Everyman and Playhouse supports a romantic night in

Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse has teamed up with director Emma Rice’s Wise Children company to present a special Northern online screening of her new production.

A live performance of Romantics Anonymous will be streamed to city audiences on September 22.

The show, a co-production between Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and Plus Theatre, will come direct from the stage in Bristol as part of a five day ‘digital tour’ from September 22-26 which involves 34 different theatres.

Partner theatres across the world will sell tickets for the musical on different nights of the week, with the Everyman & Playhouse joining eight other venues from the North of England for the opening night's performance.

Each night will be tailored to audiences at those different theatres, with a sprinkle of local flavour added before the stream begins.

Based on the French film Les Emotifes Anonymes, Romantic’s Anonymous is billed as ‘a delicious love story about breaking the mould and finding the courage to be happy’.

The story follows Angélique (Carly Bawden) – a gifted chocolate maker crippled by social anxiety, who faints when people look at her; and Jean-René (Marc Antolin) – the boss of a failing chocolate factory with a reliance on self-help tapes and a proneness to embarrassing sweating.

When Angélique takes a job in Jean-René’s struggling factory, a fragile love affair unfolds.

As part of the process to stage the production, actors will be tested for coronavirus before forming a social bubble in Bristol. This will then allow the cast to perform the show in an empty Bristol Old Vic auditorium without social distancing between actors.

Emma Rice said: “I’ve devoted my life to the live experience and the collective imagination – things that have proved impossible over the last few months.

“Whilst nothing will be able to replace the thrill of a night out at the theatre, this live broadcast is going to be as close to that delicious experience as we can possibly make it.

“Live, fresh, fun and intimate, this will remind us of what it is to share stories, hear music and, if true love has its way, even kiss… imagine that!”

Romantics Anonymous will be screened on September 22. Virtual doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets and further details HERE