Following a year in which Liverpool talent shone at the TV and Film BAFTAs, Liverpool Everyman continues to champion the city’s next generation of artists with Attachment, which runs at the Everyman Theatre from Thursday 4 to Saturday 13 June. This “Made in Liverpool” production is written by Julia Cranney and directed by Kate Treadell, both graduates of the theatre’s own talent development programmes.
The star of the Everyman panto Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland at the Liverpool Playhouse, Paislie Reid returns to the Everyman stage as Mat, a scouse woman in Attachment. Paislie is Associate Director at 20 Stories High, the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The Black Actors Collective, and volunteers at Positive Impact, facilitating singing, dancing, drama, and personal development workshops in her local community. Her television credits include CITV series The New Worst Witch, Special Measures (Channel 5), Unforgivable, Casualty, The Responder 2, Domino Day and Sugar (BBC),
Written by award-winning playwright Julia Cranney, who was born and is based in Liverpool, and originally trained with the Everyman’s Young Writers Programme. Attachment is a heartfelt Liverpool drama that has been developed alongside adoptive families from Merseyside. It explores parenthood, hope, adoption, and the ways relationships can grow.
Julia said, “I’m interested in the fact that there’s a ‘Disneyfied’ view of adoption. People who adopt are often put on a pedestal, but it’s so hard to be on a pedestal when you’re asking for help and nobody’s there on your level to help you. These people, who are so vulnerable, are picking up the pieces for an underfunded service because we assume that parents’ love will fill that gap. I hope Attachment goes some way to starting conversations around our system, and perhaps how it can be changed for the better.”
Julia’s theatre credits include: the Offies-nominated Moments (Hope Theatre, Islington) and Empty Beds (winner of the Scottish Daily Mail Award and an inaugural Eddies award, premiered at Underbelly Edinburgh before transferring to The Arcola, London). Her work for the screen includes an animated adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC Teach and three original romcom features for Reel One in Canada (released internationally on Paramount Plus).
This production is directed by Kate Treadell, also a graduate of the YEP programme. Her credits at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse include Blink (YEP Directors’ Festival); Assistant Director on The Story Giant (Liverpool Everyman); co-director of How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found (Liverpool Playhouse Studio); and Road for YEP.
Since 2023, The Everyman has developed a strand of programming that allows it to tell new stories, often with new artists, and explore new ways of working. Attachment is the fifth show in this strand, following Tell Me How It Ends, A Billion Times I Love You, Our Town Needs A Nando’s, and The Walrus Has A Right To Adventure, which was nominated for a Stage Debut award for both Best Director and Best Designer. It allows The Everyman to create opportunities for graduates of its Young Everyman Playhouse programme and early career theatre makers from the Liverpool City Region, nurturing and empowering local talent and creating national impact.
Creative Director of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Nathan Powell said,
“This programme strand has opened up a space where emerging artists can explore bold ideas and new ways of working, with the freedom to take creative risks. At the same time, it invites audiences to encounter fresh voices and new stories, from some of the region’s pool of incredible talent.”
The creative team includes Set and Costume Designer Ellie Light (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Top Girls, Cherry Jezebel at Liverpool Everyman; Dogs at New Step Theatre/Playhouse), Lighting Designer Kieran Sing (I Am Steven Gerrard, Hope Street Theatre; Two, Shakespeare North Playhouse) who is also a graduate of YEP Technicians, Sound Designer Noel Jones, Dramaturg Tommo Fowler (The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure, Takeaway, Rapunzel and Tell Me How It Ends, Everyman Theatre), and YEP Trainee Assistant Director Ella-Mei Burns.
Captioned and audio-described performances are available during the run. A captioned performance will take place on Monday 8 June at 7.30pm, and an audio-described performance on Friday 12 June at 7.30pm. There will also be a post-show discussion after the 7.30pm performance on Wednesday 10 June, hosted by theatres’ Creative Director, Nathan Powell. Attachment is on the Everyman stage from Thursday 4 to Saturday 13 June, with tickets priced from £11–£26, available at www.everymanplayhouse.com/