will hear from artists, cultural organisations and disabled activists who will be voicing rage, building the quiet riot our festival theme alludes to.
The podcasts will bring some of our more visual exhibitions to life for those who can’t experience them in person or visually, alongside interesting conversations that will offer background around the events and venues where they will be housed, exploring disability arts, how far it has come, and what there is yet to do to create true equity in the cultural landscape.
You can stream episodes of Power Not Pity Podcast on the following channels:
Or click the links below to listen.
Episode 1: Power Not Pity at The Bluecoat
Tom Walker discusses the launch of DaDaFest International 40 along with DaDa’s historic relationship with The Bluecoat, talking to Bryan Biggs who leads on cultural legacies at The Bluecoat and DaDa’s Executive Producer Rachel Rogers about the significant shift in creating space for disabled artists at the venue, and the DaDa @ Bluecoat Retrospective Exhibition.
Listen here.
Text transcript available here:
Power_not_Pity_Episode_1_Transcript.pdf
You can visit the exhibition this Podcast features online during DDFI40 here.
Episode 2: Power Not Pity at The Everyman Theatre
Tom Walker talks to the Everyman young writers and producers, who have been working with curator Gill Crawshaw to begin investigating DaDa’s archive, understanding the company’s 40-year history.
Tom catches up with Everyman Producer Helen Webster and Jennifer Vaudrey Producer at DaDa to find out more about the work they have been doing with the young creatives to embed access in their practice and the DaDa at 40 ‘Dive into our Archive’ exhibition which opened this week, and key expertise around audio description shared by DaDa CEO Zoe Partington that has informed the work.
Young writers and producers reflect on their learning and their experiences of access and inclusion and what they have been learning through being involved in DaDaFest. Access Co-ordinator at DaDa, Denise Kennedy, talks through access elements of the festival and how they can listen in the audio description the Young Everyman Playhouse producers have produced. Curator Gill Crawshaw talks about her experience of being an activist in the disabled people’s movement and how that has informed the work with DaDaFest and Young Everyman Playhouse.
‘Disability Art’ is a powerful generator of change in art, culture and heritage, but disabled people’s history is often misrepresented and excluded from society. This project provides a snapshot of the immense impact disabled artists, activists and communities have made on the arts in the UK and internationally.
Listen here.
Text transcript available here:
Power_Not_Pity_Podcast_Episode_2_Transcript.pdf
Episode 3: Power Not Pity at Open Eye Gallery for the Rage, Riot & Revolution Launch
Tom Walker visits the ‘Rage, Riot an Revolution’ opening exhibition for DaDaFest International 40 at Open Eye Gallery and catches up with photographer Jan Williams of the Caravan Gallery, along with some of the women featured in her portraits.
Launching on 8th March 2025, International Women’s Day, the exhibition celebrates the achievements of female activists, artists, leaders and champions of disability activism, highlighting their essential contributions to both local and global progress.
Tom interviews one of the women featured in the exhibition, Former CEO at DaDa and founder of the first DaDaFest, Ruth Fabby. Ruth gives an overview of why DaDa was and is still needed and how it came into being 40 years ago.
Ruth highlights that while some progress has been made in improving the landscape for disabled artists, “it's not been consistent” and so there is still a way to go.
Another ‘Rage, Riot and Revolution’ subject Amina Atiq chats with Tom after performing her DaDaFest commissioned poem “Unwoven” explaining how grief and rage came together to inspire her to write.
Playwright, dramaturg and theatre-maker Kaite O'Reilly is another of the women featured in the exhibition who tells Tom “It's the absolute era for rage with what's happening in the world”. Kaite goes on to reflect on her Rushton Lecture 'The Uses of Anger'.
Tom moves on to ‘Hand Ships Sail’, a projection of a beautiful piece by Cathy Mager which was shown on the Cunard Building for DDFI40 launch night. Talking to Mick Hirst an audio describer who gives an overview of the display showing a poetic conversation in British Sign Language (BSL) –two deaf women share their dreams for the future as they look out over the night sky
And Tom also catches up with Chair of DaDa Rob Martin and DaDa CEO Zoe Partington who explains “I don't think it's second nature to think about disabled artists being commissioned for everything that we do on the main stages or in the main exhibitions or the galleries. I think disabled people have to fight and really promote themselves.”
Listen here.
Text transcript available here:
Power_Not_Pity_episode_3_transcript.pdf
You can visit the 'Rage, Riot an Revolution' exhibition online here.
Episode 4: Power Not Pity visits ‘Pimp My Wheelchair’ at Sefton Park Palmhouse
In this episode, Tom Walker talks to artists Faith Bebbington and Janet Price who presented their commissioned art ‘Pimp My Wheelchair’ as part of DaDaFest International 40.
Janet explains to Tom “Pimp My Wheelchair was about brightening up prosthetics rather than them being dull and boring and as though they're things we should be apologetic about.”
And Faith shares the “initial idea came from people who kicked my stick from underneath me and I wanted to make my stick more blingy and more noticeable and more dangerous so that people notice it rather than ignoring it.”
The event was the start of a display of Faith and Janet’s sculptures being hosted by Palmhouse for the festival month, as well as online.
Tom speaks to Shaun Fallows and Grindl Dockery who took part in the Pimp my Wheelchair procession during the launch who share their views on the need for more disabled people being involved in conversations about issues that affect disabled people.
Tom asks are we doing enough or is a bit of ‘civil disobedience’ required to drive change.
Finally, Naomi McAllister Marketing and Community Manager at Sefton Park Palmhouse shares how having events like DaDaFest there helps the team continue to learn and grow the accessibility at the venue.
Listen here.
Text transcript available here:
Power_Not_Pity_episode_4_transcript.pdf
Episode 5: Power Not Pity at Williamson Art Gallery for Painting in Light
In this episode, Tom Walker meets with artist and DaDa CEO Zoe Partington at The Williamson Art Gallery in the Wirral where one of her Neon Sculptures is on display as part of DaDaFest International 40.
Zoe shares how the disability slogans that inspire her ‘Painting in Light’ series were brought about by disabled activists who have tirelessly campaigned over the 40 years of DaDa’s existence.
Williamson Art Gallery manager Sam Howes reflects on how the contemporary sculpture will hopefully create conversation blending with the more traditional art it sits with in the space, and shares excitement that the Williamson will be celebrating their 100th birthday in the next few years.
Tom also has a conversation with veteran disability rights campaigner Barbara Lisicki who explains the social model of disability and what is really meant by ‘accessibility’.
Listen here.
Text transcript available here:
Power_Not_Pity_episode_5_transcript.pdf.
You can catch Zoe’s Painting in Light series around the Liverpool City Region during DaDaFest International 40 and via an online exhibition here
About Our Presenter Tom Walker
Tom Walker is our roving podcaster and also works as a disabled freelance radio journalist; podcaster; disability awareness trainer; communications specialist.
Tom also writes posts for his Strange Encounters blog, in which he looks at the experiences he has had as a visually impaired person or provides analysis of significant developments.
Tom’s interests include music, drama, politics and sport - Tom is one of the founder members of FC United of Manchester.
Tom is also a keen independent traveller. He has visited over 30 countries including Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Cuba and Mexico.
Tom says: “While being visually impaired provides me with numerous environmental and social challenges, I don’t allow my disability to prevent me from doing most of the things I want to do.
“There have been occasions however, especially when walking through the streets of Caracas in Venezuela, that I have wondered what on earth a visually impaired person is doing here on his own.
“Although I have travelled totally independently to a number of risky countries, especially in South and Central America, I have been fortunate so far and have survived unscathed; seeing a man walking alone with a white cane must be quite a temptation for pick-pockets and criminals.”
Tom added: “You only get one life and it isn’t a dress rehearsal. I firmly believe in making the most of it”!
Tom has what is nowadays described as a ‘portfolio career’. In addition to working as a radio journalist and podcaster, Tom also delivers disability and communications training to a wide range of groups. These include university students, business people, children and even people who have fallen foul of the law.