Author: Uncover

By Eden Wilkinson

There’s plenty of events happening in Liverpool this August, here’s just 5 of our top picks.

1. Peter Walker – Being Human 

Placed within the gothic architecture of the Liverpool Cathedral, acclaimed sculptor and artist Peter Walker unveils his four art installations entitled ‘Being Human’. The exhibition will run from the 27 July – 30 August, leaving plenty time to drop in on this creation story inspired work. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a sculpture entitled Connection, inspired by Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’ yet subverted by Walker in his contemporary style. Individuality is the aim here, inviting visitors to reflect on their own sense of self, our uniqueness and our relationships with others in our ever-changing world. These four artworks, Connection, Reflection, Identity and Creativity are most certainly not to be missed. 

2. Trails and Tales: Interactive Map from The Reader 

If you’re struggling to find a way to get the kids outside this school holidays look no further than this interactive trail around Calderstones Park. It has been running since July 2021 and has proven extremely popular within that time, it merges literature with exploration and the outside world to provide a fun yet educational journey. Open from 10-6pm everyday. 

3. Summer of Luv 

Big Luv is taking over the rooftop of the Shankly Hotel to present a special series of parties in August. Giving all the energy of the best house, disco, and club classics it is set to be the ultimate summer vibe. It is on from 4pm till 1am meaning it can be an afternoon dance or transcend into nightlife. Tickets can be found on Skiddle, with their final party of the season taking place on the 27 August giving you plenty of options for a boogie.

4 .The Book of Mormon 

Musical fans look no further. This scandalous musical comedy, named as ‘the best musical of this century’ by the New York Times has come to Liverpool. Hailed as potentially the funniest musical of all time the book of Mormon follows a mismatched pair of missionaries to give us a story of chaos and hilarity. You must be quick however if you want to see this critically acclaimed show as The Book of Mormon is only on at the Liverpool Empire until the 6 August. 

5. Emma Rodgers: Wunderkammer

The Williamson Art Gallery is hosting home-grown talent this month. Wirral based sculptor Emma Rodgers presents us with a mini-retrospective of her practice giving visitors an insight into the world of an artist. It takes the form of a ‘coming of age’ story almost, showing us how her work has developed overtime from a young artist to her most recent work. The Williamson Gallery will also be unveiling a specially commissioned sculpture by Emma for their outdoor courtyard. This will most certainly be a cultural masterpiece not to be missed. 

For more events happening in July and beyond check out our What’s On section.

There’s a wide range of things to see and do in our region this summer, including some great events for children. Many are free or relatively cheap and ideal for a family day out.

1. Children’s workshops and events

Children’s events can be a real lifesaver and help to keep the children occupied and entertained over summer.

The Reader’s Storybarn has workshops to get the kids reading and there’s a range of family films showing at Crosby’s Plaza Cinema, such as current Marvel blockbuster Thor (12A). Williamson Art Gallery also has a full day of drop-in art and craft activities.

The World Museum has a host of Dr Who workshops linking to their new Worlds of Wonder exhibition, from building a TARDIS to making your very own sonic screwdriver.

Bluecoat have a special exhibition for children and adults this summer, Are you Messin’? features work by leading UK artists that are designed to be touched and explored.

2. Scenic walks

Merseyside has an abundance of trails and walks for a great family day-out. Some of the most scenic are on the coast, with walks and cycle trails along the Sefton Coastal Path, Otterspool Park and the Wirral Way.

The Dream statue loop walk in St Helens is a great day out, with easily-accessible paths and it’s suitable for any fitness level. The 20-metre high Dream sculpture was commissioned by ex-miners and St Helens’ Council to reflect the aspirations of the community.

If you prefer something more urban, there’s also some great historic walks around Liverpool’s city centre that cover key sites such as Mathew Street and the waterfront.

3. Summer festivals

There’s an excellent selection of festivals happening in the region over the summer, from local music and family festivals to larger events such as Liverpool International Music Festival. LIMF features sets this year from De La Soul, The Zutons and a host of upcoming local talent.

Brazilica Festival returns to Liverpool with a spectacular street parade on 6 August. Brazilica is the UK’s largest celebration of Brazilian culture. Creamfields, one of the biggest electronic music festivals, is also back this year from August 25 – August 29.

There’s plenty of one-day festivals worth checking out, Convenience Gallery are holding their Summer Festival in August, with a day of arts and culture at Bloom in Birkenhead.

4. Museums and galleries

The city’s museums and galleries are free for most exhibitions and a low cost way to spend a day out with the family.

Museum of Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery and Tate Liverpool all host free workshops as well as their regular exhibitions. The Wondrous Place Gallery at Museum of Liverpool is especially worth checking out for its showcase of the city’s cultural heritage.

The Lady Lever Art Gallery in scenic Port Sunlight is also excellent for a visit and explorer day. Their current Inspired by Lady Lever exhibition celebrates 100 years of the gallery and its history.

5. Get creative

If you feel like getting creative over the summer there’s plenty of inspiring adult art classes at a range of venues.

Classes include Life Drawing with Convenience Gallery, painting your own Starry Night over Liverpool at Shipping Forecast and weaving workshops from LazyKate Textiles at John Archer Hall.  

Make. also have Introduction to Tie Dye and Beginner Mosaic workshops for a chance to explore something new and discover a new hobby.

For more events happening over the summer and beyond check out our What’s On section.

By Radka Hostašová

Over the past two years, the cultural scene around the world, including music festivals, was shrouded in silence as an unfortunate result of the global pandemic. However, the year 2022 symbolizes the revival of many cultural programmes, injecting a lot of expectation and excitement.

With a number of cultural events taking place in Liverpool this year, organisations are starting to recover from the long break and are returning with even more drive and devotion. In fact, the announcement of a new era for the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) proves it. Like many other large-scale events, LIMF used the downtime to re-evaluate the whole concept of the event and embrace new visions and ambitions.

LIMF 2022 falls on the last weekend of July and unlike in previous years, the programme is spread across various indoor and outdoor venues in the city. This new approach brings more diversity and allows the attendees to plan their own itinerary by choosing between the genres as well as venues. LIMF has confirmed a collaboration with M&S Bank Arena, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, St. Lukes Bombed Out Church, The Merchant, Invisible Wind Factory, The Arts Club, and many more.

This year’s festival also aims to go beyond mere entertainment and as a response to a range of social issues and tensions, conveys a broader message. Therefore, the programme has been built to address social justice, equality and inclusion. In other words, with the theme ‘Power To The People & Purpose’, LIMF celebrates humanity, its power, beauty, and influence.

Looking at the line-up of the 3-day event, the organisers have summoned both national and international names together with new progressive voices and sounds. To give you a little brief of what awaits, LIMF 2022 will kick off with UB40 Featuring Ali Cambell on Friday 29th June in M&S Bank Arena. However, if reggae music is not your cup of tea, you can opt for hip-hop with De La Soul, as they headline the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Alternatively, there’s the sound and visual installation SYSTEM By Gaika situated in the Invisible Wind Factory.

Saturday will follow up with the same ambition, featuring a wide range of genres and styles. Visitors can choose from a Jazz Happening in Ettie’s, a basement bar situated beneath Bold Street, a mixture of U.K. Garage and R&B by Donae hosted by Arts Club Liverpool, and much more. Night owls can also enjoy the afterparty thrown by The Merchant with DJs Greg Wilson and Roisin W, until early morning.

And finally, Sunday culminates with the fusion of genres including rock, indie, reggae, and soul. Namely, Camp and Furnace in Baltic Triangle will host Liverpool indie rock band The Zutons and guests, while the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall will experience a unique encounter of Cuban and Jamaican music Havana Meets Kingston.

Overall, LIMF has returned with a desire to create a diverse, multi-cultural space for people to learn, share and connect. Alongside the music programme, this year’s festival introduces a brand new visual element to the program. Namely, Liverpool John Moores University will present the ‘Still Do The Right Thing’ exhibition, exploring the relationship between music, art, fashion, and activism.

For more information and to get tickets for LIMF 2022 visit https://www.limfestival.com/

By Eden Wilkinson

Much awaited after its 3-year hiatus, Pride returns to Liverpool this month. The city will be filled with social, cultural, and political events for all to attend and stand together in solidarity.

The free Pride Festival ran by LCR Pride is set to take place on Saturday 30th July at the Pier Head. Opening at 12 noon, with the busiest period set to be between 12.45pm and 2pm, it most certainly will be a lively and exuberant occasion. The line-up for the Barclays main stage will be announced later in the month. You can sign up to the LCR Pride foundation mailing list to be the first to find out more information. 

With the day festival finishing at 8pm, what better way to continue the party than at Sonic Yootha. Described as a club night for “homos, fauxmos, gender-blenders, full-time queers and part-time Brendas” it has taken the gay scene in Liverpool by storm over the past 7 years. Their next disco will take place from 9pm-4am on the 30th July at 24 Kitchen Street. With it being their Pride ’22 special, it is set to be yet another sensational disco where all are welcome. 

Pride in Liverpool always begins with the annual ‘March with Pride’, an opportunity to fly the flag for the LGBTQ+ community and take to the streets in solidarity. This year aims to be bigger than ever after the 2019 march saw over 12,000 people take to the streets. Gathering will begin at 10:30am with the aim to begin the march at noon. Sign up to the LCR Pride March here.

The chosen theme of the LCR Pride foundation for this year is ‘Come Together’, an extremely poignant message after the substantial social distancing that has been in force over the few past years. LCR Pride aims to make Liverpool the most LGBTQ+ friendly community in the country, emphasising the importance of coming together at a time where the communities’ freedoms and rights continue to be attacked. It is great to see LCR Pride extend their events further across the region with the brand new ‘Pride at the Seaside’ event at New Brighton on the 27th August. 

Homotopia is an art and activism-based festival that runs each year around October time. However, this year they have ran events such as the recent ‘Queer in the City’ on the 2nd July. In collaboration with National Museums Liverpool, it was the first ever NML Xtra event which showcased unique experiences and installations, certainly creating anticipation for what else they have in store for this year. 

You can donate to LCR Pride Foundation here.

By Ade Blackburn

Liverpool has a host of hidden gems to discover, here’s a second selection of unique and culturally important venues and places that have helped shape the city.

1. News from Nowhere

News From Nowhere is Liverpool’s not-for-profit radical and community bookshop – established in 1974, and run collectively by a workers’ co-operative.

The bookshop is strongly committed to social justice, from challenging the power of corporate capitalism to breaking down prejudiced attitudes. They focus on subjects such as feminism, anti-racism, LGBT+, workers’ rights and also stock many local interest books.

A lovely shop to browse and discover new writers.

News from Nowhere, 96 Bold Street, L1

2. 24 Kitchen Street

With a storming mishmash of house, hip-hop, techno, electro and garage, there’s something for everyone at Liverpool’s 24 Kitchen Street venue. Head down on a bhangra/dancehall/soca night, or look out for samba dance and drumming nights for something a little different.

24 Kitchen Street has developed a multi-purpose events space in the Baltic Triangle and one well worth discovering to get a true flavour of Liverpool’s nightlife.

24 Kitchen Street, L1

3. Probe Records

The shop was founded in 1971 by Geoff Davies, a former carpet manufacturer who was fed up with not having anywhere to buy the kinds of records he liked. Quitting his job and pooling his £300 savings, Davies opened the first Probe Records on Clarence Street.

Due to its substantial stock of LPs and radical literature, Probe became a favourite within Liverpool’s alternative movement and relocated to Button Street. The new shop was close to the punk club Eric’s and became a hang-out in itself, gaining a legendary reputation as the cool place to buy music.

The shop is still going as strong as ever and is now located on School Lane, next door to the main Bluecoat building.

Probe Records, 1 The Bluecoat, School Lane, L1

4. Unity Theatre

Originally known as the Merseyside Left Theatre, the venue was opened in 1937. The theatre’s name eventually changed to the Merseyside Unity Theatre in 1944, as part of a national movement of radical and experimental theatre.

Located on Hope Place, in a former synagogue, the theatre has expanded over time to accommodate touring companies, as well as continuing to give crucial support to local talent.

In 2004, their acclaimed Unity Youth Theatre was established and the venue currently hosts and collaborates on the biannual Physical Fest with Tmesis Theatre.

Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, L1

5. Kazimier Stockroom

A one hundred capacity grassroots space for live music, comedy, film and more. The Kazimier Stockroom opened in 2019 and is a unique platform for the creative community in the city.

The space provides a safe little haven for local up-and-coming artists to place their shows, out of the open air and the busy surroundings of the Kazimier Garden.

Stockroom has also become a fixture of emerging talent on tour, featuring bands from all over the world, including acclaimed London art-rockers Snapped Ankles and the dark synth-pop of Los Angeles’ Riki.

Kazimier Garden, 32 Seel Street, L1

By Radka Hostašová

The artistic spirit of Liverpool appeals to locals as well as tourists in many ways. On one hand, the city is rich in various cultural settings, such as theatres, galleries and concert halls that regularly host diverse events to present the work of local, national and international artists. However, to feel the bohemian soul of the city, we don’t necessarily need to enter the closed space of a gallery or purchase a ticket for a concert. In fact, a lot of art in Liverpool is facilitated in the streets, in the form of murals and poetic writings, but also public pianos and street musicians. In today’s feature, we have decided to follow up on our past article, 9 Pieces of Street Art To Find on Your Next Walk in Liverpool and bring you even more street art that deserves attention in Liverpool and Wirral. 

1. Paul Curtis: Abbey Road

Let’s begin our walk in the Baltic Triangle – the city’s growing cultural hub with lots of space and surfaces ideal for street art. To pay tribute to local music legends, The Beatles Story commissioned artist Paul Curtis to paint a living memory of The Beatles’ famous album cover Abbey Road. As a result, the Grafton Street wall in the Baltic Triangle has been transformed into the iconic zebra crossing in London. However, Paul Curtis chose to omit the musicians from his painting and instead, allow passersby to become one of the fab four for a moment. 

2. Akse: Steven Hawking

Again within the Baltic Triangle, we can find a giant mural of Steven Hawking, placed on the side of The Studio School (formerly the Contemporary Urban Centre), Upper Parliament Street. By depicting the face of the famous scientist, a French street artist known as Akse epaid homage to the life-long work of Steven Hawking and created a living memory of the exceptional figure for generations to come.

3. Jon Culshaw: Liver Bird

Jon Culshaw is a name commonly linked to many pieces of street art around Merseyside. Located on the side of the iconic Wedding House, Liver Bird is one of the latest John Culshaw murals. With the precise details and unmistakable expression in the face, this colourful Liver Bird is looking over the street, embodying the city’s spirit and pride. 

4. Mr Cenz: Rainbow Goddess

When crossing the river Mersey to the Wirral, we can find many more pieces of street art, located especially around the beach town of New Brighton. Our first stop will be the Rainbow Goddess – a beautiful portrait of a woman’s face on the side wall of a house in Grosvenor Road. The mural was created by street artist Mr Cenz, whose distinctive style is characteristic of a spiritual depiction of feminity, futuristic colour spectrum, and complex, multi-layered composition. 

5. Dotmaster: Otto and Rude Kids House

Another significant artist who contributed to New Brighton’s street art gallery is Dotmaster. Both of his artworks, namely Otto and Rude Kids House, share a similar black and white wallpaper background with the stencil of naughty children in the forefront. Referring to the characteristic features of the artist’s style, Dotmaster reflects a typical English sense of humour, and his pieces stand out for their precise details as well as playing with illusion. 

6. Matt Dosa: Abstract Seaside

And finally, our walk will finish by admiring the mural Abstract Seaside created by Matt Dosa. Whereas the previous artworks we mentioned were showing particular figures and rather realistic motifs, Matt Dosas’ style is a fusion of spontaneity and experiments. Abstract Seaside, covering the upper floor of 3 adjacent buildings, is a sequence of colourful patterns inspired by the nearby seaside. Through the large-scale playful mural, Matt Dosa transforms a commonly dull landscape into a cheerful environment.

By Radka Hostašová

Early summer days feel even better when you know there’s a bank holiday weekend approaching. The Platinum Jubilee bank holiday falls on Thursday the 2nd and Friday the 3rd of June, with the first weekend of June stretching over 4 days. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary as monarch, the whole country is bustling with different kinds of events devoted to celebrating the service of Her Majesty and the Royal family. In today’s feature, we are bringing you a selection of events celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in Liverpool. 

1. Beacons of Light

Lighting beacons is a traditional event held in honour of the Queen and special anniversaries of the Royal family. For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, seven beacons will be lit up on the evening of Thursday the 2nd of June in front of Three Graces in Liverpool. Each beacon signifies a decade of the Queen’s commitment. Beacons will be lit in each capital city of the Commonwealth nations. In Liverpool, the public can attend the lighting which also includes musical performances by Pipe Major James Axon and the Liverpool Scottish Regional Association band. The activities start from 9.15pm, building up to the lighting at 9.45pm.

2 .Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux

Liverpool has a bit of a reputation for amazing food and drink from around the world and in the collaboration with the city’s hospitality venues and the Bordeaux Wine Council and French Government, Liverpool will mark the Platinum Jubilee with the Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux festival.

The french-infused festival runs from the 2nd – 5th of June and consists of 4 main pillars; Bordeaux wine tasting at Liverpool Town Hall, special festive menus paired with Bordeaux wine created by over 50 local restaurants, chefs demos at the Bombed Out Church and a local producers’s market. The programme offers a wonderful gourmet experience to visitors and highlights the gems of worldwide cuisines. The central hubs of the festival will be situated around Castle Street, Hope Street and Bold Street, all famous for their outstanding restaurants and bars. The tickets for the Bordeaux wine tasting are now on sale, however, the rest of the events are free to attend. 

3. Afternoon Tea

There is no way the Platinum Jubilee celebration could happen without a proper afternoon tea. Therefore, a variety of fine Liverpool restaurants including Panoramic 34, Oh Me Oh My or Malmaison Liverpool will be celebrating by offering a unique tea party experience. Alongside tea and a selection of sweet and savoury snacks, diners can also enjoy special jubilee cocktails accompanied by a picturesque view on the restaurant’s rooftop terraces. 

4. Platinum Jubilee Concert At The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Moving from foodie activities to a cultural experiences, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has scheduled a classical concert celebrating glorious British musicians and composers of past and present. The Platinum Jubilee concert takes place on the 31st of May and introduces the music written by great English composers, such as Frank Bridge or Vaughan Williams. Led by the Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, the classical tunes will be performed by solo cellist Nicolas Alstaedt.

5. Cheshire Fest

And finally, another way to fill the bank holiday weekend with music and entertainment is paying a visit to the 2022 edition of the Cheshire Fest. Situated in the beautiful green Cheshire countryside, this year’s festival will take place in a new location of The Lambing Shed, Moseley Hall Farm in Knutsford. Visitors can expect a multi-genre lineup featuring both local and national outstanding artists. Legendary Liverpool band The Zutons will headline the festival on Saturday 4th June. Aside from the live music, on Friday 3rd June Cheshire Craft Beer Fest takes over the event for one day serving the finest ales and lagers.

By Amna Akram

One of the UK’s leading theatre companies – 20 Stories High joined forces with Yemeni Poet and award-winning community activist Amina Atiq to create Poet’s Gift over the past couple of months. 

Exploring new writing and poetry with Muslim young people, the new art project culminates in a unique public work of art, designed by Nadina Ali, exhibited on a prominent bus stop in Liverpool’s Toxteth Community.

On May 24, 2022 the installation will be launched to the public, including a celebration with music, food and performance at the Lodge Lane, library bus Stop from 6-7pm.

The project engaged with young people in Liverpool with diverse Muslim backgrounds through a series of workshops. These workshops provided a safe space for the group to express themselves; to explore conversations about family, care, belonging, and community; and to create work that shows their lives beyond stereotypes. 

The project culminated in two poems that will be shared; one by Amina Atiq and one incorporating the words and languages of the Poet’s Gift group.

The project was initiated after Amina Atiq and 20 Stories High Artistic Director Keith Saha reflected on the rise of racial-religious attacks following the terrorist attack on the Liverpool Women’s Hospital in November 2021. 

They identified a lack of spaces available for Muslim young people to discuss their feelings, experiences, and identity. 

Amina Atiq said: “It has been incredible to conceive and deliver Poet’s Gift with 20 Stories High. It’s been a privilege to work with this group of young people and support them in articulating their experiences and feelings. I think it’s so impactful that we are able to share their words at a bus stop. 

“Bus stops hold significant meaning to working class communities, migrants and school children – a place of coming together but also a place of real potential risk. Through poetry, I have expressed feelings around my early experiences of Islamophobia and racism experienced at bus stops. It is brilliant that these young people’s poems and voices will be shared so prominently, and hope they will ignite some vibrant conversations.”

Keith Saha, Artistic Director of 20 Stories High said: “Amina is such an important artist in our city. She has an amazing way of collaborating with young people and young artists. A passionate, political voice that nurtures new talent and gives confidence to young people to express themselves. The group of young people were amazing and truly reflected the diversity in Liverpool’s Muslim Community including participants from, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.”

Muhammad Elmi, freelance Community Engagement Associate and Pastoral Support Worker said: “As a young lad from the area, I never had the opportunity to be involved in projects like this. Growing up, the support for young people was abysmal – for a number of reasons. To now be given the opportunity to get involved in supporting the future generation is an honour. I very much hope that this project is the beginning of a new era for young muslim Scousers.”

The installation is expected to remain on the bus stop until June 26, 2022.

For more information and updates head over to the 20 Stories High Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.

By Radka Hostašová

In a recent feature we shone a spotlight on makers and small businesses that stand out in Liverpool’s creative community. However, there’s still so many talented individuals who should not be left out. Whereas in our previous article we focused our attention mainly around traditional craft and handmade production, today we want to highlight an area of contemporary art that goes in a hand with continually progressing technology; illustration and printmaking. 

Helen Louise Design

With her colourful, playful, yet realistic artworks, Helen Louise Design captures charming spots in Liverpool and thus, preserves the unmistakable atmosphere of the city. Looking at her pieces will make you realise how elaborate her illustrations are, with a focus on details that bring the pictures into the third dimension. Helen’s prints are available as posters, but also in a form of cards, postcards and coasters.

Rosa Illustration

Another artist that significantly contributes to the local creative field is Rosa Kusabbi, whose prints and animations portray femininity as well as social strains and issues. Through her vivid, vintage-inspired illustrations, Rosa emphasises women’s empowerment, cultural diversity and freedom of expression. The style the artist applies is very distinctive – a bright colour palette dominated by yellow, orange and pink, realistic figures contradicted with loosened cheerful lines, and last but not least, mischievous reflection on taboos in today’s society. 

Christopher Walster

Although the next artist on our list is currently based in Manchester, his work stands at the forefront of skyline illustrators in the North West. Compared to the previously mentioned artists, Christopher Walster’s pieces are rather minimalistic, using simple black lines that contrast with a plain white background. His monochrome illustrations are genuine depictions of UK and European cities as well as world metropolises. In other words, Christopher’s art is like a world tour you can experience through his posters, paper stationery and homeware.

Studio AW

From digital prints, we now move to a more traditional technique – watercolour. Studio AW is a local, female-led business producing unique illustrations inspired by nature. Annie – the artist who stands behind Studio AW – creates beautiful, delicate artworks that combine botanical motifs and female elements. Her pieces are characteristic of muted, natural colours and geometrical shapes that meet blurry watercolour patches in a way that creates the artist’s original signature. 

Abby Sumner Design

And finally, our list will be completed by an artist whose Risograph prints resemble a parade of colours. Abby Sumner primarily concentrates on abstract art as her pieces consist of geometric shapes and lines. With a simplicity on one side, Abby brings her prints to life with the spectrum of bright colours, such as pink, yellow, red and orange. Her lively creations are later converted into posters, calendars and gift cards. 

Each of the artists we have introduced today have their own remarkable style, influenced by different aspects, environments and eras. However, the thing they all have in common is the flow of energy that gleams out of their illustrations. To present the best artists in the region, Liverpool Print Fair’s two-day event is a great opportunity for creative individuals to exhibit their work. And of course locals can support the growth of small art businesses by purchasing their favourite prints. The next festival takes place in November 2022 and stalls are now open for applications.

By Ade Blackburn

The upcoming Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition (27 May – 30 Oct 2022) at the World Museum promises to be a delight for both kids and adults. The thrilling new interactive exhibition explores the world of science within the universe of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will include contributions from stars across the fields of science and entertainment, along with the opportunity to find out more about the many links between Liverpool and the long running sci-fi show, National Museums Liverpool has revealed.

Game of Thrones star Mark Gatiss – co-creator of BBC’s Sherlock and writer of several episodes of Doctor Who – will narrate the exhibition, guiding visitors through space and time.

Visitors will also be able to delve into the classic set designs of the original series, as well as the incredible special effects and makeup design that bring the show to life – all from scientists, designers and producers who have worked on Doctor Who. NML can also reveal the inclusion of a special Liverpool Connections area within the exhibition – delving deeper into the links between the classic TV show and the city of Liverpool.

To celebrate the launch of the exhibition here’s a selection of some of the most celebrated Doctors and several of the Time Lord’s scary adversaries.

1. William Hartnell

The BBC show was first aired in 1963, it was originally intended as an educational programme, using time travel as a means to explore scientific ideas and famous moments in history.

The very first Doctor Who, William Hartnell, was a veteran of the stage and Carry On films, he approached the role as a cross between The Wizard of Oz and Father Christmas. Becoming the Doctor was a particular triumph for William as he’d left school at 16 with no qualifications and few prospects.

2. Jodie Whittaker 

The thirteenth and current Doctor Who, Jodie had appeared in BBC’s Broadchurch and The Night Watch before taking the part. The concept of a female Doctor was first discussed in 1981 but took until 2017 to become a reality, both Judy Dench and Helen Mirren were considered for the part in earlier years.

A female Doctor was quite a surprise and controversial for many fans and whilst some had doubts about ‘political correctness’, the majority agreed Jodie was a positive role model for young girls.

3. Jon Pertwee 

One of the best-loved and most flamboyant in the Time Lord role, Jon Pertwee had a penchant for fancy clothes and theatricality. He was famously described as ‘a dapper, technologically oriented man of action’ and perfect for the part as Britain entered the colourful Seventies.

Jon later became the star of children’s show Worzel Gummidge, playing alongside Una Stubbs, and hosted the sleuthing game show Whodunnit?

4. Daleks

Created by science-fiction writer Terry Nation and drawing inspiration from the Nazis, the Daleks are merciless cyborg aliens who demand total conformity to their will and rather famously, the extermination of inferior races.

The Daleks are led by mad Kaled scientist Davros, a dastardly character who is sure to get you hiding behind the sofa. For episodes involving armies of the aliens, the BBC effects team would use wooden replicas and even turned to using commercially available toy Daleks to make up the numbers.

5. Peter Capaldi 

Prior to taking over the lead role in Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi had played in a punk band, The Dreamboys, in the 1970s. He was best known for his acting role as the infamous spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the BBC political sitcom The Thick of It.

Peter had been asked to audition for Doctor Who as early as 1995 but didn’t turn up for the audition, he loved the show so much but didn’t think he would get the part. In 2013 he finally took on the role and uniquely portrayed the Doctor as a spiky, brusque, and pragmatic character.

6. Tom Baker

The longest serving Doctor from 1974-81, Tom had served in the army and Merchant Navy before becoming a professional actor. He made the role his own with his eccentricity, very long scarves and fondness for Jelly Babies.

Baker suggested many aspects of his Doctor’s personality, he became known for making frequent and often comedic script suggestions, as well as ad-libs on camera.

The actor later went on to star in Monarch of the Glen, narrate Little Britain and is also fondly remembered for the children’s show The Book Tower.

7. Cybermen

In the 1960s, ‘spare-part’ surgery in hospitals began with the development of gigantic heart-lung machines. Cybermen creator Dr Kit Pedler discussed with his wife what would happen if a person had so many prostheses that they could no longer distinguish themselves between man and machine.

Dr Pedler got the opportunity to develop this idea when, in 1966, after an appearance on Tomorrows World, he was hired as a consultant by the BBC for Doctor Who. The Cybermen emerged on the show as emotionless cyborgs who, often painfully, surgically convert human beings to join their ranks.

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition, World Museum, 27 May 2022—30 Oct 2022.
Book your tickets via the National Museums Liverpool website now.