Community Post Type: News

Following acclaim for her debut album Belonging, art-pop songwriter Dorothy Bird returns with her most personal work to date. ‘Whispering Paper’ will be released on May 3rd 2025 via Liverpool’s Crosstown Records, with a limited edition 12” black vinyl and also available digitally.

With ringing endorsements from BBC Introducing, Tom Robinson’s Fresh On The Net, and a host of tastemaking magazines in both England and her native Germany, Dorothy’s sound is startlingly original and unmistakably her own. Recent live performances include a celebrated concert at Liverpool’s prestigious Tung Auditorium, further establishing her reputation as a compelling live performer.

Written and recorded in the wake of deep personal loss, Whispering Paper is an album forged in a time of grief, yetbut it radiates quiet resilience, emotional clarity, and a deep love for life.

“When my sister passed away in 2023, it was like the shell of everyday life cracked open,” says Dorothy. “All emotions became louder and more defined. There was a new sensitivity—for the world around me, and within.”

With its haunting vocals and atmospheric layers of piano, synths, beats, guitar, and strings, the album introduces new sonic textures to Bird’s sound. Brass and vocal ensemble appear for the first time, alongside subtle additions like Rhodes piano and playful synths.

While Belonging said ‘you are not alone’ , Whispering Paper speaks softly but powerfully: ‘Live now’. It’s an album of presence, of letting go, of truth-telling through song. The album radiates quiet resilience, emotional clarity, and a deep love for life. The result? A magical and mysterious tapestry.

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Buy the Album:

https://www.crosstownstudios.co.uk/store/p/dorothy-bird-whispering-paper

Digital:

https://ditto.fm/whispering-paper

Pantomime will return to the Epstein Theatre this Christmas with the historic Liverpool venue inviting audiences to enjoy the enchanting world of Cinderella.

The fantastic, five-star festive family show will run from Friday, 5 December to Sunday, 4 January 2026 at the Hanover Street theatre.

Tickets, from £20, are on sale from www.epsteintheatre.com.

Beloved by generations as the greatest fairytale of them all, Regal Entertainments Ltd’s smash hit production of the classic tale promises plenty of magical moments along with spectacular costumes and set, brilliant choreography and marvellous music to get you up out of your seat.

Cinderella tells the story of a beautiful girl reduced to a life of servitude by her two ugly stepsisters.  But when an invitation arrives for a grand ball at the palace, it seems all that could be about to change. With a bit of magic, and help from her loyal friend Buttons, Cinderella is transformed into the belle of the ball. But what will happen when the clock strikes midnight?

The show will be directed by Chantelle Joseph, with choreography from Nazene Langfield. Musical supervisor is Callum Clarke.

Casting is yet to be announced.

The Christmas pantomime forms part of the theatre’s hotly anticipated inaugural autumn season which is due to be launched with a special Gala Night on Friday, 19 September – Brian Epstein’s birthday – featuring local acts and celebrities.

The Grade II listed landmark, which closed its doors in June 2023, now has new leaseholders and a new management team which is promising a busy programme of entertainment which reflects the theatre’s century-long role as the home of local talent, national touring productions, music, comedy and pantomime.

Liverpool art fans will have more time to enjoy this summer’s Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet with the immersive experiences announcing they are extending their run.

The unmissable multimedia attractions were due to visit Exhibition Centre Liverpool from Tuesday 15^th July to Sunday 3^rd August.

But since tickets went on sale in February, demand has been so great it has now been decided to extend the 2025 run until Friday 15^th August – giving visitors an additional two weeks to catch both stunning immersive shows. Tickets for the extended dates are on sale now!

Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet will be staged on different days throughout what is now a four-and-a-half-week stay at the landmark waterfront venue.

Produced by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group, Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience brings together more than 300 of the post-Impressionist icon’s paintings blended with cutting-edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack to tell the story of one of history’s most influential artists, with people able to wander through iconic works – including The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Terrace of a Café at Night – as they come alive around them.

Meanwhile Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience has been seen by thousands of people at venues across North America, and now it is coming to the UK, following in Beyond Van Gogh’s footsteps by being premiered in Liverpool.

In the immersive impressionist extravaganza, cutting-edge technology breathes new life into more than 400 of the legendary French painter’s artworks, taking visitors on a spectacular and unforgettable audio-visual journey through his captivating and colourful world.

Beyond Monet brings together some of the artist’s most famous canvases – including Poppies, Impression: Sunrise and his exquisite Water Lilies series – with lesser-known works which all swirl around the space, offering a fresh and exciting new look at much-loved masterpieces and a deeper connection with Monet, his subjects and his innovative technique.

Taking inspiration from Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, the designated home of Monet’s works, visitors can freely roam the Infinity Room where they are transported inside the paintings themselves to the accompaniment of a moving original score.

There are a range of ticket options including VIP Experience tickets, and new for 2025, special family tickets and ‘parent and child’ tickets which offer great savings on individual prices.

And a programme of complementary activities has already been announced which will include Yoga, Pilates, mediation and painting sessions which will all take place within the immersive experiences.

Anna Parry, UK Business Development at Annerin Productions, said today: “When we premiered Beyond Van Gogh in Liverpool last summer we were overwhelmed with the amazing response from visitors. And it seems city art lovers are just as excited for the return of Van Gogh and the first visit of Beyond Monet.

“So, I’m absolutely delighted we’re able to extend the run of both immersive experiences for an additional two weeks.

 “’I also want to thank Exhibition Centre Liverpool for its continued enthusiasm and support. We forged a great working relationship with the team there in 2024 and since then the partnership has just got stronger and stronger. They’re brilliant at what they do, and I know this summer is going to be another memorable visit to the beautiful Mersey waterfront.”

“Even before opening, the excitement and demand for Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh have exceeded all expectations,” said Colm Graham, Head of Partnerships, Hospitality and Exhibition Sales at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

“We’re thrilled the exhibition will be extended to run for an additional two weeks, giving even more people the chance to experience this breathtaking celebration of Van Gogh and Monet’s work. It’s a testament to the appetite for world-class cultural experiences here in Liverpool. Working once again with the incredibly talented team at Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group has been a real pleasure – their creativity and commitment to immersive storytelling is second to none and we can’t wait to welcome visitors through our doors to experience it.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Website –  www.beyondvangogh.co.uk

A record that features the sound of 40,000 bees will go on sale from 20 May 2025, as Wolfgang Buttress – creator of Bees: A Story of Survival at World Museum, Liverpool – releases the hauntingly beautiful exhibition soundscape ‘TO BE’.

Acting as the main aural element of the exhibition, which is now on until 28 September 2025, ‘TO BE’ takes listeners on a reflective journey to develop and strengthen humankind’s fragile relationship with nature.

The artist has also announced performances at Rough Trade venues in in Liverpool (22 May) and London (23 May), alongside Spiritualized artists Kevin Bales and Tony Foster.

‘TO BE’ is the first album release from Karman Line Collective. Written and recorded by artist Wolfgang Buttress with Kevin Bales and Tony Foster (Spiritualized, Julian Cope) and Justin Goodyer. The album is a phenomenal, immersive soundscape for Buttress’ latest art installation BEES: A Story of Survival. This multi-sensory exhibition highlights the essential role these ingenious pollinators play within the planet’s ecosystems, as well as the existential threat faced by both bees and humanity alike due to our mistreatment of the planet.

Featuring a chorus of 40,000 bees, ‘TO BE’ uses and manipulates samples of field recordings taken from hives across the globe during critical research into the communication patterns of bee species.

It builds on and evolves the group’s previous work on The Hive and develops it as one of the exhibition’s main narrative devices. Buttress has likened moving through the exhibition to following the contours of a song: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, middle eight, drop, chorus, chorus – much like how the eight installations in the piece meld into and inform each other. The music – along with light, sound, projection and scent – take the visitor on an emotional and sensorial journey into the secret world of bees.

Created over three years of writing and recording, ‘TO BE’ beautifully combines previously unheard recordings of bee communications with deeply enveloping meditative music. These unique bee communication sounds are used as raw musical stems within the composition; some are processed through guitar pedals to augment the music creating an entirely new library of sounds. Throughout the record, the listener will hear bees communicating in various ways, from the vibrations produced by their famous ‘waggle dance,’ to the sounds melittologists refer to as bees’ tooting, quacking and purring.

Wolfgang Buttress, said: “The process of creating the soundscape for Bees: A Story of Survival has taken over three years. I have been working with some of the world’s pre-eminent bee experts to source both new bee sounds and filmed footage.

“There was a deliberate and conscious decision to use analogue instruments as a foil and compliment to the bee sounds – cello, guitar, trumpet, harmonica and the human voice. The hope is that these two worlds inform, speak to and harmonise with each other, to create an impactful, peculiar and emotionally affecting outcome.”

The soundscape functions as one of the main narrative devices in Bees: A Story of Survival. The music, along with light, sound, projection and scent take the visitor on an emotional and sensorial journey into the secret world of bees. Led by changing soundscapes, visitors embark on a journey through eight immersive rooms. Using sounds and scents, visitors follow a trail from trees to digital wildflower meadows, highlighting the impact of bees as pollinators of the natural world.

A fusion of art, science, technology and incorporating film from the international scientific community, Bees: A Story of Survival brings to life what it is like to see and hear like a bee. The exhibition imagines and dramatically highlights the devastating impact of a world without these fascinating and essential creatures, and offers a message of hope for the future.

Bees: A Story of Survival runs at World Museum, part of National Museums Liverpool, is now open until the new closing date of Sunday 28 September. The exhibition is sponsored by lead partner Radisson RED.

Merseyside residents can access a 25% discount by booking exhibition tickets in advance via the National Museums Liverpool website, with the code LCR25.

For more information visit: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/bees.

Fancy learning about the route taken from “chew to poo’, or how to make a banana piano, to fight cyber crime, make bunting, make soap, build with LEGO and so much more.

The main event for Wirral Makefest C.I.C calendar will take place on Saturday, May 10th at Birkenhead Central Library, when over 30 local makers will showcase their products, skills, and talents. From coding to robots, craft skills, new techniques, gadgets and more, the event promises to be a thrilling celebration of science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths. The event will also feature a pop-up café, offering delicious refreshments to fuel your creative journey.

Whether you’re looking to create a one-of-a-kind item, participate in workshops, or simply enjoy a vibrant, community-centered atmosphere, the Wirral Makefest has something for everyone.

Wirral Makefest is an annual free public festival dedicated to celebrating the creativity, skill, and talent of local makers in Wirral and beyond. The festival provides a platform for artists, crafters, and creators to showcase their work, share knowledge, and inspire others to engage in hands-on making. The festival aims to foster a sense of community, creativity, and sustainability by offering free workshops, interactive events, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals of all ages.

For more information, visit here

This May 2025, Leap Festival presents ‘The Loss Of Innocence’, A new Dance and Live Sound Performance by Mudanza Collective, at Unity Theatre. Choreographed by Satya-Sara Khachik for 4 Dancers, the dance is fuelled by the heartache and hardships one encounters on their journey into Womanhood. Through movement, the dancers find solace in a sense of community, and celebrate the grit and grind it takes to rebuild oneself again and again.

Taking inspiration from iconic female figures in Action films and history, and the theme of ‘losing innocence’ found in poetry and literature, the choreography investigates the act of ‘fall and recovery’, utilising action-based movement informed by Martial Arts and the expressive states of women. The work also takes movement qualities and insight found in Nature; being grounded, nurturing, and resilient.

The themes of resilience and courage that are explored reflect Liverpool’s history of a resilient work ethic and drive to rebuild and succeed against hardship. The performance celebrates the collective effort of people in Liverpool, building a sense of community. Live sound is an equally important element to the performance, recognising the potency that live music has, how it brings people together, and holds so much meaning and value in people’s lives, especially to those in Liverpool.

Choreographer and Dancer – Satya-Sara Khachik 
Dancer and Assistant Choreography – Rosie Terry Toogood
Dancer – Jo Freeman
Dancer – Kennedy Brim
Live Sound Design and Production by Mario Aguilar Leal

Made and performed to a live and electronic sound score with a cinematic feel.

Saturday 3rd May | 8pm
Unity Theatre, Liverpool
BOOK TICKETS

Mudanza Collective are also running a creative workshop before the performance for female artists, creating a safe, expressive space for women to engage and explore the themes of ‘The Loss of Innocence’ on a deeper level.

Creative Workshop – for Female Artists and Creatives (FREE & open to all ages)

Tuesday 29th April | 10.30 am -12 pm
Metal Culture, Platform 1, Edgehill Station

BOOK HERE

An Army of Women film screening, 30 April, FACT, Liverpool.

The film follows a group of women in Austin, Texas, who join forces to legally challenge the system that allowed their rapists to walk free. An Army of Women is the landmark story of women fighting to hold law enforcement accountable, which has resounding relevance worldwide.

The screening is followed by a panel discussion with the director, Julie Lunde Lillesæter, and director of Reclaim The Frame, Melanie Iredale. As director and cinematographer, Julie combines a strong visual eye with a commitment to social change. Her films explore themes such as women’s rights and equality, migration, and the climate crisis, and her documentaries have been broadcast on Al Jazeera English, NRK, and The Atlantic.

To book tickets, visit here

Tickets for the Walker Art Gallery’s major exhibition exploring the work of JMW Turner and his enduring impact on later generations are on sale – exactly 250 years since the artist’s birth on 23 April 1775.

Turner: Always Contemporary (25 October 2025 – 22 February 2026) will include National Museums Liverpool’s collection of Turner’s oil paintings, works on paper and prints, alongside modern and contemporary artworks that delve into themes of travel, landscape and artistic experimentation.

A number of important and influential artworks from major galleries across the UK will feature in the exhibition, ranging from work by Maggi Hambling and Jeff Koons through to paintings by Annie Swynnerton and George Frederick Watts. Prints by British artist Emma Stibbon, recently acquired by National Museums Liverpool, will also be displayed for the first time.

The exhibition will offer a new perspective on Turner and his legacy, highlighting how he grappled with issues that remain relevant today: climate change; immigration; tourism; and the role of the artist. Alongside Turner’s works, visitors will encounter pieces by Claude Monet, Bridget Riley, Ethel Walker and many more, bringing together 250 years of art to examine Turner’s timeless appeal.

Dr Melissa Gustin, Curator of British Art at National Museums Liverpool, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to reconsider National Museums Liverpool’s collection of works by Turner. This exhibition will showcase the treasures in our collection and explore how Turner’s work has always been challenging, exciting and contemporary for audiences in Britain and around the world.”

Turner captured the power and changeability of the sea in a remarkable way, and it is perhaps for his immediately recognisable seascapes that he is most renowned. The exhibition charts his changing painting practice, moving from calm coasts in watercolour to raging storms in oil, impacting generations of artists in the process.

For Turner, painting was not just about capturing a picturesque view. He, and the artists inspired or shaped by him, used the world around them to explore the pressing issues of their day, and to push the boundaries of what art could be.

Turner: Always Contemporary will show how his paintings and drawings raise questions about the role of commerce, colonialism and industry that are as relevant today as they were when they were first imagined by the artist. The way people of Turner’s generation engaged with and shaped the lands, rivers and seas still impact us today and can be traced through art.

The exhibition is supported by Lead Partner Quilter Cheviot. Nigel Hibbert, Head of Office at Quilter Cheviot Liverpool, said: “Liverpool is a city rich in culture and heritage and is not just an important centre for culture in the northwest of England, but also the United Kingdom more broadly. As a business, Quilter Cheviot has a long history of working closely to support organisations in the arts and cultural sector.

“We were delighted when the opportunity to become Lead Partner of the Turner: Always Contemporary exhibition presented itself to mark Turner’s 250^th anniversary, plus all he has influenced through to modern day. A great alignment with Quilter Cheviot’s heritage and values.”

To purchase tickets, from 10am today, visit: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/turner

Auction of art by artist Adam Partridge plus makers demonstrations and raffle.

Drinks, canapes and live music.

Ticket price: £50

Book your tickets now for Bluecoat Display Centre’s Fundraiser Event on Thursday 22nd May, from 6.30pm, held at the Bluecoat.

 

Walker Art Gallery is proud to present ‘Vivienne Westwood: Designer in Focus‘, a captivating new display celebrating the groundbreaking fashion designer’s remarkable career spanning over five decades. On display from Friday 18 April, this stunning showcase brings together a collection of Westwood’s revolutionary designs, from her punk beginnings to her status as a British fashion icon.

Located in the Craft & Design Gallery, the display features key pieces from Westwood’s most influential collections, including rare items from her collaborations with Malcolm McLaren during the early 1980s. Visitors will discover how Westwood’s creative vision evolved from the punk aesthetic of their Kings Road shop SEX to her later explorations of historical dress, global cultures, and classic British tailoring.

Highlights include a grey wool ‘Koo tunic’ from the Witches Collection (1983-84) featuring artwork by Keith Haring, the iconic ‘Dunbar Suit’ in pink Gordon tartan from the Anglomania Collection (1993-94) once worn by Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Holly Johnson, and a black velvet suit from the Time Machine Collection (1988-89) gifted by Liverpool-born model Julie Bramwell.

The display showcases Westwood’s remarkable versatility and her ability to draw inspiration from diverse sources, from 18th century French art to Native American design elements, while maintaining her distinctive, boundary-pushing approach to fashion.

‘Vivienne Westwood: Designer in Focus’ is on display from Friday 18 April 2025 and runs until October 2026. 

Admission to the gallery is free, with all donations supporting future programming.

For more information, visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker-art-gallery