Theatre in Liverpool
Theatre show previews and reviews
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Liverpool Will ‘Follow The Star’ This Christmas In A Family Theatre Show For Everyone
An accessible, child-centred show, performed by a diverse cast of international and learning disabled performers is set to be a Christmas hit this year in Liverpool. In Star of Wonder at the Unity Theatre, audiences of all ages and abilities are invited to join three friends on a wondrous journey to follow a star. What follows is a hilarious, magical and memorable show for all the family, full of clowning, magical interaction and brilliant puppetry. Created by the award-winning Liverpool-based collective Teatro…
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New Stage Production of George Orwell’s 1984 Comes To Liverpool
To commemorate 75 years since the publication of George Orwell’s groundbreaking novel, this thrilling new stage adaptation, features Keith Allen and is directed by Lindsay Posner (3 Sisters on Hope Street, Everyman, 2008). 1984 is an iconic story of surveillance, oppression and forbidden love and is adapted for the stage by Ryan Craig (Charlotte and Theodore, Ustinov Studio; The Holy Rosenbergs and Our Class, National Theatre), who was nominated as Most Promising Playwright at the…
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Review: ‘Giselle’ At Liverpool Empire Theatre
Witnessing the English National Ballet’s revival of their 1971 Giselle was an experience to savour, one that elevated the standard for this beloved classic to new heights. The company executed each element to near perfection—Mary Skeaping’s renowned choreography and direction, the meticulous recreation of David Walker’s original set, the evocative lighting and costumes, and the orchestra’s powerful score under Gavin Sutherland’s expert direction. Together, these components coalesced into a afternoon matinee performance of extraordinary intensity…
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English National Ballet – Mary Skeaping’s Giselle Coming To Liverpool’s Empire Theatre
This Wednesday 23 October sees the start of a four performance run at the Liverpool Empire of English National Ballet’s acclaimed 1971 production of Giselle. The celebrated choregrapher and director Mary Skeatings interpretation of the 1841 standout of the classical ballet canon has garnered much praise for its artistic synthesis of peasant countryside life and the eternal forces of the supernatural. Giselle is a haunting story of innocence and betrayal – a timeless tale about…
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Woman | Women Theatre Show Takes Deep Dive Into Fast-Paced Nature of Lesbian Relationships
A new stage production is fusing performance art and physical theatre to explore how lesbian relationships do not follow traditional societal expectations. Woman | Women is a physical and comedic show that takes an academic deep dive into the fast-paced nature of same sex relationships between women. The autumn tour also features pre-show discussions on sexuality and creativity in an open conversation format. The show, which will tour Ormskirk, Liverpool, and Prescot this November, is the brainchild of…
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Review: ‘Birdsong’ At The Liverpool Playhouse
As familiar as most of us are with the word ‘war’, it still – rightly – has the power to shock. The terrible events unfolding across the world, daily beamed into our homes are tragic testimony to that and never should we become inured. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks’ best-selling epic romance set against the horrors of trench warfare in the First World War’s battlefields of France is now more than 30 years old and remains his…
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Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong Is Coming To The Playhouse
Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss, Birdsong, returns to the stage in a brand-new production for 2024 at the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 October. Featuring award-winning actor Max Bowden (EastEnders), this production marks the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel. The critically acclaimed show, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Original Theatre’s Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley, tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love…
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Review: ‘Girls Don’t Play Guitars’ At The Royal Court
“Girls, do play guitars! And bass. And drums.” This brilliant show proves it. Girls Don’t Play Guitars, which first played at the Royal Court in 2019, is based on the lives and careers of the relatively unknown four-piece female band, The Liverbirds, who were inspired to take on the boys during the pop boom of the early Sixties, not least because they were at its epicentre. In so doing, they became known in some quarters…
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4am Productions Bring ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ Play To Liverpool Fringe
4am Productions is set to bring back their acclaimed show They Don’t Really Care About Us to the Liverpool Fringe this October. Directed by co-founder Sab Mathusamy, the production delves deep into themes of racism, family, and community, capturing the rawness of real-life experiences. The show was a hit during its last run and with recent events echoing its narrative, it feels more relevant than ever. We caught up with Sab to discuss what prompted…
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Sleeping Beauty Panto Coming To The Atkinson In Southport
With just 14 weeks until Christmas, the talented cast of Sleeping Beauty are excited to spread some festive cheer at The Atkinson in Southport, starring Blue Peter presenter and TikTok sensation, Joel M. Running from 6 – 31 December, Joel takes on the role of Presto the Court Jester, showcasing his magical abilities and engaging stage presence to bring extra sparkle and enchantment to his pantomime debut. With a combination of pantomime classics and captivating…
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‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Plays Announced At Liverpool’s Royal Court
Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre has announced two new shows for 2025 with bookings now open. They are both football themed, but you definitely don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy them. One is the true story about a legendary figure in the history of Liverpool FC; the other is a very much not true story about an iconic Evertonian.The first is a world premiere of a drama that the whole theatre world has been…
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Blue Peter Presenter And TikTok Star, Joel M, To Appear In Sleeping Beauty At The Atkinson
Blue Peter presenter and Tik Tok sensation, Joel M, will star in this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, at The Atkinson in Southport. This year’s production running from 6 – 31 December promises to deliver a magical and unforgettable experience for the whole family, with Joel M bringing his unique blend of magic, humour and charisma, to the stage. Joel will bring his distinctive style of magic and his engaging stage presence to the role of…
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In Bloom: Dancer Brings Mesmerising Solo Show To Shakespeare North Playhouse
Connoisseurs of avant-garde dance and music are in for a treat next week. Celebrated Swiss-born Aline Costa, a performer and choreographer, presents her latest work In Bloom at Shakespeare North Playhouse. Following on from her past visceral work, such as Streets Of Apples and Woman Without, In Bloom features evocative imagery, compelling narratives, and dark humour, all of which transports the audience into an imaginatively bizarre world. In Bloom also features original music by Liverpool…
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New LGBTQIA+ Shared Reading Taster Sessions Announced At Liverpool’s Everyman
The Reader is excited to be launching new LGBTQIA+ inclusive Shared Reading taster sessions at Liverpool Everyman. Two drop-in sessions will accompany a debut play set in the Aids epidemic, Tell Me How It Ends, by Tasha Dowd, agraduate of the award-winning Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) programme. These pre-show sessions on 19 and 20 June are open to everyone and FREE to attend. At Shared Reading groups people talk, connect and share experiences using stories,…
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Theatre Review: Twelfth Night at Shakespeare North Playhouse
Warrington’s theatre company, Not Too Tame, have provided the Prescot venue with a real marmite of a production. Some of you are going to love it, whilst others, not so. But what can’t be doubted is the level of commitment that the ensemble of the cast bring to their performance. The play’s setting shifts from Illyria to one of a musical industry setting, one which seems to dwindle in importance as the play progresses. But…
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Embark On The High Seas Adventure With Pirates & Whips: The Cage of Men At Hope Street Theatre
Liverpool get ready to set sail on a rollicking voyage with Pirates & Whips: The Cage of Men, a brand new adult comedy theatre show that promises to be a riotous adventure filled with strong female pirates who dominate the high seas…and men! Written by Barry Levy and the production team consisting of Jennifer Keeley and Caitlin Novak, the adventure follows the journey of five fearless female pirates – Kendell, Alexa, Blunder, Sin, and Chains…
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Liverpool Arab Arts Festival Returns This July
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) – the longest running festival of Arab arts and culture in the UK – returns for its 22nd year, from 12 – 21 July. LAAF exists to support and champion creatives from across the Arab region and its diaspora, in the belief that art and creativity have the power to express a shared humanity. The festival will celebrate Liverpool’s unique identity; a city, with a global community and brimming with…
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Empowering Women: ‘Give Me A Break’ At The Hope Street Theatre This May
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, have you ever paused to consider the trials and tribulations faced by women navigating the complexities of the modern world? Enter Give Me A Break, the latest offering from 4am Productions, poised to challenge and captivate audiences with its raw portrayal of four women’s journey through the trenches of societal expectations. This devised comedy delves into the lives of four women navigating the tumultuous waters of the…
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The Netherley Hillbillies Take The Stage At The Royal Court
“Come listen to a story ’bout a man name Jed, Found it really hard to keep a roof over his head. Then one day he escaped from being poor When the lottery machine spat out six of his balls.” Jed, Lisa, Elly May and mother-in-law Renie aren’t used to being rich. They were always rich in spirit and all that but now they’re proper rich. Like ‘big house in Formby’ rich. Jed has got the rags to riches…
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Lovestruck: Immersive Theatre Show To Get Hearts Racing This Summer
“Ready for love? Well look no further! Lovestruck have been matching people like you for what feels like an eternity. Using their state of the art hypno-DNA technology, they’re certain you’ll meet someone you find drop-dead gorgeous!Lovestruck are coming to your area with an exclusive event to get hearts pumping, and brains fizzing. Boasting a 100% ‘perfect match’ success rate, they guarantee you’ll never go on another date again…” This summer, Paperwork Theatre presents Lovestruck, a multi-location…
