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Review: Waitress at the Liverpool Empire ****
To lose one leading actor on opening night may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both ‘names’…well, let’s just say it’s not ideal. But as the Reverend Mother tells Maria in The Sound of Music, when God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. And the absence of both Carrie Hope Fletcher AND Les Dennis from the Empire stage, both indisposed for undisclosed reasons, allowed several other members of the Waitress cast a chance to shine. None more so than Ellie Ruiz Rodrigue
Comedy to catch in Liverpool this autumn
As autumn approaches, the nights start to get darker and the news seems to get bleaker, we all need a laugh. Happily, the nation’s funny men and women are willing to oblige, with a mighty host of comedians descending on Britain’s ‘capital of comedy’ between now and Christmas to give us all a big laugh. Along with comedy clubs and regular comedy nights, star names and rising talent are also appearing at venues like the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Playhouse, Philharmonic Hall, Ep
11 shows to catch in Liverpool this autumn
The summer may still be at its height but given how fast June and July have sped past it won’t be long until the autumn theatre season is upon us. And there is a packed programme of treats at Liverpool’s many venues this year. From big budget musicals to intimate dramas, high comedy to high tragedy, local stories to international tales, and classic texts to thought-provoking new work, there’s plenty for lovers of live theatre to choose from between September and Christmas. Se
Review: Moulin Rouge! the Musical at the Liverpool Empire ****
Time flies and it’s somehow now a quarter of a century since Ewan McGregor’s Christian met Nicole Kidman’s Satine at the Moulin Rouge. It seems though that truth, beauty, freedom and love don’t have a shelf life, certainly if the reported ticket sales for Moulin Rouge! The Musical, the Empire’s glitzy summer blockbuster offering, are anything to go by. The stage musical, which started its life over the pond eight years ago where it gathered armfuls of awards, takes Baz Luhrma
Shows to enjoy at Liverpool theatres in July
It may be the summer months, but theatres rarely go completely dark any more and there’s still plenty to enjoy on stage in the city throughout July. Over at the Everyman, YEP (Young Everyman Playhouse) is presenting its own version of the Jekyll and Hyde story, radically reimagined by Evan Placey for the digital age. The story of ambition, addiction and the monsters we hide (online and ‘IRL’) runs from July 2-4 at the Hope Street theatre. Meanwhile roll up roll up, the Empire
Dinnerladies dishing up big laughs at the Liverpool Empire in 2027
Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies are on their way to the Liverpool Empire as part of a new stage adaptation of the much-loved TV sitcom. The show will be cooking up a storm at the Lime Street theatre from July 13-17 next year. Tickets go on general sale this Friday, July 3 at 10am. The new touring stage adaptation - commissioned by the Victoria Wood Estate, written by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne and directed by Sean Foley - will feature the original TV characters in a storyline inspir
Liverpool dates for Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar
Eurovision star Sam Ryder is set to return to the stage in 2027 reprising his acclaimed performance in Jesus Christ Superstar on tour - with dates confirmed in Liverpool. The UK tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit sung-through rock opera is set to visit the Liverpool Empire from September 21 to October 2, 2027. Tickets go on general sale this Wednesday, June 24 at 10am. Originally released as an album, Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, where
Review: The Bodyguard at the Liverpool Empire ***1/2
When The Bodyguard was released in cinemas in 1992 it propelled Whitney Houston from successful music artist to global superstar. And while film critics were generally unimpressed (the movie picked up no fewer than six Razzie nominations), audiences loved it, and the soundtrack swept the board at nearly every music awards, clocking up an estimated 45 million sales to date. That music remains the beating heart (and backbone) of this stage version, on its latest visit to Liverp
Bost celebrates 100 years with new Liverpool Playhouse residency
BOST Musicals has announced a new five-year residency at the Liverpool Playhouse as part of its centenary celebrations. The long-running organisation, founded as the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust in 1926, will stage three shows at the Liverpool Playhouse between now and 2030. The inaugural production, Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, is set to be performed at the historic Williamson Square theatre on June 5-6. Directed and choreographed by James Lacey, the spectacular musical
Review: The Rocky Horror Show at the Liverpool Empire ****
It’s astounding, time really is fleeting – because it seems only a matter of months ago that Rocky Horror was at the Playhouse. But in reality that was Christmas 2024, and now Richard O’Brien’s timeless shlocky horror juggernaut has rolled back into town again (fresh from a New Zealand sojourn), returning to its usual Liverpool Empire stamping ground with a mixture of a few familiar and lots of fresh faces among the cast. Two years ago, Jason Donovan appeared in a handful of
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