Event type: Performance

Blast! 2

Blast! is music, Spoken Word, magic and comedy – and features some of Merseyside’s most talented performers.

For Blast #2 they have spoken word from the brilliant The Queen of Heartache -one of Liverpool’s most outrageous performers!

Jennifer Vaudrey is an outstanding singer and performer – Jen curates her own nights at the Unity and the Neptune theatres, and will be sprinkling her magic at Jimmy’s on the 24th.

Speaking of magic, Steve Price is an outstanding comedy magician who hosts his own Magic on the Mersey monthly event.

Mark J’s columns for United We Stand are legendary, and he will be joined by talented wordsmiths Laura Ferries and Louise Evans, along with the ever-excellent Give Poetry a Chance poet and curator Dan Cullinan.

There will be laughs aplenty from the mysterious Barry Comedy, and after the Blast Pop Culture Quiz Spot the Bastard (answer number 7 is ‘Every Tory Ever’), there will be comedy and spoken word from Saint Vespaluus. Saint headlined downstairs at Jimmy’s in October, and will be debuting his new poems ‘The Old People’s Retirement Home Pie Company’ and ‘Haulin’ Oats’.

Please note that Jimmy’s Liverpool is strictly 18+. Anyone underage will not be granted entry. They strongly advise customers to bring ID as we enforce a ‘Challenge 25’ policy. No refunds will be issued to underage ticket holders.

Spoken Word – February

The Reader’s Spoken Word event for February will feature Liverpool based band, Sunstack Jones, alongside a selection of supporting poets.

Spoken Word events encompass a huge variety of writing and performance styles, from the intimately personal and heart-breaking to the uproariously funny and celebratory. Poetry in all its forms will be the main feature, along with memoirs, stories, monologues and any number of almost-indefinable types of prose!

They recommend this event for adults 18+. Doors 7pm. The Mansion House is wheelchair accessible, for access enquiries please contact: tickets@thereader.org.uk.

Rachael Doman
A second appearance for  Rachael at the Mansion House (following her lovely set for the Bandaged Moments poetry evening at last November’s Gravity Festival at The Reader). Rachael is the co-founder of the Magpies and Pigeons poetry collective and her curated show was one of the highlights of at last year’s Smithdown Festival. Rache is a brilliant poet in her own right and her poems of love and loss are an absolute delight.

Saint Vespaluus
Expect tales and poems of the heartbreak caused by the unsolicited comments of Joe Public; the nightmare of being a New Romantic in 1980s Anfield – and how to approach singing songs about Branwell Brontë without causing offence.

Paddy Clarke
Paddy Clarke is a superb musician and brilliantly talented wordsmith. Paddy’s take on one of John Cooper-Clarke’s most famous poems is a work of near-genius. They’re already looking forward to seeing Paddy back at the Mansion House.

Sunstack Jones
They are indeed privileged to welcome one of Britain’s best bands to The Reader. Sunstack Jones are BBC 6 Music regulars and a big favourite on the live circuits. The band has released four beautiful albums which mix ‘indie’, psychedelia and dreampop to stunning effect.

Spoken Word 11 will be a great night!

Barely Visible at The Arts Centre, Edg...

Barely Visible, directed by Elinor Randle and performed by Rowena Gander, is an empowering physical solo performance that explores sexualisation, (fe)male gaze and what it really feels like to live in the shadows.

The piece incorporates the use of a 100-kilo vertical pole, of which dance theatre artist Rowena examines control and visibility in what’s been described as a ‘moving and powerful’ semi-auto biographical performance.

Rowena will perform at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool on Saturday 19th February 2022 as part of the venue’s ‘Open Call Programme’ – which saw the piece selected as part of a competitive call for new work – before taking the show to The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University on Tuesday 15th March.

A full tour is set to be confirmed very soon, funded by Arts Council England

Barely Visible at Unity Theatre

Barely Visible, directed by Elinor Randle and performed by Rowena Gander, is an empowering physical solo performance that explores sexualisation, (fe)male gaze and what it really feels like to live in the shadows.

The piece incorporates the use of a 100-kilo vertical pole, of which dance theatre artist Rowena examines control and visibility in what’s been described as a ‘moving and powerful’ semi-auto biographical performance.

Rowena will perform at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool on Saturday 19th February 2022 as part of the venue’s ‘Open Call Programme’ – which saw the piece selected as part of a competitive call for new work – before taking the show to The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University on Tuesday 15th March.

A full tour is set to be confirmed very soon, funded by Arts Council England

Kaboodle Choir

Kaboodle choir will be singing lovely harmonies and beautiful melodies to entertain and brighten your day in the fabulous surroundings of the Lady Lever Gallery main hall.

A fabulous mixed choir, Kaboodle is run by Chris Watson and Jeanette Boyhan, both music teachers. An ideal way to begin your visit to the Lady Lever Gallery.

The event is free and held 26 February, from 12.30pm.

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia will once again tour the UK marking the twentieth anniversary of the company’s first season in the UK.

Accompanied by the Russian State Ballet Orchestra, they will present the iconic and classical Romeo & Juliet, Snow Maiden and Swan Lake at the Liverpool Empire 14-16 February.

Showtimes are 7.30pm, with an additional 2.30pm performance of Swan Lake on 16 February.

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia – led by Artistic Director Sergei Bobrov, and Music Director Anatoly Tchepurnoi – has established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and depth.

Since their first Christmas season at St David’s Hall in Cardiff in 2002, the Company has completed 18 UK tours and has had success in Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Japan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and Singapore.

Mark Watson: This Can’t Be It

We’ve had some pondering to do about the fragility of life recently, but don’t worry, skinny national treasure Mark Watson has it covered.

At 41, he’s halfway through his days on earth, according to the life expectancy calculator app he paid £1.49 for. That life is in the best shape a living memory… but one problem remains, and it really is a huge one.

Spiritual enquiry meets high-octane observational comedy as the ‘Taskmaster’ survivor, multi-award-winner and “No More Jockeys” cult leader attempts to cram a couple of years of pathological overthinking into an evening of stand-up. Maybe we’ll even solve the huge problem. Doubt it, though.

Filla Crack’s Valentine’s ...

Liverpool’s first lady, Miss Filla Crack cordially invites you to an evening of off the scale entertainment, with special guest performances.

Life doesn’t have to be such a drag, and after this year we’ve had we all need a little escapism, which is exactly what our queen and her guests will provide in a safe and warm environment.

So, Whatsapp the group, order your glitter and book a table ASAP because it’s always a sell out when Miss Crack announces her return.

The event is held Downstairs at the Everyman.

A Lovely Word featuring Shagufta K. Iq...

A Lovely Word is back at its spiritual and literal home; the downstairs at the Everyman.

A Lovely Word is Liverpool’s most eclectic poetry night, featuring two halves of open mic poets, and a headliner beginning the first half. Hosted by Alex Ferguson, this free event is a fun, relaxed and friendly evening of performance poetry.

Founder of the Yoniverse and Kiota, Shagufta K Iqbal is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, workshop facilitator and Tedx Speaker. Described by gal-dem as a poet whose work “leaves you validated but aching – her narratives are important, heart-wrenching and relatable”.

Her poetry collection Jam Is For Girls, Girls Get Jam has been recommended by Nikesh Shukla as ‘a social political masterclass.’ And she is also published in Slam: You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This with McMilllian Books. Shagufta is currently writing her second poetry collection and debut novel.

A Lovely Word featuring Gerry Potter

A Lovely Word is back at its spiritual and literal home; downstairs at the Everyman.

A Lovely Word is Liverpool’s most eclectic poetry night, featuring two halves of open mic poets, and a headliner beginning the first half. Hosted by Alex Ferguson, this free event is a fun, relaxed and friendly evening of performance poetry.

Gerry Potter is currently touring his new book, he describes this one as his genre defying opus, the fifth of hopefully ten volumes of autobiographical theatre verse, then he promises never to write again. The Chronicles of Folly Butler is the follow up to the successful Fifty, The Men Pomes, Planet Middle Age and Planet Young.

A favourite son of both Manchester and his hometown Liverpool Gerry has also been wowing audiences nationally with his own unique brand of domestic-fantastic free verse.

Gerry is the creator and destroyer of the infamous gingham diva Chloe Poems. Chloe was a cabaret and literary stalwart and raver some years ago on the London and national scene. I think it’s safe to say she caused quite a stir.