Darren McGarvey – Lecture + Q&A

The Social Distance Between Us LIVE: How Remote Politics Wrecked Britain.

01.06.2023. 19:00. Sallis Benney Theatre. Free.

The Radical Methodologies Research Group, in collaboration with the Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Cultural Politics (CSECP) are delighted to be joined on 1st June 2023 by Author, Musician and Social Commentator Darren McGarvey.

Darren will be giving a lecture and Q+A at the Sallis Benney Theatre, in the Brighton Centre for Contemporary Arts (Brighton CCA), at the University of Brighton Grand Parade Campus. There will be an opportunity to buy Darren’s books, and have them signed after the event.

Tickets are free, and available via this link.

Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton CCA
University of Brighton, Grand Parade Campus
58-67 Grand Parade, BN2 OJY

Why are the rich getting richer while the poor only get poorer? How is it possible that in a wealthy, civilised democracy cruelty and inequality are perpetuated by our own public services? And how come, if all the best people are in all the top jobs, Britain is such an unmitigated bin fire?

Orwell prize-winning author, BAFTA nominated broadcaster and celebrated hip-hop artist Darren McGarvey poses these awkward questions and more in a Lecture + Q+A centred around his recent book, The Social Distance Between Us.

Join Darren McGarvey on a journey through a divided Britain in search of answers. Here, Darren exposes the true scale of Britain’s social ills and reveals why our current political class, those tasked with bringing solutions, are so distanced from our lived experience that they are the last people you’d want fighting your corner.

Age suitability: 16+

More info

Darren McGarvey is a multi-talented Scottish activist, rapper, writer, and social commentator who has gained recognition for his insightful and thought-provoking insights on social issues. He is widely recognized for his unflinching insights into the intersections of poverty, addiction, and urban life, which he presents through his critically acclaimed books, journalism, and music.

As a musician, McGarvey is best known for his rap music under the name Loki, which he has been performing since the early 2000s. His music is characterized by his raw, honest lyrics that speak to the experiences of working-class people and the class inequities that are faced in contemporary British society.

In addition to his music career, McGarvey has established himself as a respected writer and commentator on social issues. Darren gave one of the four 2023 BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures addressing “Freedom from Want.” He is the author of the critically acclaimed book “Poverty Safari: Understanding the Anger of Britain’s Underclass,” which explores the complexities of poverty and social deprivation in the UK. The book has been hailed as a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional views on poverty and has earned McGarvey numerous accolades, including the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. During the lecture, Darren will discuss his most recent book, “The Social Distance Between Us: How Remote Politics Ruined Britain”, which takes us on a journey through a divided Britain in search of answers.

Darren McGarvey’s music, writing, and commentary offer a powerful and compassionate perspective on the challenges facing working-class people today. Anyone attending an event with McGarvey can expect to be inspired and challenged by his insights and entertained by his enthusiastic and engaging performance style.

This event is generously supported by the University of Brighton Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Cultural Politics (CSECP) and The School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering (SoATE).

Darren McGarvey – The Social Distance Between Us LIVE – Lecture + Q&A