WEA courses

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we will move on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we willmove on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

Uncover the history and architectural significance of castles in Northern England and North Wales with this archaeological course. Ideal for history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts alike.

The changing social, cultural and political scenes in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries afforded new opportunities and a chance for women artists to emerge from the shadows of their male counterparts. This course will consider the impact of British women artists in the twentieth century, from the early part of the century when artists such as Vanessa Bell and Winifred Nicholson began to make their mark, to post- war artists such as Bridget Riley and Pauline Boty, and will include some of the key women artists of the twentieth century.

During this course, we will begin our discussion with a Russian classic, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. This 1957 novel was first published in Italy. It was not published in Russia until 1988. We will be thinking about the way Boris Paternak presents the political and societal events of his lifetime. Do these scenes and ideas resonate in only a historical sense? Later on in the course we will move on to Zennor in Darkness, Helen Dunmore’s 1996 Orange Prize winning novel to think about her portrayal of World War one Cornwall and DH Lawrence, as we continue our discussion about the way fiction translates the past.

A history course based on some well-known musicals. Writers of musicals often dealt with complex social, political and historical issues while also providing an entertaining show with great songs, but in this course we’ll look at some unexpected, surprising and even ill-conceived inspirations for musicals, some of which were very successful, some of which were not. The course includes the background to musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Stephen Sondheim, but also lesser-known writers whose work has become very successful and has acquired a cult following.  At the end of the course, you will be able to: - Discuss how Evita and Call Me Madam are influenced by the writers' personal viewpoints of the societies they are describing - Give examples of how fairy tale conventions are overturned in Frozen and Into The Woods - Identify some of the classic films, stories and characters that fed into horror musicals like Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd. - Discuss why "bad taste" is such a prevalent feature of modern musicals, like the Producers and Little Shop of Horrors. - Identify some of the issues that caused a few of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals to fail.

Fashion reflects the influence of politics, trade, social exchange and foreign encounter. In this course, we will explore the changing fashions of seventeenth-century Britain. Alongside sessions that consider the history of fashion are practical, hands-on sessions that explore the materials used, and construction techniques employed by makers of the period. You may not be an expert by the end, but you will have first-hand understanding of how, and with what, clothing of the 17th century was made.

Welcome to the new Understanding Our Democracy course at the WEA. We're so happy to have you here!  Understanding Our Democracy is an 8-hour course for ESOL learners who are keen to know more about how UK democracy works. You will learn about voting, elections, political parties and how the government works. Through fun activities and discussions, you will improve your English and learn about your rights and responsibilities in the UK. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to know more about how the UK is run and how to be involved politically in their community.

The once mighty Ottoman Empire lost some of its lustre during the 18th Century. After its armies reached the walls of Vienna in 1683 the boundaries of the Sublime Porte contracted in a series of military, diplomatic and economic reverses. This course considers the ways in which the Ottomans responded to a changing world in the 19th century, seeking to preserve their position within it. We examine questions of politics, religion, language, culture and economics whilst all the while having an eye towards the consequences for the region, Europe and the world then and now

From the zenith of the Qing Empire in 1796 we trace the decline of China’s imperial reach through the 19th century. Western incursions and humiliations, the role of religion and opium, wars, reforms and rebellions will all be covered up to the fall of the dynasty in 1912 and the formation of China’s first republic. Major personalities such as the Empress Dowager Cixi, Sun-Yat-Sen, the Last Emperor and many more will be considered. We will consider the nature of court rule, the development of society and the economy as well as art, literature and philosophy.