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Arts and Culture
Exhibition Review: Amartey Golding, Silent Knight, at FACT Liverpool
A Chain of Voices, Heard in Stillness… Step into FACT Liverpool’s Gallery 2 and you’re met with a silver spectacle — an arresting, sculptural form that draws you in and doesn’t let go. At its heart stands Silent Knight, a collaborative centrepiece by artist Amartey Golding, and the final commission in FACT’s powerful Resolution project. Its presence is undeniable — physically, emotionally, politically. Constructed in collaboration with over 50 incarcerated men from HMP Altcourse, Silent…
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Arts and Culture
Exhibition Review: Liverpool Hope University Degree Show 2025
Art in the Maze: Finding Wonder Around Every Corner Let’s start with a confession. Navigating Crossroads at Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus is no small feat. The layout meanders, buildings slip past you, corridors tighten, doors open into places you didn’t expect. It’s part art show, part dream logic. And on a busy early evening, with private view visitors gently jostling through narrow passageways, the sense of disorientation only deepens. But here’s the thing; like…
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Arts and Culture
Exhibition Review: Caroline Gorick, After Hours, At Bridewell Gallery and Studios
Heat Outside, Hush Within… On a sweltering, airless afternoon in Liverpool, when Prescot Street seemed to shimmer under relentless sunlight, salvation comes in the form of the Bridewell Studios and Gallery—a cool, contemplative refuge tucked away behind thick Victorian walls. Step inside, and the hush is almost monastic. But it’s not silence that fills the space — it’s something charged, something quietly electric. It’s the presence of Caroline Gorick’s latest work. Her painting doesn’t so…
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Arts and Culture
Liverpool Hope University to Host a Triptych of Creativity This June
Liverpool’s vibrant cultural tapestry is set to gain new threads this June as Liverpool Hope University unveils a compelling series of events, promising to be a significant platform for emergent and established artistic voices. Eschewing the conventional, these three distinct happenings offer a nuanced exploration of contemporary creative practice, inviting audiences to engage with film, spoken word, and the very processes of artistic production. The proceedings commence on Monday, 16 June, within the architectural embrace…
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Theatre in Liverpool
Review: Valley Community Theatre’s Workers Playtime At The Hope Street Theatre
Agitprop Returns to the People’s Stage at Hope Street Theatre. Socialist theatre isn’t some dusty artefact locked away in a museum archive — it’s a vital, breathing part of Britain’s working-class heritage. Born of struggle, fired by solidarity, and carried by conviction, this form of theatre blazed onto the scene in the early 20th century with real purpose. Between the 1920s and the 1950s, the stage became a battleground. It wasn’t about velvet curtains and…
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Music
Credits: Liverpool’s New Contenders Tap Into a Classic Sound with a Modern Spark
You’ve probably been here before—there’s a buzz, whispers of the next big thing, a surge of social media hype—and then the inevitable crash of disappointment when it turns out to be all surface and no soul. New Merseyside combo Credits could easily have fallen into that trap. Instead, they’ve emerged with substance, style, and a generous helping of Scouse swagger. Their debut headline show at Liverpool’s ARC, tucked away in the effortlessly cool Baltic Triangle,…
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Theatre in Liverpool
Workers Playtime: A Radical Legacy Reborn On Stage
Exploring how Workers Playtime draws from the pioneering spirit of the 1930s theatre collectives to inspire new generations. Workers Playtime: How the Workers Theatre Movement Shaped British Theatre, running 6-8 June at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre, is far more than just another night out. It’s a powerful call back to the roots of working-class creativity, activism, and resilience. Brought to life by Valley Community Theatre—a company deeply embedded in Liverpool’s grassroots arts scene—this production aims…
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Arts and Culture
From Runcorn to the Revolution: Bethany Kate on Life in Hamilton
There’s something deeply special about coming home — and for Bethany Kate, a gifted musical theatre performer born in Liverpool and raised in Runcorn, stepping into Hamilton at the iconic Liverpool Empire is nothing short of magical. Now part of the blockbuster production as an off-stage swing, Bethany brings versatility, tenacity, and passion to one of the most demanding roles in musical theatre. Steve Kinrade caught up with her to talk about what it means…
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Theatre in Liverpool
Review: Afloat At Unity Theatre
When Theatre Becomes Testimony: Afloat Challenges, Moves, and Uplifts Tonight’s performance of Afloat at the Liverpool Unity Theatre was a powerful testament to the potential of theatre as both social commentary and communal catharsis. Devised by director Phoebe McSweeney through a series of workshops with asylum seekers and those working alongside them, Afloat is a moving, dystopian vision that holds a mirror up to contemporary Britain—one that dares to ask: what if we were the…
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Arts and Culture
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – David Booth MRSS
Guiding viewer’s perception beyond the visual… David Booth MRSS – a distinguished member of the Royal Society of Sculptors – stands as a significant voice in contemporary art. Holding the esteemed MRSS accreditation, a mark of established artists contributing meaningfully to the language of sculpture, Booth’s diverse practice spans a compelling range of mediums. From striking sculptures and immersive installations to intricate ceramics, evocative paintings, and innovative digital artwork, his creations demonstrate a profound engagement…
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Music
In Conversation – Credits
Credits Roll in: Reinvention, Resilience and the Sound of Something Real… You might already have heard whispers about one of the most exciting new names on the local music scene – and if not, it won’t be long. Credits are a five-piece with serious pedigree: sharp musicianship, genuine authenticity, and a set of influences that run deep. In their first ever interview under their new moniker, the band sat down with Liverpool Noise’s Steve Kinrade…
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Arts and Culture
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – Jason Thompson
Sacred Shed Doors: Jason Thompson’s Paradoxical Vision of Art and Object Liverpool Noise’s Creative Spotlight shines for April on Jason Thompson, a Liverpool native with international acclaim. Thompson’s art, a compelling blend of the sacred and the mundane, manifests as richly layered paintings on found wooden panels. His training under Roger Ackling at Chelsea College of Art informs his intuitive, process- driven approach, where enamel paints and varnish become tools for a continuous cycle of…
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Music
In Conversation – Esme Bridie
Angry Girl, Honest Songs: Esme’s Emotional Core… Esme Bridie, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Liverpool, presents a captivating dichotomy. Beneath her seemingly sweet exterior lies a self-proclaimed ‘angry girl,’ a raw honesty that permeates her music. With intricate guitar lines and deeply emotive vocals, Esme crafts songs that resonate with an intimate intensity. Her live performances further amplify this, drawing audiences into her personal world before unleashing the power of her driving band arrangements.…
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Arts and Culture
In Conversation – Actress And Playwright, Katherine Senior
During World War II, a group of women defied expectations, taking to the skies to ferry vital aircraft. Their extraordinary true stories, marked by courage, loss, and unwavering hope, form the heart of Spitfire Girls. This new play, a co-production by Tilted Wig and MAST Mayflower Productions, is currently touring the UK, landing at Shakespeare North Playhouse from April 23rd-26th, 2025. Liverpool Noise‘s Steve Kinrade sat down with actress and playwright Katherine Senior to delve…
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Theatre in Liverpool
Review: The Intrusion At Unity Theatre
Performance and Precision: A Masterclass in Immersive Theatrical Storytelling The anticipatory atmosphere at Unity Theatre, Liverpool was palpable, heightened by an unusual pre-show ritual. Upon entering, each audience member was handed a slip of paper, a stark invitation to confront mortality by documenting their imagined final moments before a world-ending catastrophe. This seemingly simple act proved to be a masterstroke, a subtle yet profound prelude that would resonate throughout the evening’s theatrical experience, embedding the…
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Arts and Culture
The Intrusion: Examining Climate Crisis Through Comedy – Finding Hope In The Bleakness of Extinction
Bric à Brac Theatre and Told by an Idiot present The Intrusion, a dark comedy exploring climate crisis and survival after civilisation’s end. Premiering at Leeds Playhouse (March 1-8) before touring northern venues, the Kafkaesque play uses humour and original music to examine extinction. Developed with experts and community insights, the production features Kitty Devlin (Bridgerton), Alex Hinson, and Siobhan Cha Cha. Directed by Anna Marshall, it offers an “anarchic look” at a desperate situation,…
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Arts and Culture
Creative Spotlight: In Conversation – Jon Barraclough
“To teach is to learn.” The artistic journey of Jon Barraclough is remarkably diverse – spanning drawing, photography, film, teaching, and research. Born in Bradford, he has lived and worked in numerous cities, including Newcastle, London, New York, Manchester, and now Liverpool and North Yorkshire. He has held significant positions, such as the Director of The Liverpool School of Art, and have been instrumental in initiatives like Drawing Paper UK and the Drawing(Paper)Show. His current…
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Arts and Culture
In Conversation – Professor Stephen Davismoon (Angel Field Festival Director)
At Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus in Everton, the Angel Field Festival brings a vibrant blend of international and local artistry to life. Building on the esteemed Cornerstone Festival, Angel Field offers a rich tapestry of music, theatre, dance, film, and visual art. Beyond the campus, the festival weaves its way through Liverpool, partnering with cultural institutions to share its diverse program. With a warm welcome, Angel Field strives to make exceptional arts accessible to…
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Theatre in Liverpool
A Play Within A Play, Within A Dying Moment: ‘Dead Mom Play’ at Unity Theatre
Dead Mom Play, at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre, dared to confront the raw, uncomfortable edges of grief and artistic creation, and did so with a surprising blend of dark humour and theatrical self-awareness. What initially seemed a straightforward narrative of a young playwright facing his mother’s impending death quickly unfurled into a meta- theatrical exploration of the very act of storytelling and creative performance. The premise, a young playwright grappling with his dying mother and the…
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Arts and Culture
In Conversation – Lisa Allen, CEO & Creative Director of Shakespeare North Playhouse
When Lisa Allen took the reins as CEO & Creative Director of Shakespeare North Playhouse in September 2024, she stepped into a venue with a strong foundation and a passionate community behind it. With a deep appreciation for the theatre’s role in both artistic excellence and local engagement, Lisa is leading the Playhouse into an exciting new chapter. In this interview, we discuss her first impressions of the venue and the town’s rich history of…
