Community Post Type: News

Rising stars from Liverpool Theatre School are set to take over The Hope Street Theatre for a two-night run of Jim Cartwright’s bitter sweet comedy drama Two (2-3 December). Performed by a cast of talented third year students, the poignant play explores the complexities of human relationships through the lives of characters in a local pub, which is run by a bickering couple.

Set over the course of one evening, the poignant play is filled with emotional tales of celebration, loss, love and despair. Serving up laughter and melancholy in equal measures, Two promises to keep the audience entertained as the regulars reveal their secrets in a series of monologues and duologues. The landlord and landlady’s own dark tragedy comes to light when a little boy is left behind by his father, leading to an unexpected reconciliation.

Speaking on Liverpool Theatre School’s production of Two, Principal, Maxine Ellis, said: “Two is a very funny play, yet it’s also incredibly moving. The range of emotion, combined with such a diverse set of characters, makes Two a fairly tough play to perform. Our third year students have really risen to challenge during rehearsals and we’re looking forward to putting on a fantastic production.

“As our final year students prepare for life as professional performers, taking to the stage at The Hope Street Theatre will provide an excellent opportunity for them to really push themselves as they put their training into practice. I would encourage anyone with a love of theatre to join us for what promises to be a thrilling performance from the next generation of stars.”

Liverpool Theatre School – whose patrons include dance legend Wayne Sleep OBE, as well as TV and musical theatre star Anita Dobson – accepts only the most talented students on its professional training programmes in dance, musical theatre and acting. The centre of excellence boasts a long list of success stories, with graduates going on to star in hit shows such as Mamma Mia!, Frozen, SIX, Starlight Express, Blood Brothers and Wicked.

The performing arts school, which hosts an annual graduate showcase in Media City and stages shows at local theatres throughout the year, offers training designed to give young people the skills they need to work in the industry. Liverpool Theatre School encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, providing a number of fully funded places and bursaries to help make high level training more accessible.

Tickets for Liverpool Theatre School’s production of Two are available from Ticketquarter, at £14.50 each or £8.25 for students (including booking fee).

To find out more about Liverpool Theatre School, please visit liverpooltheatreschool.co.uk.

Rugby League and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield CBE is gearing up to start his latest fundraising challenge – and he’s chosen to join thousands of eager Santas in Liverpool this weekend in real festive style.

Kevin will run more than 230 miles in seven days across seven regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It all starts on Sunday 1 December when Kevin will stand on the start line of the 20^th anniversary BTR Liverpool Santa Dash alongside 8,200 festive participants. The event has now sold out.

Kevin will run in memory of his friend Rob Burrow, who passed away from MND (motor neurone disease) in June. This will be his fifth annual challenge, having already raised almost £10million for the MND community.

The challenge has been named ‘Running Home For Christmas’, as the seventh and final day of the run will end in Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.

Kevin will be joined by a small support team throughout the challenge, covering over 50 kilometres per day.

Each day will be broken down into 7K blocks – the number 7 is always central to Kevin’s charity challenges in recognition of his friend and former team mate Rob Burrow, who wore the number during his glittering career alongside Sinfield at Leeds Rhinos.

The team will aim to complete each 7K within one hour before the next block must start on the hour, meaning the only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.

The first leg will see Kevin run from Liverpool to Wrexham, which also takes in Seacombe, Port Sunlight, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, and Chester.

The following days will then cover Gloucester to Bristol, Belfast, Glasgow, Beverley to Hull, Northampton to Leicester, and finally Old Trafford to Saddleworth.

Kevin Sinfield’s challenge will be raising money for six MND charities including the Darby Rimmer Foundation, set up by former Liverpool FC defender Stephen Darby after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2018.

In another connection to the city, Kevin has been joined at stages on his last three challenges by Liverpool FC Women’s record-breaking defender Gemma Bonner, who is a big supporter of the Darby Rimmer Foundation as well.

Kevin Sinfield commented:

 “I am really looking forward to the start line and being joined by over 8,000 Santas will certainly put us in a festive spirit. This year’s event will be particularly poignant having lost Rob in June, but our commitment to Rob’s memory is to continue to support the MND community.

“We are looking forward to meeting more people than ever from the MND community throughout the week, giving them the opportunity to continue to bang the drum for MND.”

The very first BTR Liverpool Santa Dash took place in 2004. It is now thought to be the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run – and is highly regarded as the city’s kick-start to Christmas.

It was created by BTR Liverpool Race Director, Alan Rothwell. BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region.

The event has now sold out. The pop-up shop at St Johns Shopping Centre will remain open daily until Saturday 30 November for collections or merchandise. Shop times are 9.30am to 5pm.

Claire House Children’s Hospice is this year’s Official Charity Partner. Fundraising Santas have already raised £18,500 for Claire House.

Santa’s can support Claire House by fundraising or making a one-off donation at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/chsantadash2025

In Demand Radio is the Official Media Partner. The event is also being supported by partners St Johns Shopping Centre, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, and Arriva North West.

The main Santa Dash 5K starts at 9.30am from Pier Head Liverpool. The day also includes a Mini Dash 1K for youngsters, starting in Castle Street at 11am.

All Santas will enjoy the same grandstand finish line at Liverpool Town Hall featuring stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow.

In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo will be broadcasting her Sunday show live from the event on Santa Dash Day.

The Santa Dash is accessible and open to everyone. Santas walk, jog, or run alongside wheelchair participants, families, friends or colleagues – there are even Santas in prams, and four-legged furry Santas.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash entry fee covers all costs to organise and deliver the event including road closures, safety measures, Santa suits, medals, goodie bags, and entertainment.

The BTR Liverpool portfolio also includes the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon, BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K, BTR Tour Of Merseyside, Port Sunlight Road Race, BTR Women’s 10K Liverpool, and Run For The 97 5K.

Event details can be found at https://www.btrliverpool.com/santa-dash-event

 

Since launching in May 2023, CONTENT in Liverpool has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s most in-demand live music and events spaces and 2024 has seen a run of incredible shows.

And for this winter there are two dates to see out 2024, with Say She She on Thursday 21st November and The Jesus and Mary Chain on Sunday 15th December coming to Liverpool, curated by Harvest Sun Presents.

Further CONTENT shows this year have included Fontaines D.C, Yo La Tengo, The Vaccines, The Cheap Thrills and Bill Ryder-Jones, with last year witnessing Caroline Polachek, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pretenders with Chrissie Hynde, Maisie Peters, Stereolab, Craig Charles Funk & Soul House Party and more perform, showcasing the dynamic verve of the iconic live music venue.

First up, the female-led discodelic soul band Say She She – named as a silent nod to Nile Rodgers (C’est chi-chi!: It’s Chic!”) – continue to wow crowds with their dreamy  harmonies, catchy hooks and up-tempo grooves. The band’s sound is a hat-tip to late 70’s girl groups with the three strong female lead voices of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham and Nya Gazelle Brown at the epicenter of a roaring 7-piece band. 

The band’s debut single Forget Me Not in 2022 quickly proved to be a certified dancefloor banger. Written as an ode to New York City’s Guerilla Girls fighting racial and gender discrimination in the art world, it was followed by releases including Blow My Mind, Norma and Trouble with the trio’s mesmerising vocals. Their Liverpool show promises to raise the roof at CONTENT on Thursday 21st November.

Then one of the most influential bands of their generation and beyond, The Jesus and Mary Chain, come to Liverpool.  They have marked their 40th anniversary in 2024 with a new album, Glasgow Eyes, released in March by Fuzz Club; this is the band’s first studio album since Damage And Joy (2017). 2024 has already been a bumper year for devotees of the Reids: the brothers also unveiled their autobiography, a documentary and their world tour has taken in many incredible locations this year.

Glasgow Eyes might mark a milestone, but the Mary Chain are always looking forward and they will be showcasing their latest verve at CONTENT, an encapsulation of their 40 years. Yet reassuringly, something that has never changed is the fact that the Mary Chain have always stood for the outsider, the misfit, the never understood. 

Further ahead, Mercury Rev are booked for Thursday 13th March 2025. 

Tickets for both shows are available via DICE, Skiddle and CONTENT

 

RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability), a North West-based charity that champions disability representation in the arts, is excited to present The Little Mersey Mermaid, a heartwarming and hilarious Liverpool-inspired twist on a beloved classic.

The show will take place on Saturday, 7th December at 4pm, and Monday, 9th December at 7:30pm at Unity Theatre, Liverpool. Ariel isn’t your typical mermaid, in fact, she’s not a mermaid at all! She’s just a girl with a big dream, she wants to be a scouser. In a tale of ferry rivalries and a hunt for a long lost Ma, Ariel searches for answers.

Join RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability) for The Little Mersey Mermaid, a hilarious and heartwarming Liverpool-inspired twist on the classic tale. Expect a show full of laughter, music, and a dash of Scouse spirit!

Catch the magic at Unity Theatre, where RAWD is an associate company. Celebrate with them as they round off another fantastic year, supporting their community of disabled artists.

Performance Information
The Little Mersey Mermaid
Saturday, 7th December 2024, 4:00 PM
Monday, 9th December 2024, 7:30 PM
Venue: Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Tickets and Further Information
Tickets for The Little Mersey Mermaid are available now on the Unity Theatre Website. For more details about the show and how to get involved with RAWD, visit rawdproject.co.uk

About RAWD
RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability) is a North West based company that produces inclusive arts experiences and performances which all present and amplify the disabled perspective.

Brace yourselves, psych rock and garage blues enthusiasts! After a long hiatus, Liverpool-based rock n roll garage blues maestros The Cubical are back with a vengeance.

Hot off the heels of dropping their new single That Ain’t No Way To Get High and a summer tour across Spain and the Basque Country, the fellas are releasing the much anticipated fifth studio album Cut Me Like a Hog on esteemed Spanish vinyl label FOLC Re- cords on 8th November. This marks their first record since the critically acclaimed Blood Moon in 2017.

The Cubical have long been lauded for their innovative songwriting. Hailed by MOJO as “Genius!” and celebrated by Q Magazine as “simply not your average band,” The Cubical are once again shaking the foundations of modern rock n roll with their unmistakably unique sound.

Cut Me Like a Hog is a big sounding record of explosively performed songs with, according to US Glide Magazine, “one foot in the past and one foot in the future”.  This is manifested in technicolour with opening track That Ain’t No Way To Get High – thought-provoking lyrics, a cacophony of horns, demonic blues-infused riffs, and tight vocal harmonies all served up with a Howlin Wolf/Tom Waits growl. The band’s trademark rock n roll intensity is expertly refreshed and evident in horn driven Motown tinged stomper Run It Off, maintaining their enigmatic and rhythmically hypnotic essence that has solidified their reputation across Europe over the years.

But be warned! The Cubical are no one trick ponies and evocatively poignant gothic noir of Forever in Your Past transports the listener to a smoke filled all night New York jazz bar, where the whisky is poured into the steaming coffee and the clarinet weaves its way through reverb soaked guitars. The senses are assaulted in a psychedelic shakedown of the Eugenics movement in title track Cut Me Like A Hog; “Mama signed me away!” the band shriek whilst the hell- scape guitars wail and twist around pounding drums. The listener is momentarily revived from the garage blues shock therapy by the atmospheric acoustic Night Falls before a tumultuous and anthemic end is offered from the wrong side of the tracks via the claustrophobic In The Barrio. After the last notes ring out it’s as if the listener has been immersed in a vivid and kaleidoscopic neighbourhood like no other, shaken, challenged but wanting more.

The Cubical make a triumphant return with new album Cut Me Like A Hog, out now on vinyl and digitally via FOLC Records and Ditto Music. Listen now on Spotify.

Diane Hesketh was shortlisted at the 2024 Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards for The Third Sector Leader.

With over 30 years’ experience in social care, exceptional strategic capabilities and commitment to making a difference, Diane has been a force to be reckoned with.

Diane has been for responsible for leading critical functions since she joined Natural Breaks in 2017. She has championed quality, person-centred support taking the organisation from strength to strength.

The Women Achieving Greatness award ceremony takes place on the 28th November at The Hilton Bankside Hotel in London. Rather than attending the evening, Diane will be volunteering at a Maasai community development project in Tanzania, until early December.

“Being shortlisted at the awards was not on my agenda for the year but nevertheless, it has come as such a wonderful surprise. I started my journey with Natural Breaks seven years ago and it has been my greatest joy to see a positive impact on people’s lives through the support we provide. I am beyond proud of the teams and departments that work alongside me, who have an endless amount of kindness in their hearts and champion all people we support. Throughout my time with Natural Breaks, I have strategically led the charity – developing creative solutions to problems, pursuing new ideas and harnessing purpose with action and change that has those we support at the heart of it all”
Diane Hesketh, CEO

Natural Breaks provide support to adults with disabilities, autism and acquired brain injuries across Liverpool.

For more about Natural Breaks and their work, visit www.naturalbreaks.co.uk.

Feedback Global is pleased to announce a £237,522 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to explore and record the food and farming heritage of Knowsley and secure it for future generations with a permanent home at the Knowsley Archives in Kirkby.

They want to create a better food future in Knowsley by using inspiration from the past. They will engage diverse resident groups about the area’s food and farming heritage using education, participation, research and activities. They want to celebrate the area’s distinct farming and food heritage from 50+ years ago. This heritage is at risk of disappearing, so preserving it and bringing it to life for residents of all ages will enable everyone to access it in the future.

Volunteers, local groups, college students and schools will be able to take part in the project through creative, celebratory and investigative activities and events led by expert practitioners, allowing people from across Knowsley to enjoy and play a part in recording the farming heritage.

They will be actively recruiting for volunteers to work with them, please go to their website www.alchemickitchen.org for more details and to connect with their community team

Liverpool based arts organisation DaDa returns to the Museum of Liverpool next month to present its annual Edward Rushton Social Justice Lecture.

Award-winning theatre maker, activist and writer Kaite O’Reilly will deliver the lecture at the waterfront landmark on Tuesday, 3 December from 1-3pm. It will also be available to watch online.

The annual event, held on the United National International Day for People with Disabilities, is named after the blind Liverpool poet, bookseller, activist, abolitionist and disabled man.

Kaite O’Reilly will speak about ableism and audism in ‘RAGE ON: The Uses of Anger’ which connects her talk to DaDa’s 40^th birthday celebrations in 2025 which have the core theme Rage.

She describes ableism and audism as the discrimination of and social prejudice against people based on the belief that other bodies, senses and neurology are superior, thereby giving the right to dominate, patronise and try to ‘fix’. The assumption that disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people are lesser, require medicalisation and normalisation, or be made to disappear.

DaDaFest International 40 will run from 8-31 March 2025, with an official launch event revealing the programme set to take place at the Unity Theatre on 29 November.

Free tickets for the Edward Rushton Social Justice Lecture can be booked via the website on www.dadafest.co.uk

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres have announced new productions for 2025, the first season by new Creative Director Nathan Powell, confirming its position at the forefront of new writing, and reaffirming its commitment to creative collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and artist development.

The first production Takeaway is written by Nathan Powell and will be directed by Amanda Huxtable. A story set in a Liverpool restaurant packed with big laughs, family tensions and pumping tunes, it will play at the Everyman from 26 April to 17 May 2025. Nathan said:

“It’s a story about Liverpool as a whole, how it was built, where it is now, and about the communities that make up the city. I think it feels very ‘Everyman’ in that it asks big questions but there are also lots of laughs, silliness and humour. I’m hoping that stories like Takeaway that are rooted in this place, can also tell a national tale.”

At a time when many theatres are limiting their creative risks, Nathan is keen to give theatre makers the opportunity to test boundaries and push theatrical form. Inspired by real animal encounters from around the world The Walrus Has A Right To Adventure by Wirral playwright  Billie Collins and is at the Everyman from 12 to 21 June 2025. It sweeps three stories from different corners of the globe into a powerful new play about instinct, expectation, identity, and what it means to be truly free.

Giving theatre makers a space to explore classic texts is essential for shedding fresh light on familiar stories, uncovering new insights for existing audiences and inviting new, younger audiences to engage. A new abridged version of the classic love story Romeo and Juliet opens at the Everyman from 13 September to 4 October 2025.  Directed by Ellie Hurt, a graduate of Young Everyman Playhouse [YEP] Directors Programme, it promises to be a powerful, potent production stripped back to its brilliant basics.

For the three new homegrown productions announced, the theatres are committed to keeping ticket prices low; with tickets priced from £11 and 64% available at £21 and under. The hope is to ensure theatre remains accessible and affordable, allowing more people to enjoy live performances, and reduce the risk for audiences seeing new plays.

On announcing plans for 2025, Nathan Powell said:“I am so excited for my first season to be underway.  Liverpool has been home to me for many years and the city, and its broad artistic community are close to my heart.  As a team we at the Everyman and Playhouse will continue our dedication to producing local stories with a national reach and in doing so, championing emerging creative talent, introducing audiences to new forms of storytelling, and breathing a fresh perspective into classic stories.”

2025 at the Everyman begins with a revival of Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine, originally commissioned by the theatre and finishing its 60th Birthday celebrations; from 1 to 29 March, the production (already on sale) will see Helen Carter in the title role and will be directed by Stephen Fletcher. No Everyman year is complete without the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll panto, which for 2025 will be Jack and the Beanstalk (15 November to 17 January), written by Liverpool writer Chloe Moss.

Alongside continuing to develop creative projects with Associate Companies, which in 2025 will include a Studio Commission with Talawa as part of their Black Joy Season, the theatres will collaborate with some of the UK’s best touring companies. These include at the Liverpool Playhouse, co-producing with Actors Touring Company on Tambo & Bones (26 to 29 March), Wise Children on North by Northwest (20 to 24 May) and with Royal & Derngate on Breaking the Code (21 to 25 October); as well as welcoming back Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures with The Midnight Bell (16 to 20 September).

Productions already on sale for 2025 at Liverpool Playhouse include The Merchant of Venice 1936 with Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shylock (4 to 8 February); the return of Ghost Stories to the stage where it first premiered (11 to 15 March); George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1 to 5 April); and a stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ novel The Girl on a Train (13 to 17 May).

The theatres continue their on-going commitment to welcoming younger children and families with The Baddies (18 to 22 February), The Gruffalo (8 to 12 April) and Pirates Love Underpants (28 to 31 May); as well as Children’s Touring Partnership with Malorie Blackman’s Pig Heart Boy (18 to 22 March).

Comedy nights include Mark Thomas: Gaffa Tapes (23 January), Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? (25 January), John Shuttleworth: Raise the Oof (11 February), Adam Kay: Undoctored (12 February), Lou Sanders: No Kissing in the Bingo Hall (1 March), Deirdre O’Kane: Kaning It (8 March), Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back? (17 April), Ellie Taylor: Palavering! (10 May), Jenny Éclair: Jokes Jokes Jokes Live! (7 June) , Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle (13 September) and Sam Avery: Thunderstorm (21 November).

Further information on the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres 2025 programme, including details of accessible performances and ticket prices, are available now at www.everymanplayhouse.com or by calling the information line on 0151 709 4776.