Community Post Type: News

20 Stories High started in Liverpool in 2006, set up by Julia Samuels and Keith Saha. From the beginning, the aim was simple: to make theatre with and for young people, especially those whose voices aren’t always heard, and to do it in ways that feel honest, relevant and rooted in real life.

Over the years, 20 Stories High has changed and grown. They’ve worked in different spaces, tried new forms, and responded to what young people and communities need at the time. What hasn’t changed is how they work, collaborating with young people to tell the stories they want to tell, in the ways they want to tell them.

Across 2026, they’ll be making twenty new pieces of work, co-created with young people and local artists, alongside shows, festivals, events and performances across the city and beyond.

This includes new work with artists such as Paisleigh Bi, Felix Mufti, and a series of celebratory films created with Isaiah Burnett (IBE Productions). Their Associate Director Paislie Reid will be creating new shows with their Youth Theatre, Community Company, outreach groups, and developing a new touring show for schools, community spaces and studio theatres.

Some of the things coming up include:

• Writers LAB showcase — eight new plays by Liverpool writers for young people
• HEAL, their first-ever Community Company show (12–14 February at LIPA)
• Sound System Music Festival — a new weekend festival in Williamson Square
• Youth Theatre Summer Show 2026
• A big birthday show on stage, curated by co-founder Julia Samuels
• Half Rice Half Chips, a new touring play co-created with Paisleigh Bi
• Transformations, led by Felix Mufti, supporting transgender artists
• NU NOIZE, new music projects, pop-up gigs and events across the year

More will be announced as the year unfolds.

Tickets for the production of HEAL available here

Supporting what comes next

When 20 Stories High began 20 years ago, it was a leap into the unknown. Looking ahead now, the future feels uncertain again, in different ways. The arts sector is under real pressure, and they’re only here because of the support they’ve had from funders, partners and individuals over the years.

If you’ve ever thought about supporting 20 Stories High, 2026 is a good time to do it. Whether that’s coming to see the work, spreading the word, or donating if you’re able… it all helps them keep working with young people and communities in the way they believe in.

To find out more about how to support them, visit 20storieshigh.org.uk/donate or follow @20StoriesHigh on social media.

National Museums Liverpool (NML) has issued an updated list of curators and experts available for interview requests, podcasts, digital content, research or subject consultancy and talking head opportunities throughout 2026.

Across its seven venues – Museum of Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, World Museum, International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, Sudley House and Lady Lever Art Gallery – National Museums Liverpool encompasses colleagues with expertise in a vast range of subject areas. From geology and botany to entomology, Ancient Egypt and Rome, Medieval and Renaissance art, to the legacies of Transatlantic slavery and Liverpool’s social and community history – NML’s collections are among the most important and varied in Europe.

Curators regularly feature across national and international media, lending their expertise and knowledge to print and broadcast interviews and online content in all formats. Alongside curatorial colleagues, their skilled conservation team provide expertise in diverse areas from painting and sculpture conservation to the restoring and preserving of ships and models.

Active areas of knowledge and research include (but are not limited to): Community archaeology, geology, maritime history, the legacies of Transatlantic Slavery, contemporary art, Pre-Raphaelite art, Renaissance, Baroque and Medieval art, botany, and social, maritime and military history. A majority of our curators are involved in active research in their specialist areas.

You can find an index of their available colleagues by specialism below. If you’re interested in speaking to any of their team, please contact the National Museums Liverpool press office. 

The Sunday headliner has been revealed for this June’s Africa Oyé Festival in Liverpool.

Fifteen years after her first UK festival performance at Africa Oyé, Grammy-nominated guitarist and singer Fatoumata Diawara is set to make a triumphant return to Sefton Park this summer.

Oyé is the UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture and returns on 20th and 21st June as a ticketed event following a fallow year in 2025.

Diawara is a major figure in African music whose performances ‘tell the story’ of the continent. Singing in her mother tongue, Bambara, the Afrofuturist’s live shows make her audiences laugh, cry and above all, dance.

Having fled Mali at the age of 19 to write her own story, Fatoumata Diawara continues, at 43, to examine society’s flaws while celebrating her dual life as an artist and a mother. Through her singing and vibrant voice, Diawara addresses crucial subjects such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage – personal hardships that she transforms into a universal message of hope and resilience.

Artistic Director of Africa Oyé, Paul Duhaney said: “I first met Fatou at Oyé when she was performing as part of the legendary Oumou Sangre’s band way back in the early days of the festival. She handed me a CD and told me she was launching a solo career. You could tell back then she was destined for big things and we booked her in 2011 for one of her first UK solo shows. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come since then and to be able to bring her back as a headliner this year.”

At the 2019 Grammys she was nominated for Best World Music Album and has recently made history, becoming the first woman of colour to be given an Epiphone signature guitar. Guitar World described the news as “a milestone that not only honors her immense artistic contributions but also serves as a long-overdue nod to those who came before her and paved the way.”
 
The UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture makes its return to Liverpool on 20th and 21st June this summer, with Nigerian Afrobeats star Patrotanking and Congolese eco-punks Fulu Miziki already announced for the event.

The organisers of the ‘jewel in Liverpool’s festival crown’ are committed to making it as affordable as possible for its audience, with Liverpool City Region dwellers currently able to buy tickets for just £11 – an Earlybird price freeze for locals.

Children under 12 receive free entry to the event (with a paying adult) and there is a discount when buying for groups of four people.

This year’s celebration – taking place on the 20th and 21st June 2026 – will as ever deliver an eclectic mix of international live acts, emerging talent, community performances, family friendly workshops, DJs, world cuisine, arts & crafts and much more.

Festival tickets are on sale now via africaoye.com.

Hilarious yet deeply moving, this 30th anniversary revival of Shelagh Stephenson’s Olivier Award‑winning comedy The Memory of Water is coming to the Everyman from Wednesday 25 February to Saturday 14 March.

Set in the Winter of 1996, as The Spice Girls topped the charts, football had failed to come home, and Dolly the Sheep had just been cloned, The Memory of Water tells the story of Mary, Teresa, and Catherine. Three sisters who return to their Northern childhood home for the first time in years, for their mother’s funeral. As they sort through clothes, keepsakes, and ghosts of the past, the whisky flows, resentments surface, and long-held silences crack open with unexpected laughter.

Nathan Powell, Creative Director of Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, said:

“This is a beautiful story about family — full of love, laughter, and the kind of chaos that feels instantly familiar. Stephenson captures how we all remember things differently, and how those memories shape who we are. It’s moving, funny, and deeply relatable — a perfect fit for the Everyman stage.” 

This production is directed by Lotte Wakeham (Artistic Director at Octagon Theatre, Bolton) features a stellar cast in this powerful and funny family drama including Vicky Binns (Coronation Street, Emmerdale), Victoria Brazier (The Book Thief, Octagon Theatre), Reginald Edwards (The Walrus Has A Right to Adventure, Liverpool Everyman),  Charlie De Melo (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe), Helen Flanagan (Coronation Street), Polly Lister (One Man, Two Guvnors, Liverpool Playhouse; Speedo Mick – The Scouse Stomper, Liverpool’s Royal Court), Leah Marks (Vignettes 2025, HER Productions), and Charlie Ryan (The Jungle Book, Spring and Port Wine and Little Shop of Horrors, Octagon Theatre).

Lotte Wakeham, Director of The Memory of Water added:

“The Memory of Water is one of those rare plays that makes you laugh out loud and then catches you off guard with its emotional truth. I’m thrilled to be directing this special 30th anniversary revival, and to be collaborating once again with our wonderful friends at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.” 

The Memory of Water is co‑produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton, following their 2022 collaboration on One Man, Two Guvnors, bringing together two of the North West’s leading producing theatres to celebrate one of the most beloved British plays of the past three decades.

Completing the creative team are Set & Costume Designer Katie Scott (Shirley Valentine, Liverpool Everyman), Sound Designer Andy Graham (One Man, Two Guvnors, Liverpool Playhouse), Lighting Designer Laura Howard (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Liverpool Everyman), Movement & Intimacy Director Jonnie Riordan (Romeo & Juliet, Liverpool Everyman), Vocal Coach Anita Gilbert and Assistant Director Dominique Reid.

There will be a post‑show discussion after the 7:30pm performance on Wednesday 4 March, hosted by the theatre’s Creative Director, Nathan Powell. It’s free to attend with a ticket for that evening’s performance.

The production also includes a Captioned performance on Thursday 26 February 7.30pm, British Sign Language performance on Thursday 5 March 7.30pm, Audio described performance on Wednesday 11 March 7.30pm and Enhance performance on Saturday 14 March 2.00pm for people with visual impairment, which includes a pre-show delivery of Enhance programme notes and a Touch Tour.

The Memory of Water runs at the Liverpool Everyman from Wednesday 25 February to Saturday 14 March, with ticket prices from £16–£47, available at www.everymanplayhouse.com/event/the-memory-of-water/

If you’re looking for a great evening out to kick off February, come and see Liverpool University Drama Society’s production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, in a version from Patrick Marber and directed by Molly Thirlwall.

Returning from her honeymoon with new husband George Tesman, Hedda Gabler is met with the prospect of a life devoid of excitement. Struggles with her marriage and social position are complicated by unexpected arrivals from her past.

Hedda strives to confront her future and fulfil her desires by manipulating those around her.

This classic play is being produced and performed by students from the University of Liverpool, and takes place in The Stanley Theatre at 7:00pm on the 5th, 6th and 7th of February.

More information and tickets are available here: liverpoolguild.org/groups/society/luds

This amateur production of “Hedda Gabler (Marber)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

Acclaimed musician, producer, and Ultravox frontman Midge Ure brings his visionary A Man Of Two Worlds Tour to Liverpool Philharmonic.

This bold new live concept offers fans a rare and deeply personal concert experience. For the first time, Ure will seamlessly blend his iconic hits and fan favourites with the atmospheric instrumentals that have long featured on his solo albums — many of which have never been performed live. The result is a rich, immersive show designed to take the audience on an emotional journey, both visually and sonically.

From his early days with Slik and The Rich Kids, to defining the sound of the ’80s with Ultravox and co-creating the global charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Midge Ure has always challenged musical expectations. With Ivor Novello, Grammy and BASCAP awards to his name, he continues to push boundaries with this ambitious new show.

Don’t miss the chance to experience a truly unique evening of music that bridges decades of creativity — a live set not just performed, but curated, woven together into one unforgettable narrative.

For tickets, visit here

It will be the same scale of music event, with the same size venue capacity, the same great atmosphere, the same friendly staff and the same number of tasty food vendors that were enjoyed at previous Salt and Tar music festival events. Their new temporary location at the Lock and Quay has a large scale event field with a beer garden and they are taking over the whole of the outdoor site.

Held: 14 August

For tickets, visit here

This New Year, a vibrant programme Downstairs at the Everyman brings together a mix of regular favourites. Audiences can look forward to interactive performances, lively cabaret, indulgent afternoon teas, and behind-the-scenes stories. 

From the creators of sell-out shows Til Death Do Us Part, The City of Curses, and the hugely popular Murder at Afternoon Tea series, DBY Interactive returns with a brand-new crime-solving murder mystery! The Grand Finale Valentine’s Special runs from Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 February, with afternoon tea served during the matinee performances.

Thrills later in the year include Rest in Pieces Afternoon Tea from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 April, followed by Last One Standing from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 July, Reunion of Revenge from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 September, and Murder at Blackout from Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 December. Seasonal highlights include a spine-tingling Halloween Special on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, and a festive Christmas Special on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December.

Nana Funk’s Lonely Hearts Bingo on Saturday 7 February is the perfect night for all the lonely hearts out there. Expect plenty of fun bingo games and laughs, with special guests Caz & Britney joining the party. Nana Funk’s GLASTONBURYOKE! on Saturday 27 June is a Glastonbury karaoke night where Nana will lead the audience through classic hits from Worthy Farm’s finest and invite everyone to make their own kind of music.

Following their previous sold‑out cabaret success, The Spare Rib presents Galentine’s Burlesque Extravaganza on Saturday 21 February. Enjoy a brunch show at 11:30am or join for an evening of sparkle and empowerment. Come for the tease, stay for the joy, a fabulous celebration of women, diversity, and community.

Take an exclusive hour-long tour of the Everyman Theatre and uncover the secrets that bring productions to life with Behind the Curtain: Everyman Building Tours. Tours run on Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 February. Tea & Talks is a monthly gathering where conversation about the wonderful world of theatre takes centre stage. Enjoy a brew and a scone while discovering what really happens before the curtain goes up, on Friday 6 February and Friday 6 March.

New for 2026, in collaboration with actors Catherine Rice and Rob Jarvis, Downstairs at the Everyman invites audiences to an evening of theatre with a proper Scouse twist. A Pie, A Pint & A Play takes place on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 May, featuring standout performances from some of Liverpool’s finest actors alongside exciting emerging talent, all served up with a hearty pie and a refreshing pint.

Join Reel Tours on the third Thursday of every month to test your cinematic knowledge in Liverpool’s most exciting film quiz. Well Funny Live is a night of belly laughs and feel-good vibes, showcasing some of the UK’s finest comedians every fourth Thursday of the month. Each ticket helps fund vital community health and wellbeing projects through Well Funny CIC, founded by comedians Jack Miller and Amy Eggeling.

The Liverpool Scratch Network is a free monthly event dedicated to exploring new work and connecting industry professionals with emerging creatives. It gives actors the chance to act, directors the chance to direct, and writers the opportunity to hear their ideas brought to life off the page, alongside a scratch night that creates a safe space for creatives and audiences to experience work in progress.

With a vibrant mix of events and a wonderfully diverse programme at the Everyman, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. From inclusive performances to community-led experiences, it’s the perfect way to have a great night out.

Find out more and book tickets at www.everymanplayhouse.com

20 Stories High’s first ever Community Company perform brand-new show HEAL

A group of strangers; each with their own wounds, arrive at a three-day wellbeing retreat promising clarity, connection and transformation. Phones are surrendered. Exercises escalate. And slowly, the cracks begin to show.

As the retreat intensifies, past traumas surface and the line between support and control begins to blur.

Blending movement, music with moments of tension and joy. HEAL explores what we carry, what we hide and what happens when we’re finally forced to sit with ourselves.

By Paislie Reid with 20 Stories High Community Company. With support from LIPA.

The show is made with 20 Stories High’s Community Company, a group of 20 people aged 18+ who meet weekly to explore acting, singing, movement and live music, while building skills, connection and confidence. Led by Paislie Reid and a team of creative practitioners, the group have worked together to create a brand-new piece of theatre from the ground up.

Performance Details

Dates: 12th, 13th & 14th February 2026
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: George Harrison Workshop Studio, LIPA, Mount Street, Liverpool, L1 9HF
Tickets: £6 / £3.50 concession
Booking: www.ticketsource.co.uk/20storieshigh
Age guidance: 15+

Friday 13 February includes a post-show jam with cast and audience.

Access

Wheelchair accessible venue with lift access
Guide dog friendly
Access and wellbeing table available
All performances creatively captioned

BSL interpretation on Friday 13 February

Content Warnings

Drug use, substance misuse, loss and grief, violence, poor mental health, misogyny, addiction, domestic violence, suicidal ideation and mentions of suicidal behaviour, money and finances.

Tickets

For tickets, visit here