Boisterous new theatre company for Liverpool

Liverpool’s Royal Court is supporting the creation of a new theatre company aimed at nurturing talent within the city’s Black and ethnic minority arts community.

Boisterous will produce and develop work by and in collaboration with existing and new actors, writers and directors, starting with a production of John Godber’s Bouncers in the theatre’s new Downstairs venue.

The company is being run by Miriam Mussa and Maurice Bessman, and Bessman has worked to create a new version of the Godber favourite.

Bouncers will star Joe Speare who has recently appeared in finished performing Guys and Dolls at the Royal Exchange, Zain Salim, from the anti-gun and gang crime play Terriers and Corrie and Emmerdale actor Trevor Dwyer-Lynch. A fourth cast member is yet to be announced.

The plan is for the company to fill a gap in the market for theatrical provision from diverse communities in Liverpool, help to encourage more diverse audiences to attend the Royal Court, and create a city centre venue which welcomes the whole community.

Miriam Mussa, who is directing Bouncers, says: “We want Boisterous to provide an ambitious platform and progressive route for actors, writers, directors and producers from the BAME community.

“It’s something I have been passionate about for a long while and we hope to create something special with the support of the Royal Court.

“It’s an opportunity to widen representation across the cultural sector by creating employment, mentoring and training opportunities within the arts.”

Bouncers is Downstairs at the Royal Court from April 30 to May 12.