Theatre in Liverpool
Theatre show previews and reviews
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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…
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Theatre Preview: The Croft Brings Chilling Drama to Liverpool Playhouse
Currently embarking on a highly anticipated UK tour, Original Theatre’s production of The Croft has already garnered significant critical attention since its 2020 premiere, being praised for its masterful blend of suspense, history, and the supernatural. It is set to run at the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th July. Set against the starkly beautiful yet haunting backdrop of the remote Scottish Highlands, The Croft transports audiences to a former crofter’s hut in…
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‘Intimate And Interactive’ Theatre Returns To The Adelphi In Follow-up To Surreal Sell-out Show
Immersive theatre returns to one of Liverpool’s most famous hotels this summer with an audience experience that promises to be both ‘intimate and interactive’. The creative team behind The Bedroom which sold out its run at The Adelphi last year are heading back to the Edwardian city centre building for 2025 with follow-up show, The Living Room. Taking place in a ‘private, hidden room’ at The Adelphi, The Living Room is another unique site-specific piece of theatre brought to the city…
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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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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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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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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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Theatre As Testimony: Afloat Amplifies Voices Often Left Unheard
Afloat is a powerful and urgent piece of theatre developed in collaboration with Asylum Link Merseyside and directed by Phoebe McSweeney. Created through workshops with asylum seekers and support workers, the performance offers a poignant exploration of migration, political extremism, and human resilience. Set in a dystopian fictional city, the narrative follows the strained relationship between Angela, a right-wing political candidate, and Sam, a community worker supporting asylum seekers. As the Blue Party gains power…
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Ore Oduba Joins Star Cast of Peter James’ Picture You Dead, Coming to New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion
The world premiere stage adaptation of Picture You Dead, the latest thriller from bestselling crime writer Peter James, is heading to New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion — and it’s just added a star name to its cast. TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba will join the major UK tour from 20 May, taking on the role of eccentric millionaire art collector Stuart Piper. The gripping new production is adapted from James’ bestselling Roy…
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Packed Summer of Free Outdoor Arts, Music And Family Fun Coming To Calderstones Park
Calderstones Park is set to become the cultural heart of Liverpool this summer, as The Reader unveils its most exciting summer programme yet — filled with garden parties, live music, literary legends, theatre under the stars, and magical family fun. Whether you’re planning a picnic, looking for creative ways to entertain the kids, or fancy joining a poetry walk with an ice cream in hand, there’s something for everyone in this joyful celebration of books,…
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Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre Announces First Test Events Ahead of Re-Opening
Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre will hold its first test event this month ahead of officially reopening its doors for a full autumn season of entertainment. Dancing in the Aisles, being staged on Easter Sunday, 20 April, will be the first production since the much-loved Hanover Street venue closed its doors in June 2023. The afternoon cabaret show will be a recurring slot at the Epstein, with the first show being hosted by popular Liverpool actor and comedian Lindzi…
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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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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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Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre To Re-Open This Summer
Liverpool’s much-loved Epstein Theatre is set to reopen after a deal was agreed to breathe new life into the historic city centre venue. The Grade II listed theatre closed its doors in June 2023 following a decision by the city council, which owns the building’s freehold, to withdraw financial support which had helped to keep the 112-year-old venue running. But now the Hanover Street landmark is due to welcome audiences once again, with new leaseholders…
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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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In Conversation – Wes Williams (Grin Theatre)
For over a decade, Grin Theatre has been a driving force in LGBTQ+ representation within Merseyside’s theatre scene. Founded in 2011, the company has provided a powerful platform for queer creatives through its dynamic productions, workshops, and mentorships. From the beloved annual Queertet festival to thought-provoking plays that challenge audiences, Grin continues to evolve, collaborating with theatre companies across the North West to amplify LGBTQ+ voices. In this interview, we speak with Wes Williams, the…
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Jodie Comer To Bring Prima Facie To Liverpool For Final Tour
Jodie Comer will reprise her award-winning role in Prima Facie for a final tour in 2026, with the production making a highly anticipated stop at Liverpool Playhouse. The Killing Eve star, originally from Liverpool, will return to her hometown for the last leg of the tour, running from 17 to 21 March. Written by Suzie Miller, Prima Facie tells the powerful story of a barrister who defends men accused of rape before experiencing sexual assault…
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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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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…
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Review: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake At The Empire Theatre
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, a groundbreaking reimagining of the classic ballet, continues to resonate decades after its debut as we saw tonight at the Liverpool Empire. This 30th-anniversary production of Swan Lake, while perhaps less shocking than its 1995 premiere, retains its anarchic spirit and emotional core, offering a potent exploration of family dynamics, repressed desire, and the search for identity. Bourne’s genius lies in his ability to blend the familiar narrative with a fresh,…
