Kirkby’s controversial 1970s ski slope gets its own stage show.
“The Kirkby Ski Slope was built without planning permission, out of rubbish, over a water main and on land not belonging to the council. It’s also almost certainly the wrong way round, given that the base of the slope runs perilously close to the M57.”
-BBC Nationwide, 1975
A brand new comedy about one of the wildest chapters in Merseyside history will premiere at Liverpool’s Royal Court next summer. Taking the Piste, written by Kieran Lynn, opens from 19 June until 18 July.
The tale of the Kirkby ski slope sounds like an urban myth dreamt up by, well, the Royal Court. It’s the 1970s, Kirkby can be the town of the future! A symbol of regeneration in the 1970s! You know what Kirkby needs? A ski slope…
Taking the Piste tells the story of a ski slope that was built but never opened, that cost tax papers tens of thousands, and even asked local schoolchildren to act as volunteers to lay the artificial surface. No one was allowed to ski on the slope because the council’s insurers found it too dangerous.
It’s also the story of independent journalism, of the Liverpool Free Press who led on the investigation of the Kirkby Ski Slope, against the powers that be. BBC Nationwide covered the ski slope in 1975 in a famous programme (watch on BBC Archive here https://www.bbc.co.uk/videos/c8r0k1dkmrro)
You’ll meet Donald Storm, head of Kirkby Council, his mate, Geoff, a builder who may as well wear a ten-gallon hat, plucky journalists who speak their minds. It’s all downhill from here!
Taking the Piste
19 June – 18 July
https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/main_stage/taking-the-piste/