Event type: Theatre

Peep Show – Battle Royale

A secret venue will play host to a brand new interactive, satirical theatre production inspired by the peep shows of Amsterdam in Liverpool this November and December.

Peep Show: Battle Royale will run from November 25th-28th and December 2nd-5th at a top secret location in L20. Starting 5.30pm and 9pm. Tickets are available now via Eventbrite.

Following sell out performances at the Unity Theatre of Sirens, Men and Crabs, Liverpool Theatre company Teatro Pomodoro have today unveiled the world premiere of Peep Show: Battle Royale.

This brand new, off the wall production will utilise the group’s trademark blend of clowning, bouffon music and comedy in a darkly comedic, interactive theatrical experience, where the audience will sit behind windows, looking in on a ‘twisted new world’.

The show itself will take the form of a fictional, reality TV game show, where the contestants’ fates lie with the live audience, whose votes can influence the outcome of the game.

Audiences at Peep Show: Battle Royale will also collect points throughout the show, which will contribute to a chance to win amazing prizes.

Teatro Pomodoro is a multicultural theatre company based in Liverpool who create unique physical theatre and comedy that stems from the diversity of their ensemble, which comprises of Carmen Arquelladas (Spain), Duncan Cameron (Canada), Miwa Nagai (Japan), Simone Tani (Italy) and their very own Scouser, Leebo Luby.

There are a very limited number of tickets per performance so please book early via Eventbrite here to avoid disappointment. Please note that this show is restricted to audience members aged 16+.

The Rise & Fall of Little Voice

One of Britain’s greatest modern plays, The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, is embarking on a UK Tour in 2022.

The Olivier Award-Winning comedy-drama from Jim Cartwright has earned international acclaim across the globe, including a Golden Globe winning smash-hit film starring Jane Horrocks and Michael Caine.

Meet Little Voice and Mari Hoff. A mother and daughter central to the heart of this Northern fairy-tale, but as far apart in character as can be. Little Voice leads a quiet and unassuming life, seeking companionship and joy from music’s most iconic singers, whilst Mari prefers the sound of her own voice, indulging in a life of booze, cheap thrills and seedy men.

Left to her own devices, LV starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, swapping the grey backstreets of Northern England for the bright lights of Hollywood and Broadway, all from the safety of her own bedroom.

When Mari starts dating small-time club owner Ray Say, LV’sastonishing impersonations of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to name a few, are thrust into the spotlight. Transformed and sensational, LV might just be Ray’s one and only chance to hit the big time, but what will the consequences be for mother and daughter?

Starring TV favourite Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, Dinnerladies, Loose Women), British soap royalty Ian Kelsey (Emmerdale, Casualty) and ‘the girl of a thousand voices’ and two-time Drama Desk Award Nominee Christina Bianco, as Little Voice.

Cartwright’s timeless and iconic tale explores the highs and the lows of small-town dreams, family rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world.

With humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads all performed live on stage, featuring music from Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holliday and many more, this life-affirming production will rouse even the weariest of souls.

RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey

Join Liverpool Playhouse as they tell the story of Reggae music and the Windrush Generation and hear how their music took the world by storm.

Narrated by comedian John Simmit and featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band.

Get ready to dance to the music of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Lord Kitchener, Millie Small and many more.

Flo & Joan: Sweet Release

Multi-award winning musical comedy duo (and sisters) Flo & Joan are climbing out of their pits, armed with a piano and percussion section to bring you a brand new show of their critically acclaimed songs and comedy.

Their unique, sharp-tongued style has taken them around the world with multiple sell-out tours and appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival Montreal and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Now they are back with their biggest ever UK national tour, poking around all the classic topics of the day: over-thinking, alien lovers and fringes.

As seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC2), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), online with over 50 million views of their viral songs, in your personal nightmares, and in ‘Alive on Stage’, their own special available worldwide on Amazon Prime.

floandjoan.com

Beauty And The Beast

Beauty And The Beast is sure to wow this Christmastime with a tale of love and kindness.

Audiences will go on an exciting adventure during the family friendly pantomime. This is the timeless story of Belle, a beautiful young woman who falls in love with the most unexpected of princes, who has been cursed to look like a hideous beast.

Will the Beast learn to love and be loved? Will the spell be broken in time for all to live happily ever after?

Start times vary and there are additional matinee shows. See here for full details.

Soapbox

Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) are back on the Main stage at the Everyman with Soapbox.

The challenge – 6 weeks of devising, a 60-minute show, 60-seconds to say what you want on a Soapbox.

Full of passion, humour, heartache and hope Soapbox gives young people the chance to say what they want to say about where they are now.

Sleeping Beauty

A spellbinding tale of Sleeping Beauty. The beautiful Princess Aurora, Lucy Forrester, pricks her finger on a spindle wheel which has been cursed by the evil Carabosse at her 18th Birthday party.

Fairy Spell casts a magical spell which should break the curse. The Princess is to be awoken only by true loves true kiss. Will she find her true love and live happily ever after?  
 
Starring, TV/Theatre Star and Liverpool Live Radio’s Breakfast presenter AARON HAYES as the hilarious Dame Dolly. Local Theatre and Radio starr LESLEY BUTLER as CARABOSSE. Liverpool’s ‘up and coming’ BRIAN COMER as Fester the Court Jester. Plus a full supporting cast and ensemble from LIVERPOOL THEATRE SCHOOL and THE PERFORMERS THEATRE SCHOOL.
 
With Sparkling sets and Dazzling costumes. Plus songs that will make you want to sing and dance! There is even a visit from SANTA at the end of selected shows.

Start times vary and there are also additional matinee shows, see here for full timing details.

Homotopia Festival presents Queer, As ...

After the last 18 months, we could all use a good laugh. Homotopia Festival has added a comedy night to their fabulous programme of theatre, visual arts and family-friendly events.

For one night only, at the Capstone Theatre, they’ve assembled some of the funniest LGBTQIA folks around, just for you, so book your tickets now.

Starring:

Rosie Jones is a regular on the TV shows Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and Mock The Week. Her recent Channel 4 solo shows include Mission: Accessible, a show that aims to help disabled people plan fun-filled adventures, and the travel show Trip Hazzard: My Great British Adventure.

Sian Davies is a queer, working-class stand-up comedian from Liverpool. Her show About Time won best debut at Leicester Comedy Festival in 2019 and she won Hilarity Bites Best New Act competition in 2018.

Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian who has appeared on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Woman’s Hour, Saturday Live and Four Thought. Her new book The Breakup Monologues is based on her acclaimed podcast of the same name.

Kitty Messalina is a comedic triple threat – a queer woman of colour. Her unique perspectives on prejudice, promiscuity and polyamory quickly earned her a nomination as a Finalist for the NCF New Act of the Year Award 2019.

Sam Serrano is a gender fluid, dyspraxic comedian has been taking the circuit by storm. A regular in clubs across the UK Sam’s unique trademark style that is dark and self-deprecating in equal measure has seen them become a favourite with bookers.

You can book tickets for the event, at: https://www.ticketquarter.co.uk/Online/queer-as-in-funny or see the full Homotopia Festival programme at homotopia.net.

The Musical of Musicals…The Musical!

Liverpool’s very own Eithne Browne best known for her role as Chrissy Rogers in hit TV series Brookside will be headlining a new professional production of The Musical of Musicals…The Musical! 

This revival will be the first professional production in the UK outside of London and the debut production for newly formed Laffan Productions which is helmed by professional actor and director Sharon Byatt.

Written by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart, The Musical of Musicals…The Musical! is a musical about musicals! In this hilarious satire of musical theatre, one story becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a different master of the form. June is an ingenue who can’t pay the rent and is threatened by her evil landlord.

Will the handsome leading man come to the rescue? The variations are: a Rodgers & Hammerstein version, set in Kansas in August, complete with a dream ballet; a Sondheim version, featuring the landlord as a tortured artistic genius who slashes the throats of his tenants in revenge for not appreciating his work; a Jerry Herman version, as a splashy star vehicle; an Andrew Lloyd Webber version, a rock musical with themes borrowed from Puccini; and a Kander & Ebb version, set in a speakeasy in Chicago.

Joining Eithne Brown in the cast will be Tori Hargreaves (Blood Brothers, Soho Cinders), Dominic Treacy (The History Boys), John-Paul Briss (Peaky Blinders, Mamma Mia!) and making her professional stage debut will be Amy Leek who has recently graduated from The Liverpool Theatre School.

The Musical of Musicals…The Musical! will be directed and choreographed by Sharon Byatt, with Musical Direction from Jordan Alexander (The Buddy Holly Story – UK Tour)

The Musical of Musicals…The Musical! will run at The Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool from 16 – 27 November 2021 with all performances starting at 7:30pm. (A press night is scheduled for Wednesday 17 November at 7:30pm)

The show can be booked through their website at www.hopestreettheatre.com or via telephone on 0344 561 0622

 

The Wife of Michael Cleary

The Wife of Michael Cleary is the first piece of music theatre from composer and performer Maz O’Connor.

Inspired by traditional Irish music, her piece tells the true story of Bridget Cleary, who lived in Co. Tipperary over a century ago.

The event is held Royal Court Studio, 22 October, 8.15pm-9.45pm. See here for tickets.

In 1895, at the age of 26, Bridget was burned to death by her husband and family. They claimed they had not killed Bridget, but a changeling left in her place by fairies. News of this shocking case spread through Ireland and across the sea to England, where it was used as fodder in the Home Rule debates.

This new work explores the folklore and superstitions that were rife in an Ireland on the verge of great change. It highlights how societies overlook and enable violence against women and asks ‘how much has really changed for women in the past century?’.

Join them for a stripped-back evening of music from the show, alongside the traditional music that inspired it. This is a unique chance to preview aspects of The Wife of Michael Cleary as Maz and her team develop it towards full production.