On the left, Maisy, a white young woman with brown hair and glasses, smiling past the camera. She is wearing a pink and orange jumper with dungarees on top, sitting on a black manual wheelchair. On the right, Evan, a white young man with short brown curly hair, smiling to camera, wearing a black tshirt.
This week our Culture Radar guests are Maisy Gordon & Evan Byrne, Co-CEO’s of Tip Tray Theatre.
Looking forward to: We are really looking forward to celebrating Chinese New Year in February. The celebrations are always so much fun and there’s loads of different events happening around the city.
Trivia: Tip Tray Theatre is now part of The Culture Network, so we would love to introduce ourselves! We’re a disabled-led, Knowsley based company supporting underrepresented and emerging artists through socially engaged theatre, development opportunities and creative activism. We make work that’s curious, political, and rooted in lived experience.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As the final leaves are falling off the trees and the nights draw in, the colourful lights are starting to go up and the Christmas songs are thawing. Winter in Liverpool is the place to be, with plenty of Christmas shows in Liverpool to sink your teeth into and get you feeling warm and fuzzy and ready to spread the Christmas cheer.
Whether you’re in the mood for a Rock ’n’ Roll panto, an eclectic cabaret or a Scouse take on the classic Christmas Carol, Liverpool has got it all! So grab your hot chocolates and your novelty reindeer horns and brave the weather to see some of Liverpool’s finest festive fables!
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk – Liverpool Everyman (Until 17 January ’26)
Liverpool Everyman are back with their annual panto, this year bringing you their take on the beloved fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk! With some new and some familiar faces, join the Everyman on their musical adventure as Jack battles the greedy giant to grab the gold and save the day. In a show that is part fairy tale, part concert (but 100% fun), this is one for all the family and is bound to get you in the mood for December’s festivities. A must-see addition to the Christmas shows in Liverpool calendar.
The Scouse Christmas Carol – Liverpool’s Royal Court (Until 24 January ’26)
If you thought Charles Dickens couldn’t be improved upon, think again! The creative team who brought you ‘Scouse Red Riding Hood’ last year is back, bringing you another Christmas classic with a distinctive Scouse twist. Barbara Marley is on the warpath to track down who bumped off her husband, and she’s got Ebeneezer Scrooge firmly in her sights. Will Scrooge learn his lesson before Christmas morning? Only one way to find out! The Royal Court pantos are for grownups only, making this one of the most unique Christmas shows in Liverpool for adults.
Royal Court Stocking Fillers – Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio (Until 3 January ’26)
Fancy something a little different this year? Join the Royal Court Studio as they showcase seven brand new ten-minute festive plays to get you in the wintery spirit. These short plays have been written by members of the Royal Court’s writing groups and each evening four talented actors will bring them to life before your eyes. With a mix of comedy and drama, there’s something for everyone!
Timestamp – Hope Street Theatre (4 – 6 December)
If you’re looking for a show set in December, but not wrapped in tinsel and glitter, look no further than the Hope Street Theatre and their show, Timestamp. Set in 1970s America, Kimmy has been hired to crack the code of time travel as her country is being put through their paces in the “time race”. But after tragedy strikes, her mission becomes more than just a job – will she be able to save her future?
Cinderella, Shakespeare North Playhouse (Until 10 January ’26)
Tia Larsen takes on the titular role of Cinderella in this classic fairytale story, with a very special Prescot twist! Helped by her fairy godmother Mandy, Cinderella tries to find her missing mum and win the heart of the handsome prince, in this captivating new adaptation by Nick Lane that brings Cinderella to Merseyside.
Packed with magical moments, your favourite songs and lots of laughter, this new production is the perfect show to warm your hearts in the festive season.
To Be Near a Shooting Star – Unity Theatre (6 – 8 December)
In collaboration with RAWD, Unity plays host to their sparkly, twinkly, candy cane-sweet story, To Be Near A Shooting Star, this Christmas. RAWD has spent over a decade co-creating joyful, inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive, and this show will not be one to miss. M + J are going on a quest to find somewhere they can rest. You can expect tinsel, triumph, and three not-so-wise kings as RAWD present their version of a classic.
Beauty & the Beast – The Atkinson (5 -31 December)
The whole of Liverpool is going panto crazy this year, and Southport is no different! At The Atkinson, join KD Theatre as they bring the much-loved fairy tale Beauty & the Beast to life. Will the Beast find love before the final petal falls? And will Belle be the one to break the curse and save the day? A timeless tale of love and transformation, this pantomime is filled with dazzling costumes, hilarious comedy, live music and enough surprises to rival even Santa Claus.
Scousers in America… At Christmas – Hope Street Theatre (11 – 12 December)
Liverpool and New York have always had close ties to one another, and in this festive situational comedy by Sam Jones-Arthur, the two join together once more in a story of romance, Christmas spirit and the perfect sprinkling of hilarity for Scousers In America. When Ste and Chrissy book their tickets for The Big Apple to visit the recently moved-out Zara, they find themselves dragged along to an “influencer” event where Ste meets Grace. Cue a whirlwind romance, a few revelations and a Christmas the gang won’t soon forget.
The Spare Rib: X-Rated Xmas Xtravaganza – Downstairs at the Everyman (12 December)
The Spare Rib Burlesque & Cabaret hosts regular shows across Liverpool with a focus on extravagant entertainment and inclusivity for all. This festive season, they’re inviting you to celebrate the holidays at their final show of the year, Downstairs at the Everyman. Expect classic burlesque alongside unconventional contemporary styles that are sure to heat up your December evening! A bold and brilliant option among the more adult-themed Christmas shows in Liverpool.
Sleep Can Wait! – Unity Theatre (12 – 23 December)
On a snowy winter’s night, with excitement in the air and sleep nowhere to be found, three children open a magical book and are whisked away on adventures far from the comfort of their bedroom. In partnership with Tmesis Theatre, Unity brings you this heart-warming, high-energy journey through myths, legends and imagination in Sleep Can Wait. Known for their incredible physical theatre, Tmesis promises lots of movement and minimal text – making this show neurodiverse-friendly and perfect for all ages.
Things to Do in Liverpool and the City Region this Festive Season: Exhibitions, Museums, Theatre & More.
This festive season, Liverpool City Region is brimming with exciting things to do, offering something for everyone. From captivating exhibitions showcasing inspiring artwork to fascinating museums where history comes to life, there’s plenty to explore. For those seeking live entertainment, the vibrant theatre scene promises dazzling performances and unforgettable shows. If you’re after some fresh air, take a relaxing stroll on one of the many scenic walks through the city’s beautiful parks and waterfronts. And when the weather calls for a cosy escape, head to the cinema for a film screening. Whatever your interests, the Liverpool city region offers a wealth of activities to make this festive season extra special.
1. Museums and Galleries
Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, visiting a museum is one of the best things to do in Liverpool City Region for a peaceful retreat. Whether you’re seeking a break from the festive frenzy or looking to add a dash of intellectual curiosity to your holidays, a museum excursion offers the perfect blend of reflection and exploration. Step into a world of fascinating artifacts and exhibits, where the past unfolds its stories, making for a unique and enriching experience during the festive season.
FACT
Bassam Issa Al-Sabah’s THE MISSION IS THE END, THE END IS ALL I WANT! (2025)
FACT have a number of immersive exhibitions currently on display. assam Issa Al-Sabah unveils dreamlike animations and sculptures exploring resistance and queer possibility, while Nina Davies blurs fact and fiction in a futuristic sci-fi installation shaped by lived experiences of cancer. Completing the programme, Symoné’s Highway to Infinity offers a 20-minute bio-digital game that guides players through a surreal journey of memory, identity and self-reflection.
Bluecoat’s winter exhibitions offer playful, tactile and thought-provoking experiences for all ages. Lou Miller: We Dream of Our Freedom invites visitors into an interactive installation created with local schoolchildren, exploring young people’s visions of what freedom means today. Alongside it, Just Browsing transforms the gallery into a touchable, wearable art space, featuring textiles, ceramics, scent and sculptural works that audiences can physically engage with. Part of Bluecoat’s Felt season, the show brings together a vibrant group of artists and celebrates art you can truly get hands-on with.
Check Bluecoat’s festive opening hours
Museum of Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool features iconic collections like the Beatles collection, regional archaeology, and social and community history. From fascinating exhibitions to family-friendly displays, it’s an ideal spot for a relaxed day out during the festive break.
A trip to World Museum is a perfect festive break activity, with plenty to explore for all ages. You can wander through the fascinating Ancient Egypt gallery, get up close to marine life in the Aquarium, and experience the wonders of the universe in the Planetarium — all under one roof, and ideal for a winter day out between Christmas and New Year.
The Walker Art Gallery is a must-visit between Christmas and New Year, with two standout exhibitions to explore. Turner: Always Contemporary celebrates 250 years of J. M. W. Turner by pairing his iconic landscapes with modern and contemporary works, revealing how his legacy continues to inspire artists today. Alongside it, the John Moores Painting Prize 2025 showcases the very best of contemporary British painting, offering a vibrant snapshot of today’s most exciting artistic talent.
Experience the vibrant world of theatre, where there’s something for everyone. From dazzling musicals and captivating dramas to hilarious comedies and enchanting pantomimes, the region’s theatre scene offers unforgettable live performances. Enjoy the magic of talented actors, stunning productions, and the excitement of being part of the action. Whether you’re a seasoned theatre-goer or just seeking fun things to do for a night out, the Liverpool city region’s diverse theatre scene promises entertainment for all ages.
Liverpool Empire
Catch Matilda The Musical at the Liverpool Empire this festive break — a magical, award-winning show based on the cherished novel by Roald Dahl, brought to life with songs by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly. The story follows the brilliant, brave young girl Matilda — full of wit, imagination, and a little bit of magic — as she stands up to unfairness and finds her own path. It’s bursting with humour, heart, and high-energy musical numbers, making it a perfect festive outing for families or anyone young at heart. It’s on at the Empire until 4 January 2026.
The Atkinson
Beauty & the Beast brings festive magic to The Atkinson with a charming, laugh-filled pantomime packed with music, dazzling costumes and heartwarming storytelling. Perfect for all ages, this enchanting production from KD Theatre Productions is a sparkling family treat for the Christmas season. Running until 31 December.
Everyman & Playhouse Theatres
The Everyman’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 2025 brings a high-energy twist to Jack and the Beanstalk, combining fairy-tale fun with live music, cheeky humour, and outrageous costumes. Perfect for ages 3 to 103, it’s a musical adventure full of soaring solos, giant-sized laughs, and festive fun for the whole family.
Liverpool’s Royal Court
The Royal Court’s The Scouse Christmas Carol is a grown-up festive treat, packed with cheeky humour, live music, and a uniquely Liverpool twist on Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Expect outrageous jokes, a mischievous Scrooge, and plenty of festive chaos — the city’s biggest Christmas night out!
M&S Bank Arena
Experience the magic of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the M&S Bank Arena, starring Helen Flanagan as the Wicked Queen and a star-studded cast bringing the classic tale to life. Packed with live music, dazzling dance, stunning sets, and spectacular effects, this festive pantomime is a fun-filled adventure for the whole family.
3. Music
Future Yard’s Gig Panto: Hoodstock ’25
Get ready for the first-ever Future Yard Gig Panto: Hoodstock ’25, an irreverent, gig-style festive adventure where Robin Hood must save live music from an AI-controlled industry. Running from 22–31 December, this alternative panto combines festive hijinks with a full live band playing hits from Talking Heads, The Zutons, CMAT, Fontaines D.C, Pulp, and classic Yuletide favourites — perfect for music lovers looking for a hilarious, high-energy night out.
Mersey Dub Club
Mersey Dub Club returns on 27 December 2025 for a night of pure soundsystem culture, bringing together Equity Hi-Fi and Sugar Shack Sound System under one roof. Expect an evening of roots, dub, rocksteady, reggae, and steppa, delivered on vinyl and digital, celebrating unity, good vibes, and Merseyside’s rich musical heritage — perfect for lovers of deep, immersive sound.
4. Walks
A winter walk is one of the best things to do after the hustle of Christmas, the crisp air and peaceful comfort of the outdoors offer a refreshing break. The city slows down, making it the perfect time for exploration without the usual bustle. Layer up, savour the brisk air, and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the region’s beautiful parks and green areas for a truly serene experience this winter.
Albert Dock Art Trail
Join Tate Liverpool’s art-loving cat, Mildred, on a fun and creative adventure, on Mildred’s Albert Dock Art Trail. This free, family-friendly activity is perfect for children aged 7-11. Collect a free Art Trail booklet from Tate Liverpool + RIBA North at Mann Island, and follow the map to find six hidden artworks around the inner quay of the Royal Albert Dock. Along the way, children can create their own amazing art and solve word games by rearranging letters found near the artwork. It’s a wonderful way for families to explore the waterfront, get creative, and enjoy some quality time together.
5. Cinema Screenings
The Shining
For cinema lovers, there are plenty of things to do in Liverpool City Region this festive season. Heading to the cinema during the holidays adds a touch of magic to the chilly air. There’s something uniquely special about the cosy warmth of the theatre, the scent of buttery popcorn, and the anticipation of immersing yourself in captivating stories on the big screen. Whether you’re in the mood for a holiday classic or a new release, the festive season offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy some cinematic escapism.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Experience the thrill of Jurassic Park like never before at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall this festive season. Between Christmas and New Year, audiences can enjoy the blockbuster classic projected in HD while the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary score live. It’s an epic cinematic adventure — complete with prehistoric predators, breathtaking visuals, and heart-pounding music — perfect for a memorable winter outing.
FACT Picturehouse
At the Picturehouse at FACT you can watch a variety of films over the festive period including:
Shakespeare North Playhouse offers a brilliant festive cinema programme, including its family-friendly Wee Cinema Club, where children can enjoy free creative activities before screenings like The Legend of Ochi. Film fans can also catch a special showing of The End (2024) paired with a North West short film, making it a great spot for both magical family mornings and thought-provoking cinema experiences.
Keep an Eye Out for More Things to Do in Our What’s On Section!
Looking for even more exciting activities? Be sure to check out our What’s On section for a full list of things to do across the Liverpool City Region. From festive events and live performances to unique exhibitions and hidden gems, there’s always something new and exciting happening.
“Where other bands have toured Bowie’s songs extensively since his passing, these songs haven’t been performed the way they were meant to be. The D.A.M. Trilogy remains rock and roll’s best kept secret”.
Carlos Alomar and George Murray, who together with the late drummer Dennis Davis, formed the rhythm section on the celebrated ‘Berlin Trilogy’ of David Bowie albums are on tour for the first time since 1979. Davis, Alomar and Murray, as The D.A.M. Trilogy, played a crucial role in shaping Bowie’s music. Alomar was with Bowie from ‘Fame’, through the Berlin trilogy of albums, up to ‘Reality’ in 2003,
They are celebrating the three iconic albums ‘Low’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lodger’, cut in Berlin in the 1970so, and are using the tour to commemorate the lives and music of Dennis Davis and David Bowie.
The tour covers 16 dates, and started, fittingly, in Berlin on November 7th and finishes in Dublin on December 1st.
Alomar. the son of a Puerto Rican minister who grew up in New York, was a teenage guitar prodigy who joined the house band at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and became their youngest ever guitarist at 17. He played with legends such as James Brown and soon became a go-to session guitarist for RCA studios in New York. It was at RCA that Alomar met Bowie in 1974 and worked with Bowie on the Young American sessions. He co-wrote Bowie’s ‘Fame’, with Bowie and John Lennon, and worked with Bowie from ‘Young Americans’ through the Berlin Trilogy up to2003 on ‘Reality’. He was recruited by Bowie for the ‘Diamond Dogs’ tour and his ability to play R&B, Philly soul, hard rock and ambient music made him invaluable to Bowie because he could change with Bowie’s chameleon’-like moves from one musical genre to another.
Dennis Davis played on ten Bowie albums, including six successive studio albums, and George Murray was with Bowie for 5 years. The trio’s final performance with Bowie was on Saturday Night Live in 1979.
The D.A.M. Trilogy also backed Iggy Pop during the recording of ‘The Idiot’ in Berlin.
Alomar was last seen on these shores in ‘The Meaning of Funk’ documentary on BBC TV this year and played Liverpool for the first time since he appeared at the David Bowie Convention in 2024.
The set list includes blockbuster performances of crowd pleasers like ‘Heroes’, ‘Ashes to Ashes’, ‘Boys Keep Swinging’. ‘D.J.’, ‘Golden Years’, ‘Sound and Vision’, and ‘Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)’, as well as other lesser-known tracks like ‘Red Money’ and ‘the Secret Life of Arabia’.
From the opening number ‘Joe the Lion’ the band. with singer and charismatic lead singer Cunio, prowling and prancing around the stage in his impossibly high stiletto boots, and Kevin Armstrong supplying blistering lead guitar, had the audience pinned back with the power of the performance. They love to play Liverpool. The band, and their predominantly scouse crew, had been together for a month of rehearsal in Berlin before the first gig earlier this month, and the tightness of the performance testifies to the that.
From the opener to the final song,’ Scream Like a Baby’, the band wowed the crowd and had the audience dancing in the aisles until the final notes rang out.
Focused around sustainability, Future Yard has never just been a grassroots music venue – it’s a blue print of what the music industry could look like in a climate-conscious world.
On 20 November 2025, Future Yard hosted POP3, its third annual climate conference. A full day gathering, exploring the powerful role of the creative sector in driving environmental justice. The event brings together artists, venue operators, activists and academics from across the globe to bring meaning behind the climate cause.
Future Yard: Redefining What a Sustainable Music Venue Can Be
Based on Argyle Street, Future Yard is a community-focused, non-profit venue. Since fully opening in 2021, the 280-capacity space has become a hub for emerging artists, social change, and sustainable innovation. Most recently, the team has doubled down on its commitment to community-centred work and a love for the natural world. Sustainability remains central to its mission: Future Yard operates on a “triple bottom line” model, measuring success socially, environmentally, and financially. In partnership with Ecotricity Business, the venue has developed a Sustainability Roadmap that charts a route to operational net zero by 2030 and full net zero by 2035.
In a recent interview with Ecotricity, Future Yard’s sustainability manager, James Gillaspy, reflects on how the venue “reimagines the role of a live music space within its community” — not just as a venue, but as a locus for climate leadership.
Gillaspy explains since switching to Ecotricty’s 100% renewable electricity supply, Future Yard has cut a large proportion of its operational emissions – emphasising their biggest CO2 impact comes from audience travel. Future Yard is tackling this head on by promoting sustainable travel and partnering with Merseyrail to offer specific free return travel included in their Sustainability Travel Month.
Inside POP3: Future Yard’s Climate Conference for the Creative Sector
POP3 is Future Yards flagship climate event, brought to life in partnership with Ecotricity Business. This isn’t just a conference – it’s a day of debate, networking and original hands-on ideas for creative conversations.
POP3 is intentionally aligned with the UN’s Conference of the Parties (COP), where major moments of negotiations around emissions and climate finance are explored internationally. Future Yard positions itself as a grassroots counterpart to more traditional gatherings. The conference is free to attend, making it accessible to a diverse audience.
Not only did Future Yard use POP3 to launch their updated sustainability roadmap, showcasing its progress while setting new goals to achieve. They used the event to host an array of activities from talks to screenings to workshops.
Beginning with the Keynote address: Canadian musician and activist Luke Wallace opens the day, bringing his perspectives as an artist deeply engaged in environmental change. Using musical aspects his songs really spoke to the idea of collective belonging.
Next up on the agenda was the Sustainability Panel led by Ecotricity. This critical conversation involved discussions about energy, transport and food – three of the largest sources of carbon.
This was followed by The Future of the Merseyside Coast: In partnership with the National Oceanography Centre, this session reimagined the Merseyside coast in the face of climate change, imagining abstract ways to save our coastal habitats.
After lunch the next panel discussion was ‘Venues As A Centre For Change’. Hosted by EarthSonic, this discussion explores how grassroots spaces can become engines of social and environmental transformation. Specifically making us think about what shared values bring people together and the disconnect that lies between unshared values.
Following this was the Immersive Imagine Futures Workshop. Facilitator and cinema curator Bruno Castro presented the board game “Sustainability in the Arts” that made sustainability strategy creative, participatory and fun.
The day concluded with the film screening TAKKUUK. Inspired by their journey to Greenland with EarthSonic, UK electronic act BICEP has teamed up with seven indigenous arctic artists, from Greenlandic rappers to Inuit throat singers. This screening was a groundbreaking body of work, pulling together various cultures and media, it tore down the walls of social difference to emphasise our global climate crisis.
The Impact of POP3: Grassroots Leadership in the Climate Crisis
In Birkenhead and the wider Liverpool City Region, the conference emphasises how grassroots events can lead by example. Future Yard’s model is not only socially rooted but also deeply practical.
Leading the way to our sustainable future, Future Yard has launched the ‘Live Events Energy Scheme’, a collaboration with Ecotricity, as part of their mission to decarbonise their industry. The scheme allows access to the same high-quality renewable energy solutions as the industry giants, positioning Future Yard as the sustainable leader in the hopes to increase collective action to accelerate sustainability across the live events landscape.
Future Yard’s intent to publicly share their net zero roadmap, gathering experts and hosts inspiring conversations, sends a powerful signal: the climate crisis is not just an existential threat but a call to reimagine our way of life. For Birkenhead, that reimagining is happening now. In real time, with real people, making a real impact.
This week’s Culture Radar guest is Ria Bagley,Membership and Systems Coordinator at The Culture Network LCR.
Loved: I’ve loved Remember Nature at FACT, where I performed alongside Bernadette McBride, Tom Doubtfire, and Paul Harfleet. I brought a setup full of tech to weave together sounds of the past and present, and even let my mushroom and plant choir voice a speculative post-human future. FACT has always felt like a place where you can think differently, and performing within that shifting environment with such an open-minded audience reshaped my own approach which felt less like performing at something and more like performing with it, in conversation with the space. The Moi Bakeshop at FACT deserves a shout out for their excellent brunch offerings!
Looking forward to: I’m really looking forward to seeing the Toxteth: The Harlem of Europe exhibition at the Victoria Gallery & Museum. Toxteth is too often framed through the lens of the riots, but for me it’s one of the most vibrant, characterful and resilient places I’ve ever known, and the kind of neighbourhood that deserves to be celebrated.
Trivia: I may think I’m a punk, but I have an Internal Audit Practitioner designation and IIA Certificate in Audit and Business Risk \m/.
This week’s Culture Radar guest is Unity Theatre’sMarketing & Digital Lead, Emily Maguire.
Loved: Having Homotopia Festival back at Unity— Liverpool’s longest-running LGBTQIA+ arts festival came back with a bang this month. It was so fun to work on the various events they held at Unity, with a particular shout out to An Evening With Dross – everyone was taken aback with the stunning visuals that brought Unity One to life.
Looking forward to: I can’t wait for Unity Theatre’s Christmas Cabaret, its quickly becoming one of my favourite festive events we have on at Unity. Expect anarchic hilarity, comedy, acrobatics, puppetry and standout performances from Velma Von BonBon, Katy Anne Bellis, Caustic Widows, and Teatro Pomodoro and more…
Trivia: This year will be the first time in 7 years Unity has created an in-house Christmas production (Sleep Can Wait!). I can’t wait to see families in our space enjoying the festivities!
In the latest instalment of Buried Treasure by John Maguire of ArtsGroupie CIC, the deep and surprising parallels between Liverpool and New York take centre stage. These long-standing transatlantic ties provide the backdrop for Rotten Apple, a new play that explores a Liverpool woman’s pursuit of possibility across the Atlantic.
It is often said that Liverpool and New York City resemble one another, not just in their architecture but in their spirit: the shared resilience, tenacity, and the sharp, acidic wit of the residents. Both cities were crucial transatlantic ports, serving for centuries as central hubs for trade, cargo, and passenger liners.
Their shared history runs deep:
The first U.S. consulate was established in Liverpool in 1790, highlighting its early importance in Anglo-American relations.
Robert Morris, a key signatory of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, known as the “financier of the American Revolution,” was born in Liverpool in 1734.
The SS Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, completed its historic journey from Georgia by arriving in Liverpool in 1819.
As major ports, both cities were key destinations and transit points for waves of immigrants from across Europe, contributing to a diverse and multicultural heritage. This strong connection led to Liverpool being nicknamed the “New York of Europe” during its 19th-century peak.
The connections extend to culture and urban design:
Both cities have a rich and influential musical history. Liverpool is famous as the birthplace of The Beatles, while New York became home to John Lennon later in his life, featuring the dedicated “Strawberry Fields” memorial in Central Park.
Central Park in New York City was explicitly modelled on Birkenhead Park (located across the Mersey from Liverpool) after the American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted was inspired by its design during a 1850 visit. He was amazed by this “People’s Garden” where “the poorest British peasant is as free to enjoy it in all its parts as the British Queen.”
In a physical link, the sandstone used for the cladding of the iconic Empire State Building was quarried in the Wirral.
Architecturally, Liverpool’s similarities to U.S. cities—including the use of reinforced steel and concrete in the iconic Liver Buildings—mean it is often used as a filming location to double for New York City. Production crews frequently add yellow taxis and CGI skyscrapers to complete the illusion.
Examples include:
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, which used Liverpool’s Water Street and the Cunard and Liver Buildings to create 1940s New York street scenes.
The remake of the movie Alfie (2004), starring Jude Law, which features scenes filmed at a flower shop on Brunswick Street and Formby beach (doubling as an out-of-Manhattan location).
American authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne (who served as U.S. Consul in Liverpool) and Herman Melville had connections to the city. Melville’s novel Redburn, which features a voyage from New York to Liverpool, was discussed in a previous article.
A Modern Exploration: “Rotten Apple”
These transatlantic ties continue to inspire contemporary art. In December, a new piece of writing, Rotten Apple by Liverpool Playwright, premieres at Unity Theatre. It explores this dynamic further. Set in New York City in the 1990s—amidst rooftop parties, yellow taxis, and jazz bars humming till dawn—it follows a young Liverpool woman hungry for more than her beginnings could offer. The city’s glittering promise feels like everything she has ever wanted, but when dreams sour and illusions crack, the play explores what remains of love, ambition, and identity.
This is the opening chapter in Helena Rand’s Watching Windows/Windows of a Woman trilogy, a modern exploration of love, mental health, longing, and the search for self. A Liverpool girl. A New York dream—and the moment glitter turns to rot.
Helena Rand, Rotten Apple’s playwright, said: “As a Liverpool woman, I grew up with a restless heart – always believing that life had to be bigger, brighter, somewhere else. In the 90s, that dream felt oceans away. Rotten Apple is the story of chasing that dream across the Atlantic to New York, a city that dazzles you with possibility and then dares you to hold onto it. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt the pull of somewhere else, who’s ever asked, ‘What if?’ and still might.”
After working and studying in New York City, Helena Rand returned to Liverpool to complete her training at LIPA and John Moores University, later embarking on a 20-year teaching career. Alongside motherhood, she acted, directed, and founded a theatre company for adults with learning difficulties that continues to perform worldwide.
Her career has spanned teaching, directing, acting, and lecturing in community theatre at the City of Liverpool Community College and LIPA, where she inspired students to use performance as a tool for social change. More recently, she has focused on acting, teaching, and leading a charity dedicated to creative writing and communication, exploring how storytelling empowers and connects communities.
This lifelong exploration of theatre and identity has now led to her debut trilogy, Watching Windows/Windows of a Woman. Rotten Apple is its first chapter: personal, poetic, and profoundly resonant.
ABC launched their breakthrough album, the Trevor Horn produced Lexicon in Love, in 1982. The much-loved album had top 20 hits in the UK with Poison Arrow, Tears are not Enough, the Look of Love and All of my Heart. The album peaked at Number 1 in the UK and reached number 24 in the US charts and stayed in the UK charts for 50 weeks.
On 17th November singer Martin Fry brought his band and a full orchestra to perform the ‘ABC songbook’ and the complete Lexicon of Love album to a packed Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
The Lexicon Orchestra were conducted by Anne Dudley, original arranger on the album.
After the orchestra had played the overture, they were joined onstage by the ABC band and then Martin Fry, immaculately dressed in a black and white dinner suite, to play Set 1, the ABC songbook, opening with ‘When Smokey Sings’ from their 4th album Alphabet City. The orchestra and band belted out the opener, and Martin Fry was in great voice as he hit the stage.
The first part of the show had a great mix of old and some new songs, and included crowd favourites like ‘Viva Love’, and ‘The Night They Murdered Love’. The mix of love songs and ‘songs of lust’ such as Flames of Desire, went down a storm and people in the audience were already dancing when the first half of the show closed.
After the intermission, with Anne Dudley resplendent in a gold lame jacket and Martin Fry in an electric blue suit, the band played Set 2, the full Lexicon of Love album, which is chock full of great tracks.
Fry told us how they made the album, ‘in a small studio in a basement in Brick Lane’. The band went from wannabe pop stars rubbing shoulders with other up and coming bands like Def Leppard and The Human League in the pubs in Sheffield, to Top of the Pops and chart success within a few weeks.
The Set 2 song list was ‘Show Me’, a raucous ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘Many Happy Returns’, the audience were up and dancing by ‘Tears are Not Enough’; and stayed up throughout the rest of the set of ‘Valentine’s Day’, ‘The Look of Love (Part I)’, ‘Date Stamp’, ‘4 Ever 2 Gether’ and ‘All of My Heart’.
The encore of ‘The Look of Love (Part IV) nearly took the roof off, and the band reprised it as a second encore to bring a fantastic set to a close and send the audience home happy after a wonderful night.
This was the second time we’ve seen ABC with an orchestra playing the album, after they toured in 2022 on the 40th Anniversary of the release of The Lexicon of Love album, and, if anything, this was a better performance than last time.
Turning off of Bold Street, arriving at FACT Liverpool’s bold, glass-and-metal facade; you immediately sense that this is not your contemporary white-cube gallery. Located at 88 Wood Street, at the heart of Liverpool’s creative quarter, FACT is a centre for art that is rewriting what a gallery can be through: film, digital culture and a sense of community.
Established in 2003, it was Liverpool’s first new arts building in over 60 years and quickly became a world-leading exhibitor and producer of digital art. FACT has continued to progress their identity to converge different aspects of life into one accessible space. Combining new media technologies and public participation FACT asks: what happens when art becomes immersive and interactive?
Their 2025 exhibitions highlight this evolution as they host solo exhibitions, digital commissions and socially engaged projects throughout the year.
Current Exhibitions
Bassam Issa Al-Sabah’s THE MISSION IS THE END, THE END IS ALL I WANT! (2025)
On the ground floor, visitors will find exhibitions designed to command attention. Running until 22 of February 2026, these free exhibitions spotlight artists who use digital media to navigate human experiences in abstract forms.
Bassam Issa Al-Sabah presents THE MISSION IS THE END, THE END IS ALL I WANT! (2025), an immersive CGI film surrounded by monumental sculptural forms. His surreal environment explores how digital space can blur reality and change the world around you. Using two-channel videos with sound to create an installation environment, Bassam Issa Al-Sabah has completely transformed the gallery with animation, painting, sculpture and textiles to create a space for reflection. An unmissable hard truth experience that will make you rethink what is possible.
Alongside this, Nina Davies exhibition MEET ME IN THE DIGITAL TWIN works with young patients from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre: Eve, Luke and Mel to weave an emotional landscape where technology becomes a vessel of reflection. Using an immersive podcast with fictional characters to tell the story, it unfolds like an investigative documentary keeping you on your feet to what might happen next.
Nina Davies’ Meet Me In The Digital Twin
It blurs fact and fiction to make a speculative world that reflects the lived experiences of young people facing cancer. This fictional landscape pulls at real world strings, allowing us to put ourselves in others’ shoes.
The exhibition titles – THE MISSION IS THE END, THE END IS ALL I WANT! and MEET ME IN THE DIGITAL TWIN – speak to our cultural moment of entangled possibilities, whether the beginning or the end. The artist’s ability to turn these new media technologies into immersive and thought-provoking experiences is commendable and I truly hope that they can inspire others the same way I have been.
Up on the second floor you’ll find immersive exhibitions by Gavin Gayagoy and Helen Anna Flanagan, with Doomscroll_1 and Burnt Toast respectively. Running until 23 November 2025, the artists’ explore different relationships by illuminating overlooked aspects of our lives in life-like and digital ways. Whether you are interested in mobile overuse or marginalised groups in society, these exhibitions will leave you awestruck.
Beyond the gallery walls
FACT’s impact doesn’t stop at their extraordinary exhibitions. They have a deeper mission of using creativity as a tool for social change by making art that doesn’t just sit on walls but lives in conversation with people’s real experiences. In the process, they have developed long-term partnerships that bring art into communities across the Liverpool city region.
Additionally, FACT provides platforms and opportunities for artists to make sense of the world today. Offering a Studio/Lab talent and skills development programme and a learning programme to develop artistic practises but also explore the understanding of the world through digital tools.
FACT also houses a Picturehouse cinema showcasing the best in independent, arthouse, foreign language and quality mainstream cinema from around the world.
Why FACT Matters
In a world where technology often distances us, FACT uses it to bring people closer – closer to stories, to ideas and to each other. Reminding us that digital art can still be human; both futuristic and grounded in lived experiences.
For Liverpool, FACT isn’t just a gallery. It’s the heartbeat of cultural innovation. A place where pixels meet participation and where creativity points us toward the future.
Plan your visit
Location: FACT Liverpool, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ Opening Hours: Galleries Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm (closed Mondays) Admissions: Free entry for most exhibitions Facilities: Galleries, cafe, bar, cinema, Studio/Lab
If you are concerned about your accessibility, FACT Liverpool has you covered. The gallery and Picturehouse pride themselves on inclusivity, offering services for blind, partially sighted, and deaf visitors. For all accessibility enquiries, please call FACT’s dedicated accessibility hotline 0207 294 7908 (Text Relay call 18001 02072 947908).
