Community Post Type: News

There is just one day left to submit your nominations for the 2023 Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Awards.

Help them celebrate the amazing culture and creativity we have in the city region by nominating an organisation or individual by Friday 4 November 2022.

Nominations can be for an individual, organisation, group or partnership that is involved in the creation, promotion and use of culture and creativity including the following art forms:

• Performing Arts (eg: Theatre, Dance, Music, Opera);
• Visual Arts
• Digital Art,
• Photography,
• Film and broadcast media,
• Literature,
• Museums, Galleries and Heritage, or
• Craft.

Nominees must live, study and/or work in the Liverpool City Region – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral – or have created work / projects that significantly benefit the residents or visitors to the LCR and / or has positively contributed to the economy, culture, learning, health and social wellbeing of the LCR.

Nominations can be completed online.

To nominate see here

The Museum of Liverpool’s much-loved Wondrous Place gallery reopens to the public on 26 November 2021.

Originally installed ten years ago when the museum opened in 2011, Wondrous Place continues to celebrate Liverpool’s internationally recognised creative expression and influence with exciting new displays and interactives, alongside visitors’ favourites from the original space.

The opening weekend (27 and 28 November) will be an action-packed couple of days with free performances and family activities to mark the return of this popular gallery.

The city’s staggering roll call of entertainers, writers, poets, performers, musicians, visual artists, comedians and sports people are represented through around 650 objects, interactives and immersive experiences.

Highlights include:

Stage & Screen, a new display, themed around Merseyside actors, writers, productions and identity.  Items on display include one of Villanelle’s costumes worn by Liverpool actress, Jodie Comer, in the award-winning TV series, Killing Eve. The display also highlights the important role of TV dramas in exposing significant issues and events such as the 2020 production of Anthony and the 2017 drama series, Little Boy Blue.

An exciting new element is an insight into the region’s gaming industry, particularly the important role of the Liverpool studio, Psygnosis, and a chance to play games developed in the city, such as Lemmings and Wipeout Omega Collection.

The region’s incredible sporting legacy section is brought up to date with new key items including running shoes worn by 2019 World Champion Heptathlete, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, on loan from the Liverpool Harriers, Rachael Blackmore’s (the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021) racing silks, and Natasha Jonas’s Miss GB boxing shorts. Natasha was the first woman to box for Team GB.

New objects have been added to the story of Liverpool music including Spice Girl, Mel C’s stage costume worn on the Spice World – 2019 Tour and Garry Christian’s iconic hat and sunglasses.

The story of Liverpool music is brought up to date with a fresh look at contemporary sites and scenes, including a particular focus on dance music and festivals and displays co-produced with Sonic Yootha and URBEATZ.

The significant contribution of Liverpool Black people to the city’s music scene is celebrated through a new display called Black to the Future, co-produced with the Heritage Development Company Liverpool.

Visitors will be pleased to see the return of the immersive video displays: In the town where I was born, which explores the influence of Liverpool on The Beatles and Kicking and Screaming – the Football Show, which sweeps viewers on an up-to-date emotional journey of ‘the match’ as seen through the eyes of Red and Blue fans.

From iconic Beatles suits and Merseybeat memorabilia, to a dreamy Lita Roza dress, incredible handbills from Eric’s nightclub and a display on Liverpool’s folk music scene, the gallery explores Liverpool’s enviable reputation for musical creativity.

Kate Johnson, Head of the Museum of Liverpool said: “We’re incredibly excited to be reinstating the popular Wondrous Place gallery, with so many fabulous updates. Visitors can look forward to a vibrant, fascinating gallery, that take them to the heart of what makes Liverpool such a creative place.

“Wondrous Place will of course be celebrating the world-famous names, from The Beatles to Liverpool and Everton FC, but it will also explore lesser-known cultural creators; the writers, producers and performers of Merseyside that have helped craft the city’s sense of place in the world, how it and its people are seen.

“We are grateful to all those people, communities and organisations who have worked with us to reinstate this much-loved gallery with new and inspiring content.”

Wondrous Place was closed in 2018 to make way for the blockbuster exhibition, Double Fantasy John & Yoko (13 May 2018 to 03 November 2019), seen by almost 700,000 people, followed by Liverpool on Wheels (14 February 2020 to 3 January 2021).

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wondrousplace

 

Wrap up Christmas in style and create a social echo at the same time by snapping up some exclusive wrapping paper, designed by a collection of renowned artists, including Pure Evil, Charming Baker and Jake and Dinos Chapman from The Big Issue online shop.

In celebration of The Big Issue’s 30^th birthday, The Big Issue Shop has launched this unique collection of wrapping papers in collaboration with Jealous and Enter Galleries.

Leading the way is Charming Baker’s arresting “Christmasaurus Rex” design. He was the Guest Editor for The Big Issue’s Art Special and continues to be committed to creating work to raise money for many important causes.

Next up is one of the world’s most renowned graffiti artists, Pure Evil with his highly collectable “Ideas Wheel for Lazy Designers” design. It is the 6^th time that he has designed wrapping paper for The Big Issue Shop.

Their third visual artist is Dave Buonaguidi. His arresting and colourful “Ta!” design will look as good under the tree as it will framed as a showpiece in your home.

Delphine Lebourgeois’s work is shown internationally including in Europe, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. Her unique design “Snow Amazonian” will make your gifts truly stand out this Christmas.

Florence Blanchard, painter, muralist and screenprinter’s scientific take on the classic image of the snowflake “Nebula” is not one to be missed.

Frea Buckler, is a multidisciplinary artist and her “Brightly” design will ensure your gifts are the most stylishly wrapped this festive season.

Magnus Gjoen’s dazzling design entitled “Eye Spy” will grab the attention of your presents lucky recipients.

Last but not least are notorious artistic duo, Jake and Dinos Chapman with their bold and bright design “D’You Wanna Be In My Gang?”. To purchase a piece of collectors’ art or to simply make your presents pop, buy a sheet or five.

There are 300 signed limited-edition single image sheets of each artist’s design, priced at £49.99 each. You can also buy a pack of five sheets of regular wrapping paper for £7.99.

Every purchase through The Big Issue Shop puts people and planet first. The wrap is printed on recycled paper and packed in recyclable plastic.

Socially- conscious shoppers can browse and buy the designs now at www.bigissueshop.com.

Milap – the UK’s leading Indian Arts and Culture company – is preparing to present ‘The Diwali Series’ a new week-long programme of music and dance performances, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. 

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of India, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.

For last year’s Diwali festival, Milap took their celebrations online, and this year the virtual festivities will continue with an exciting line-up of rising stars and internationally renowned performers.

The ever-popular Music for the Mind & Soul series will return to the fore, with two concerts taking place across the week. This national concert series is designed to make the audience relax and forget about their worries and focus on their mental health and wellbeing.

The first of the concerts, and kicking off the week’s celebrations on 1st November, will be Smt. Shirin Sengupta Nath. An internationally acclaimed Hindustani Classical Vocalist from Kolkata, Shirin Sengupta Nath has performed in major music festivals and venues in more than 25 countries around the globe.

Designed especially for the festival, the performance was recorded at the On Air Studio in Kolkata and will feature accompanying artists Gourab Chatterjee (Harmonium), Sandip Ghosh (Tabla), Soumyajyoti Ghosh (Flute), Poulami Dasgupta (Vocal support & Swaramandal) and Dipita Bhattacharya (Vocal support and Percussion).

On 3rd November, Snehasish Mozumdar will perform as part of Milap’s Music for the Mind and Soul concert series. Mozumdar will explore the rich mellow sound of the mandolin, a rare instrument in Hindustani music. Traditionally used in Carnatic music, Snehasish has blended the mandolin seamlessly into the Hindustani style.

Following this concert, a video performance on 4th November from Kathakali artist Dr Janaki Nair will tell the story of Poothanamoksham – the tale of a demoness, her evil motives, motherly love, angst, and eventual surrender to the supreme being.

Poothana is often misunderstood as an ‘evil hag’, but this performance portrays her as a rounded character reflecting various shades of womanhood. Disguised as a beautiful woman, Poothana reaches Ambadi to execute King Kamsa’s order to slay all newborn babies, including Lord Krishna. But when she finds the charming Krishna, she is overwhelmed by motherly love. Caught in a deadly trap, she must make the tough decision between saving the child or saving herself.

During this Diwali – the celebration of inner light outshining the darkness – the story of Poothana and her salvation will bring forth the importance of winning our daily internal conflicts between dharma and adharma.

The final concert in the programme will see Carnatic vocalist, Rithvik Raja partner with award-winning Bharatanatyam dancer Shweta Prachande for a ‘conversation through dance and music’

Rooted in the South Indian Classical Music tradition, popularly known as Carnatic Music, Raja is one of the most celebrated and respected artistes of his era. His collaboration with National Balashree recipient Prachande will no doubt be a highlight of the programme.

For those wanting to get their glad rags on to celebrate in style, Milap’s artist in residence Sheetal Maru will host a ‘Dance with Divas’ special.

Available to dancers of all levels and abilities, the dance lesson will be based around special candles known as ‘Divas’ or ‘Diyas’. The session will include a fun workout and an introduction to authentic Indian Dance styles, whilst also working towards improving your wellbeing and sense of community.

Milap’s programme of events to celebrate Diwali will take place from 1st – 5th November across various streaming platforms including Milap’s YouTube page. Keep an eye on Milap’s social platforms over the coming days for further premiere announcements.

Liverpool’s much-loved Epstein Theatre is entering a brand new chapter with a new management team at the helm. 

Epstein Entertainments Ltd is a joint venture between Liverpool producers Bill Elms, Chantelle Nolan, and Jane Joseph, who have taken over the historic Hanover Street venue. 

The creative team’s exciting plans already include a Christmas pantomime this festive season, which will be announced and on sale this week. The theatre will retain the same name and continue to run as a variety venue with a mixed programme of entertainment. 

Bill Elms has more than 30 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, both regionally and nationally. He is director of leading Liverpool based arts PR company Bill Elms Associates, and a theatre producer under Bill Elms Productions, whose previous shows have included Jerry Springer – The Opera, Swan Song, Judy & Liza, and Something About Simon. 

Last year, he also created Liverpool Theatre Festival, of which he is Artistic Director – the festival has just enjoyed a successful second year. Bill will become the venue’s Artistic and Communications Director. 

Chantelle Nolan, who is currently General Manager at St Helens Theatre Royal, is the new Artistic and Operations Director at The Epstein Theatre. Along with her mother Jane Joseph, she is one half of the hugely successful Regal Entertainments Ltd which has run St Helens Theatre Royal for the past 20 years, as well as producing top quality drama, comedy, and panto productions which have toured extensively. 

Chantelle also directs and produces St Helens’ three annual pantomimes. Regal Entertainments Ltd will now produce three in-house pantomimes a year at The Epstein Theatre.

Bill Elms Productions, Liverpool Theatre Festival, St Helens Theatre Royal, and Regal Entertainments Ltd will continue to run as normal.

The Epstein is a 108-year-old, 380-seat proscenium arch theatre. It was originally opened as Crane’s Music Hall in 1913 and was a popular location for recitals and performances. It was renamed Crane Theatre in 1938. In 1967 the theatre was purchased from the Cranes by Liverpool Corporation, who decided that it should be run by local people for local people and was named The Neptune Theatre. The Neptune also became a comedy club and, after many years of uncertainty about the future of the theatre, it eventually closed in 2005.

In July 2011, a £1million refurbishment of the theatre was completed which saw the Hanover Street venue brought up to 21st Century standards and renamed The Epstein Theatre in honour of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who guided the Fab Four from popular cellar act to global superstardom. The opening season show at the venue was the premiere of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles, which was also produced by Bill Elms.

The former operator went into administration in December 2017 and has been run by administrators until this time, continuing to showcase a programme of music, comedy, drama, and children’s entertainment. The venue closed its doors in March 2020 as part of the Government national Covid-19 lockdown, and will now reopen under the management of the new team.

The theatre management are welcoming enquires from local and national production companies to programme from January 2022, producers can email: programming@epsteintheatre.co.uk

For more details check out www.epsteintheatre.co.uk and join the theatre’s mailing list. Follow the venue on Facebook www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre and Twitter @EpsteinTheatre.

From fun facts and the sights to see, to sharing hopes and dreams for the future, The Book of St Helens is a must-read new guidebook created by 146 primary school pupils in St Helens and artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington, and commissioned and produced by Heart of Glass.

Designed to be read by adults, the 32-page playful publication showcases what life in St Helens is like from the perspective of its children, celebrating the people, places and passions that make the borough great.

Led by artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington, the Arts Council England and Community Foundation for Merseyside #iwill2019 funded project, saw 146 pupils from Ashurst Primary School, Broad Oak Community Primary School and Rainford C.E. Primary School complete a series of games, questions, and activities about their hometown with their teachers.

Along with designing a new flag, crest, and catchy St Helens Town Anthem, together they wrote about what they love, what they wish could be better and what changes they would make if they were in charge.

A small group of editors from the group then worked directly with Andy and Beckie to bring their hundreds of ideas together. Illustrator Rhi Moxon turned the children’s original sketches and ideas into a series of captivating maps and drawings, while New York based designer Will Brady put all the words and pictures together to create the final book.

Two hundred copies of The Book of St Helens have been printed and shared with the children and people living and working locally, while a digital edition is available to download now from the Heart of Glass website: heartofglass.org.uk/tbosh

A panto streamed online earlier this year is being brought to life to entertain families this October half-term – with hundreds of tickets also being donated to frontline NHS workers in St Helens. 

Leading panto producers Regal Entertainments is counting down four weeks until the curtain rises on family favourite Jack And The Beanstalk at St Helens Theatre Royal.

Regal Entertainments kept online audiences entertained at Easter when they went the extra mile to stream its popular seasonal show so families could still watch together at home while the country was still in the midst of a national lockdown.

The show proved so popular that theatregoers now have the opportunity to watch it in real-life during the October half-term school holidays featuring a cast of St Helens Theatre Royal favourites.

Jack And The Beanstalk heads to St Helens Theatre Royal for 15 performances between Thursday 21 October and Sunday 31 October 2021.

St Helens Theatre Royal has been granted the use of the Society Of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s ‘See It Safely’ mark. This certifies that the venue is complying with Government and industry Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of staff, performers, and audiences.

Regal Entertainments and St Helens Theatre Royal wanted to mark the return of live panto to the venue by doing something special – so they are thanking the tireless efforts of frontline NHS workers by donating 500 panto tickets to Whiston and St Helens Hospitals.

Regal Entertainments, St Helens Theatre Royal, and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are working together to allocate the tickets.

Ann Marr OBE, Chief Executive of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, commented: “The past 18 months have been the most challenging time for our staff, and we are incredibly grateful for the support we continue to receive from our local community. Thank you to everyone at St Helens Theatre Royal for thinking of our staff during this time and giving them the opportunity to have some much-needed fun in our wonderful local theatre. I am sure they will enjoy every moment.”

St Helens Theatre Royal’s Autumn season brochure can be found online by visiting https://www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com/digital-brochure/ 

 

Eco Artist, Arnd Drossl from Germany is travelling to COP26 via the UK and Ireland to raise awareness around the Summit – a walking and cycling moving installation.

The artist reception is free and held outside Liverpool Town Hall, 26 September, 4pm.

Beginning on 7 August, Arnd has taken a 1,500 kilometre long “Promise Walk” to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow began in Paderborn. On foot, in a wire ball and by bicycle, across Europe – for the good of our Earth.

In this video you can get an impression of the art object and the project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xo5rSdW2-s&t=23s

All further information as well as route and dates can be found at:

https://mypromise.earth/en/tour-21?nonitro=1

A special event will take place in Liverpool this month to remember those youngsters who have lost their lives through violence.

Liverpool Cathedral will host the vigil on Saturday 25 September, with the aim to bring together the family and friends of those who have been killed as a result of violent crimes such as knife and gun crime.

Starting at 6:30pm, there will be a series of live music performances by local talent including Quinten Green and the Ukulele Club Liverpool. There will also be poetry readings and speeches and those attending will be encouraged to light a candle at the venue and contribute to a book of condolence to share memories of their loved one. The book will be open across the weekend.

The inspiration behind the event is Mandy Jamieson whose son Danny was stabbed to death in Gateacre, July 2018, aged just 16.

Since the tragedy, Mandy has set up Danny’s Place – a charity which facilitates talks to schools, youth organisations and the probation sector about the ripple effect knife crime can have.

In a bid to lobby the government to introduce an official national remembrance day for victims and the families of youth violence, the cathedral event will be an open invitation to anyone affected by this type of crime, to remember their loved one and to celebrate their lives.

A similar event will also take place in Chelmsford, Essex – the current location for the Knife Angel sculpture which was originally on display outside Liverpool cathedral in 2018.

On the Saturday evening, city landmarks have been asked to support the campaign by lighting up purple, and anyone who can’t attend the event is being asked to step out of their front door at 8pm and shine a light – either from their phone, using a torch or even lighting a candle – in a show of solidarity.

Organised by Culture Liverpool

The second annual Liverpool Theatre Festival has been hailed a roaring success after attracting an audience of 2,700 theatregoers across 12 days. 

The outdoor festival programme featured 23 performances of 16 shows and was warmly welcomed by audiences and industry professionals, who were once again eager to embrace live entertainment and celebrate the region’s performing and creative arts talent.

Liverpool Theatre Festival 2021 ran between 1 and 12 September at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre, a perfect setting for the unique event.

Organisers were thrilled with the “incredible” and “heart-warming” feedback. Plans are already underway to bring the festival back in 2022 for its third consecutive year.

Liverpool Theatre Festival was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms and was first staged in September 2020 to help support the city’s creative arts industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. Theatres and live entertainment venues were ordered to close immediately under the Government’s first national lockdown guidelines.

It was Bill’s mission to reinvigorate and boost the city’s live performance and creative arts sector, offering a lifeline when it was needed most. Liverpool Theatre Festival was created in a matter of weeks. Its inaugural staging won praise from audiences and critics alike, as well as winning an award along the way.

This year, the event returned bigger for its main event in September, preceded in July by seven-day Little LTF new fringe event to champion and showcase new works and talent, which went on to attract 1,200 festivalgoers.

Liverpool Theatre Festival is committed to supporting local artists, creatives, and theatre companies. During this year’s two events, a total of 30 local and regional diverse theatrical productions have been staged – resulting in almost 200 performers, musicians and creatives being involved and working as the pandemic continues.

The main festival opened and closed with the premieres of two new shows, a huge coup for the festival which strives to champion new talent – both performance and creative.

One-woman comedy 2Gorgeous4U, written by acclaimed Liverpool playwright Mark Davies Markham and starring Liverpool actress Lynne Fitzgerald raised the curtain on the festival. While the event closed with Something About George – The George Harrison Story, featuring Liverpool actor and musician Daniel Taylor. Festival director Bill Elms is already in talks with production companies regarding a future life of both shows. 

Billed as a highlight of Little LTF new works festival in July, Twice Nightly returned for the main festival. Organisers and critics were so impressed by the quality of writing and storyline highlighting Liverpool’s lost theatres of the 1930s, they felt the production has real potential and should be included in the main LTF 2021 programme and was fully supported to enable the show to return.

The full programme also included Perfectly Frank, The Last Five Years, When Another Dragon Roars, Everybody’s Talking About Musicals, Boing…Meow! The Musical, Electric Dreams, An Evening Without Kate Bush, Swan Song, Opera Beneath The Stars, Broken Biscuits, Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare, Laughterhouse Comedy, and Goldilocks And The Fab 4.

Just one show during the run had to be relocated due to torrential rain – and organisers were grateful for the support of Royal Court Liverpool and its basement Studio as the change of venue for Opera Beneath The Stars. 

Visit www.liverpooltheatrefestival.com for the latest news updates.