Threshold Was Here – The Reunion

Fifteen years ago, a spark was lit in the Baltic Triangle. This August, we’re coming back to where it all began to celebrate the journey, the community, and the incredible creative spirit that defined an era.  

Threshold Was Here.

On Saturday 1st August, we are taking over District and Hobo Kiosk for a massive, multi-space, 12-hour celebration. Expect a packed day-to-night curation featuring the absolute best of what made Threshold legendary:  

Deep-dive Industry Panels & Debates 

Incredible Live Bands & Solo Artists

Performance & Comedy

 Late-Night DJs keeping the dancefloor moving  

Whether you were there in the audience during the inaugural festival or you’re part of the new wave of Liverpool’s creative scene, this is a reunion you do not want to miss.  

Best of all? All profits from the event are going directly to the Music Venue Trust (MVT) to support the grassroots venues that keep our independent music culture alive.  

LOW INCOME TICKETS AVAILABLE 

The Great Race – New York to Paris

Times Square, New York, February 12th, 1908. Six Teams from
across the globe wait at the starting line. Their mission? Be the first to
drive a motorcar to Paris. Who will get there first? How will they get there?
Is anyone competent enough to get there at all?

The hilarious retelling of one of history’s most bizarre and
long-forgotten chapters returns to Liverpool! With five actors playing
forty-five parts, and a complete original ragtime soundtrack, this hysterical
piece of historical theatre will have you non-stop laughing as we take you all
the way around the world… in a motorcar!

“The Great Race is a masterclass in storytelling and comedic
theatre. It’s well worth a watch.” – Reyt Good Magazine

Confirmed Cast: Elliot Bailey, Harry Freeman, Rob Hardie
& Tom Terrance

Original soundtrack composed by Alec Walters.

Written and Directed by Elliot Bailey and Rob Hardie.

Presented by Guilty Applause Ltd.

Performance Information

Approximate show duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes including
a 20 minute interval

Age Rating: 12+

Please note – the bar will close 15 minutes before the
advertised start time.

Latecomers will not be admitted so please arrive in good
time.

Please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 if you require
wheelchair access. There are two wheelchair spaces available for each show.

There are no booking fees payable (hurrah!)

Rosie Holt – The Illegal Aliens Have Landed!

Rosie and her MP alter-ego are back, fighting their biggest
foe yet. Labour are trying to continue the Conservatives’ work of stopping the
boats while also still appearing “left wing,” but they have an even bigger
problem when UFOs arrive. Will the government stand strong? Or insist they are
“just waiting for the facts” as aliens start to abduct and eat the British
public? A sci-fi streaked satire.

’10 Best Political Comedies’ -The Times 

‘A pinpoint portrayal of the personae manifesting our
national psyche.’ ★★★★ -The Observer

‘A character comedy treat.’ ★★★★ -Time Out

‘Holt perfectly sums up the state we are in, delivering
tightly-crafted brutal satire with Orwellian flourishes.’ ★★★??

-Evening Standard

★★★★ -The Guardian

★★★★ ​-T​he
Telegraph

★★★★ -The Arts Desk

★★★★ -Broadway Baby”                                                                                                                         

Presented by Impatient Productions 

                                                                                                              

Performance Information

Approximate show duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes including a
20 minute interval

Age Rating: 14+

Please note – the bar will close 15 minutes before the
advertised start time.

Latecomers will not be admitted so please arrive in good
time.

Please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 if you require
wheelchair access. There are two wheelchair spaces available for each show.

There are no booking fees payable (hurrah!)

Rob Rouse – Funny Bones

Star of BBC’s Upstart Crow, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Friday
Night Project and Dave’s One Night Stand. “He’s a man with genuinely funny
bones” — The Sunday Times

Recently crowned Comics’ Comic – Best Act of the Year 2025
by the UK Comedy Awards, and also voted Best Act at the 2025 Yorkshire Comedy
Awards, Rob Rouse has been one of the most beloved and brilliantly bonkers
comedians on the circuit since winning the prestigious Channel 4 So You Think
You’re Funny Award at the Edinburgh Festival in 1998.

Funny Bones is Rob’s brand-new stand-up show: a relentlessly
funny and daft evening of comedy, from a one-man whirlwind who pulls the
audience into his craftily spun tall tales with bucketfuls of manic energy,
first-class stagecraft, eerily convincing characters, and a barrage of
brilliant one-liners.

WARNING: THIS SHOW HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY ASSEMBLED TO MAKE
YOU LAUGH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE – HOWEVER, YOU WILL NOT LEARN ANYTHING FROM IT –
YOU MAY EVEN COME OUT STUPIDER THAN WHEN YOU CAME IN.

“One of my favourite comics. A very silly and funny man” —
Greg Davies

“Rob Rouse is a joy machine, a natural clown” — Kerry
Godliman

“An extraordinary comedian” — Jessica Fostekew, The Observer

“I have been helpless with laughter watching Rob on stage.
Pure, joyful, hilarious stand up. He’s one of the best there is. He’s a very
silly man. Very silly indeed” — Marcus Brigstocke

“Rob is always hilarious, and has total command, without
fail he leaves a room vibrant and joyful” — Nina Conti

★★★★★ “Comedy
guaranteed to lighten even the darkest of moods” —
Edinburgh Evening News

★★★★★ “Bursting
with originality, energy and enthusiasm, Rob Rouse is a delirious but hilarious
man” — The List

★★★★ “Just go
and see it” — The Sunday
Times

★★★★ “Eye-wateringly
hilarious” — Hairline

“The tears of laughter came in floods…” — The
Scotsman

“Left the audience in a giggling slobbering heap” —
Edinburgh Festival Magazine

Previous tour support includes Nina Conti, Kerry Godliman,
Rory Bremner and Marcus Brigstocke.

Presented by Blackbird Touring Ltd

Performance Information

Approximate show duration: 1 hour and 50 minutes including a
20-minute interval

Age Rating: 16+

Please note – the bar will close 15 minutes before the
advertised start time.

Latecomers will not be admitted so please arrive in good
time.

Please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 if you require
wheelchair access. There are two wheelchair spaces available for each show.

Rachel Fairburn – Vexy Beasts

Hot on the heels of her critically acclaimed 2025 show Side Eye, Rachel Fairburn is back with new personalities and some old favourites for you to love and hate. Expect biting commentary and lots of big laughs.

Co-host of International smash hit podcast All Killa No
Filla and as seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
(Dave), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two) and Russell Howard Hour Life
Lesson (Sky)

‘Rock ’n’ Roll Star of British Comedy’ – Rolling Stone

‘A Skilled impressionist…incredible’ – The Guardian

‘Bright, brave and bitterly enjoyable’ – The Skinny

‘Fairburn’s presence is commanding, thrilling and utterly
addictive’ ★★★★★ – Broadway Baby

‘Rachel brings her characters to life…she’s an exceptional
talent’★★★★ – A Young(Ish) Perspective

‘A lot of laughs’★★★★ – The List

‘Gag-heavy, opinionated and smart’ ★★★??

– Funny Women

‘A huge presence in a pint-sized frame’ – Chortle

Instagram: @rachelfairburn

X: @RachelFairburn

TikTok: @rachelfairburncomedy

Presented by Phil McIntyre Live Ltd

Performance Information

Approximate show duration: 1 hour and 50 minutes including
an interval

Age Rating: 14+

Please note – the bar will close 15 minutes before the
advertised start time.

Latecomers will not be admitted so please arrive in good
time.

Please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 if you require
wheelchair access. There are two wheelchair spaces available for each show.

There are no booking fees payable (hurrah!)

Perms Of Endearment

Hairlarious and Heartbreaking

Big Betty McDowd was the legendary land lady of the Viscount in the Dingle. The oldest of the old school, she’d serve you a pint, dole out advice and bounce you out on your arse at the end of the night. She’s about to set off down Park Road one last time in a horse-drawn hearse with a piper and a crowd to see her off.

Before she can go, her daughters have to say their own goodbyes. Paula, her eldest,has got memories of Betty at her finest, and some at her worst. Sharon, her blue-eyed baby girl, wants everything to be perfect for her final foray into the Holy Land.

Along with Paula’s daughter Paris and old friends and hairdressers Dolly and Mikey, they’ve come together to talk about the past and the waves it creates in the present. A personality as big as Betty’s has an impact in death as well as in life. 

Jonathan Larkin has conjured up a brand-new comedy full of family stories, big personalities and the beating heart of the Dingle. There are up-dos, down-dos and cutting remarks that will make you want to curl up and dye! 

Big Betty’s laid out in the glammed-up living room as family secrets are laid out in the kitchen. So,pull up a chair and join in.

Performance Information 

Stalls tickets are available with a meal (served at your table before the show) for an extra £16 for one course and £23 for two courses at evening shows, or an extra £10 for one course and £16 for two courses at matinees. If you are dining with us please arrive at least an hour before the performance. 

Click here to see our menu

Tickets are available for the show alone in stalls, circle and balcony. 

BSL performance is on Tuesday 9 March. Audio Described performance is on Wednesday 10 March. To book please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 or email lauren@royalcourtliverpool.com. 

Captioning will be available for performances for the final week of the show. Please contact Box Office for more details. 

Circle and balcony will open at 6.45pm. There are bars in both areas for pre-show and interval drinks. Stalls will be open from 17:45pm. 

If you are bringing a large group, every tenth ticket is free. This ticket will be automatically added to your basket on purchase. Meals and building levy must still be paid on your free ticket. 

NO BOOKING FEES ON THIS SHOW 

Please note – the bar will close 15 minutes before the advertised start time. 

Each ticket price includes a £3 donation which is used to support maintenance of our building, our community engagement and new writing talent development.

Please contact Box Office to book if you are a wheelchair user as we can only accommodate 5 spaces in our stalls seating area downstairs

Sindhu Vee: Swanky

From the award-winning star of Live at the Apollo comes a brand-new stand-up show about falling through the cracks you didn’t make, avoiding the friendships you don’t want, and embracing the self-love you definitely need.

In Swanky, Sindhu Vee is taking her “outspoken, frank and funny stand-up” (Evening Standard) across the country for her first UK tour in five years.

Since 2021’s Alphabet – now available to stream on Sindhu’s website – the Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated comic has appeared on QI, Have I Got News For You and Would I Lie To You? as well as starring in Netflix’s Sex Education and Matilda the Musical as well as Amazon Prime’s Pradeeps of Pittsburgh and Picture This.

Now, having become one of the most exciting and sought-after comedy talents internationally, UK audiences can get ready for her most sophisticated, intimate and swanky show yet. sindhuvee.com

Mike Wozniak: The Bench

New stand-up tour show from Mike Wozniak in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches not required. Let Mike worry about that.

As seen on Taskmaster, Man Down and Junior Taskmaster. As heard on Three Bean Salad podcast.

Please note this is an extra date of the same tour that will be at the Playhouse in Jan 2026.

Nish Kumar: Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy

The world is in chaos. Inequality is widening, autocracy is rising and political parties are collapsing. In these divided times, what this country desperately needs is Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy (in many ways it’s actually the last thing this country needs, but it’s what it’s getting so tough luck).

The UK’s leading political comic Nish Kumar – co-host of hugely popular podcast Pod Save the UK, former host of axed BBC show The Mash Report, and one of Taskmaster’s greatest losers – is back on tour with a formidable batch of passionate, progressive stand-up for the ages.

Kumar is 40. His mind is breaking. His body is worse. Expect existential angst and political disquiet from comedy’s cheekiest boy.

Nish Kumar was named one of the 50 Best Comedians of the 21st Century by both The Guardian and The Telegraph, with his previous tour playing to sold out crowds across the UK, North America, Australasia and mainland Europe.

 Presented by Plosive Live in association with PBJ Management

 

Flo & Joan – With Feeling

The time has come for critically acclaimed musical comedy duo Flo & Joan to write another bio as they make their highly anticipated return to the stage with a brand-new show.

“Gosh, they are almost like a real band” (Bruce Dessau, Beyond a Joke). The pair will try and take up as much of the stage and as little of your patience as possible as they use another “real band’s” setlist to write their own show – ruminating on themes such as ‘what is music?’, ‘how do you be a band?’, and ‘is comedy?’ in the sharp-tongued, deadpan way they have become accustomed to.

As seen on Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance, Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day Live 2023 and their own comedy special ‘Alive on Stage’ for Amazon Prime.

floandjoan.com