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Review: Matilda the Musical at the Liverpool Empire *****
It recently entered its 15 th year on the London stage, putting it in the top 10 of longest-running West End shows. But when the RSC commissioned the stage musical version of Roald Dahl’s children's book Matilda back in December 2008, it was a leap of faith for a company best known for presenting the works of Shakespeare to generations of theatregoers. Not only that, but they enlisted musicals first timer Dennis Kelly to adapt the book, and kohl-eyed, wild-haired Aussie come
Liverpool date for The Silence of the Lambs
Crack out the fava beans and pour yourself a nice Chianti – The Silence of the Lambs is springing off the page (and screen) and on to the stage and heading for Liverpool as part of an inaugural UK tour. The world premiere live production of the chilling psychological thriller by Thomas Harris, which was turned into an acclaimed film in 1991 starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, will come to the Liverpool Empire in June 2027. When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent
Brilliant shows heading for Liverpool in 2026
Liverpool venues have lined up a brilliant 12 months of entertainment to see the city’s theatre lovers through 2026 from start to finish. Despite the ongoing financial challenges being faced in the arts – as in the country at large, Liverpool theatre world has if anything upped its game even further with a whole host of must-see productions heading our way between January and December. Whether it’s old friends, first time visitors, acclaimed touring productions, re-visited cl
Review: Fawlty Towers at the Liverpool Empire ****
Fawlty Towers is often voted among the best ever British television sitcoms. But it wasn’t, as it happens, an overnight sensation. The show aired first on BBC2 in September 1975 and garnered just under two million viewers. That’s a good figure by today’s standards, but in an era with only three TV channels it was decidedly modest (Stanley Baxter on ITV at the same time apparently pulled in 12 million). Reruns, and a move to BBC1, changed all that, and half-a-century, but stil
Paul Nicholas on his Major role at the Liverpool Empire
When Fawlty Towers was first broadcast in the 1970s, the series attracted millions of TV viewers. But it turns out Paul Nicholas wasn’t one of them. Because 50 years ago, the actor and singer was busy building a career on stage and screen and tended to find himself otherwise occupied at night. “I caught bits of it,” he explains, “but I was working a lot of the time, and it was pre being able to record programmes.” So when the he was asked if he was interested in playing the M
Review: Top Hat at the Liverpool Empire ****
The Empire is currently celebrating its centenary - and back in the same space in March 1926, Liverpool audiences would have been treated to Mr ‘top hat, white tie and tails’ himself Fred Astaire treading its boards. Astaire appeared with his sister Adele in George Gershwin’s Lady be Good. And it evidently proved to be good, because they returned to Lime Street for another run in early 1927. By the mid-30s, Astaire had gone from big theatre star to even bigger screen star. An
Jason Donovan makes Rocky Horror Liverpool return in 2026
Jason Donovan is set to return to the Liverpool stage in The Rocky Horror Show. The Aussie superstar will head the cast of Richard O’Brien’s outrageous cult musical when it comes to the Liverpool Empire next May. Donovan previously performed the part of transvestite scientist Dr Frank-n-Furter for a limited number of shows when the musical was staged at the Liverpool Playhouse last Christmas. Join two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet whose car, in a twi
Pantomimes and Christmas shows in Liverpool City Region for 2025
On the first day of Christmas Liverpool region's theatres gave to me...three Cinderellas, two Beanstalks and Beauty and the Beasties and a host of other shows to entertain everyone from three to 103. It's true the 'greatest fairytale of them all' appears to be the most popular choice for Christmas 2025, but away from pumpkins, glass slippers and clocks striking 12 there's a lot of choice out there this year - whether you want full-blown panto or something a bit different. In
Kraftwerk announces Liverpool date on 2026 Multimedia tour
Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk come to Liverpool in 2026 as part of a tour of the UK and Ireland. The hugely influential German band will appear at the Liverpool Empire on Sunday, June 7 as part of their Multimedia tour. Tickets for the show - part-performance, part digital installation - are not yet on sale. The constantly upgraded 3-D concert series began in 2012 at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and city audiences promised an unmissable audio and technological
Review: The Book of Mormon at the Liverpool Empire *****
Ding dong! The Mormons are back in Liverpool with glad tidings – as long as you’re not easily offended that is. Trey Parker, Matt Stone...
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