Kevin Eccleston

Former light entertainer, radio presenter and one time poet, who has developed a strong passion for theatre, from panto to psycho thrillers.
  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Review Ginificent's A Christmas Carol at St George's Hall - Ghost of past candle

    Review: Ginificent’s A Christmas Carol at St George’s Hall

    Ginificent’s latest return to St George’s Hall with A Christmas Carol is an ambitious and richly textured production that makes full use of one of Liverpool’s most striking spaces. By placing the performance in the Great Hall rather than the more intimate Concert Room, the company embraces the building’s sheer scale—an approach that transforms the familiar Dickens tale into something grander, darker and more immersive. The architecture itself becomes part of the experience: towering columns,…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Cinderella at the Epstein Theatre

    Review: Cinderella At The Epstein Theatre

    The Epstein Theatre’s long-awaited return to festive pantomime arrives with Cinderella — a sparkling slice of Christmas magic that feels both like a celebration of the theatre’s revival and a warm embrace of classic panto tradition. It doesn’t reinvent the fairytale, but it absolutely delivers what Liverpool families crave in December: colour, comedy, charm and a generous dusting of glittering seasonal magic. Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn leads the charge as the fairytale heroine, joined…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Dick Whittington Cast group shot on steps at Liverpool ONE - Cred David Munn

    Review: Dick Whittington at St Helens Theatre Royal

    St Helens Theatre Royal has built a proud reputation for producing some of the most vibrant and joyfully chaotic pantomimes in the North West, and its 2025 staging of Dick Whittington continues that tradition with confidence and flair. Directed by Chantelle Joseph this year’s production blends old-school panto heart with modern spectacle, creating a show that feels both comfortingly familiar and sparklingly new. Families filled the theatre and from the first flourish of the overture…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Dick Whittington Cast group shot on steps at Liverpool ONE - Cred David Munn

    St Helens Theatre Royal Unveils Full Cast For Dick Whittington This Christmas

    The streets of St Helens are being paved with entertainment gold this Christmas thanks to a fantastic cast which is ready to enchant Theatre Royal family audiences. Regal Entertainments Ltd will present Dick Whittington – the first time in the company’s 25-year history. The thrilling tale, which is packed with larger-than-life characters, dazzling costumes and scenery and a superb soundtrack, will run from Friday 28 November to Sunday 11 January 2026. Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has already been announced…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Sherlock Credit - Asun Olivan

    Review: Sherlock Holmes, The Hunt for Moriarty at Shakespeare North Playhouse

    Produced by Blackeyed Theatre and adapted by Nick Lane, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty at Shakespeare North Playhouse is a crowd-pleasing, well-paced night of theatre that serves both brain and heart. It keeps the plot moving, gives the central partnership room to breathe, and trusts audiences to enjoy a good puzzle without being patronised. The result is an accessible, entertaining evening that feels deliberately made for local theatergoers. London, 1901. As the British Empire…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Something About George - Credit David Munn Photography

    Review: Something About George – The George Harrison Story at The Brindley Theatre

    As a part of its national tour Something About Productions brings this heart warming tale to The Brindley Theatre.   There’s something truly special about Something About George – The George Harrison Story. This heartfelt stage show is a moving tribute to one of Liverpool’s most quietly influential sons – a man whose music continues to speak to millions around the world. With timeless songs like My Sweet Lord, Something, and Handle With Care, the show…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    The Wizard of Oz at St Helens Theatre Royal

    Review: The Wizard of Oz At St Helens Theatre Royal

    Directed by Chantelle Joseph this vibrant production of The Wizard of Oz embraces comfort and clarity, steering away from radical reinterpretation to present a heartwarming and family-friendly adaptation of the beloved tale. It captures the essence of emotional authenticity while weaving a coherent narrative that resonates across generations. The swift pacing of the performance skillfully captivates younger audience members, complemented by tender moments of reflection that appeal to adults, fostering a rich emotional landscape throughout…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Lost Atoms- Joe Layton (Robbie) & Hannah Sinclair Robinson (Jess) Photo Credit Tristram Kenton

    Review: Lost Atoms Liverpool Playhouse Theatre

    Lost Atoms is a tightly woven, emotionally resonant drama that delves deeply into the complex themes of memory, identity, and the fragile nature of human relationships. The play unravels the intricate ways in which past experiences shape our present selves and profoundly influence the connections we forge with one another. This production masterfully combines intimate storytelling with inventive physicality, resulting in a performance that feels both immediate and subtly unsettling, inviting the audience to engage…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Shake It Up Baby Liverpool - Credit David Munn

    Review: Shake It Up Baby at the Epstein Theatre

    The Epstein Theatre’s world premiere of Shake It Up Baby revisits one of the most unique chapters in popular music history — The Beatles’ apprenticeship in the clubs of Hamburg — and does so with an infectious vitality that makes the evening as much a gig as it is a play. Rather than attempting to pin down the precise chronology of events, Stephen Fletcher’s production embraces atmosphere and energy, treating the story as a memory,…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Night Collar at St Helens Theatre Royal. Credit David Munn

    Review: Night Collar at St Helens Theatre Royal

    Having been shown previously in 2010 and 2011 at the Theatre Royal, one of Merseyside’s favourite theatres, Night Collar returns and sweeps you into the dark heart of Christmas Eve, where a solitary taxi serves as a portal to a city’s hidden rhythms. Over the course of this performance, playwrights Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power, under the direction of Regal Ents. Chantelle Joseph guide us through skimpily lit streets, brash encounters, and fleeting glimpses of…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Stayin Alive - Credit Victoria Oxley

    Review: Stayin’ Alive at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre

    A Powerful, Darkly Comic Dive into Grief and Self-Discovery. Written and presented by Victoria Oxley with support from Emma Bispham ‘Stayin Alive’ ran for two nights at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre (24 & 25 September). If there’s one thing you can’t accuse Stayin’ Alive of, it’s pulling its punches. Victoria Oxley’s debut play, a dark comedy imbued with raw honesty, doesn’t shy away from the kind of emotional complexity that most theatre scripts tend to…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    MATTHEW BOURNES THE MIDNIGHT BELL. The Company. Photo by Johan Persson (1)

    Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell at Liverpool Playhouse

    Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell tells its story without words. On a small Liverpool Playhouse stage, solitary characters leave cramped rooms and gather in a smoky 1930s Soho pub. Each dancer seeks connection, and the tight space makes every hope and heartbreak feel immediate. The performance unfolds a wordless dance drama set in the underpasses and back streets of 1930s London. Inspired by Patrick Hamilton’s interwar tales, it tracks a cast of solitary figures escaping…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    I Am Steven Gerrard at The Epstein Theatre Liverpool - Credit AB Photography

    Review: I Am Steven Gerrard, The Epstein Theatre

    I Am Steven Gerrard  opened at the Epstein Theatre 11 September an ideal venue for not only this highly personal performance but for the wider artistic scene in Liverpool. The story boldly captures the journey of Shane, an unwavering supporter of Liverpool Football Club. His fervent desire to emulate his hero, Steven Gerrard, propels him into an emotionally charged exploration that is both compelling and profound. The play masterfully weaves together humour and honest introspection,…

  • Music
    The Lancashire Hotpots Band

    Flat Caps, Folk Tunes & Belly Laughs: The Lancashire Hotpots Light Up St Helens

    If you’ve ever wondered what happens when traditional folk music collides with a stand-up routine in flat caps, the answer came loud and clear at the Theatre Royal in St Helens. As a part of their uniquely original Definitely Gravy tour The Lancashire Hotpots—St Helens’ very own folk-comedy heroes—returned to their hometown stage for a night that proved once again why they’ve built a cult following across the North and beyond. The Homecoming Spirit There was…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Picnic at Hanging Rock Liverpool

    Review: Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Hope Street Theatre

    On August 9th and 10th, The Hope Street Theatre showcased Tom Wright’s poignant adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s seminal 1967 novel, Picnic at Hanging Rock. Set in the enchanting yet eerie confines of a small intimate theatre, this intimate production captivates audiences with not just a narrative of loss and intrigue but also offers a profound reflection on innocence and the unfathomable depths of the human experience. The grim yet beautiful tale, which revolves around the…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Riverdance 30 at Liverpool Empire Theatre

    Meet the Stars of Riverdance 30 Ahead of the Liverpool Empire Run

    Riverdance 30: The New Generation is set to open at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from 29 August to 2 September 2025. This special anniversary tour celebrates three decades of the iconic show that first took the world by storm with its explosive blend of traditional Irish music and dance.  This new production features innovative choreography, new costumes, and state-of-the-art lighting. A cast of new young performers bring fresh energy to the legacy whilst keeping the…

  • Theatre in Liverpool
    Liza Goddard in The Croft (photo credit Manuel Harlan)_2

    Review: The Croft At Liverpool Playhouse

    Stepping into the Liverpool Playhouse foyer, there’s an electricity in the air that perfectly mirrors the world of Ali Milles’ haunting drama. Set in a crumbling crofter’s hut on the remote Applecross peninsula, two friends, Laura and Suzanne, arrive seeking respite—only to be drawn into a web of grief, identity and unsettling echoes from the Highland Clearances. The production runs from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 July 2025, clocks in at 2 hours 5 minutes…

  • Music
    The Liverpool Song Book

    The Liverpool Songbook: A City’s Soundtrack Brought to Life At Liverpool Philharmonic

    From timeless Merseybeat anthems to enchanting synth-pop classics, The Liverpool Songbook emerged as more than just a concert; it was a fervent celebration of the city’s pulsating musical spirit, artfully presented within the resplendent architecture of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Under the skilled direction of conductor Richard Balcombe, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra enveloped the audience in lush orchestral textures and intricate arrangements that breathed new life into Liverpool’s most cherished songs. Each familiar…