Event type: Theatre

1970s Leeds. The Millgarth Incident Room is the epicentre of the biggest manhunt in British history, for one of the most notorious serial killers: the Yorkshire Ripper. With public and political pressure mounting, hundreds of officers must work around the clock to end one man’s reign of terror in this gripping retelling of true events.

Following a sell out run at The Black-E, The Incident Room is back by popular demand!

“An intense and thought-provoking look into the police investigation into the crimes of the Yorkshire Ripper” North West End, FIVE STARS.

Olivia Hirst and David Byrne’s ‘beautifully crafted’ (The Guardian) play goes behind the scenes to investigate the case that nearly broke the British police force.

OLD FRUIT JAR PRODUCTIONS return to the Studio at The Royal Court, after their sell-out run of Twelfth Night, to present a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal moment in British history. THE INCIDENT ROOM explores the wider issues of misogyny and institutional negligence that surrounded the case, both at the time and in the present day.

“Emotive, informative, clenching and compassionately human” The Broken Spine, FIVE STARS.

Age advisory 16+

Running time approx 2hrs 25 including interval

Fresh from performing at the Little Liverpool Theatre Festival, join these larger-than-life forest animals for this interactive, fun packed show.

Our furry friends have had their homes ruined by pollution and litter and now Mean Queen Morticia is trying to take their home. They might have to look for somewhere new to live unless you can help! But not all is as it seems… some litter isn’t as rubbish as you think.

Join us for a story of magic, talking animals and unusual friendships. Celebrating friendship, the environment and the power of community, this feel-good interactive show is not to be missed!

Come dressed up as your favourite animal and see if you can help clean the forgotten forest!

Never sure which holiday destination to pick? Are you tired of the same old places? Why not try the Mystery Cruise where you don’t know where or when you are in your destination, until you arrive.

Take the pressure off by putting yourself at the mercy of our Captain onboard this luxury Mystery Cruise liner. Where you can truly relax, unwind, and completely and utterly cut-off from the world. Let us take to the waves and explore lands, undiscovered gems and hidden secrets. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it? A cruise that keeps you guessing until the very last moment…

… But first you must survive the notorious Crew of The Plunder. ….We’ve all heard the rumours but it can’t be that bad? Can it? Johnny and his crew only have till they dock to save their ship, their reputations and their jobs… but someone onboard doesn’t want them to succeed, someone is willing to do anything to stop them… even kill!

Join DBY Interactive, the North West interactive specialist, for their debut at the iconic Floral Pavilion for an interactive theatrical show, All Aboard!

Rubbish Shakespeare Company make their return to Liverpool with a revival of their debut production, Rubbish Romeo and Juliet. And the cast and crew couldn’t be more miserable about it, as they once more sully Shakespeare’s legacy with a play that’s so rubbish, it would leave ‘The Bard’ spinning in his grave.

This rubbish show is for kids, but don’t call it a children’s show. This production is a TRUE family show, in line with all-ages entertainment like Pixar and The Simpsons – and the riotous atmosphere of a panto! Beloved by the entire family, kids will bond with their parents and siblings over raucous belly laughs. Featuring an accessible mix of the original text with modern references, human balconies, sausage roll fights and plenty of high-octane slapstick, it’ll likely be the funniest tragedy you’ve ever seen (yes, you read that correctly), though the cast don’t intend it to be.

“I don’t know why people keep turning up” says Artistic Director (and Juliet), Lee Hithersay. “We try to do a serious Shakespeare, perform it correctly, and everyone just laughs at us. I wouldn’t mind, but the other two in the cast keep breaking character, bickering, and throwing a strop onstage. It’s embarrassing! I play Juliet and I’m supposed to fall in love with Romeo at first sight – but have you seen him? Genuinely, how can I be expected to fall in love with that? Daniel Day Lewis would struggle.”

Touring since 2018, and performing in schools for five years before that, the company has stained the reputation of every theatre they’ve performed in. Rubbish Romeo and Juliet’s storytelling is full of devilishly cheeky shortcuts, and layered so fluidly with interactive moments that will surprise even the biggest fan of the 400 year old original. The show may seem to fall apart, but it somehow still tells an abridged version of the classic play that’s been lauded for its faithfulness to the original source material. Especially the bit at the end where Romeo and Juliet drench each other with bottles of poison in a petty game of one-upmanship.

Wait, but is it actually rubbish? ‘Ok, not really,’ admits Lee. “Though we squabble, bicker and try to full-on-flee the show a number of times, it’s all meant and rehearsed. Every moment has been carefully timed to within an inch in order to maximise the laughs. We are still rubbish though; our props are foraged and repurposed from ‘tat’ we’ve found at the pound shop. Our wigs are raggedy and matted. Shakespeare can be pompous and intimidating to many, so our aim is to de-mystify it. Our motto is ‘Shakespeare for All’, regardless of age or background. So, we mess up his plays and act as silly as possible. We want everyone to leave thinking: if they can do it, so can we!”

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the first publication of Shakespeare’s plays, The Rubbish Shakespeare Company and Wing It Impro have joined forces to present The Incomplete Works, a totally improvised Shakespeare play.

This spontaneous, family-friendly show is bound to delight children and parents alike, and act as a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare and the world of impro!

When William Shakespeare fails to turn up with the script for his new play, his long-suffering cast are forced to Wing It and make it up, live, on the spot! After a few suggestions from the audience, we’re off! What follows next is a whirlwind of creative chaos, costume changes, bizarre characters, timeless Tudor dancing and an inventive use of household props. The show has been compared to Blackadder, Monty Python and The Mighty Boosh, and no wonder, it’s an onslaught of clowning, physical theatre, mime and storytelling, all accompanied by live music from award-winning musician Danny Bradley.

Rubbish Shakespeare are a celebrated theatre company who make Shakespeare accessible and fun for all, regardless of age or background. Returning back to Shakespeare North Playhouse once again, their Artistic Director, Lee Hithersay, says, “We’ve loved teaming up with Mark from Wing It – Impro, he’s like Master Splinter from The Turtles – he knows everything there is to know about spontaneous theatre! Due to popular demand, the show has grown and grown, and what was once four performers taking a punt on an idea for Shakespeare North Playhouse’s opening season, is now a full tour show with a rotating cast of twelve and a resident musician!”

The director of the piece, Mark Smith of Wing It – Impro, is no stranger to improv. Founder and former Artistic Director of Spike Theatre, Mark conceived the critically-acclaimed improv spectacle Hoof!. “It’s been brilliant working with RubSC for this special 400th anniversary,” says Mark. “I thought creating a fully improvised Shakespeare show would be the biggest achievement, but what’s been even more rewarding is watching families experience spontaneous theatre together, for the first time, and opening their eyes to a new way of telling stories. The children really love the fact we’re playing, just like they do on the playground.”

No two shows are alike, adding real stakes, and real pathos; at the play’s end, an audience member playing King James decides the cast’s fate — with a jubilant thumbs up or a damning thumbs down! And herein lies the real thrill: being a part of the mammoth task of making up an entire Shakespeare play and celebrating with a multi-talented cast of fools when they pull it off. Spectators are players in this performance from curtain up, so don’t be surprised to find yourself in a full-blown dance off, or on stage for the final bows!

Coming soon…They All Came Tumbling Down, the story of the notorious Netherley flats. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Urban Renewal Strategy for Liverpool saw the construction of 32,000 new houses in central and outlying areas like Netherley.

It was a time of hope for many working-class families, looking forward to their first new home. The dream soon turned sour, however, for those allocated a place in the soon-to-be-notorious Netherley flats. They became known as Alactraz to the families who had to live with their uninspiring concrete architecture and poor design.

The “Corpie” were reluctant to do anything about the many complaints they received about conditions there but if they thought the residents would take it all lying down, they were to be disappointed.

Inspired by the Flat Dwellers Action Group, their campaign of direct action forced the authorities to think again and eventually led to the demolition of the flats and re-allocation of the families there.

“They All Came Tumbling Down” tells the story of the campaign and is brought to the Valley Community Theatre with support from Liverpool City Council’s Mayoral fund.

Performances – Sat & Sun, 5th & 6th August, 7.30pm (doors open 7pm) Tickets £7/£5 frpm www.valleytheatre.co.uk or phone: 07746 697 263. Cafe/bar available

Valley Community Theatre, Childwall Valley Road, Liverpool L27 3YA

Join one of the UK’s premier open air touring theatre companies – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men – in the Garden Theatre at Calderstones Park this summer for the timeless and classic love story, Romeo and Juliet.

With a history stretching back to William Shakespeare himself, they present this great play as he first saw it, in the open air, with an all-male cast and Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.

Serving up classic tales with an untraditional twist, Slapstick Picnic comes to you from the mad minds that created the award winning touring company, The HandleBards.

Join them in Calderstones Park for a theatrical treat like no other as they whip up a three hander version of JM Barrie’s classic play Peter Pan.

Let your imagination soar as we dish out this timeless tale of hapless pirates, feral children and a particularly punctual reptile. This show isn’t just for kids, our brilliant buffoonery will have picnickers of all ages cackling into their coleslaw. Trust them, this is one flight of fancy you don’t want to miss.

Join the HandleBards at The Reader for a hilarious, high-octane production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Four young lovers find themselves lost in a magical forest, where the Fairy King and Queen are fighting for the possession of a changeling boy. A group of amateur actors head to the same forest to rehearse for a play. Humans and fairies collide and hilarity ensues.

Local touring theatre company, ArtsGroupie CIC, returns to Calderstones Park after its recent sold out performance of ‘Kitty from the Washhouse’.

‘The Liver Bird’ is a magical outdoor interactive family theatrical experience combining classic storytelling and puppetry, featuring Calderstones Park’s very old Allerton Oak. Charlie J has heard all about Liverpool’s famous Liver Birds from his Grandma Bailey’s stories. He is fascinated by them. And just when things start to get difficult at school, and just when he needs it most, Charlie J is visited by a very special creature…

Dive into this glorious, modern day fairy tale, shared with the magic of puppets and storytelling. And keep your eyes to the skies!