Community Post Type: News

The Matcham Experience will descend upon the historic Liverpool Olympia next Easter – revealing a haunting ghost story that promises to unsettle, disturb and linger long after the curtain falls.

The reality-transcending immersive spectacle is set to be staged at the West Derby Road landmark from 2-5 April 2026. Tickets are on sale now.

The Matcham Experience, which comes from the creators of the award-winning Scare City Experience, ventures into a different kind of fear: the kind born from history that refuses to stay buried, from echoes that refuse to stay silent and from secrets a building can keep for generations.

At its heart lies the tale of a forgotten presence, one said to move through the Olympia’s corridors, awakening whenever the theatre’s past is disturbed.

Set inside the historic Grade II* listed venue, which is currently celebrating its 120^th anniversary, the theatrical event will lead audiences through a live experience which is as beautiful as it is unnerving. The Matcham Experience invites visitors to enter a space where stories resurface, time warps, and the building becomes part of the performance. Here, echoes don’t simply return – they reach out.

Staged in the very space which once hosted legends like Harry Houdini and The Beatles, the production pays homage to Frank Matcham, the visionary architect who designed more than 90 playhouses, including the Liverpool Olympia – which opened in April 1905 as a purpose-built indoor circus and variety theatre for up to 4,000 people – and the London Palladium.

Here, his legacy becomes the framework for something far darker, as the past breathes through the walls.

Described as ‘an immersive theatre experience where buried histories surge to the surface’, Matcham draws inspiration from the venue’s own legends. Audiences will step into a multi-sensory world where the boundary between watcher and watched dissolves and where an unseen presence may be closer than expected.

The Matcham Experience is produced by Mike Stuart, consultant in theatrical illusion for the Scare City Experience, whose 11-year journey in immersive theatre includes Circo’s Excentrico in 2014, Sir Ken Dodd’s final children’s show at Liverpool Cathedral, the Light Night festival and Liverpool’s hugely popular Christmas Dinner shows at the Town Hall.

Date: Thursday 2 April – Easter Sunday 5 April 2026

Time: 6.30pm-10pm

Tickets: Stalls £53.25/VIP Tables (per person) £74.15

Venue: Liverpool Olympia, West Derby Road, Liverpool, L6 9BY

For more details about the Matcham Experience and to book tickets visit the website on https://matchamexperience.co.uk

For more details about the Liverpool Olympia visit www.liverpoololympia.co.uk

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/

Join Liverpool Empire’s Creative Learning Department for a hands-on masterclass inspired by the variety of shows that have played on their stage over the years.

The session will be led by an experienced industry professional and will include elements of dancing, acting and singing.

Young people between the ages of 12 and 15. You must be in School Years 7 to 10 inclusive to take part.No prior experience needed – just bring your enthusiasm and energy!

Spaces are limited for this opportunity – book now to secure yours. As the session will be entirely practical, participants will need to wear loose comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear.

To book tickets, visit here

Held: 3 – 31 January, Liverpool Empire

Imagine going to a restaurant, but for art! Grab your family & friends & join Make Hamilton for a day filled with creativity, with something for everyone from toddlers to grown ups!

During your 90 minute session, the Sarah Armstrong Art team will be on hand to wait on you, take your art orders & ensure you have the best time! This is not a taught session but they’ll be floating around should you have any questions!

There is a £14 minimum spend per person (excluding toddlers) which is taken as a deposit & then deducted from your total on the day.

For example, a family of 4 would pay a deposit of £56. If your activities come to £60 on the day, your deposit is deducted and you pay £4.

Toddlers who are under 5 will be a flat fee of £6 & can enjoy their festive craft supplies!

Bloomies will be serving up hot & cold drinks & festive bakes to fuel your creativity!

To book a place, visit here

Do you remember this giant Father Christmas which towered over shoppers in Blackler’s department store each winter from 1957 until 1988?

After undergoing a massive transformation, he went on display in the Museum of Liverpool’s atrium for the first time in more than 20 years in 2016 and has returned for Christmas almost every year since then.

The 18 foot Blackler’s Santa stands proudly in the museum’s atrium and greets visitors with his jumbo smile. Visitors have been thrilled to be reacquainted with this symbol of their childhood and he has been winning new fans too as a younger generation meet this Liverpool icon.

For more details, visit here

Are you seeking a fun, social activity that can boost your mental health and confidence? Look no further than the Atkinson Wellbeing Choir. Open to all abilities and ages 18 and over, their choir offers a welcoming space to connect with new friends, explore your musical talents, and experience the transformative power of singing together.

Led by the talented Caroline Darbyshire of CD Music Academy, they perform a diverse repertoire, from classic hits like “Do You Love Me” to contemporary favourites like “Someone You Loved.”

By joining their choir, you’ll not only improve your mental well-being but also contribute to a vibrant community. Their performances at local concerts and events bring joy and inspiration to audiences throughout Sefton.

Ready to give it a try? Head along to one of their sessions and experience the positive impact music can have on your life.

Held: 23 December, The Atkinson, Southport

Join FACT on Thursday 18 December for their last Studio/Lab Social of 2025! Celebrate the festive season and raise a glass to the new year.

Studio/Lab Socials offer a relaxed, open way to explore all of their spaces, studios and hot desks, as well as the tools and resources available to Studio/Lab members. They’re also a great opportunity to connect with other North West–based artists, curators, researchers and technologists who share an interest in digital art and culture — all while enjoying free food, drinks and a selection of creative tech to play with!

For this social, they’re thrilled to welcome artists Sara Culmann and Livi Wilmore, who will be sharing some of their works-in-progress. Sara will be presenting the culmination of their three-month residency with FACT, funded by Mondriaan Fonds, and Livi will be previewing part of a group project funded by Immersive Arts. Come along, say hello and see what they’ve been working on!

Visit here for more details

As we enter December, Liverpool’s thriving combined arts venue – Unity Theatre – embarks upon its ever-popular Christmas programme. Serving as a counterpoint to the mainstream, Unity exist to champion diverse arts and platform underrepresented voices – and this year’s festive shows do just that!

Kicking things off on 3rd & 4th December, a bold new voice in feminist theatre comes to the Unity; Rotten Apple is a raw, poetic exploration of mental health, class, identity and what it means to risk everything for a dream. The first play in the ‘Windows of a Woman’ trilogy, this debut piece follows the true story of a young Liverpudlian woman chasing her dream of a bigger, brighter life – in the magical setting of a snowy, 1990’s Manhattan.

Queer and non-Binary Artists are shining brightly at the Unity this December, with a delightful variety of shows stuffed full of comedy, acrobatics, drag and puppetry. Perfect for those planning a festive get together, Unity’s Christmas Cabaret will return on 19th & 20th December after last year’s anarchic success, starring cabaret legend, Velma Von Bon Bon. Meanwhile on 17th & 18th December, Merseyside Kings’ Merry Manarchy welcomes holiday heartthrobs for a festive drag king cabaret – expect a ridiculously fabulous camped-out search for what Christmas is all about.

This Christmas, Unity Theatre proudly spotlight the work of RAWD – their Associate Company in Residence – who co-create joyful, inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive. A RAWD festive special, To Be Near A Shooting Star, is a sparkly, twinkly, candy-cane story, where Mary and Joseph go on an important quest… expect tinsel, triumphs and three ‘not-so-wise’ kings, with this RAWD twist on a Christmas classic.

A fitting finale for the 2025 season comes in the form of Sleep Can Wait! – a heart-warming, high-energy journey through myths, legends, and imagination – lovingly curated by Unity Theatre and Liverpool-based theatre company, Tmesis Theatre. The jewel in the Unity’s festive crown, this enchanting physical theatre show is packed with fun, laughter, and wonder – perfect for dreamers of all ages this winter season! Showing from 12th – 23rd December, the show is packed with lots of physicality and minimal text – the ultimate family- and neurodiverse-friendly production.

Unity has been behaving radically onstage since the 1930s, with its roots in The Unity Theatre movement – a national theatrical initiative that produced politically left-wing works by and for working class audiences. Throughout the 40s, 50s & 60s, Unity were audaciously radical and experimental, staging politically and socially conscious contemporary works that challenged conventional theatre and addressed themes of workers’ rights, fascism and wider issues of inequality.

Today, Unity Theatre is the only surviving member of that movement, and the organisation continue its mission with the same sentiment dating back to the 30s – investing in local work, emerging artists and theatre companies – and producing high-quality radical and groundbreaking theatre that platforms underrepresented voices from the local community.

Unity Theatre has developed into not only a fantastic city-centre performance space but a fully-fledged cultural hub for Merseyside-based creatives and the wider community. Unity’s activity now extends far beyond the world of traditional theatre and programming, with a vibrant exhibition space, music events, film screenings, creative workshops and a dedicated talent development programme for emerging performance artists.

See their website What’s On section here for tickets and more details

National Museums Liverpool is overseeing the conservation of two familiar sights on Liverpool’s historic waterfront, as the tugboat, Brocklebank, and pilot boat, Edmund Gardner, undergo specialist works to protect the future of both vessels.

Brocklebank, owned by National Museums Liverpool and chartered on long term agreement by the Brocklebank Preservation Society, was launched in 1964 and mainly used for ship handling at Liverpool, with occasional duties at Heysham, Larne and Barrow.

Now the 61-year-old tug is berthed at Cammell Laird for a period of essential repair works. Following a recent inspection which revealed serious corrosion across the steel hull of the vessel – conditions to be expected on an operational boat – this conservation work has become crucial to ensure its longevity.

The work, which comprises a high pressure clean before applying a repair coating to fill all the pitting affecting the ship, is expected to extend Brocklebank’s seaworthiness for another decade.

Brocklebank’s crew are looking forward to the ship returning to Liverpool’s docks and waterfront visitors by January 2026.

The pilot boat, Edmund Gardner, which resides in Canning’s north dry dock, is National Museums Liverpool’s largest object.

As an operational vessel, its role was to act as a base in the Irish Sea for the Pilotage Service guiding the steady stream of ships entering and leaving the Mersey during 1950-80s.

In 1982, Edmund Gardner entered Maritime Museum’s collection, as an excellent example of a British boat, built in a traditional style and witness to the changing fortunes of Liverpool’s docks. Having been bought straight from service, the vessel, which is one of only two large pilot boats preserved worldwide (the other is in Australia), contains many of the original features, including the control and navigation equipment on the bridge.

Edmund Gardner has recently undergone specialist treatment of its wooden deck and caulking, as the first line of defence against water ingress into the vessel’s interior and key to its long-term preservation.

The 72-year-old Burmese Teak decks have survived remarkably well, with only small areas of decay in need of graving, but the deck caulking had become severely degraded and required complete replacement. Aiming to use traditional materials and methods, National Museums Liverpool’s Shipkeeping and Engineering Conservation team partnered with shipwrights, T. Nielsen & Company, Gloucester.

Jonathan Carr, Lead Conservator, Shipkeeping, said: “Traditional deck caulking using spun oakum and marine glue is a dying art, so having the funds to engage the crew from T. Nielsen’s was exactly the specialist care Edmund Gardner deserves. Not only did we manage to get more than 1200m of deck seams caulked, we also had more than 120 graving pieces fitted to decayed or damaged deck planking.

“We are working to secure more funding in 2026 to continue the caulking programme and to complete other long-standing conservation priorities that will secure the future of this historic boat.”

Edmund Gardner is part of the National Historic Fleet – ships of national importance –, so this work is not just of local significance but also forms part of a UK-wide initiative to list and protect noteworthy vessels.

Ian Murphy, Head of Maritime Museum, said: “Visitors to Liverpool’s waterfront may already be missing Brocklebank and its enthusiastic crew who all volunteer their time and knowledge so generously. Brocklebank’s open days and public events are always popular, and demonstrate the interest in Liverpool’s maritime heritage, and why it is so important that this preservation work, required to ensure the boat’s future, is a priority for National Museums Liverpool.

“It is also great to see the work on Edmund Gardner, employing traditional skills and materials to ensure the ship has an exciting future as part of the transformation around Canning Quayside and Dry Docks.”

The £200,000 conservation project across both ships is supported by the Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund (PBIF), a government capital investment programme for the essential maintenance of museum estates.

Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum are now closed for major redevelopment works, as part of National Museums Liverpool’s Waterfront Transformation Project. Both museums are expected to reopen in 2029.

 

There comes a certain point in an individuals development when, no matter the wonders of the therapeutic approach or the will we put behind it, we find ourselves hitting a limit in our progression. Where questions of why something won’t release or reveal consume us and an unease persists that we can’t give explanation to.

As our life experiences can’t give account for it, there is often a feeling of guilt for our failure to transcend it, furthering a sense of disconnection and longing. This point is a threshold. As this urgency burns within us we are pushed to go deeper, to surrender and connect back to the infinite intelligence and dynamic field of life that holds us.

Constellation Practice offers us such an opportunity. It invites us to move beyond doubt and self refusal as we witness others, without any background knowledge, embody aspects of the ancestral stories held within us. As they playout previously unseen relationship dynamics for the field of life to adjust and heal, we might be well reminded, that each of us arrived in this world without our own strategising or design and that this same force longs to take us forward, if we just open up to let it.

Opening the group circle in Constellational practice creates the conditions in which the phenomenology of embodied witnessing breaks down judgemental perspectives, destabilising stuck narratives and habitual thinking which restricts personal and collective growth. As a radically different approach to group healing it takes us beyond the limits of rational thinking. Revealing each human being as a constant evolution of movements, deeply interwoven and held by legacies of ancestry, material histories, environmental context, archetype and myth. it allows us to actively embrace such intricate complexity to bring change to personal circumstances and direction.

Developing on from least years workshops, Fi Fane-James, Despina Miliotaki and Stella Cairns will come together again to host this 3 day retreat. Trained across a multitude of practices and engage in different areas of study, this offering is not linked to any singular tradition or spiritual framework. Heavily indebted to Fi and Despina’s root teacher Ron Young whose practice sits at the intersection of many wisdom lineages, the call is to come in the fullness of your own histories of faith and systems of belief.

Ron worked along side Hellinger from 2006-10, to develop The Big Field and The Deep Field Constellations, The Holy Spiritual Constellations and The Sacred Spiritual Constellations. We integrate these forms of the practice alongside movements from the original Family and Organisational work. Freely following what called for in the space we trust each work resonates to serve all in attendance.

More info on the practice and our bio’s can be found on their website.

Ancestral and Systemic Constellations

Three days of Spiritual Healing in the lineage of Burt Hellinger and Ron Young.

23rd – 25th January 2026

Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre, Merseyside