In Conversation – Daniel Draper & Christie Allanson of Shut Out The Light’s ‘Liverpool Story’ Film
Liverpool Story captures a year in the life of Liverpool, exploring its unique character across every postcode. Filmed in 2023, the documentary by director Daniel Draper and producer Christie Allanson captures familiar and unexpected sides of the city, from drag nights to doggy daycare, revealing Liverpool’s rich culture beyond the backdrops seen in TV and film.
In our conversation, Dan and Christie discuss how they aimed to capture the true essence of Liverpool through themes of home, belonging, and memory. Premiering at the Philharmonic, Liverpool Story hopes to be a heartfelt portrayal of a city constantly evolving yet deeply rooted in community.
Liverpool Noise: Liverpool Story captures a ‘year in the life’ of the city. What inspired you to take this approach, filming across all of Liverpool’s postcodes in 2023?
Christie: Liverpool is so often a backdrop for TV productions and Hollywood films, we spot it in adverts all the time! But most people probably don’t know they’re even looking at Liverpool, and we thought it was time to rectify that. The city deserved a film of its own, so we set out to represent it fairly by walking the streets with a camera and filming in every Liverpool postcode, as well as capturing events that take place annually. We hope we’ve done it justice and that it’ll be a testament to the city for the future as well.
Liverpool Noise: In the film, you explore themes of home, belonging, and memory. How did these themes emerge from the footage you shot, and why are they important to Liverpool’s narrative?
Dan: People like to say ‘Liverpool is this’ or ‘Scousers are that’. But really, it’s all individual isn’t it? What it the place means to a person born and bred on say, Scottie Road, is different to a refugee who now feels safe here – but it’s home to both. We did audio interviews with people from different walks of life who live here, asking them questions about themselves and the city, and these themes of home and memory kept resurfacing. The city is changing all the time, it’s evolving and it was important to capture how people feel about Liverpool, at this moment in time.
Liverpool Story – Official Trailer
Liverpool Noise: The film touches on a wide range of local experiences, from drag nights to doggy daycare. How did you balance showing the everyday alongside more unique or lesser-known aspects of Liverpool life?
Dan: To capture each area properly we made sure we spent at least two days just walking around with the camera. Some areas we knew well and some we never really go to ourselves, so we’d walk along and discover lovely buildings or interesting shops. And if it interested us then it would be of interest to other people. So that’s how we captured the every day. Ahead of filming we tried to find something fun or different in each postcode, as a kind of focal point in each section of the film. We looked on social media and in local magazines – but often it was word-of-mouth. When people found out what we were doing they’d say ‘Oh well my mate plays basketball here..’ and off we’d go! We discovered a lot that way.
Liverpool Noise: Liverpool is often filmed and photographed, but this film aims to present a “lesser-known” side of the city. Can you share some of the hidden or overlooked parts of Liverpool that audiences might discover through Liverpool Story?
Christie: Oh we found out all sorts of surprises! Did you know Liverpool is home to the oldest sketch club in England? Or that you can learn Finnish? We didn’t! We filmed around Kensington and found a family run company that makes religious statues, in a house in an ordinary street. Honestly there is a club or a group for everything if you look for it. We knew Liverpool was a cultural city, but we didn’t realise just how much there is to do.
Liverpool Noise: With the premiere coming up at the Philharmonic, what are you hoping the audience takes away from this portrait of Liverpool?
Dan: We hope people see something they haven’t seen before. And hopefully go away with a new appreciation for Liverpool. Often you don’t explore your own city as much as you would a city you visit, so maybe people will go away and think of joining a club or going to an area they haven’t been yet. Also how diverse people’s experience can be. Everyone is different, but we all call this city home, and we’re all existing here together or trying to – there is a message of community that we hope comes across.
Liverpool Noise: Finally, what’s next for Shut Out the Light Films? Do you have any plans for future projects after Liverpool Story?
Christie: It’s all Liverpool Story at the moment – we have further screenings lined up for Liverpool and a tour of other cities. On top of that, we’re half way through our next film already! A very exciting project focussed on working-class women, so that’s what’s next!
Liverpool Story will premiere at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic on Thursday 21 November. Tickets are selling fast!
