Event type: Performance

Sound Objects: Rie Nakajima + Pierre Berthet / Rachael Gibson

Rie Nakajima & Pierre Berthet ‘Dead Plants and Living Objects’

Rachael Gibson ‘Into My Heart an Air That Kills’

Curated by Lola de la Mata and Kepla

We are very excited to host Brussels/London based duo ‘Dead Plants & Living Objects’ AKA Rie Nakajima and Pierre Berthet, and restage Rachael Gibson’s ‘Into My Heart an Air That Kills’ which received its world premiere by London Symphony Orchestra last autumn.

Acoustic shadows vibrate, touch and call out to one-another at ‘Sound Objects’.Offering immersive environments, both acts engage in small gestures to reveal an often overlooked sonic world. Reshaping the space and its air volume, we partake in their playful approach in embodied listening.

Rie Nakajima is a sculptor living in London, creating sounds using a combination of motorised devices and everyday objects for both performance and installation. She has presented her work internationally in art spaces ranging from Cafe Oto (London) to STUK (Leuven) and ShugoArts (Tokyo), as well as a major solo exhibition at IKON gallery, Birmingham in 2018. She is a member of O YAMA O, and frequently collaborates with artists such as David Toop, Max Eastley and Angharad Davies.

Pierre Berthet is a musician and installation artist from Belgium. Having studied percussion at Brussels Conservatory and Liege Conservatory with Fredric Rzewski, Berthet brings his music experience to sculpting sound objects and site specific installations, in music venues, galleries, outdoor spaces and more. As well as duetting with Rie, Pierre has worked extensively as a percussionist with renowned minimalist composers Arnold Dreyblatt and Tom Johnson.

Rachael Gibson is a Merseyside-based composer and guitarist, currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Liverpool. Her research explores how alternative notation practices and audio-visual technology can be utilised to examine the connection between the body, touch and performance. Recently, Rachael has participated in the LSO Soundhub Scheme (2024/25) and the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme (2023/24). Her work has been performed by ensembles including Riot Ensemble, Pixels Ensemble, and House of Bedlam.

Rie & Pierre will also be running family workshops at Crosby Library as part of At The Library’s Now Playing summer programme on Tuesday 4 August from 11am until 4pm. For more information and to book onto the sessions please visit atthelibrary.co.uk

 

The Dawn of the Railway

Celebrating the start of work on the Liverpool and Manchester railway 1826 – 1830

Join us for a unique celebration in words and music of the beginning of work, exactly 200 years ago, on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. 

Starting in Crown Street, just round the corner from the Tung Auditorium, this world changing project was built with pickaxes, wheelbarrows and the occasional bit of gunpowder. 

Well known broadcaster Roger Phillips will be our compère for this unforgettable journey, including a specially commissioned piece of music from young Merseyside composer and University of Liverpool Music graduate Matt Holroyd; railway poetry from Alison Schultz and historic speeches and insights from Dr David Gwyn OBE, author of The Coming of the Railway (Harvard University Press).Music will be performed by Heswall Concert Band, one of Merseyside’s most engaging wind bands under musical director Greg Williams.

Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf

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?

Stewart Lee (“The world’s greatest living stand-up comedian” The Times), is in danger of being left behind. He’s approaching sixty with debilitating health conditions, his TV profile has diminished, and his once BAFTA award-winning style of stand-up seems obsolete. But can Lee unleash his inner Man-Wulf to position himself alongside comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais and Jordan Peterson at the forefront of side-splitting stadium-stuffing shit-posting? 

Twelfth Night – Off The Ground Theatre

 

Step into a kaleidoscope of Shakespearean wit and Wonderland magic. This vibrant touring production blends live music, explosive color, and one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. Come and fall down the rabbit hole with us!

This production imagines what the play would be like if arriving into Illyria were a bit like arriving into Wonderland with Alice… Full of mayhem, bold colourful characters and adventure, this is not one to miss.

 

 

 

 

 

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:  

Full Line-Up:

The Queen of Heartbreak, Threshold House Band, Science of the Lamps, Operation Lightfoot, Geoghegan Jackson, Surprise Mechanics, Mixnots (& Friends), Nicola Hardman, Saint Vespaluus, Natalie McCool, The Good Host, Kark McCann, Trev Fleming, Naffrodite, Helen Maw, Knowones, Winwood, Beija Flo, Hollows, Jumada, Jazamin Sinclair, Medicine Men DJs, Ryan Chambers, Small Garden, Mersey Wylie, Calico Moon, Dead Rebel, Derek King, San Elara, Tosin Trio,Sustinere, Def Neon, DJ Rasp & More…..

Promotion with: Black Beacon Sound, Liverpool Acoustic, The Secret Circus, We Want Women, Luma Creations, Silicon Dreams, Soul Inspired & Sound Girl

– Deep-dive Industry Panels 

– 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 

 

 

 

Liverpool’s Pride

Join thousands of people across the city for a day of joy, music, community, and colour. From the streets to the stages, Liverpool’s Pride 2026 is a celebration of who we are, who we love, and everything we stand for.

Your host for the day is the incomparable Debbie Darling, one of Liverpool’s most beloved characters, keeping the energy high, the laughs coming, and the whole thing moving from start to finish.

This year’s lineup brings together some of the most iconic names in LGBTQ+ culture. The multi award-winning House of Suarez dance company bring their signature glamour, fierce performances, and theatrical magic to the main stage.

And if you grew up dancing in your bedroom in the ‘90s, get ready to lose it completely. Sonia is back, bringing every bop with her. Plus Jester Boy, unpredictable, electric, and guaranteed to have the crowd in the palm of his hand.

More acts will be announced soon.

Alongside our headliners, expect a packed programme of community performances, local acts, food, art, and everything that makes Liverpool’s Pride feel like home, whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth.

The Community Expo

The vibrant heart of Liverpool’s Pride

Hosted inside the LEX and organised by LCR Pride Foundation and Sahir House, the Community Expo brings together charities, community groups, independent traders, and brands under one roof.

Join us to connect, shop, and discover everything the Liverpool LGBTQ+ community has to offer.

Whether you’re looking to find local organisations, pick up something special from an independent maker, or simply soak up the community spirit, the Expo is not to be missed.

Get your tickets now.

Because Pride isn’t just a party, it’s a statement. And Liverpool makes it loud.

Liverpool’s Pride Opening Party

Liverpool’s Pride 2026 kicks off in spectacular style with the Official Opening Party at the M&S Bank Arena – a bold, high-energy celebration of unity, inclusion and community. Featuring world-class artists, iconic LGBTQ+ performers and a powerful opening ceremony showcasing local talent, this is set to be one of the most unforgettable Pride launch events the city has ever seen.

Featuring Sugababes, Beth Ditto, Tia Kofi and more, alongside local stars Tyler DaClaire, Pam Sandwich & Debbie Darling, plus an Opening Ceremony featuring dozens of Liverpool LGBTQ+ community performers.

The city is set to kick off Liverpool’s Pride 2026 in spectacular style, as organisers Sahir House unveil the first wave of artists for its Official Opening Party at the M&S Bank Arena – a bold, celebratory statement of unity and inclusion wrapped with community performance on a world-class level.

Leading the announcement in truly iconic fashion, Sugababes will headline the night with a full-scale greatest hits set, bringing one of the most beloved pop catalogues of the last two decades to the city’s Pride celebrations.

Joining them is global LGBTQ+ icon Beth Ditto, who will perform her first ever solo show in Liverpool. As the voice of Gossip, she created era-defining anthems that brought identity, freedom and activism into the mainstream, becoming a powerful symbol of self-expression worldwide.

The line-up continues with a vibrant celebration of club culture and self-expression, featuring drag superstar Bimini and the unmistakable RuPaul Drag Race UK Winner Tia Kofi, who will also perform in the city for the first time.

Pride dancefloor euphoria will come courtesy of Harrsn featuring the sensational House Gospel Choir, who return to Liverpool for the first time since their unforgettable headline performance during Liverpool’s Eurovision fan festival at the Pier Head in 2023.

Legendary Glitterbox stalwarts and city-favourites Horse Meat Disco will return to deliver a special Pride disco set to take the arena roof off ahead of the headliners taking to the stage.

Hosting the night is Liverpool’s very own inimitable Tyler DaClaire, joined by beloved scouse Queens Debbie Darling and Pam Sandwich, who will both host and themselves perform across the evening.

The night will begin with a Liverpool’s Pride Opening Ceremony, curated by Debbie Darling herself, bringing together dozens of LGBTQ+ performers and voices from across Liverpool in a powerful, unifying moment on the city’s biggest stage. Details on the Liverpool’s Pride Opening Ceremony performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Opening Party marks the official launch of what promises to be Liverpool’s most exciting Pride in years, setting the tone for a full weekend of celebration including the Liverpool’s Pride March, community-led events, and an expansive city-wide cultural programme to be announced in the coming weeks.

Liverpool’s Pride 2026 is delivered through a landmark collaboration between Sahir House and the LCR Pride Foundation, building on a shared commitment to creating a Pride that is inclusive, representative and rooted in the community.

This strengthened partnership will ensure that Liverpool’s Pride 2026 continues to champion LGBTQ+ voices, celebrate diversity in all its forms, and create meaningful opportunities for communities across the Liverpool City Region to come together.

With a line-up spanning pop icons, LGBTQ+ trailblazers, drag royalty and world-class DJs, and dozens of performers from the Liverpool community, the Official Opening Party promises a high-energy, inclusive and unforgettable start to Liverpool’s Pride weekend.

Proceeds from the Official Opening Party will support the vital work of Sahir House for the LGBTQ+ community, while also contributing to Liverpool’s Pride Saturday programme – a vibrant, community-led celebration taking place across the city, bringing together organisations, performers and audiences from across the region.

Further announcements, including Liverpool’s Pride March 2026, additional events & artists and the wider city programme, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Under 14’s must be accommodated by an adult. No under 14’s on the floor.

Afronauts

It’s 1964. The world’s superpowers are caught in the heat of the space race, but they’ve been joined by an unlikely contender… Zambia.

Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, visionary and risk-taker, set out to send Africa’s first astronauts into the cosmos. His crew? A young girl, two cats, and a missionary. His rocket? Aluminium, ambition, and sheer audacity.

Wake The Beast and Circus Zambia launch you into a story of dreamers, daredevils, and impossible possibilities. This astonishing all-ages show comes alive with  breathtaking acrobatics, theatrical spectacle, and irresistible heart.

It’s a true story of hope, courage, and the kind of audacity that can take you all the way to the moon… or at least make you believe you could.

Stuffed

7pm & 2pm

 

This is about food banks. This is not about food.

This is about the bad stuff. This is an emergency. This is a clowning show.

Multi-award-winners Ugly Bucket present a blazing inferno of physicality, electronica, and uncompromising personal testimony from the frontlines of the UK’s food banks. As phones ring, guts spill, and sparks ignite faster than they can be extinguished, five clowns search for hope and community in the face of helplessness. Created in association with Liverpool’s Unity Theatre, STUFFED is a roaring call to action amidst the wreckage of a desecrated system.

More than a show, STUFFED is an invitation to gather – an evening of food, electrifying theatre, and empowering discussion illuminating the dark corners and exploring the power of collective action. All performances are captioned and accompanied by a free community meal and local food donation drive.

‘As enraging as it is brilliant. A tour-de-force performance that deserves the nation’s attention.’ ★★★★★ (Opening Nights)

‘You could hear a pin drop in the furthest corner of the room.’ ★★★★★ (North West End)

 

Performances of STUFFED are accompanied with a free pre show meal & post show panel.  Arrive an hour prior to performance time for the meal.

Food Donations

We also invite audiences with the capacity to bring a food donation to STUFFED.

 

Open Air Theatre: The Three Musketeers

All for One; One for All! 

Performed by regulars at The Reader –Illyria in the great outdoors, follow Young D’Artagnan who is desperate to join Athos,Porthos and Aramis as an elite Musketeer of the King’s Guard. But are his swashbuckling credentials sufficient? Find out as the fearless four survive the schemes of Cardinal Richelieu and cross swords with the deadly Milady de Winter.

Illyria’s mission is simple.to create outstandingly enjoyable theatre and make it available for everyone. Illyria has been pursuing this mission for over thirty years, performed for more than a million people, and intend to entertain families across the country for many seasons to come.

We strive to make all our spaces and events as accessible as possible to all, please see our accessibility page to help you plan your visit.