Making It

After forty years as a singer, actress and cabaret diva, Bev has seen it all and had nothing. She is backstage at the Kirkby Boilermakers and Shipbuilders social club which is the kind of place that you only play twice, once on the way up and once on the way down. This is her return gig.

As she prepares to get her slap on and step into a wobbly spotlight, she is waiting for a phone call. If all goes well then tonight will be her final ever gig and you are all invited to join her backstage.

Bev tells us the story of her showbiz life. From her brush with The Taffia (Llandudno branch of the mafia), to almost starring in the movies, sort of singing with a chart-topping mega-star and kind of breaking the European film market. Along the way she is joined by lecherous managers, dodgy photographers, and a whole realm of people who promise that they can help to make her a star. But she’ll show them all. Tonight, she’ll show them.

Making It! began as a homegrown one woman show in 2018 called Our Bev’s Christmas Cracker, winning a Liverpool Echo Theatre Award, and played to sell-out crowds. This time, writing duo Stephen Fletcher and Cath Rice have developed the show for the Royal Court main stage and are proud to present this exciting comedy two-hander, also starring the brilliant Andrew Schofield. 

“A lot of heart, soul and Merseyside wit, you’ll be glad you popped down to see Bev” Liverpool Echo

Starring Cath Rice and Andrew Schofield
Written by Cath Rice and Stephen Fletcher with additional material from Andrew Schofield

Directed by Stephen Fletcher
Designed by Katie Scott

8pm shows Tuesday to Saturday, 2pm matinees on selected weekdays and all Saturdays.

Matinee tickets now available with a bowl of scouse for £10

Performance Information Stalls tickets are available with a meal (served at your table before the show) for an extra £14 for one course at evening shows Click here to see our menu or an extra £10 at matinees (scouse or blind scouse only). If you are eating with us please arrive at least an hour before the performance. Tickets are available for the show alone in stalls, circle and balcony. BSL performance is on Tuesday 13 May (interpreter Kate Labno). Audio Described performance is on Wednesday 14 May (describer Anne Hornsby). To book please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 or email lauren@royalcourtliverpool.com. Circle and balcony will open at 7.15pm. There are bars in both areas for pre-show and interval drinks. Stalls will be open from 6:15pm. 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.
£2 from every ticket bought will be donated to The Royal Court Liverpool Trust. For more details go to www.royalcourttrust.org 
Please contact Box Office to book if you are a wheelchair user.

The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring

Helen Serafinowicz (Motherland, Amandaland, Nova Jones) has created the ultimate scouse sword and sorcery tale that is packed with magic, romance, original songs and stupid gags. Based on a half-true rumour, this story of myth and missus will have you laughing your axe off all night long. 

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Liverpool, there lived a mighty warrior. Ever since he was a boy he was fast and strong and incredibly handsome. He could outrun any man or horse (and he had great buns). His name was WAYNE. 

The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring – it’s like our Christmas Show but the weather’s better. 

Join us in the far-flung, mystical land of Liverpool where you will meet our hero. He is on a dangerous quest of heroic deeds and has vowed to fight evil through sheer force of will while his great buns are clad in a fetching pair of furry undies. He doesn’t care about all that fighting though, he just wants his C’leen back. 

C’leen was a humble bricklayer’s daughter from Crocky but, with her shiny caramel hair, she was the most beautiful woman in the whole kingdom. They fell deeply in love, making the sunshine, the flowers grow and the birds sing as tunefully as Posh Spice after the autotune’s been turned right up. All was right with the world, until Wayne got distracted by some lovely ladies and C’leen biffed his ring out of the window over the hill and far far away. 

Venture into the night or a matinee for a great night out (or afternoon with easy travel links back home so you can get in early without rushing to Central for the last train) with silliness, songs and laughs.

Read the show programme for free here

Age advisory 14+

Confirmed Cast: Emma Grace Arends, Lindzi Germain, Jess Smith, John May, Adam McCoy, Terry Mynott, Keddy Sutton and Liam Tobin.

Written by Helen Serafinowicz

Directed by Stephen Fletcher

Designed by Olivia Du Monceau

Original artwork by Gary Frank and colourist Brad Anderson

8pm shows Tuesday to Saturday, 2pm matinees on selected Thursdays and all Saturdays.

Matinee tickets now available with a bowl of scouse for £10.

Performance Information 

Stalls tickets are available with a meal (served at your table before the show) for an extra £14 for one course at evening shows Click here to see our menu or an extra £10 at matinees (scouse or blind scouse only). If you are eating with us please arrive at least an hour before the performance. 

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

BSL performance is on Tuesday 5 August (interpreter Karl Llorca). Audio Described performance is on Wednesday 6 August (describer Anne Hornsby). To book please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 or email lauren@royalcourtliverpool.com. 

Captioning will be available for performances from 19-23 August. Please contact Box Office for more details.

Circle and balcony will open at 7.15pm. There are bars in both areas for pre-show and interval drinks. Stalls will be open from 6:15pm. 

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. 

£2 from every ticket bought will be donated to The Royal Court Liverpool Trust. For more details go to www.royalcourttrust.org 

Please contact Box Office to book if you are a wheelchair user.

The Derby-Days

Dave Derby and Debbie Day are happily married. Well, they’re not married really. And they’re not that happy on Derby day because Dave’s a die-hard red and Debbie’s a proper blue. Even their cat’s got two names. What sort of cat answers to Divock and Duncan? 

Their daughter Chloe is back from London with a new fella in tow and he’s got a deep, dark secret. One that could cause more chaos in the Derby-Day family than Wayne Clarke and Gary McAllister combined.

With her parents acting like kids, Chloe is fuming and this might be the final straw. Will they stop kicking off before the big game?

Ian Salmon (Girls Don’t Play Guitars, The Comeback Special) has written a brand new comedy about a subject close to his heart. If you are a red, or a blue or just someone who likes to watch families raging at each other, then come and join us for a great night out.

View the full programme for free

Performance Information

Confirmed Cast: Dominic Carter, Sarah White, Elliott Kingsley, Ellie Clayton

Written by Ian Salmon

Stalls tickets are available with a meal (served at your table before the show) for an extra £14 for one course and £20 for two courses at evening shows Click here to see our menu or an extra £10 at matinees (scouse or blind scouse only). If you are eating with us please arrive at least an hour before the performance. 

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

BSL performance is on Tuesday 30 September (interpreter Karl Llorca). Audio Described performance is on Wednesday 1 October (describer Anne Hornsby). To book please contact Box Office on 0151 709 4321 or email lauren@royalcourtliverpool.com. 

Captioning will be available for performances from 7-11 October. 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 6:00pm. 

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.
£2 from every ticket bought will be donated to The Royal Court Liverpool Trust. For more details go to www.royalcourttrust.org 

Please contact Box Office to book if you are a wheelchair user.

Jen Brister

Jen Brister is Reactive – or so she’s been told. Apparently you don’t have to respond to every little thing around you. Finding herself in a constant state of exacerbation at the state of the world and people in general, Brister has been told she needs to chill the hell out. Can Jen find her zen? It seems unlikely to be honest…

Jen is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian and writer, as seen on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, QI and Mock The Week. Following a sold out 2022 tour, Jen is back on the road with her highly anticipated new show.

Stewart Lee

In this brand new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity.

The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up?

Harry Hill

Join me on my Diamond Jubilee lap of honour as I celebrate 60 Glorious Years of fun, laughter and low level disruption!

Marvel! As I offer new insights into the hot topics of the day such as the demise of the SCART lead, The Culture Wars, the differences between crab sticks and rhubarb and the origins of Tirimisu!

Age Restriction: Strictly 9+

Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle

It’s hard to be good all the time. A good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person. To be ambitious but not ruthless; a success but not a sell-out. A gentle parent but not a pushover. To be smashing life and make it look easy. The juggle. Suzi is exhausted and she hasn’t even started. This is a stand-up show and a support group!

★★★★”A fabulously funny show from a class act.”Evening Standard

The Juggle is a brand new tour from confessional multi-award winning comedian Suzi Ruffell.

Suzi has appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Last Leg and QI. Suzi co-hosts smash-hit podcasts Big Kick Energy with Maisie Adam and Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen, as well as having her own podcast, OUT with Suzi Ruffell. She even finds time to host on Virgin Radio. Suzi’s debut book, Am I Having Fun Now? is released in June 2025.

Jenny Eclair: Jokes Jokes Jokes Live!

In celebration of the release of her hilarious memoir of the same name, comedian, novelist, and professional show-off Jenny Eclair comes to Liverpool Playhouse with a brand-new autobiographical show.

From drama school, (mostly drinking cider and eating sausage rolls), sleeping with men who looked like they lived under a carpet, punk poetry, anorexia, bedsit misery, waitressing and not really having a clue about anything, to being the first woman to win the Perrier Award, becoming a mother, author, grumpy old woman, podcaster and nana!

Still gigging to sell-out crowds forty years later, Jenny invites you to look back at what she can remember before she forgets everything. Warning, punk poetry, animal impressions and baritone nursery rhyme singing may feature.

Sam Avery: Thunderstorm

Back with a bang, award-winning comedian Sam Avery returns with his electrifying new show, Thunderstorm!

In his trademark punchy style, Sam takes you on a whirlwind journey through the chaos of the modern world – from parenting disasters to culture wars, conspiracy theories to political morons.

With sharp wit and a stormy twist, he’s here to prove that the only way to weather modern life is through laughter!

Expect thunderous punchlines, lightning-fast jokes, and a night of belly laughs you won’t forget.

The Best Of Legions Of Doom Comedy

For eight years ‘The LoD’ ran the best (and only) alternative comedy night in Liverpool; an underground fight club of a sketch show full of deadpan darkness, inappropriate twists and unlikely punchlines… They were even finalists of Sketch Comedian of the year… but they didn’t win.

Driven mad by the shame of being beaten by comedians from London… they left our

Planet… now they return – for revenge!

And for an imaginatively unhinged theatrical sketch show…but mostly for revenge!

With new members, The LoD are honoured to perform their ‘Best of’… at the iconic institution, The Blob Shop… Unity Theatre.