Community Post Type: News

An innovative new show, Two by Jim Cartwright, at Shakespeare North Playhouse, with two actors playing 14 characters

Behind the bar of their northern pub, the Landlord and Landlady welcome their regulars with open arms. Lending an ear for stories of celebration, of loss, of love and of despair, the bickering couple work together to keep the locals in high spirits – with drinks, conversation and laughter.

But what is their story? As a lost boy turns up on their doorstep looking for his Dad, the couple must confront their own demons and perhaps, for the first time in years, talk to each other…

Performed by two actors playing all 14 characters, Jim Cartwright’s poignant play takes audiences into the world of one working-class pub over the course of one night. Weaving together rich stories full of human emotion, this dark-comedy gives an intimate insight into a variety of characters and will make you laugh, and cry, in equal measure.

For tickets, visit here

Held: 6 – 28 March

Marking what would have been Anthony’s 39th birthday (21 February 1987), International Slavery Museum and the Anthony Walker Foundation are bringing together young people from Liverpool schools to create a new space in the museum that will carry Anthony’s name and continue his legacy.

From the opening of International Slavery Museum in 2007, until it closed for redevelopment in 2025, the original Anthony Walker Education Centre served as a safe space for young people to hold conversations, events and participate in workshops, exploring themes within the museum. The centre was inspired by the work of the Anthony Walker Foundation to tackle racism, hate crime and discrimination, and ensure a powerful legacy for Anthony.

When it reopens the reimagined museum will feature new opportunities for people to connect, reflect and discover.

Students from Childwall Sports and Science Academy, Belvedere Academy, St. Hilda’s Church of England High School and Liverpool College are working with teams from International Slavery Museum, and architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios), to represent Liverpool’s young people, and ensure they have a voice in shaping the design of a new education centre, which will once again be named in memory of Anthony.

Claire Benjamin, Head of Learning & Participation, said: “For almost 20 years the Anthony Walker Education Centre welcomed many thousands of young people through its doors. We were proud to name the space after Anthony and with the blessings of his family, and the Anthony Walker Foundation, support their work to explore legacies of racial slavery and the impact it continues to have on young people today.

“As we plan for the future of International Slavery Museum it is an honour to continue this relationship, and a joy to bring the vision and ideas of Liverpool’s young people into the conversation with our brilliant architects, to steer and inform the design.”

Judith Agis, Tackling Racism in Schools Programme Manager, said: “We are grateful to National Museums Liverpool for this opportunity. It not only continues the long-standing partnership between National Museums Liverpool and Anthony Walker Foundation but, by inviting our Tackling Racism in Schools student ambassadors to assist in the redesign of the Anthony Walker Education Centre within the new International Slavery Museum, it also engages the next generation.

“The invited schools – Childwall Sports and Science Academy, Belvedere Academy, St. Hilda’s Church of England High School, and Liverpool College – have shown true commitment and dedication to promote cohesion and a culturally inclusive environment within their schools, supporting their students and aiding our mission to keep Anthony’s memory alive. This opportunity allows their young people to continue this work in a new environment, one that will be used by other young people as a learning space for generations to come.”

Anthony Walker was murdered on 30 July 2005 in a brutal act of racist violence that sent shockwaves throughout the Liverpool city region and beyond. Anthony was only eighteen years old and was in his second year of A-levels. The Anthony Walker Foundation was established in 2006 by Anthony’s family and friends, who did not want his murder to be another statistic and work for his name to live on with a positive lasting legacy.

https://anthonywalkerfoundation.com/

International Slavery Museum is expected to reopen to the public in 2029

Heart of Glass are running a short, subsidised course led by Liz Postlethwaite (permaculture designer and creative practitioner), exploring how permaculture principles can support creative practice, collaboration and long-term, regenerative thinking.

It’s a practical, accessible introduction – no prior knowledge needed – and could be particularly useful for members interested in ethical, socially engaged and regenerative ways of working.

Across three sessions (two online + one in person at Make Huyton), participants will:

• Learn core permaculture principles and how they relate to creative work
• Explore examples of projects using these ideas
• Reflect on their own practice and try out practical tools
• Connect with a supportive peer group

Subsidised cost:
Freelancer £10 | Micro org £25 | Small org £45 | Large org £65

Find out more and book here: https://www.heartofglass.org.uk/project-and-events/events/introduction-to-permaculture-for-artists-creatives-and-cultural-workers

Forty years since the Merseyside Museums and Galleries Order was laid before Parliament (13 February 1986), National Museums Liverpool is inviting visitors to dig, dive and delve into their vast collections, to celebrate four decades of Liverpool’s national museum network.

With seven museums and galleries in its portfolio, England’s only national museum group outside of London will for the first time display items from each venue as one exhibition. National Museums Liverpool at 40 runs from 1 April and celebrates the diverse, powerful and important collection that the organisation is responsible for.

From objects as simple as a front door, to artistic masterpieces, the free exhibition highlights the range of objects cared for by National Museums Liverpool and the stories that accompany them. The 40 objects in the exhibition also include some never before showcased objects from National Museums Liverpool’s collection.

Founded in 1986, the formation of National Museums Liverpool marked an historic moment in the city’s history. Seven museums and galleries now form the internationally recognised portfolio of museums based on Merseyside: Lady Lever Art Gallery, International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool, Sudley House, Walker Art Gallery and World Museum.

During the 40 years since its creation, National Museums Liverpool has welcomed 80 million people through their doors.

Objects included in the exhibition include rare artefacts from the Titanic, clothing that tells a story of one of Liverpool’s many cultural landmarks, masterpieces by world-famous artists and seemingly innocuous objects that have a significant story to tell from Liverpool’s past.

Alongside items selected by museum curators, some of the objects in the exhibition are chosen by those who work in the organisation, including National Museums Liverpool director Laura Pye and the new chair of National Museums Liverpool Andrea Nixon. Colleagues who have worked at the museums and galleries for 40 years or more were also given the opportunity to choose an object to go on display.

While celebrating their internationally renowned collection, National Museums Liverpool will also explore the history of items as part of a wider, ongoing commitment to uncover colonial links, to provide context on how items came to exist in the organisation’s collection.

Joe Brook, head of audiences and media at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Marking 40 years of National Museums Liverpool provides us with an opportunity to look back on highlights of the past four decades, and celebrate our city’s huge impact on UK and international culture.

“It is also an opportunity to look forward to the future. To think about the purpose and role of museums and galleries in not just telling stories of the past but shaping how we continue to change lives in the future.”

To ensure as many young people are able to visit the exhibition, National Museums Liverpool has partnered with Arriva, Merseyrail and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide more opportunities for young people and students to engage with the museums and galleries in 2026.

Alongside the free exhibition, free learning sessions will be available from September to schools and other organisations, with more information on how to book available once the exhibition opens.

National Museums Liverpool at 40 is part of a busy programme across the year that celebrates the importance of the organisation’s collection for the city and the huge impact the museums and galleries can have on the city, the wider region, and the world.

For all the latest updates on an exciting programme of events including, curator talks, family activities and after hour events, visit: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/NML-40-exhibition.

Part of Culture 26; Made In Halton and Celebrating the new UKSPF funded Music Trail from Widnes to Runcorn Station they present Beyond The Tracks Music Train!

In partnership with North Cheshire Community Rail and Northern Rail they have 2 days in half term with live music to accompany you on your journey!

Thursday 19th Feb Pete Bentham and The Dinnerladies Acoustic Show and Saturday 21st Feb The Dock Road Trio.

Travel from Widnes to Liverpool or from Liverpool to Widnes and be part of Culture 26!

For more information, visit here

20 Stories High, Graeae Theatre Company, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, LEEDS 2023, Young Disabled Artists and Community Activists have launched The Access Manifesto – an urgent and pioneering call to action, encouraging arts organisations and cultural institutions to be more accessible to Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent young people throughout the UK.

Advocating for ‘A New Chapter for the Arts’, The Access Manifesto is a practical, step-by-step guide – aimed at helping arts organisations, venues and individuals to take significant strides towards making the arts more accessible for all.

Theatre companies 20 Stories High from Liverpool and London-based Graeae Theatre Company first joined forces in 2023, to collaborate on their award-winning show High Times and Dirty Monsters, which also addressed the challenges that young Deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent people face. Maisy Gordon – one of the actors in the show, and Ayzah Ahmed, a Graeae participant – particularly felt that the activism needed to continue, knowing that many of the arts spaces they visited were failing not only them but also the majority of disabled people they spoke to.

Subsequently bringing together 60+ Deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent young people and young adults from across the country to further explore the issues, they collated their thoughts, ideas, and provocations to create a practical step-by-step guide for arts organisations and venues to take bigger steps in making the arts more accessible for young audiences, participants, and artists.

The response? The Access Manifesto — a beacon of change, developed by those directly impacted and designed to inspire and guide the arts sector towards a more inclusive future. They invite you to join them in embracing this new chapter for the arts. Together, we can create a world where every young person, regardless of their abilities, can enjoy and participate in the arts.

“I believe that the Access Manifesto is the first big step to great change… now I just hope that the Arts really listen and apply all that everyone has said.”
Ayzah Ahmed, Co-Author of the Manifesto

The Access Manifesto maps out an 8 point plan that can be embraced by all organisations and institutions – simple changes to things like layout, staff training, recruitment, and most importantly, an open and empathetic attitude.

An estimated 16 million people in the UK have a disability:

– An estimated 2 million people are living with sight loss
– Approximately 11 million people are Deaf or have hearing loss
– Around 1.5 million people have a learning disability
– 6.8 million people live with a mobility-related impairment.

This represents 24% of the total population. That’s 1 in 4 people…

While 24% of working-age individuals are disabled, only 7% of people working in the arts are disabled. Disabled employees in the arts are 20% less likely to advance to senior roles compared to their non-disabled counterparts, according to Arts Council England.

Whether knowingly or not, the Arts Sector continues to exclude disabled people — both as audiences and as artists.

The Access Manifesto is aimed at deepening our understanding of the lived experiences of disabled individuals and to recognise the critical importance of accessibility for everyone.

Read the full manifesto here

The representative body for the UK’s recorded music sector, returns to the conference for the second-year running, bringing its acclaimed In Tune With Tomorrow event back to the city on Fri 1 May 2026.

Doubling down on its commitment to the event, BPI brings a programme of keynotes, panels and networking designed to bring together senior figures from across the UK’s recorded music sector with local and regional practitioners. The one-day gathering happens the day before of the weekend’s Sound City festival of new talent discovery kicks off.

Today’s first wave announcement of speakers taking part in the conference includes representatives from more than 20 British and international music companies, with more confirmations to follow in coming weeks. Representatives of the following organisations are now confirmed to attend, speak and take part:

Audoo / Beatport / Believe / Better Noise / Big Machine Label Group / Blackstar / BPI / ClicknClear / Generator / Hoopr / HQ Recording Ltd / Keychange / LAB Records / LabelRadar / Modern Sky UK / Music Industry Mentor / Partisan Records / PPL / PRS For Music / Scruff of the Neck / SESAC / TuneCore / Wasserman

Tickets are now live for With For About 2026: Are you playing out? 

Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
Booking: heartofglass.org.uk/withforabout

This year’s gathering brings together artists and practitioners who make art with young people – including artists, youth workers, play workers, teachers, and producers.

As always, WFA is a reflective, practice‑based day rooted in shared thinking, curiosity, poetry and play.

For those contributing to the programme, your ideas and practice will be central to the day. And for those supporting the work as partners or funders, your involvement helps make this space for reflection and learning possible – and they’re really grateful.

They’re also offering a limited number of £50 bursaries to support artists, freelancers and independent practitioners to attend – more info here.

Innovative theatre company imitating the Dog uses miniature sets, model worlds, camera tricks and projection to blur the boundaries between live action and recorded imagery in its staging of H.G. Wells’ iconic science‑fiction The War of the Worlds, coming to the Playhouse from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 March. 

The company has been exploring the fusion of live green‑screen performance with intricately crafted miniature model worlds to create a “live film” assembled in real time before the audience.

Andrew Quick, Co-Director and Artistic Director of imitating the dog said:

“I am so excited to be working on our adaptation of War of the Worlds.  It’s a great story, and its themes of paranoia, moral panic, technological and ecological catastrophe, and the ways in which society implodes when faced with crisis, seem so relevant to today. ”

Four performers Bonnie Baddoo (All of Us, Royal National Theatre; Alex Rider, Eleventh Hour Films), Morgan Bailey (Night of the Living Dead™ – Remix, imitating the dog; SAS: Rogue Heroes, BBC), Gareth Cassidy (Marvellous, @sohoplace; The Card, Claybody Theatre/New Vic Theatre) and Amy Dunn (Edward II, Royal Shakespeare Company; Hushabye Mountain, Hope Mill Theatre) enter the stage and construct an epic road‑movie before our eyes.

It’s a story we know or think we know – an apocalyptic tale of alien invasion and the unfolding destruction of everything we hold dear. Extraterrestrial lifeforms land from the skies. Lines of Brits scrabble to flee across the channel while their cities and towns lie in smouldering ruins. It’s all of our worst nightmares. What would you do if order broke down? What would you do to survive? How far would you go to protect your own?

A camera goes through a crafted miniature of a ruined city, its shattered streets and collapsed buildings looming large. Elsewhere on stage, a performer is filmed live, their image projected into the tiny landscape so that they appear framed in a burnt‑out window.

This production is created by imitating the dog’s co-artistic directors Andrew Quick, Simon Wainwright and Pete Brooks, along with set and costume designer Abby Clarke (Unfortunate – The Untold Story, national tour), projection and video designer Simon Wainwright (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Royal Court), lighting by Andrew Crofts (Trash Cuisine, Belarus Free Theatre and The Young Vic) and original music composed by James Hamilton (Night of The Living Dead ™ - Remix, imitating the dog).

The War of the Worlds runs at the Liverpool Playhouse from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 March. Captioned performances take place on Thursday 5 March at 7.30pm and Saturday 7 March at 2.00pm.

Tickets are priced from £11–£36 and are available at www.everymanplayhouse.com/event/war-of-the-worlds/