Community Post Type: News

Aladdin is flying into St Helens Theatre Royal this Christmas – and the first two members of its star-studded cast have been revealed.

Emmerdale star Liam Fox will make his panto debut in the role of the evil Abanazer, and panto royalty Leanne Campbell will appear as a magical ‘Genie of the Mirror’.

The spectacular seasonal production from Regal Entertainments comes to the Theatre Royal stage from Saturday 2 December to Sunday 14 January 2024. Tickets are on sale now costing from £21.

Take a magic carpet ride this Christmas and be whisked off to pantoland where young street urchin Aladdin lives with his hapless brother Wishee Washee and larger-than-life mum Widow Twankey in their family laundry.

Then join our young hero as he battles the wicked Abanazer who has a dastardly plan to rule the world with the help of one very special lamp.

Can Aladdin save the day – and can he also win the heart of the fair Princess Jasmine?

Tickets can be booked over the phone or in person at the box office between 10am and 5pm, from Monday to Friday. Tickets can also be purchased online. For more information please visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

A music venue in Liverpool has received a grant from the charity Music Venue Trust (MVT), as part of a fourth round of recipients for its major new funding initiative, which provides grants of up to £5,000 for UK Grassroots Music Venues. Melodic Bar received £1705.73 from MVT’s Pipeline Investment Fund to pay for new staging, training, and seating.

Venue director of Melodic Bar James Zaremba said: “As a venue that opened right after the lifting of Covid restrictions, we’ve faced a number of financial challenges. This means that all money generated has been allocated towards basic operational costs and overheads. We’ve very rarely been able to invest in improving and growing the space. This funding allows us to make much-needed investments into our venue. The money will help to us to build modular furniture to make the most of our space, improve our overheads, allow us to put larger acts on with the extension of the stage, and help us create a safer more welcoming space through important staff training. We’re confident that this funding will improve our guests experience of visiting our venue!”

The Pipeline Investment Fund, established in 2022, is primarily funded by ticket sales of MVT’s recent ‘Revive Live’ programme of gigs around the UK, a hugely successful partnership with The National Lottery. To date £165,000 worth of grants have been awarded to 38 Grassroots Music Venues since December. This fourth round of payments sees a total sum of £97,516.97 awarded to a further 23 GMVs across the country.

The fund prioritises support for organisations who may have been excluded from other available funding and was open to all venue operators and organisations that meet any of the three definitions of a Grassroots Music Space, which can be found here.

Music Venue Trust is still actively seeking further donations, particularly from the wider music industry, to maintain and expand the Pipeline Investment Fund and make it a permanent source of support for Grassroots Music Venues. Please contact ozlem@musicvenuetrust.com for details of how this work can be supported.

The UKs first ever mainstream Gospel Music Festival has been announced to take place on 9^th September 2023 to coincide with a drive by the UK gospel music community to make September a Gospel Music Heritage Month.

The festival will take place in Stanley Park, Liverpool and will feature internationally known artists, including headliners The Kingdom Choir and CalledOut Music.

The festival organised by Liverpool Lighthouse, a charity based in Anfield working to create thriving communities of people living more fulfilled lives, is Sponsored by VistaPrint, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council among others and is supported by the Gospel Music Industry Alliance. As the festival develops to be an annual event, it will also include panel discussions with artists, meet the artist events, participatory activities for families, the community and wider celebrations of black culture.

Anu Omideyi, Liverpool Gospel Music Festival Director and Music Director at Liverpool Lighthouse said: “As part of the wider vision to spread the power and joy of gospel music alongside the positive impact of black culture, the festival will be accompanied by a programme taking gospel music into schools. In partnership with music education hub Resonate, the schools programme will initially pilot the work with two secondary schools in June and will roll out to more schools in the next academic year, with the eventual aim of curriculum change that will see young people nationwide learning about the music genre.”

As evidenced by events such The Ascension Choir’s performance at the recent Coronation and The Kingdom Choir’s performance at the 2018 royal wedding, gospel music has the power to move and connect with a mainstream, diverse audience. The festival will feature music from The Kingdom Choir, CalledOut Music, Love & Joy Gospel Choir, Sarah Teibo, Sense of Sound, Lighthouse Choir, Volney Morgan & New Ye, DavidB, Wavertree Gospel Choir and NaffymaR.  More artists are to be announced.

Gospel Music is an inclusive, joyful, uplifting, moving music genre that, in addition to relating to the Christian faith, celebrates the stories, histories, cultures and achievements of black communities. Much modern mainstream music, as well as many genres of music of black origin, owe their origins and inspirations to gospel music. However, these roots often go unacknowledged and unrecognised. This will be the first ever mainstream UK gospel festival.

Liverpool is a city with a fantastic music and cultural heritage, known as being the home of The Beatles, the European Capital of Culture, 2008 and recent host to The Eurovision Song Contest.  It also has deep links to black history through its role as a slave trading port in the 19^th century and the location of the International Museum of Slavery. Liverpool is also home to Liverpool Lighthouse, which is currently working to develop the National Gospel Music Centre, a hub for supporting and developing gospel music and gospel music artists in the North West.

Rebecca Ross-Williams, Creative Director of Liverpool Lighthouse said: “It is beyond exciting to announce Liverpool Gospel Music Festival this September as it responds to a national need, as there isn’t an equivalent.  It is the right time for the festival with a drive to make September Gospel Music Heritage Month, with Liverpool as UNESCO City of Music, having such a strong music heritage and because of Liverpool’s contribution to black history. Liverpool Lighthouse is committed to supporting the protection and development of Gospel Music and we aim to provide a much need platform to Gospel Music artists, showcase some of the best internationally and bring joy to our audiences.”

Liverpool Football Club players, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luis Diaz recently visited Liverpool Lighthouse to demonstrate their support for the festival along with VistaPrint which is a main festival sponsor. The players surprised the staff, beneficiaries of the charity and the combined choirs of Liverpool Lighthouse – Lighthouse Choir and Love & Joy Gospel Choir – as they were rehearsing a gospel song and all were shocked to see the football players enter the theatre in the building and join in with the choirs. Oxlade-Chamberlain was persuaded to play drums alongside the choir, much to the delight of everyone, whilst Diaz enjoyed the music.

Laces Out! Trainer Festival, the ultimate gathering for sneaker enthusiasts, has just announced its relocation to a larger and more spacious venue, the ACC Exhibition Centre at Kings Dock Liverpool. The highly anticipated event on Saturday June 17th promises an even bigger and better experience for attendees and makes this year’s date one of the biggest in Europe.

Moving Laces Out! to the ACC Exhibition Centre is fueled by the overwhelming response from previous years for a bigger location. The new venue offers ample space to accommodate the extra visitors whilst offering an impressive lineup of traders and sneaker brands.

Rob May, Laces Out!’s founder, explains: “We’re proudly now one of the longest running and largest trainer festivals in Europe with our move to the ACC Exhibition Centre and it’s nice to have built that in Liverpool. UK trainer culture continues to grow unabated, ranging from casual enthusiasts to people who dedicate their lives collecting some of the rarest sneakers out there. We have cultivated a loyal following who come from all over the UK to buy, trade, and just generally link up with like-minded people, as well as developing our wider programme at each Laces Out! around guest speakers, music and culture. Our 9th year is going to be one to remember.”

This 9th anniversary edition of Laces Out! Trainer Festival has double the number of traders compared to previous events. Sneakerheads can expect an unparalleled selection of rare and exclusive trainers, limited editions, and sought-after collaborations. With an expanded trader lineup, attendees will have an incredible opportunity to explore a vast array of footwear options and connect with fellow enthusiasts from around the world.

The event promises much more than just sneaker shopping. Laces Out! attendees can immerse themselves in sneaker culture, engage in insightful conversations, and gain valuable knowledge from industry insiders. The day will feature live music performances, guest appearances by renowned sneaker experts, panel discussions and exciting giveaways. 

Guests include renowned photographer Lawrence Watson, who caught the early days of hip-hop culture in NYC in the 1980s capturing Run DMC, Public Enemy and LL Cool J, and has worked with many iconic artists including New Order, Grace Jones and Pet Shop Boys. Earlier this month, some of this work featured as part of Beyond The Streets London, a graffiti and street art exhibition at Saatchi London commissioned by Adidas Originals. 

The ACC Exhibition Centre, situated in the vibrant Kings Dock area of Liverpool, provides an ideal backdrop for Laces Out! Trainer Festival. Its spacious halls, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient location are ideal for attendees, traders, and exhibitors alike. Laces Out! has established itself as a premier event in the sneaker community, attracting thousands of enthusiasts year after year. The move represents an exciting milestone for the festival ahead of its 10th anniversary next year. 

General admission tickets and VIP packages for Saturday June 17th offering exclusive gift bags from official partner Jason Markk include free cleaning products, stickers, pin badges and more. Other partners of the event include Liverpool based retailer Seven Store who will be hosting some activity instore straight after the event. LMNTS and Reprimo brand will also be in attendance, showcasing some of their newest unseen products to the Liverpool audience.

Finally, there’s an after party at 24 Kitchen Street celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop with DJ Mr Thing, Konny Kon (Children of Zeus) and more guests to be announced, taking place from 8pm.

Laces Out! Trainer Festival
Saturday 17th June 2023
ACC Exhibition Centre, King’s Dock, Port of Liverpool, Kings Dock St, Liverpool, L3 4FP
Midday – 5pm
Tickets from £10.00 + £1.00 booking fee
Info and tickets: https://lacesout.co.uk/ 

The Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation is set to fund a new three-year scholarship at Liverpool Theatre School. The bursary will enable a talented student to train in professional musical theatre at Liverpool Theatre School, where Sir Ken Dodd spent many years as a patron inspiring future entertainers.

Auditions for the prestigious scholarship, which will be awarded on ability and financial circumstances, will take place on 4 June and talented performers are being invited to register in advance to be considered for the bursary.

Liverpool Theatre School, whose graduates can be seen in smash-hit shows such as SIX, Frozen the Musical, Blood Brothers and Wicked, provides elite training in musical theatre, dance and performing arts with courses designed to equip young people with the skills they need to perform at a professional level.

Speaking on the introduction of the Sir Ken Dodd scholarship, Norah Button of Liverpool Theatre School said: “Sir Ken Dodd was a national treasure and a very dear friend. He was always hugely supportive of Liverpool Theatre School and our mission to make professional training accessible to all gifted young performers, whatever their financial circumstances.

 “We’re looking forward to awarding a scholarship in his name to a talented student who might otherwise consider musical theatre training to be beyond their reach financially. Our ultimate aim is to help young performers to achieve their full potential and we’re incredibly grateful to Lady Anne Dodd for her continued support. We thank the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation for such a generous gift.”

Lady Anne Dodd said: “Ken’s association with Liverpool Theatre School dates back to the early 1960s and he spent many years supporting the performing arts school as a proud patron. He had a great love of the theatre and he would be thrilled to be able to support an aspiring young performer starting out on an exciting journey in the industry. We’re delighted to fund this musical theatre scholarship through the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation.”

As part of a commitment to improving opportunities for performers from all backgrounds, Liverpool Theatre School was the first performing arts school to scrap audition fees for prospective students.

Liverpool Theatre School regularly stages performances at local theatres and graduating students recently appeared at the Leicester Square Theatre in London’s West End as part of a final year showcase. As well as providing full-time professional training, Liverpool Theatre School also welcomes budding young performers, between the ages of 6-16, to evening and weekend classes at its Junior Academy.

Liverpool Theatre School is located at Liverpool Central Studios, 35 Sefton Street, Liverpool, L8 5SL. To apply for the Sir Ken Dodd scholarship or to find out more about the courses available at Liverpool Theatre School, please visit liverpoolcentralstudios.com.

Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre returns this year to celebrate the town’s Elizabethan heritage and its renaissance, all with a contemporary twist.

The FREE fayre is a popular date in Knowsley’s events calendar and there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy. It will be a fun-filled day packed with theatre and dance performances, circus skills, craft workshops, music, heritage walks, artisan stalls and more.

Visitors can also experience a piece of Tudor history, with candle making, musical minstrels, archery and soldier school. There might even be an appearance from Queen Elizabeth I herself!

Prescot’s history is quite remarkable – in Elizabethan times it was the only place in the whole of the country, aside from London, to have a free-standing purpose-built theatre. Today it is home to Shakespeare North Playhouse, a new theatre and cultural venue in the heart of the town inspired by William Shakespeare and his love of storytelling.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said:

“Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre is a wonderful way to celebrate the unique history of the town and for everyone to get involved in celebrating that history. The Prescot Cultural Consortium have created a programme of unique performances, activities and crafts for everyone to enjoy. Prescot town centre is also home to plenty of lovely shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, so visitors can spend the full day experiencing everything that the town has to offer.”

Siobhan Noble, Senior Producer at Shakespeare North Playhouse and Chair of the Prescot Cultural Consortium, commented:

“The Elizabethan Fayre is a fantastic event for Prescot and Knowsley, it’s a chance for communities to come together and celebrate the rich heritage of the town. This year’s Fayre will be jam packed with things to do and guarantees a great time for all ages. This is not to be missed.”

Where and when

Prescot Town Centre
Saturday 10 June 11am – 5pm

Get involved

• Help make the Prescot Bird with Arts Groupie
• Get Sketchy with Illustrator Gill Smith
• Willow Weaving from Twig Twister
• Clay making with Prescot Community Curators
• Heritage Walking Tours of Prescot
• Free Face Painting

Performances

• Fools Rush In – Circus Jesters Steve ‘n’ Harry
• The Egg People – The Waggle Bees
• Jan Williams Theatre School
• Liverpool Signing Choir
• Arts Groupie – The Actor’s Corner
• Curbside Ceilidh – Folk Dance Remixed
• Bring the Fire – Fire and Circus Show
• Altered Scale Theatre – Captain Parrot and His Ship of Stories
• Petit Ullaloom – The Dead Average Sonnets Society
• Imaginarium Theatre – Fools and Fairies Parade
• Poppy the Bubble Fairy
• And more!

A full programme with times for events and activities will be available soon on www.cutureknowsley.co.uk. You can also follow CultureKnowsley on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

This year’s Run For The 97 was officially launched today (Thursday 18 May) by former Liverpool Football Club goalkeeping legend Bruce Grobbelaar.

The ninth annual community legacy fun run takes place in Stanley Park in Liverpool on Saturday 27 May 2023.

Participants are welcome to walk, jog, or run the 5K or 1 Mile distances. Final entries are being taken at https://www.btrliverpool.com/97-5k-event

The event was first staged in 2015 as a positive community legacy event to celebrate and honour the lives of the then 96 Liverpool Football Club fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989.

Last year the event was renamed to Run For The 97 to include and honour LFC fan Andrew Devine, who sadly passed away in July 2021. Andrew received life-changing injuries at Hillsborough, he died 32 years after the disaster.

The event also remembers the families of The 97 and the survivors, who have since tirelessly fought for justice with the utmost dignity.

Heart of Glass awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for a new arts project celebrating ‘strong women’ of Knowsley and St Helens

The team are delighted to announce that Heart of Glass has been awarded a grant of £95,998 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to develop a new art project called “Strong Women” over the next two years.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, it aims to capture and highlight the untold stories of women in St Helens and Knowsley and celebrate their contributions to the boroughs. It will also explore women’s and LGBTQIA+ people’s role within the history of street art.

The project will include the creation of two new public artworks by artist Carrie Reichardt. Carrie is an internationally known artist who uses a mix of mural, mosaic and screenprinting techniques to create elaborate works of art (famously mosaicing her entire house in London). She will be working with the community to create two new pieces of large scale street art within St Helens and Knowsley neighbourhoods.

Carrie will be working with groups of local residents and community groups to create individual ceramic tiles as well as researching local history and unearthing people’s stories to develop the artwork. There will be an opportunity for a local artist to be mentored by Carrie as part of the programme, as well as a programme of public events and activities exploring women and LGBTQ+ people’s impact within the traditionally male-dominated world of street art. The project will also include a schools programme including resources for teachers exploring street art with children.

Visit the Heart of Glass website here

After closing its doors back in 2022, music fans were sad at the loss of the famous Dome at Grand Central Hall on Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre. However, a group of regional hospitality experts were determined to act in order to bring life back to the building, which is not only rich in architectural and cultural history, the updated refinements make it the ultimate in larger-scale, contemporary music venues.

The Dome at Grand Central Hall is a unique, Grade II listed Art Nouveau designed building, which originally opened in 1905 as a Methodist church, and was then redeveloped as a cinema, as well as playing host to the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra while the Philharmonic Hall was rebuilt following a fire. It is simply a vital part of the city’s rich heritage.

Now in 2023, the new team in place have their own extensive experience in entertainment and hospitality over eleven current venues operating in the pub, bar and club sector in the city. The Dome at Grand Central Hall has now been relaunched as a multi-event space which has already hosted some leading events featuring world-class talent.

The team have recently celebrated their exclusive event featuring PAWSA, which sold out in under thirty minutes: the London-based DJ whose sets are renowned around the globe, including at Coachella, Brazil, Ibiza, Los Angeles, and Miami. A huge name on the festival circuit, including closer to home for locals of the region, at Creamfields, this remarkable talent praised his opening night at The Dome as a ‘‘sick, sold-out show at a brand new venue –  thank you to everyone involved!’’

No Art also visited The Dome for an unbelievable, sold-out night last month featuring Alci, Anotr, Loa Szala, Mateo Dufour and Toman. The independent label and event curator seek out unique locations and their reveal-on-the-night line-ups bring an element of musical and artistic surprise. In their own words: ‘‘the energy you brought to our Liverpool debut was exactly what we had in mind, and can’t wait to meet you on the dance floor again.’’

The Dome is now preparing itself for a busy summer season including playing host to outstanding talent Roger Sanchez, industry legend Paul Oakenfold, and Oasish, leading tribute band to iconic British band, Oasis.

A spokesperson for The Dome at Grand Central Hall explains: ‘Taking on this legendary building was really important to us as a team – it is far too beautiful a space to not be available to music and entertainment fans.

However, as a really experienced group of experts who put quality and standards at the heart of everything we do, it was absolutely vital that we put in place some major investment before reopening. This has included a state-of-the-art sound system, updated lighting, venue amenities and a new air-conditioning system, as well as improved stage facilities. We have also brought the number of bars in the site to four, which are much-needed in a venue of this size, and increased the number of  toilets significantly. All of these are important in order to attract the very best in the business. Our venue now has a capacity of 3,576 and so is a major player.

Liverpool has a unique standing on the world music stage. The city has just attracted over 500.000 fans for Eurovision 2023, which was five times the amount of visitors expected. We hosted our own live event here at The Dome, and we know that from speaking to guests they visited to also feel a part of the city’s musical history, and of course, because of the warmth of the welcome.

Hosting artists like PAWSA, Paul Oakenfold and Roger Sanchez is a real coup for us. Again, the city has its own distinct timeline in terms of its contribution to all forms of dance music, and so artists on a world-class stage are aware of the city’s importance and its hugely energetic atmosphere. As a venue we are here to provide them with the very best stage to play on, and we welcome guests not just from around the city region, but from throughout the UK and far further afield.

We also reach a broader audience in terms of the highest quality tribute bands we attract including Oasish, and Absolutely Britney. We are also looking forward to our Cafe Mambo Classics event – we want The Dome at Grand Central to have a wide appeal. We have a whole host of upcoming events over the summer, and our track record so far suggests that tickets won’t be around for too long before being snapped up.

As a team we are also really pleased that we are in a position to give back to the community. On 28th May 2023 we will be hosting our Ibiza Calling Free Party, in aid of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. It’s the perfect opportunity on the next Bank Holiday Sunday to enjoy noted past and present DJ’s past and present deliver Ibiza anthems, whilst contributing to a cause close to all of our hearts.

Everyone here is really proud of what we have achieved so far. In a building that is now nearly 120 years old, it now plays host to the most contemporary and thrilling live music and DJ events. It is the mix of traditional and up-to-date vibe which our city is globally renowned for.’

The Dome at Grand Central Hall is based at 35-45 Renshaw Street Liverpool L1 2SF.

For tickets and further information see here

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, has today visited Prescot to formally open Shakespeare North Playhouse and take a tour of this new multi-million pound arts venue.

The Duke was welcomed to Shakespeare North Playhouse by Max Steinberg CBE DL, the Chair of the Shakespeare North Trust and playhouse Chief Executive, Melanie Lewis.

He also met local MP Marie Rimmer; Knowsley Council Leader, Cllr Graham Morgan; Chief Executive, Mike Harden; the Mayor and Mayoress of Knowsley; the High Sherriff of Merseyside, Dr Ruth Hussey; Lord and Lady Derby and Lady Anne Dodd.

The Duke chatted to some of the people who have been instrumental in the creation of this new cultural venue including members of the construction team, architects and project managers. He also met key members of the Shakespeare North Playhouse team and some of the creative professionals involved in the opening programme. A key highlight of his visit was meeting children from Alt Bridge School who are engaged in the educational offer available at theatre.

After his tour of the new building and cockpit theatre, HRH unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the visit and the building’s official opening.

See their website here for show listings.