What if the Liver Bird really did exist?
Shakespeare North Playhouse’s Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden will come alive with The Liver Birds, an enchanting outdoor family show.
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!
The play opened in 2021 at Incredible Edible, Court Hey Park in the Summer and was the first theatrical play to visit Walton Hall Park in over forty years. The piece was performed throughout the Liverpool City Region, including Norris Green Park, Springfield Park and Devonfield Gardens.
The Bird even flew indoors to land on stage at Liverpool Central Library as part of the Liverpool Year of Writing, Writers Bootcamp and Marketplace in September 2021 that saw 922 creatives and the public come together for a celebration of workshops and literary activities.
They are delighted that this production will be the first to play in the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Gardens at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Tale created by John Maguire
Adapted for stage by Jessica May Buxton, The Bookworm Players.
Directed by Margaret Connell
The death of a much-loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute to do an extraordinary thing.
Blasting away all preconceptions of what it is to be in a women’s institute, they decide to do an artistic nude calendar to raise money for charity. Upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of them expect the emotional and personal ramifications, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower.
The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon, a million copycat calendars, a record-breaking movie, stage play and musical written by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow which coined the term “craughing” – the act of crying and laughing at the same time.
With unforgettable Gary Barlow songs, every performance continues to add to the millions already raised for charity and also prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman.
When can writing a play be like a walk in the park?
When you are a member of a Make it Write’s Tag team writer’s workshop giving us an uplifting look at a park through its seasons and the people who frequent it.
In their latest project the Liverpool-based group brought together nine writers from the North West to take a sideways look at life, love, loss and longing. Each writer, writing a section of the play before passing it onto the next, then finished off and made whole by David Haworth.
And the delightful result of this collaboration can be seen at The Casa Theatre Bar, Hope Street, Liverpool on May 27 and 28.
As well as the plants growing in all their glory, we see the vandals who have blossomed into responsible parents and the park keeper on his day of retirement.
The old park bench has witnessed the many possibilities we have to connect with strangers that can lead to new friendships and revisit old romances. It has seen hopes kindled and dreams fostered.
Elaine Louise Stewart takes the reigns as both writers’ mentor and assistant director’s mentor. The assistant director is Dylan Russell. Dylan says that she is honoured to have been chosen for this project. Working with Elaine is incredible and we have found a brilliant cast to bring this to life. As the youngest person on the project, I think I bring a relevance to how society is now. The show is produced by Sharon Colpman.
A musical reimagining of one of Oscar Wilde’s most beloved stories, The Canterville Ghost: The Musical features an original score and soundtrack.
When a modern American Family moves into an old English manor house, the resident spook determines to scare them off. Instead, the family proves immune to his tactics, instead tormenting the ghost in a hilarious yet heartfelt tale.
A family friendly comic ghost story suitable for all.
Famously described as ‘the happiest show in town’, Chester Operatic Society celebrates 100 years of musical theatre with a treat for musical fans of all ages.
Bill Snibson, a Lambeth costermonger, is revealed to be the new Earl of Hareford and his newly discovered aristocratic relations are horrified. Bringing him to Hareford Hall, they attempt to educate Bill into the ways of the gentry and to separate him from his cockney girlfriend Sally. The result? Chaos of the most comical kind!
With a host of hilarious characters, witty one-liners and several toe-tapping, uplifting songs (including the famous Lambeth Walk, The Sun Has Got His Hat On and Leaning on a Lamp Post) Me and My Girl is a sublime and sunny treat for all fans of musical comedy!
Join The HandleBards at The Reader for a bicycle-powered, laugh-out-loud production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Duke Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, but she won’t have anything to do with suitors. Viola is shipwrecked and believes her twin brother Sebastian to be dead. Meanwhile, a bunch of Olivia’s servants plot to make a fool out of her pompous butler, Malvolio. There’s drunkenness, frivolity and cross-dressing a plenty.
This performance takes place outside in the Garden Theatre. Please bring along a picnic rug or chair to sit on. Guests with picnic rugs will be directed to the front so that they have a clear view of the performance. Come rain or shine this event will go ahead so please come prepared for all eventualities.
Add on a Reader picnic box to your ticket – £15.95
Picnic box for two includes: meat or vegetarian sausage rolls, a selection of locally sourced cheeses, artisan crackers, homemade onion chutney and marinated olives.
Add two small bottles of prosecco for an extra £9.
Notes on Performance
Doors open at 6pm, so bring a picnic and come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Chairs, blankets and any other low level accessories are welcome.
In case of rain, please don’t bring umbrellas as they block sight-lines for other audience members. Ponchos and raincoats are just as fetching, so please wear these instead.
Important Ticket Conditions – Please Read
One ‘Under 10’ ticket is available free of charge with each paid ticket. Just add Under 10 tickets to your cart.
Our free ‘Under 10’ ticket offer is only available online and in-advance.
You can bring your tickets digitally, on a phone or tablet, so save the trees and please don’t print them.
If you have any extra requirements, please let us know by emailing tickets@thereader.org.uk. Free companion tickets are available upon request.
Who’s the mysterious lone wolf lurking in the forests? And what does he want with Red and her grandmother?
You might think you know the story of Red Riding Hood, but this is the tale told Everyman style! There will be outlandish and sparkling costumes, plenty of plot twists and surprises, and full to the brim with musical hits performed by a company of supremely talented actor musicians.
They’re thrilled to welcome Adam Keast back to the Everyman in this production.
Join them for a howling good time!
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival: A contemporary Dance production by El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe & Hawiyya Dance Company.
Curfew speaks to a world that is numbed and no longer able to respond to the constant bombardment of news, surveillance and manipulation. It dares to stimulate the development of new reactions and discussions on social activism, bringing awareness of everyday life experience and individual self-reflection, helping us to increase our understanding of and engagement with the world around us.
Premiering in Liverpool, the dance groups will present a unique performance, bringing together Curfew with Love in the Time of Apartheid, a contemporary dance production devised and performed by solo artist and director Sharaf Dar Zaid.
Leo & Hyde present: Double Life – A VR Musical.
Guy is gay. Guy is a gamer. And Guy is looking for love – in virtual reality.
Double Life is a brand new fusion of live musical theatre and VR. One-moment heartwarming, the next heart-breaking, Guy will introduce you to virtual reality, immersing you in his story, surrounding you with his own virtual world, and teaching you his favourite new GUY-inspired VR games.
Suitable for those with *and* without prior VR experience.
Note on Covid-19: Each audience member will have their own headset in a 2m space, thoroughly cleaned by cutting edge UVC-light technology.
Audiences have said:
– “One of the best theatre experiences I’ve had…”
– “Fastest 45 minutes of my life… really amazing!”
Times:
Mon 27th & Tue 28th June – 3pm & 5pm
Wed 29th June – Fri 1st July – 5pm, 7pm, 8:30pm
Sat 2nd July – 1pm, 3pm, 5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm
There’s something very lovely about holding someone, their soul, their body warmth. I think it’s tribal…you just have this- I don’t know, a sense of home, I guess? It’s connection, isn’t it? I mean, it’s strange…We’re extensively connected to people all the time through technology, but it’s all fake. Really I think we’re probably more lonely than ever.
‘Touch’ is a piece of verbatim theatre created by Flood Theatre through a series of interviews on connection and belonging with young people in Liverpool. Following the pursuit of connection, ‘Touch’ looks at the ways we find love, create intimacy, experience loneliness, and ultimately find our home.
Performed live at Unity
Presented by Flood Theatre
Part of Unity’s Open Call
Watch Online
This film version will be available to purchase on Unity Online on Monday 1st August.
