The Signalman

From the Producers of Kitty: Queen of the Washhouse and A Portrait of William Roscoe comes a slice of winter terror with a new adaptation of the much-loved Charles Dickens supernatural classic, The Signalman.

“As solitary a place as ever I saw…It struck a chill to me, as if I had left the natural world.” A ghostly figure has visited the signalman twice already, each time preceding a terrible disaster. When the apparition appears for the third time, it’s up to the signalman to decode its meaning and prevent another catastrophe. A gripping slice of gothic horror from Charles Dickens, regarded as the greatest horror story ever written.

A gripping slice of gothic horror from Charles Dickens, regarded as the greatest horror story ever written.

In the tradition of classic oral storytelling, a lantern and two players is all that is needed to tell the spine tingling tale of the Signalman.

After the success of last years Ghost Stories for Xmas, which will be returning in December, Artsgroupie is delighted to be working again with esteemed local writer and director David Griffiths

“The Signalman is a powerful and haunting story about survivor’s guilt and isolation – something we believe will be of striking relevance to our audience following the pandemic. Our inability to control events around us can be more frightening than any ghost, as Dickens knew well. He wrote from experience, a survivor of the Staplehurst railway disaster – events that both inspired and haunted the author.”

David Griffiths, Writer and Director

“Last year, I worked with David on a critically acclaimed production of Orwell’s 1984 and Artsgroupie produced the successful Ghost Stories For Xmas.

We are delighted to be once again collaborating on a much loved classic, playing some new locations and re-visiting some of our favourite local venues.”

John Maguire, Creative Director ArtsGroupie

Dates

Thingwall Community Centre, 26 November, 7pm

Shakespeare North, 3 – 4 December, 7pm

Metal Culture, 5 – 6 December, 7pm

St Nicholas Church, Halewood, 7 December, 7pm

For tickets, see here

 

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 20...

Let your hair down with Rapunzel, as the iconic Everyman Rock ‘n’ Roll panto returns for 2024.

As ever we’ve assembled an awesomely talented bunch of actor musicians who will sing, dance, entertain and play music live on stage, as they bring the classic fairytale to life in surprising style.

Panto favourite Adam Keast returns with his full fairy wings, as the Fairy Fixer-Upper, as well as Script Consultant. Zoe West once again plays the baddie as Danny Rough and Rebecca Levy takes the role of Laurie, as well as Choreographer for the show. With celebrations continuing for the Everyman 60th Birthday, it’s great to welcome back Michael Starke as Dame, Debbie Updo, having played in many Everyman pantos back in the late 1980s.

Emma Bispham, who has previously appeared at the Everyman in Paint Your Wagon and The Big I Am plays Goop and Hairy McFairy, and Tomi Ogbaro, last seen at the Playhouse in Alice in Wonderland, plays Trevor. Joining the ensemble are Ben Boskovic as Prince Timotei and Ai Kumar is Rapunzel. The cast also includes understudies Alice Merivale and the return of Adam Scott Pringle.

The Little Mersey Mermaid

RAWD in association with Unity Theatre present The Little Mersey Mermaid

Saturday 7th December 4pm and Monday 9th December 7.30pm

Ariel isn’t your typical mermaid, in fact, she’s not a mermaid at all! She’s just a girl with a big dream, she wants to be a scouser.

In a tale of ferry rivalries and a hunt for a long lost Ma, Ariel searches for answers.

Join RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability) for The Little Mersey Mermaid, a hilarious and heartwarming Liverpool-inspired twist on the classic tale. Expect a show full of laughter, music, and a dash of Scouse spirit!

Catch the magic at Unity Theatre, where RAWD is an associate company. Celebrate with us as we round off another fantastic year, supporting our community of disabled artists.

RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability) is a North West based charity that produces inclusive arts experiences and performances which all present and amplify the disabled perspective.

Event

Find out more about RAWD and how to get involved at rawdproject.co.uk

Breaking the Code

“It’s not breaking a code that matters, it’s where you go from there”
Mastermind code breaker. Maverick. Arguably one of the most important and inquisitive minds of the twentieth century. Alan Turing is famed for cracking the Enigma code at Bletchley Park, effectively securing victory for the Allied forces in WWII.

From triumph to tragedy, get to know a human being who loved, lost and never stopped asking questions in a quest for truth and understanding in this new production of Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking the Code, directed by Jesse Jones.

For the first time, taking into consideration his recent Royal pardon and the development of Turing’s law, the original play will feature new material that speaks to Turing’s lasting legacy on modern Britain.

A Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Landmark Theatres and Oxford Playhouse production in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse

Romeo & Juliet

Can their love defy the stars?

Shakespeare’s heart-wrenching classic has mesmerised audiences for generations, and in this potent, powerful new Everyman production, director Ellie Hurt strips it back to its brilliant basics.

United by passion but forced apart by their families, Romeo and Juliet are young lovers who must transform their present to forge a beautiful tomorrow. But with their feuding households locked in a deep-rooted cycle of violence and hate, is it possible to win the loved-up future they crave?

Since completing their YEP Directors programme, Ellie Hurt has created acclaimed shows for venues across the UK including Shakespeare North Playhouse and the National Theatre. Now she’s back at the theatre she calls home to deliver a thrilling, visceral experience – an unmissable Romeo & Juliet that asks whether love can resist the crushing forces of family and history.

“Directing Romeo and Juliet at the Everyman feels like a full-circle moment. I started my journey here with the YEP Directors course, working with so many amazing people and learning so much about the kinds of stories I wanted to tell. It’s incredibly special to be back here and I’m excited to bring a fresh approach to one of my favourite Shakespeare plays.”- Ellie Hurt

Star of Wonder

In Star of Wonder at the Unity Theatre in the city centre, audiences of all ages and abilities are invited to join three friends on a wondrous journey to follow a star.

What follows is a hilarious, magical and memorable show for all the family, full of clowning, magical interaction and brilliant puppetry.

Created by the award-winning Liverpool-based collective Teatro Pomodoro in partnership with Theatre Porto, and performed by a cast of international actors, Star of Wonder is the perfect way to make memories this festive season.

Through working alongside the charity Kind, the Unity Theatre have been able to provide free performances and discounted tickets to SEN schools, lower income schools, and local schools for several limited Schools Performances.

Made with the ideas of children from local primary schools, the show is ‘relaxed by design and not adaptation’, meaning children can enter and leave as necessary.

Tough Old Bird at Shakespeare North Pl...

Ageing well doesn’t mean behaving yourself…

Tough Old Bird explores how women are viewed in society as they have the absolute gall to get older. Have you ever noticed those adverts promising to ‘defy the effects of ageing’? Ooooh Nana hates them.

What about when we get old? Where’s the instruction manual? Who deems what is ‘acceptable behaviour’? What happens when your voice isn’t listened to, or you become slowly invisible?

Join Nana as she asks the big questions!

“Nana’s comedic stylings evoke the warm-hearted but deadly-sharp observational style of Victoria Wood.” – North West End

“The moments of poignant clarity were matched with joyous hilarity” – Opening Nights

Event

Produced by Nana Funk

Something About Lennon

Imagine a show that tells the story of one of popular music’s most iconic figures in a totally unique way. 

In a brand-new show from the creators of ‘Something About Simon’ and ‘Something About George’, Something About Lennon – The John Lennon Story will show you a life that wasn’t always filled with peace and love.

A tale of controversy, genius, politics and protest, Something About Lennon charts John’s story from the breakup of The Beatles to his untimely death in 1980, featuring incredible songs like ‘Woman’, ‘Instant Karma’, and ‘Imagine’, and his story wouldn’t be complete without a few Beatles’ classics along the way.

Actor and musician Daniel Taylor leads the band to share a heartfelt tribute to the inspiration behind a generation, Something About Lennon – The John Lennon Story tells John’s story as you’ve never heard it before.

Something About Lennon arrives at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Wednesday 28 May 2025. For tickets and more information see: Something About Lennon – Floral Pavilion

Dear Evan Hansen

Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him.

Ryan Kopel (Newsies) will play the iconic role of Evan Hansen, alongside Lauren Conroy (Into The Woods) as Zoe Murphy and Alice Fearn (Wicked, Come From Away) as Evan’s mum, Heidi.

They will be joined by Helen Anker (Mamma Mia!) as Cynthia Murphy, Richard Hurst (The Lion King) as Larry Murphy, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Bat Out Of Hell) as Connor Murphy, Tom Dickerson (Heathers) as Jared Kleinman and Vivian Panka (9 to 5 the Musical) as Alana Beck.

The show collaborated with TikTok during the audition process, inviting those interested in being cast in the production to upload a video singing any number from the show. Over 2000 videos were submitted, 36 TikTok users were invited to in-person auditions and Sonny Monaghan was cast in the ensemble, and as alternate Evan (performing the role twice a week, at every matinee performance).

This brand new production of Dear Evan Hansen is the first in the UK to feature an ensemble. The ensemble will consist of Lara Beth-SasWill ForgraveDaniel ForresterJessica LimSonny Monaghan and Elise Zavou.

Packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade, Dear Evan Hansen has a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman), book by Steven Levenson and more awards than can be listed here. Well ok, we’ll mention a few: its Tony® Award for BEST MUSICAL, Olivier Award for BEST NEW MUSICAL, Grammy® Award for BEST MUSICAL THEATER SCORE…no big deal but the list goes on!

With direction by Adam Penford (Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse), this brand-new production marks the first time that the Broadway and West End phenomenon will tour the UK & Ireland. So wherever you are, #YouWillBeFound, with the Dear Evan Hansen tour coming to a theatre near you from Autumn 2024.

Book by Steven Levenson

Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul

Prepare to be ‘hooked’ by this Piratical Panto Spectacular!

Martin Dodd for UK Productions Ltd in association with Floral Pavilion Theatre present The Further Adventures of Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook.

Join Peter, Smee, Tinker Bell, and Ethyl Mermaid on a brand-new swashbuckling adventure full of fun, laughter… and crocodiles!

After defeating the evil Captain Hook and his crew of prancing pirates, life has been pretty perfect for Peter Pan. But when a stranger arrives in Neverland, he is forced to question his past and face his future. Will Peter ever grow up?

And then there are the rumours…

That a certain someone survived the stormy seas and is seeking revenge! Have you heard them too? People are saying… that Hook is back!

So watch out, he might be behind you!

This production is full of sparkling sets, lavish costumes, amazing song and dance numbers, giggles galore and bags of audience participation. Don’t miss it!