Want to be an author? Hear Ashleigh’s journey and get a signed copy of his book.
BlackFest is proud to announce the launch of their long-time artist Ashleigh Nugent’s book ‘Locks’ exploring the prison system, growing up, wising up, and finding your place in a world of opposites. This event is an in conversation with Ashleigh about his debut novel semi-autobiographical story follows Aeon a mixed-up and mixed-race teenager from a leafy Liverpool suburb, is desperate to understand the Black identity thrust upon him. He grows dreadlocks and immerses himself in ‘gangsta’ rap. But Aeon’s journey of self-discovery is hampered by the fact that the only Black people in his life are his dad and his cousin, Increase.
Ashleigh Nugent, an award-winning author, playwright and rapper is a mixed-race man from Northern England who found himself in a Jamaican prison. Ash is the Founder of Riseupcic and works with prisons, schools, the long term unemployed and those at risk of offending within the wider community. Today Ash is touring his book ‘Locks’ that was published by Picador in July 2023 and more recently coming to a screen near you Ashleigh’s agent Clare Coombs secured a TV deal with award winning 2LE Media where this will be dramatised for TV.
BlackFest commissioned his one-man play in 2019 based on his memoir ‘Locks’ at Unity Theatre which details his experience of incarceration. Ash performed extracts from his book and touched on themes of race, sexuality, gender and identity.
His self-published book ‘Locks’ was launched during the 2020 digital festival and BlackFest are proud to present his journey in becoming an author and being published with Picador.
Event Date: Monday 25th September 2023
