This month’s Late at Tate is inspired by the French phrase, 'Folie à Deux' which literally translates as, 'a madness shared by two' and explores similar themes to those featured in Tate Liverpool's current exhibition of work by Franco-American artist, Niki de Saint Phalle.

One of the key elements in the work of Niki de Saint Phalle was collaboration. Performance, large scale public sculptures and film were mediums in which de Saint Phalle experimented throughout her career, creating sculptures, films and taking part in 'happenings' alongside her partner, the celebrated artist Jean Tinguely and other leading figures such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.

Visitors of April’s Late at Tate can expect an evening of intrigue, collaboration and celebration. Prominent feminist art historian and cultural analyst Griselda Pollock presents an illustrated talk entitled 'Encounters with Niki de Saint Phalle and her Moment' looking at the context and significance of Niki de Saint Phalle's monumental project HON, an interactive installation which celebrated femininity and became famous due to the attention it received from the world wide media. Pollock explores the creative collaboration between de Saint Phalle and Tinguely and the implications and issue of such cross gender partnerships. (18:00 and finish at 19:30, tickets cost £7 each, £5.50 for concessions and £4 for Tate members). Meanwhile, in the galleries American academic Nancy Stoaks will reconsider de Saint Phalle's 'shooting' paintings in a tour entitled Open Fire.

This month’s Late at Tate also offers visitors the opportunity to view a documentary that explores the construction of some of Niki de Saint Phalle’s major works in, "Who is the Monster … Me or You?". Peter Schamoni’s documentary gives a detailed account of the artist and her work from her early ‘shooting’ paintings of the 1960s to her momentous Gaudi-esque ornate garden in the hills of Tuscany.

Elsewhere in the building, visitors will be confronted with a series of moving sculptural performances by students of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, responding to Rodin’s The Kiss which features as part of our current DLA Piper Series: The Twentieth Century: How it looked & how it felt. These original and intriguing performances including work inspired by Rodin's Eternal Idol, The Thinker, Ugolino and The Damned Woman among others will take place in the adjoining spaces of the Gallery.

This month’s Late at Tate sees the students of Maghull High school interpret the works of Niki de Saint Phalle through the medium of physical theatre. Since the start of 2008 Tate Liverpool and Maghull High School have been working together on a project entitled Creative Enterprises. The project has not only given the school’s AS level performing arts students the chance to showcase their works within the gallery but also the opportunity to go behind the scenes and meet with staff to gain invaluable insight into the individual roles and how they affect the day to day running and inner workings of the Tate gallery. The performances promise to be unique and inspiring.

Tate Liverpool is engaging in a collaboration of its very own for this month’s Late at Tate – working with neighbouring National Museums Liverpool and the Remember Saro-wiwa charity to help promote environmental awareness, social equality and celebrate the life of Nigerian activist and writer Ken Saro- Wiwa. The night will feature performance poetry from Simon Murray AKA Symurai, an exclusive set from 'Afropean' DJ Eric Soul and rising Nigerian star Nneka who recently supported Gnarls Barkley and who will be accompanied by a band of West African Musicians. Norwegian-born Liverpool singer songwriter Ragz will be playing an acoustic set in the Tate Café, this songstress is receiving rave reviews for her spellbinding acoustic melodies, not to be missed.

18.00 – 19.30 Griselda Pollock: Encounters with Niki de Saint Phalle and her Moment [Auditorium]

18.00 – 19.30 Maghull Physical Theatre Performances Hospitality Room [Foyer]

18.00 – 20.00 DJ Eric Soul and poet Symurai [Foyer]

18:00 – 20.00 LIPA Rodin Response Performances Studio [Hospitality Suite]

19:30 – 20:00 Ragz [Tate Café]

19.30 – 21.00 Niki de Saint Phalle: Who is the Monster … Me or You? [Auditorium]

20.15 – 21.00 Nneka [Foyer]