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 reinvention, her vision for expanding accessibility and engagement, and the challenges of funding in the arts. Plus, she shares her dream cast for Macbeth—because no Shakespeare conversation is complete without a little casting fantasy!
Liverpool Noise: First off, huge congratulations on your appointment back in September 2024! It feels like just yesterday, doesn’t it? Four months can fly by! What was your initial impression when you first arrived at the Shakespeare North Playhouse?
Lisa: Thank you very much!
It’s truly an extraordinary space, brought to life by an incredibly talented team. The quality of work produced here has always impressed me, from original pieces by local writers and actors to fresh adaptations of Shakespeare. The Playhouse has always been consistent with producing fun, impactful stories that feel like our own and that’s what makes it so special.
Being in Prescot has been an absolute delight. There’s a real sense of community and a deep-rooted spirit of change here. Prescot’s history is built on adaptation—shifting from pottery in the 14th century to coal mining, then watchmaking, and later pioneering the cable industry with the British Insulated Wire Company. Whenever faced with hardship, Prescot has adapted and overcome it. That resilience is still alive today: You can hear it in the voices of the locals, who are passionate about the town’s potential. The love and support they’ve shown for the Playhouse are truly inspiring.
The Playhouse was always intended to spark cultural regeneration, and you can see the impact just by walking down Eccleston Street, where independent cafes and bars are thriving. Knowsley Council and the culture team have been real drivers of this transformation, and with the support of incredible partners, dedicated staff, and volunteers, the future looks bright. Everywhere I go, I meet people who want to be involved with Shakespeare North Playhouse—it’s something the whole community is behind.
Liverpool Noise: Taking the helm as CEO is definitely a big undertaking, with so many different areas to juggle. How’s the strategic plan coming along? We’d be really interested to hear about any wins you’re celebrating, or any little bumps in the road you’ve navigated so far!
Lisa: Currently, most of my time is spent working on budgets—not the most exciting topic for readers, I’m afraid! But alongside that, I’m developing a three-to-five-year plan in collaboration with the teams at Shakespeare North, Knowsley Council, and Arts Council England. I’m also focused on building and strengthening partnerships across the Liverpool City Region to expand our impact even further. The way I see it, every week is a win: I’m constantly meeting amazing groups and partners eager to work with us, so it’s an exciting time, full of endless possibilities!
Liverpool Noise: We’re curious at Liverpool Noise to know how the local community in Prescot feels about the theatre. How successful to date do you think the creative programming has been in terms of artistic quality, getting audiences involved, and making a difference in the community? And what are your thoughts on exciting new ways to get even more people engaged and raise local awareness?
Lisa: Well, this is just the beginning. Opening a theatre in two years is no small feat, but the team has done an incredible job. The creative programming has been of exceptional quality, and we’ve used this time to experiment with a diverse range of events and productions, learning what resonates most with audiences.
Our plan is to build on these strong foundations by continuing to showcase work from a wide variety of voices. Engaging more people is key, and that starts with listening to our communities. We want to welcome both avid theatre-goers and those who have never stepped foot in a theatre before. That’s why we offer a selection of Pay What You Decide tickets—making theatre accessible without financial barriers.
Accessibility remains a top priority, and we’re looking at ways to further democratise the space. We’re also exploring the creation of neighbourhood-based spaces to better serve the local community. Beyond that, we’re reviewing and expanding our programming to cater to different audiences. Our events for children and young people during the festive season were a huge success, and we’re keen to build on that momentum. Ultimately, our goal is to make the best use of our facilities to support the community, elevate the visitor experience, and establish Prescot as a cultural destination for everyone.
Liverpool Noise: Even though austerity is supposed to be a thing of the past, funding in the arts is still a challenge. What are some of your ideas for diversifying income and making sure the organisation has the resources it needs for a sustainable future?
Lisa: We’re exploring more commercial avenues to expand the variety of performances available for booking. Additionally, I’m focused on enhancing the visitor experience and building on the success of our events and venue hires. While some exciting plans are in the works, they’re not quite ready to share publicly just yet!
Liverpool Noise: Being a CEO also means being an ambassador. What are some of your initial thoughts on representing Shakespeare North Playhouse at the local, regional, national, and even international levels? How do you envision Shakespeare North’s role as a key player in the arts and cultural landscape?
Lisa: Shakespeare North Playhouse is part of the triangle of Shakespeare venues” in the UK. If you mapped it out, you’d see it clearly: The Globe Theatre in London, Shakespeare’s birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, and Shakespeare North Playhouse here in Prescot.
The continued interest in these Shakespearean landmarks proves that his work is just as relevant today as it was in the 16th century. We hope this cultural significance can help advocate for the arts at a political level. Shakespeare belongs in schools, and teachers need the training to show students that his work can be fun as well as educational.
Looking ahead, our ambitions stretch far beyond the North. We’re developing partnerships on both national and international levels, creating productions that will tour the UK and beyond, sharing the creativity of the Playhouse with wider audiences. Shakespeare is a global brand, and my goal is to establish Shakespeare North as a major visitor attraction, drawing in tourists from all over.
I am also passionate about supporting the next generation of artists, particularly actors. Just down the road from the Playhouse, you’ll find Kemble Street, named after John Philip Kemble, a Shakespearean actor who rose to fame touring the country. The Northwest has a rich history of producing incredible performers, and we’re excited to play a role in continuing that legacy.
Liverpool Noise: Okay, enough shop talk! Purely for fun – what’s your absolute favourite Shakespeare play, and what makes it so special for you? Finally, let’s get creative! Imagine you could produce and direct your own version of Macbeth. Who, living or not, would you cast as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? We’d love to hear your dream casting choices
Lisa: Funnily enough, Macbeth is my favourite Shakespeare play (though I have a soft spot for Romeo and Juliet too). I had a wonderful English teacher who sparked my love for Shakespeare, taking us to Stratford-upon-Avon every year. Looking back, it almost feels like she was preparing me for this role!
As for dream casting—it’s a bit of a vaulting ambition given their busy schedules, but I’d love to cast Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer. They’re both such incredible actors, delivering every line with a raw intensity that makes it impossible to look away.
To find out more about the Shakespeare North Playhouse and what’s on visit shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk
