November - 2021

Archive

Christmas Countdown calendar brings festive fun to Liverpool city centre

Enjoy an Advent calendar of pop-up seasonal treats in Liverpool city centre this Christmas. Paperwork Theatre is behind the Christmas Countdown which will take place from 6pm each Thursday to Saturday between now and December 18 and then on December 21-23. The unexpected entertainment will encompass everything from stories to song and dance to drag, and involves a host of talented Liverpool entertainers and organisations. Around 80 creatives are involved across the 12 separat

Drink in some dark satire at Hope Street Theatre

Dark satirical comedy comes to the Hope Street Theatre this week when Off The Ground Theatre stages The Drunks. The Gogol-tinged play, written by Mikhail and Vyachaslev Durnenkov and translated by Nina Raine, is billed as a modern tale of ‘corruption and manipulation, lies and stupidity’ which explores what people are prepared to do both to get into power and to stay there. While it’s set in Russia, the themes will definitely resonant among audiences outside the country’s bor

Review: Symphonie Fantastique at Philharmonic Hall ****1/2

The numbers of Covid-related no shows on concert programmes have, thankfully, reduced to barely a trickle in recent months. Still, this Saturday night at Hope Street was announced with a change of conductor some time ago, with Singapore’s Kahchun Wong being indisposed due to ‘travel restrictions’. On the plus side, stepping into his shoes has given the Phil’s new chief conductor Domingo Hindoyan the chance to spend an extended period at the hall, bonding with the orchestra (a

Unity Theatre stages Christmas Festival of events

Liverpool’s Unity Theatre is hosting a festive chocolate box of events in December. The Hope Place venue’s new Christmas Festival, running from December 4-22, is taking place instead of a traditional Christmas show, It aims to celebrate the city’s creative community with two-and-a-half weeks of festive music, circus, cabaret, workshops, night markets and family-friendly events. The seasonal line-up includes a return for Teatro Pomodoro, Nana Funk, 20 Stories High, Sense of So

Unity Theatre reveals new spring season of shows

The Unity Theatre has revealed its spring 2022 season with a host of visiting companies and Liverpool creatives staging work at the Hope Place venue. Vamos, Graeae Theatre, Actors Touring Company and Melissa Johns are among those heading for the theatre. Vamos finally arrives with Dead Good – a timely show about the importance of living every precious day to the full, which was the Unity’s first cancelled show back in March 2020. It will be at the theatre on March 3. March al

Everyman and Playhouse announces new creative director

The Everyman and Playhouse has announced the appointment of a new creative director. Suba Das is due to join the theatres next spring from his current role as artistic director and chief executive of new writing company High Tide. The role of Everyman and Playhouse creative director replaces that of artistic director which was held by Gemma Bodinetz from 2004 until she stepped down earlier this year. She has recently been appointed director of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotl

Museum of Liverpool's Wondrous Place celebrates city's cultural heart

The Museum of Liverpool’s Wondrous Place gallery has reopened after a major revamp including a new, more open design and a wealth of new exhibits. Around 123 new lenders have offered items for display – including Olympic heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s spikes, boxer Natasha Jonas’ shorts and belt, Grand National winning jockey Rachel Blackmore’s silks, a Melanie C stage outfit, one of Jodie Comer’s costumes from Killing Eve and Gary Christian’s hat and sunglasses. The

Review: Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Liverpool Empire ****1/2

It’s been a long wait for this inaugural touring production of Sheffield Theatres’ exuberant smash hit musical to arrive at the Empire – 18 months from its original dates to be precise. But then you wait and wait and wait for one Jamie, and two come along at the same time, with Layton Williams strutting his irrepressible stuff on stage and the real Jamie who inspired the multi award-winning show watching this opening night performance from the stalls. Because while Everybody’

Sean Jones on planning panto pratfalls at the Floral Pavilion

Twelve months ago, Sean Jones should have been in rehearsals for the Floral Pavilion’s festive panto. After a successful run in Snow White at New Brighton in 2019, in which he’d played the hapless Muddles, the North Walian actor had been invited back for the venue’s version of Beauty and the Beast. Instead, he found himself spending Christmas working in a care home, “top to toe in PPE”. “There were some very, very dark days,” recalls the 50-year-old, who has nurses in the fam

£2.5m Culture funding boost for Liverpool City Region organisations

More than 20 arts organisations and venues across Liverpool City Region are set to share an additional £2.56m from the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund. The 22 recipients are part of 925 cultural organisations nationwide receiving a total of £107m in a third round of grants from the fund which was set up last year to help support the sector through the pandemic. Liverpool’s Royal Court (pictured) will get £340,000, while Camp and Furnace receives £331,548 and the Everyman

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