Oscar Wilde’s genius humour meets contemporary culture in a theatrical rollercoaster packed with shade, wit and plenty of gags.
2021 Sir Peter Hall Directors Award-winner, Denzel Westley-Sanderson breathes fresh new life into Wilde’s sharpest and wittiest comedy: The Importance of Being Earnest.
This is a classic satire, vibrantly retold about dysfunctional families, class, gender and sexuality.
Prescot based Imaginarium Theatre are about to embark on their annual tour of parks and community gardens across Liverpool City Region with a reprise, after 10 years, of their acclaimed production of The Yarn by Rob Brannen, supported by Arts Council England and Knowsley Borough of Culture.
Audiences are invited to bring a picnic, step beyond golden haystacks into a rural northern village in the 1800’s, and feast upon a fantastical patchwork of tales, rituals, and bizarre superstitions, as Imaginarium Theatre spins a magical village tale from days of yore.
From The Women Who Died 5 Times, The Cow, A Poor Family and the Inn of Dreams, and Nathanial’s Corpse Ran Away, the stories are as relevant and poignant as they are fantastical; exploring themes of inequality, poverty and hunger as the villagers fight for survival against the coming of enclosures and the industrial age.
Full tour dates:
Saturday 9th July at 6pm – Crosby Hall Educational Trust, L23 4UA
Sunday 10th July at 2pm – Reynolds Park, Woolton, L25 6DF
Saturday 30th July at 2pm – Sudley House Gardens, L18 8BX
Sunday 31st July at 2pm – Taylor Park, St Helens, WA10 3HX
Saturday 13th August at 2pm & 7pm – Shakespeare North Playhouse, L34 3AB
Sunday 14th August at 2pm – Court Hey Park, Huyton , L16 3NA
Two very different plays each stirring the emotions as home truths are revealed. Make it Write Productions offer another brew of drama under the title “Strained”.
Both were developed through workshops and are being produced by Make it Write Productions at The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool on July 22 and 23.
In “Man Up” sex worker Penny (Abbey Fitzhenry) reveals a tragic secret to lorry driver Geoff (Mike Sanders) which makes him question the way he lives and what it is to be a man.
The play is also directed by Abbey who won the Best Director Award in last year’s Liverpool Fringe Festival.
It is penned by Ian Cragg who has written several plays with the help of Make it Write as well as being a published author.
“The idea arose from a belief that we often fall into a way of living or a relationship we have not thought out for ourselves, instead we fulfil the expectations of others.” Said Ian.
In “The Tea Party” estranged son Peter battles with his difficult, hoarder Mum Eileen to clear her house. As he faces up to the corners and crevices of his childhood home, buried secrets begin to emerge.
The play is written by Helen Dooley whose background is in television writing but is enjoying the challenge of writing plays. It is directed by Kevin Foott.
“The germ of “The Tea Party” came as I was trying (and largely failing) to clear my Mum’s house and arguing with her over a lemon squeezer. While growing up our house was always crammed full of things.” Said Helen.
Jacqueline Connolly plays Eileen, Darren Jones is Peter and Cathy is played by Paula Stewart.
Both plays came from “The Plays the Thing” run by Kiefer Wes Williams and were later spotted by Kevin Foott during a Make it Write workshop “Play With Your Play”.
The show is suitable for people over 16. It is being performed at The Hope Street Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool on July 22 and 23. Tickets are available through their website from £5.75 to £13.
Join St Luke’s Bombed Out Church for Alice In Wonderland. Teaming up with Chapter House Theatre Co and Folksy Theatre, St Luke’s is bringing a performance the whole family won’t want to miss out on.
Alice, a young, curious girl, follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and ends up in, she begins on an adventure she will never forget. Come along and meet some of the strangest and most peculiar characters, including the mysterious Cheshire Cat, the Wacky Mad Hatter and the foul-tempered Queen of Hearts! Filled with puppetry and live music, it’s the perfect show for the whole family!
A great way to start the summer holidays, with the option to add a packed lunch to a child’s ticket. Packed lunches are sold in advance and not on the day, further snacks will be available to purchase on the day.
“Chapterhouse Theatre Company really do know how to engage an audience of all ages, their excellent adaptations are creative and entertaining.” Derbyshire Times
“Me and the girls had a fabulous time this evening…thank you so much for bringing the magic to them…they were singing all the way home’’ S. Jennings – Audience member
“The audience were absorbed in the magic’’ Nottingham Live
Full of song, mirth, and joy for the summer ahead, join St Luke’s Bombed Out Church on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball where nearly anything is possible especially if it is before midnight.
Teaming up with Chapter House Theatre Co and Folksy Theatre, St Luke’s is bringing a special performance the whole family won’t want to miss out on.
Catch “Cinderella” on the 15th July where we take to you to an enchanted kingdom in a faraway land filled with magical creatures and Fairy Godmothers. Full of song, mirth and joy for the summer ahead, join us on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball where nearly anything is possible, especially if it is before midnight.
Family and friends are welcome to picnic in the grounds in some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK and Ireland. Children old and young alike are invited to dress in their favourite fairy tale characters and join for the midsummer ball dance.
“Chapterhouse Theatre Company really do know how to engage an audience of all ages, their excellent adaptations are creative and entertaining.” Derbyshire Times
“Me and the girls had a fabulous time this evening…thank you so much for bringing the magic to them…they were singing all the way home’’ S. Jennings – Audience member
“The audience were absorbed in the magic’’ Nottingham Live
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.
The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names ‘Audrey II’ after his co-worker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn, as long as he keeps feeding it blood! Over time, Seymour discovers AudreyII’s out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination.
This summer Young Homotopia bring you joy, queerness and activism, in collaboration with GYRO.
Devised over a week, this Cabaret will showcase the best of LGBTQIA youth in the city region, through cabaret, poetry and music. An often comic, moving and powerful look at issues affecting LGBTQIA youth
Young Homotopia is a partnership project Homotopia runs with GYRO, running workshops, rehearsals and performances for a creative collective of young LGBTQIA people who are interested in self-expression through creativity and performance. Led by Associate Artist Ashleigh Owen, and a number of visiting practitioners, the performances taking place during the festival and on occasion, during the year.
Chapters of a Teen is the brand-new show from the 20 Stories High Youth Theatre, their first in a theatre since lockdown, and they are made up to be back at the Unity.
Using rap, song, poetry, and verbatim documentary theatre – This funny, honest, and raw show explores the many Chapters of a Teen that are universal – sexuality, identity, family pressures and of course the bittersweet experience of first love and heart break.
Directed by Abby Melia (Kitchen Sink Live) supported by Felix Mufti, Bradley Thompson, Paislie Reid, Nickie Miles-Wildin and Nathan Powell.
Winston Smith is in prison, found guilty of Thoughtcrimes against Big Brother. As part of his reconstruction, he must re-enact key moments from his past life, with the help of other thought criminals, so that everyone can learn from his mistakes. Including his biggest mistake of all: falling in love with Julia.
George Orwell’s classic dystopia 1984 is a still-resonant vision of the tolls of living under totalitarianism. Constructed almost entirely from dialogue taken from the original novel.
To celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70th year in service, Jubilee Folk, a new musical theatre production created by Rebecca Ross-Williams Creative Director at Liverpool Lighthouse and supported by Arts Council England and Culture Liverpool will be touring 70 streets in Anfield, North Liverpool.
Jubilee Folk are performing in streets, school playgrounds and care home gardens until June 3rd. The performers are hoping to reach into the community and especially those who have sheltered during the Covid-19 pandemic, to bring communal joy and laughter and are set to perform to thousands of people.
The show involves 3 actors who play Ralph and Rodger the Queens Guards, an acrobatic Chinese Lion Dance Troupe, China Spirit who play the Queen’s corgi called Muick, the Queen’s remaining Corgi’s name and her dog trainer Margarita.
Jubilee Folk tells the story of The Queen who has sent her corgi, guards and dog trainer to Liverpool as her wish for the Jubilee is for communities to come together and to find strength, share love and to have hope and dreams. The characters, through music, magic tricks and fun involve the audience in 3 tests to see if Liverpool can win the royal prize of wealth and a royal bucket of cash for demonstrating their qualities of strength over the years, love which they share and future dreams and aspirations.
As a special celebration over the Jubilee bank holiday there is a Community Jubilee Celebration in Anfield at Liverpool Lighthouse on June 2nd, starting at midday with a family fun day where everyone is welcome. The Lord Lieutenant will officially open the celebration at 2pm with a performance of the Jubilee Folk followed by a line-up of local artists and community groups.
Liverpool Lighthouse took musical theatre performance to over 40 people’s doorsteps reaching over 250 people last year during Covid restrictions which was incredibly popular.
To find out where Jubilee will be performing please visit: https://www.liverpoollighthouse.com/jubileefolk