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
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.