The Royal Court Theatre is a theatre located at 1 Roe Street in Liverpool, England. The current Royal Court Theatre was opened on 17 October 1938, after fire destroyed its predecessor. It was rebuilt in Art Deco style and soon became Liverpool's premier theatre. The interior of the building has a nautical theme, in line with Liverpool's seafaring traditions. The design of the basement lounge was based on the Cunard liner Queen Mary until its conversion into the Studio space during renovations.[1] There are three viewing levels within the main auditorium: the Stalls, the Grand Circle and the Balcony.
In 2005 Rawhide Comedy Club took ownership of the building. Following two years of stand-up comedy, with a break in 2006 to produce Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, they began producing plays all year round in 2007. The theatre has produced more than 100 shows since 2007, including Council Depot Blues, The Royal, Mam! I'm 'Ere and a sell out series of Christmas shows including Scouse Pacific, Little Scouse On The Prairie, The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley, The Scouse Nativity, The Scouse Cinderella and The Scouse Snow White.
History
Plaque in foyer
The site of the Royal Court Theatre was originally that of a water well constructed in the 12th century. A circus owner, John Cooke, bought the site in 1826 for his circuses, plays, operas and concerts, and it became known as 'Cooke's Royal Amphitheatre of Arts'. During this time Pablo Fanque, the black circus performer and proprietor immortalised in the Beatles' song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", performed here as a part of William Batty's circus.[2] In 1881, the building was redesigned by Henry Sumner as a regular theatre and it was re-opened as the Royal Court.
In 1896 the theatre was taken over by Robert Arthur of Glasgow, who in 1897 put all his theatres into a limited company quoted on the Stock Exchanges, the Robert Arthur Theatres Ltd.[3] In 1912, following Arthur's bankruptcy, the shareholders appointed as chairman Michael Simons[4] of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, chairman and creator in 1895 of Howard & Wyndham Ltd.[5] The direction and programming of the theatre, embracing plays, musicals, revues, opera and pantomime, now passed to Howard & Wyndham Ltd, chaired by Simons with its managing director Fred Wyndham, who would be followed in 1928 by A. Stewart Cruikshank after his King's Theatre, Edinburgh had joined the Howard & Wyndham group.
A fire destroyed the building in 1933. Five years after demolition, construction works began in March 1938 to ensure the theatre was rebuilt and reopened in October of the same year. The title deeds of the theatre changed to Howard & Wyndham in 1941.
The current Royal Court Theatre was opened on 17 October 1938. It had been totally rebuilt in Art Deco style to the designs of architect James Bushell Hutchins; its splendor and grandeur made it Liverpool's number one theatre. The interior of the building has a nautical theme, in line with Liverpool's seafaring traditions. The design of the basement lounge is based on the Cunard liner Queen Mary, which had been launched on the Clyde two years before the 1938 reopening. There are three viewing levels within the main auditorium: the Stalls, the Grand Circle, and the Balcony.
In 1980, two former Liverpool taxi drivers took the Royal Court in a new direction, moving away from traditional plays and instead of transferring the focus to rock and pop concerts. Their first year ended promisingly and proved to be a successful strategy for the venue, which went on to play host to artists as internationally famous as Tangerine Dream, Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M., Iron Maiden, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, Roger Taylor, Brian May, U2 and George Michael.[7]
In 1983, rock group Slade performed their last live UK concert with the original lineup featuring Noddy Holder.
In 1990, the building was listed as Grade II, highlighting the fact that it is a major part of Liverpool's heritage.[8][9]
In 2005 Rawhide Comedy Club[10] took ownership of the building. Following two years of stand-up comedy, with a break in 2006 to produce Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, they began producing plays all year round in 2007.
Present
View of the stage from the Balcony.
The stalls are now set out in a three-tier cabaret-style arrangement with tables and chairs and a bar at the rear of the stalls. The current capacity is 1,186 (Stalls 290 [cabaret,] Circle 403, Balcony 493). Audience members can dine before the show in the stalls seating.
Following two years of being the home to the Rawhide Comedy Club, the Royal Court made a move back to producing theatre in the summer of 2007 with the sell-out re-run of Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels.[11]
Since then, the theatre has undergone extensive refurbishment which completed its third 'Act' in January 2018.
In 2010 the theatre began their sell out Variety Lunch Club series which provides lunch, a cup of tea, a singer, and a comedian for £6. More than 1,200 people a month come to these Wednesday afternoon shows.
The theatre also offers free to access groups including a Community Choir and a Youth Theatre for young people aged 11 and up.
The theatre has produced shows such as Council Depot Blues, The Royal, Mam! I'm 'Ere and best-selling Christmas show The Scouse Nativity.
Liverpool's Royal Court became a National Portfolio Organisation and has been receiving Arts Council funding since April 2018. In 2018 it also launched Boisterous Theatre Company, Liverpool's only company dedicated to promoting BAME talent.[12]
The theatre has produced more than 100 shows since 2007, including Council Depot Blues, The Royal, Mam! I'm 'Ere and a sell out series of Christmas shows including Scouse Pacific, Little Scouse On The Prairie, The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley, The Scouse Nativity, The Scouse Cinderella, and The Scouse Snow White. For a full list of shows see below.
The counterweight fly system has recently[when?] been refurbished. There were originally in excess of 70 fly lines, however, this has been reduced to about half that number in order to increase the distance between bars.
The original brakes have now been removed. They screwed shut and could hinge open to completely release the rope.
Lighting
The Grandmaster lighting control
The lighting was controlled by a 'Grandmaster' which was situated on a perch about 8 feet above the stage floor on Stage Right. This would have been operated by two people and was in operation until the 1980s. It was only disconnected from the power in June 2006.
The lighting is now controlled by a High End Systems Roadhog lighting desk and 3 Avolites Art 2000 48-way dimmers. It has an extensive lantern stock including ETC Source Four 750's, Strand Cantata Fresnels and Martin Mac 500's.
Rigging
FOH there is a 12 m A-type truss hung from 2 lodestar 1-ton motors. This is used for most of the FOHrigging. There are also truss booms either side of the stage, FOH.
Revolving Stage
The refurbishment saw the restoration of the original revolving stage, the biggest outside of London.
Shows
Pantomime
With no television and no cinema, Liverpool audiences of the late 19th century flocked to the theatre. Liverpool possessed no less than 26 theatres and 38 music halls. The main theatres towards the end of the century were the Prince Of Wales in Clayton Square (opened 1861) the Shakespeare Theatre off London Road (opened 1866) and the Royal Court Theatre.
The site of the Royal Court had been a theatre for many years. As Cookes Royal Amphitheatre of Arts, up to 4,000 people would gather to attend plays, operas, concerts and circus. In 1881 as ownership of the theatre changed, it was rebuilt and renamed The Royal Court Theatre. Along with the three other theatres it presented an annual pantomime.
The Victorian pantomime was not only the template for today's show but very much a vehicle for music. The Poluski Brothers were among the stars who featured. Combining a mixture of music hall, comic opera and a large chunk of spectacle, the pantomime appealed to all levels of society. The first Royal Court pantomime, or "annual" as it was known, was Babes in the Wood. It is not clear whether this was a success or not, but no further pantomime was produced at the Court for fourteen years until 1895 with the presentation of Dick Whittington.
Three years later, Arthur Lawrence was appointed the theatre manager. Starting with Aladdin, it was Lawrence who put the Royal Court firmly in the centre of the panto map. The biggest music hall stars of the day would appear in the Court's "annual". George Robey, Harry Lauder, Little Hetty King as Aladdin Tich, the Three Sisters Levey, and the Poluski Brothers all helped to make the Royal Court's pantomime among the most famous in Britain. With the ownership of the theatre passing to Howard & Wyndhams Ltd at the turn of the century, the growth of pantomime blossomed.
Arthur Lawrence quoted in The Liverpudlian, November 1938:
In 1906, in Aladdin, I had Hetty King and [Happy Fanny Fields], together with Malcolm Scott and Harry Tate-some combination. I produced at the Court, in twenty-six years, twenty pantomimes. The 1906 panto was the biggest success. We averaged takings of just under £2,000 a week, and that in a theatre supposed to hold no more than about £275 at full capacity. Our pantomimes would run elsewhere for about five years, so Liverpool was thus a pantomime manufacturing centre. 'Happy' Fanny Fields, They were all made here—scenery, dresses, jokes and music, and all. I may mention, also, that we had a stage unsurpassed for its equipment. Every kind of trap ever known on a stage was in being.[citation needed][13]
That pantomime Aladdin was repeated, with almost the same cast, at the Adelphi Theatre in London the following year. "A chorus of over 100 Voices" boasted the posters. A magazine was produced in Liverpool solely devoted to pantomimes.
[Fanny Fields] in Aladdin By the 1920s the death of Music Hall was underway, and the Royal Court panto mirrored its decline. Hetty King Gone were the stars with their own personal songs to be replaced by "free" songs that anyone could sing. The Royal Court panto ended, replaced each Christmas by musical comedy, or a visit by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company.
Upon re-opening some years after its fire in 1938, its first Panto was Humpty Dumpty, starring Gene Gerrard, Bobbie Comber, the Tiller Girls, and a cast "of Over 80". The consecutive run of pantomime was not to be, With another World War the Howard and Wyndham's—Babes in the Wood spectacle of pantomime found itself replaced with the comedy The Eric Maschwitz revue, featuring a young Charles Hawtrey (of later Carry On Fame) performing female impersonations. The following year Vivien Leigh appeared in The Doctor's Dilemma.
It was not until 1943, with the arrival of A. Stewart Cruickshank as managing director that pantomime returned, again starting with Babes In The Wood. By the 1960s television comedians and pop stars became the new stars of panto. In 1956, young heart throb Dickie Valentine took on the role of Aladdin. By the end of the fifties, facing stiff competition and dwindling audiences, the Royal Court Pantomime began a slow lingering death. In the Sixties occasional pantomimes (always Cinderella) were interspersed by Christmas shows by Ken Dodd, Dora Bryan, Frankie Vaughan, the Bachelors and the Black & White Minstrels.
Howard & Wyndham's financial problems increased, and the Royal Court was offered to the City Council to purchase. They refused. An attempt to open the Court as a Bingo Hall in 1968 was abandoned after eight months. There was no Christmas show after Aladdin in 1975. An attempt to revive panto in 1981 with Snow White was not successful, and pantomimes were no longer performed at the Royal Court.
In 1997 the Neptune Theatre in Liverpool presented Aladdin at the Court. Following on their success at the Neptune the previous year with Sonia in Dick Whittington, they presented Aladdin starring Julie Goodyear as Mrs. Twankey, and Danny McCall as Aladdin. Since then the Royal Court pantomimes have been Cinderella (1998), Babes in the Wood (1999), Aladdin (2000) and Dick Whittington (2001).[14]
2003 Performed at The Royal Court, Slappers and Slapheads, written by local Playwrights Len Pentin and Fred Lawless was performed with a mainly local cast and crew.[15]Slappers and Slapheads is returning to the Royal Court in 2009 from Friday 6 February to Saturday 7 March with an all new cast.[needs update]
Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 & 2016
Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels a play with music written by Dave Kirby and Nicky Allt showed in the Royal Court from 3 August to 26 August 2006. This was a huge success and received 9/10 in a review in the Liverpool Echo.
Starring Les Dennis and Andrew Schofield, TMOGHS is written by Gerry Linford, winner of 'Highly Commended Award' by Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize[19]
Musical that tells the story of The Liverbirds, an all-female beat group in the 1960s. The show attracted attention in the story of The Liverbirds and was featured in a short documentary by the New York Times.[20]
Full list of shows
Show Title
Dates
Cast
Creatives
2006
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels
3 to 26 August 2006
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Billy Meall
2007
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels
13 July to 25 August 2007
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Billy Meall
Lost Soul
31 August to 29 September 2007
Eithne Browne, Neil Caple, Lindzi Germain and Andrew Schofield
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Billy Meall
Good Golly Miss Molly
5 October to 3 November 2007
Sonia, Davy Edge, Carl Chase, Phil Corbitt, Andrew Schofield, Eithne Browne, Roy Brandon, Phil Hearne, Kevin Tucker, Shirley Darroch
Written & Directed by Bob Eaton
Two
9 to 24 November
Eithne Brown, Neil Caple
Written by Jim Cartwright. Directed by Bob Eaton
2008
Stags and Hens
1 February to 1 March
Suzanne Collins, Laura Dos Santos, Stephen Fletcher, Gillian Hardie, Kevin Harvey, Shaun Mason, Danny O’Brien, Jane Radley, Rachel Rae, James Spofforth, Keddy Sutton & Lenny Wood
Written by Willy Russell Directed by Bob Eaton
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels
14 March to 12 April
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton
On The Ledge
25 April to 24 May
Lenny Wood, Roy Brandon, Andrew Schofield, Neil Caple, Louis Emerick, Neil Fitzmaurice, Gary Bleasdale, Dave Hart and Gillian Hardie
Written by Alan Bleasdale. Directed by Bob Eaton
Misery
14 June to 5 July
Joan Kempson and Andrew Schofield
Written by Stephen King, Adapted by Simon Moore. Directed by Noreen Kershaw
Eight Miles High
18 July to 16 August
Eithne Browne, Paul Broughton, Keith Carter, Zita Frith, Rosie Jenkins, James Lindsay, Jake Norton, Iwan Rheon, Andrew Schofield, Francis Tucker and Tim Whitnall
Written & Directed by Jim Cartwright
Lost Soul
5 to 27 September
Eithne Browne, Gary Bleasdale, Lindzi Germain and Andrew Schofield
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton
Council Depot Blues
31 October to 29 November
Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Paul Broughton, Howard Gray, Lindzi Germain, Phil Hearne, Shaun Mason, Andrew Schofield
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Night Collar
11 December to 24 January
Eithne Browne, Roy Carruthers, Chris Darwin, Roy Davis, Lindzi Germain, Andrew Schofield, Peter Washington, Lenny Wood
Written by Tony Furlong & Jimmy Power. Directed by Bob Eaton.
2009
Slappers and Slapheads
6 February to 7 March
Helen Carter, Warren Donnelly, Gillian Hardie, Mike Neary, Alan Stocks and Keddy Sutton. Guest star Pete Price
Written by Fred Lawless & Len Pentin. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Dirty Dusting
13 March to 11 April
Eithne Browne, Clare Bowles, Pauline Daniels and Alan Stocks
Written by Ed Waugh & Trevor Wood. Directed by Ken Alexander.
Shirley Valentine
23 April to 9 May
Pauline Daniels
Written by Willy Russell. Directed by Glen Walford.
The Flags
29 May to 27 June
Andrew Schofield, Kieran Cunningham, Eamonn Owens, Jessica Regan
Written by Bridget O’Connor. Directed by Greg Hersov. Designed by Laurie Dennett.
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels
10 July to 22 August
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Our Day Out
11 September to 17 October
Bradley Clarkson, Holly Quin-Ankrah, Gillian Hardie, Andrew Schofield, Michael Starke, Sophie Fraser, Chris Mason, Abby Mavers and Jack Rigby
Written by Willy Russell. Directed by Bob Eaton.
The Salon
30 October to 28 November
Lynne Francis, Lynn Fitzgerald, Suzanne Collins, Roy Brandon, James Spofforth, Danny O'Brien and Nicola Bolton
Written by Drew Quayle. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Merry Ding Dong
11 December to 23 January
Lindzi Germain, Jake Abraham, Stephen Aintree, Stephen Fletcher, Rachel Rae, Alan Stocks and Eithne Browne
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Bob Eaton.
2010
Funny Money
29 January to 27 February
Mark Bixter, Eithne Browne, Neil Caple, Roy Carruthers, Roy Davis, Jane Hogarth, Mark Moraghan and Alan Stocks
Written by Ray Cooney. Directed by Leslie Lawton.
Lucky Numbers
12 March to 10 April
Sheila Reid, Chris Crookall, Pauline Fleming, Kris Mochrie, Mike Neary, Rachel Rae and Michael Starke
Written by Mike Yeaman. Directed by Ken Alexander.
A Fistful Of Collars
16 April to 15 May
Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Suzanne Collins, Pauline Daniels, Lindzi Germain, Alan Stocks and Lenny Wood
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Ladies Night
28 May to 26 June
Nicola Bolton, Roy Carruthers, Michael Ledwich, Jack Lord, Lorenzo Martelli, Phil Perez, Alan Stocks and Stuart Wade
Written by Anthony McCarten and Steven Sinclair. Adapted and Directed by Leslie Lawton.
Night Collar
30 June to 10 July
Louis Emerick, Eithne Browne, Lindzi Germain, Danny O’Brien and Alan Stocks
Written by Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power. Directed by Sylvie Gatrill.
Council Depot Blues
16 July to 7 August
Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Paul Broughton, Howard Gray, Lindzi Germain, Phil Hearne, Shaun Mason, Andrew Schofield
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Our Day Out
27 August to 9 October
Kieran Cunningham, Pauline Daniels, Stephen Fletcher, Mark Moraghan, Georgina White, Sophie Fraser, Chris Mason, Abby Mavers and Jack Rigby
Written by Willy Russell. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Lennon
15 October to 13 November
Andrew Schofield, Daniel Healy, Stephen Fletcher, Chris Grahamson, Adam Keast, Maria Lawson, Paul Mannion, Jonathan Markwood and Nicky Swift
Written and Directed by Bob Eaton.
Scouse Pacific
26 November to 22 January
Paul Duckworth, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Rachel Rae, Andrew Schofield and Alan Stocks
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Bob Eaton.
2011
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels
17 June to 30 July
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
You'll Never Walk Alone
30 September to 29 October
Pauline Daniels, Jamie Hampson, Mark Moraghan, Anthony Watson, Lenny Wood, Howard Gray, Anthony Godfrey, Adam Keast, Chris Grahamson, Dan McIntyre
Written by Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Little Scouse On The Prairie
25 November to 21 January
Paul Duckworth, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Rachel Rae, Andrew Schofield and Alan Stocks
Written by Fred Lawless and Directed by Bob Eaton.
Snow White
9 December to 8 December
Tina Malone, Jamie Rickers, Pete Price, Leanne Campbell, Mickey Finn, Chris Crookall and James Waud
Directed by Jane Joseph.
2012
Reds And Blues - The Musical
29 June to 28 July
Paul Duckworth, Lynne Francis, Lindzi Germain, Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Macbeth
21 September to 13 October
Zoe Lister, Michael Ryan, Shaun Mason, Jack Lord, Jack Rigby, Adam Search, Harriet Barrow, Jamie Clarke and Richard Hand
Directed by Max Rubin.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
21 September to 13 October
Zoe Lister, Michael Ryan, Shaun Mason, Jack Lord, Jack Rigby, Adam Search, Harriet Barrow, Jamie Clarke and Richard Hand
Directed by Max Rubin.
Jigsy
23 October to 3 November
Les Dennis
Written by Tony Staveacre. Directed by Hannah Chiswick.
A Nightmare On Lime Street
23 November to 26 January
Mark Moraghan, Michael Starke, Jamie Hampson, Lynn Francis, Anthony Watson and Lenny Wood
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Ken Alexander.
2013
Hope
Scott Williams, Mark Womack, Samantha Womack and Rene Zagger
Written and Directed by Scott Williams.
Down Our Street
Roy Brandon, Lesley Butler, Suzanne Collins, Micky Finn, Lynne Fitzgerald, Lindzi Germain, Crissy Rock and Lenny Wood
Written and Directed by Brian McCann.
Ladies Day
14 June to 13 July
Eithne Browne, Lynn Francis, Jack Lord, Roxanne Pallett and Angela Simms
Written by Amanda Whittington. Directed by Ken Alexander.
Bouncers
19 July to 17 August
Paul Broughton, Danny O’Brien, Michael Starke and Mark Womack
Written by John Godber. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Lennon
23 August to 14 September
John Power, Matt Breen, Tom Connor, Jessica Dyas, Kirsten Foster, Ross Higginson, Adam Keast, Jonathan Markwood and Mark Newnham
Written and Directed by Bob Eaton.
Sons Of The Desert
27 September to 26 October
Roy Brandon, Michael Starke, Matt Connor, Lori Haley Fox, Jonathan Markwood and Penelope Woodman
Directed by Ken Alexander.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley
22 November to 11 January
Michael Starke, Lindzi Germain, Lynn Francis, Angela Simms and Jack Rigby
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Ken Alexander.
2014
Once A Catholic
22 January to 8 February
Richard Bremmer, Calum Callaghan, Sean Campion, Clare Cathcart, Oliver Coopersmith, Kate Lock, Molly Logan, Amy Morgan, Katherine Rose Morley and Cecilia Noble
Written by Mary J O’Malley. Directed by Kathy Burke.
You'll Never Walk Alone
7 to 30 March
Jake Abraham, Lindzi Germain, Howard Gray, Emily Linden, Mark Moraghan, Stephen Pallister, Rachael Rae, Dan Ross, Francis Tucker and Lenny Wood
Written by Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Special Measures
4 April to 3 May
Paul Broughton, Eithne Browne, Stephen Fletcher, Jessica Guise, Colin Hoult, Adam Search, Angela Simms and Michael Starke
Written by Mark Davies Markham. Directed by Ken Alexander.
Sex And The Suburbs
9 May to 7 June
Lindzi Germain, Carl Patrick and Claire Sweeney
Written by Mandy Muden and Claire Sweeney. Directed by Ken Alexander.
Lennon
13 June to 19 July
John Power, Tom Connor, Kirsten Foster, Ross Higginson, Adam Keast, Jonathan Markwood, Mark Newnham, Daniel McIntyre and Nicky Swift
Written and Directed by Bob Eaton.
Bouncers
25 July to 16 August
Paul Broughton, Danny O’Brien, Michael Starke and Louis Emerick
Written by John Godber. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Noises Off
5 September to 4 October
Kim Hartman, Tupele Dorgu, Jonathan Markwood, Stephen Fletcher, Jessica Dyas, Danny O'Brien, Christopher Jordan and Jennifer Bea
Written by Michael Frayn. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Scouse Of The Antarctic
21 November to 17 January
Michael Starke, Lindzi Germain, Helen Carter, Michael Ledwich, John McGrellis, Michael Fletcher and Hayley Hampson
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Howard Gray.
2015
Canoeing For Beginners
30 January to 28 February
Pauline Fleming, Stephen Fletcher, Harry Katsari, Michael Ledwich, John McArdle and Angela Simms
Written by Mike Yeaman. Directed by Cal McCrystal.
Shed
10 April to 9 May
Paul Broughton and Michael Starke
Written by Paul Broughton and Michael Starke. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Night Collar
15 May to 13 June
Alan Stocks, Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Suzanne Collins, Michael Ledwich and Lenny Wood
Written by Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Mam! I'm 'Ere
26 June to 1 August
Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Paul Duckworth, Keddy Sutton, Eithne Browne, and Rachel Rae, Helen Carter, Michael Fletcher, Hayley Hampson and Jamie Hampson
Written and Directed by Stephen Fletcher.
Bouncers
4 September to 3 October
Paul Broughton, Danny O’Brien, Michael Starke and Andrew Schofield
Written by John Godber. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Let It Be
8 October to 14 November
Emanuele Angeletti, Paul Canning, Paul Mannion, Luke Roberts, Reuven Gershon, Ian B Garcia, Luke Roberts and Chris McBurney
Pharoah 'Cross The Mersey
27 November to 16 January
Andrew Schofield, Michael Starke, Lindzi Germain, Danny O’Brien, Michael Fletcher, Hayley Hampson Ashlyn Baker, Amara Bjorkhaug, Natasha Riley and Leah Whiteside
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Howard Gray.
2016
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnel
29 January to 5 March
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Paul Duckworth, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield and Francis Tucker
Written by Dave Kirby & Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Down The Dock Road
11 March to 9 April
Derek Barr, Les Dennis, Paul Duckworth, James Duke, Oliver Farnworth, Michael Ledwich, Nathan McMullen, Conrad Nelson, Andrew Schofield and Daniel Taylor
Written by Alan Bleasdale. Directed by Hannah Chissick.
The Golden Oldies
15 April to 14 May
Ruth Alexander, Eithne Browne, Dennis Conlon, Annie Edwards, Greg Fossard, Hayley Hampson, Phil Hearne, Paul Kissaun and Olwen Rees
Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Alan Stocks, Danny O’Brien and Angela Simms
Written by Lindzi Germain and Angela Simms with additional material by Cal McCrystal. Directed by Cal McCrystal.
A Fistful Of Collars
22 July to 20 August
Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Suzanne Collins, Lindzi Germain, Angela Simms, Alan Stocks and Lenny Wood
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Twopence To Cross The Mersey
20 September to 8 October
Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Tom Cawte, Roy Carruthers, Emma Dears, Phil Hearne, Chris Jordan, Maria Lovelady
Written by Rob Fennah. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Father O'Flaherty Saves Our Souls
14 October to 12 November
Claire Bowles, Helen Carter, Paul Duckworth, Keddy Sutton and Alan Stocks
Written by Alan Stocks. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Scouse Of The Rising Sun
25 November 14 January
Jake Abraham, Michael Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Hampson, Michael Ledwich, Drew Schofield, Alan Stocks and Keddy Sutton
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Bob Eaton.
2017
Brick Up 2: The Wrath of Ann Twacky
27 January to 25 February
Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Danny Burns, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Paul Duckworth and Andrew Schofield
Written by Nicky Allt and Dave Kirby.
Lost Soul
10 March to 8 April
Andrew Schofield, Lindzi Germain, Jake Abraham, Catherine Rice, Lenny Wood, Paislie Reid and James Spofforth
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton.
The Lonesome West
21 April to 20 May
Paul Duckworth, Kieran Cunningham, Alan Devally and Anne O'Riordan
Written by Martin McDonagh. Directed by Bob Farquar.
The Royal
25 August to 23 September
Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Alan Stocks, Danny O’Brien and Angela Simms
Written by Lindzi Germain and Angela Simms with additional material by Cal McCrystal. Directed by Cal McCrystal.
You'll Never Walk Alone
28 September to 28 October
Mark Moraghan, Jake Abraham, Lindzi Germain, Lenny Wood, Jamie Clarke, Daniel Ross and Howard Gray
Written by Nicky Allt. Directed by Bob Eaton.
The Scouse Nativity
24 November to 13 January
Andrew Schofield, Hayley Sheen, Lindzi Germain, Paul Duckworth, Stephen Fletcher, Michael Fletcher and Keddy Sutton
Written by Kevin Fearon with additional material from Cal McCrystal. Directed by Cal McCrystal. Designed by Mark Walters.
2018
Her Benny
Directed by BOST
Council Depot Blues
23 February to 24 March
Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Paul Broughton, Lindzi Germain, Howard Gray, Phil Hearne, James Nelson-Joyce, and Andrew Schofield
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Liver Birds Flying Home
13 April to 12 May
Lucinda Lawrence, Lesley Moloney, Joanna Monro, Nicola Munns and Mark Rice-Oxley
Based on the TV series The Liver Birds by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. Lyrics Barb Jungr. Music by Mike Lindup. Book by Barb Jungr, George Seaton and Linda McDermott. Directed by Benji Sperring.
The Miracle of Great Homer Street
1 to 30 June
Les Dennis, Andrew Schofield, Jake Abraham, Katie King, Cath Rice and Bobby Schofield
Written by Gerry Linford. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Mam! I'm 'Ere
13 July to 11 August
Jake Abraham, Eithne Browne, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Sheen, Mia Molloy, Andrew Schofield and Rachael Wood
Written and Directed by Stephen Fletcher.
Boisterous Bouncers
31 August to 15 September
Joe Speare, Zain Salim, Michael Horsley and Mutty Burman
Written by John Godber. Adapted by Maurice Bessman. Directed by Miriam Mussa.
Maggie May
12 October to 10 November
Christina Tedders, Cheryl Fergison, Michael Fletcher, Tom Connor, Matt Ganley, Sam Haywood, David Heywood, Barbara Hockaday, Paislie Reid and Katia Sartini
Written and Directed by Bob Eaton.
The Scouse Cinderella
23 November to 19 January
Andrew Schofield, Hayley Sheen, Lindzi Germain, Paul Duckworth, Stephen Fletcher, Michael Fletcher, Keddy Sutton, Eva McKenna
Written & Directed by Kevin Fearon. Designed by Foxton.
2019
Yellow Breck Road
1 February to 2 March
Jake Abraham, Gemma Brodrick, Eithne Browne, Paul Duckworth, Lynn Francis and Jamie Greer
Written by Gerry Linford. Directed by Bob Eaton.
Brick Up 2: The Wrath of Ann Twacky
8 March to 6 April
Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Danny Burns, Suzanne Collins, Paul Duckworth and Andrew Schofield
Written by Nicky Allt & Dave Kirby, Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Billy Meall.
My Fairfield Lady
26 April to 25 May
Helen Carter, Jessica Dyas, Julie Glover, Danny O'Brien and Michael Starke
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Chris Mellor. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
Lost Soul 2
7 June to 6 July
Jake Abraham, Gemma Brodrick, Lindzi Germain, Cath Rice, Andrew Schofield, Bobby Schofield and Lenny Wood
Written by Dave Kirby. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Jocelyn Meall.
Scouse Pacific
12 July to 10 August
Jake Abraham, Jamie Clarke, Stephen Fletcher, Guy Freeman, Lindzi Germain, Abigail Middleton, Mia Molloy and Michael Starke
Written by Fred Lawless. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Mark Walters.
The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery
30 August to 21 September
Paul Duckworth, Liam Tobin, Gillian Hardie, Pauline Fleming, Michael Peace and Olivia Sloyan
Written by Gerry Linford. Directed by Chris Mellor. Designed by Foxton.
Girls Don't Play Guitars
4 October to 2 November
Molly Grace Cutler, Alice McKenna, Lisa Wright, Sarah Workman, Jack Alexander, Tom Connor, Tom Dunlea, Guy Freeman, Jonathan Markwood and Mark Newnham
Written by Ian Salmon. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Mark Walters.
The Scouse Snow White
22 November to 18 January
Andrew Schofield, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Sheen, Jamie Clarke, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Keddy Sutton and Samantha Arends
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Chris Mellor. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
2020
Lost In Colomendy
31 January to 29 February
Paul Duckworth, John Evans, Jane Hogarth, Alan Stocks and Liam Tobin
Written by Nicky Allt. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Alfie Heywood.
Pete Price Is Dead
13 March to 11 April
Leanne Campbell, Michael Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Ray Quinn, Pete Price, Keddy Sutton and Liam Tobin
Written by Leanne Campbell. Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Jocelyn Meall. (Show ran until 16 March due to the pandemic)
Jigsy
From 5 June (Online)
Les Dennis
Written by Tony Stavacre. Directed by Hannach Chissick. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
Royal Court Selection Box
11 December to 30 January
Jake Abraham, Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Jamie Clarke, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Cath Rice, Andrew Schofield, Hayley Sheen, Joe Speare, Michael Starke, Keddy Sutton and Liam Tobin
Written and Directed by Stephen Fletcher and Howard Gray. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
2021
Ellen and Rigby
2 July to 31 July
Andrew Schofield, Lindzi Germain
Written by Nicky Gerry Linford. Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Alfie Heywood.
Boisterous Bouncers
13 August to 11 September
Joe Speare, Zain Salim, Michael Horsley and Mutty Burman
Written by John Godber. Adapted by Maurice Bessman. Directed by Miriam Mussa.
Homebaked The Musical
29 September to 23 October
Pauline Daniels, Eithne Browne, George Caple, George Jones, Howard Gray, Liam Tobin, Paul Broughton, Steph Lacey
Written by Boff Whalley. Directed by Rod Dixon. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
The Scouse Sleeping Beauty
5 November to 29 January
Emma Grace Arends, Emma Bispham, Jamie Clarke, Michael Fletcher, Liam Tobin, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Sheen, Andrew Schofield, Keddy Sutton.
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
2022
The Royal
11 March to 16 April
Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Alan Stocks, Danny O’Brien, Angela Simms, Joe Matthew-Morris
Written by Lindzi Germain and Angela Simms with additional material by Cal McCrystal. Directed by Cal McCrystal.
Macca and Beth
29 April to 28 May
Danny O’Brien, Emma Bispham, Gordon Kane, Andrea Miller, Jerome Ngonadi, Jamie Smelt, Karen Young
Written by Gerry Linford. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
Mam! I'm 'Ere!
10 June to 16 July
Kacey Ainstworth, Hayley Sheen, Michael Fletcher, Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Mia Molloy, Andrew Schofield, Liam Tobin, Alan Stocks, Natasha Gooden, Shannon McFadden, Molly Cranmer.
Written and Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Mark Walters.
YNWA - Let's Talk About Six... Baby!
29 July to 3 September
Jake Abraham, Lindzi Germain, Ben Gladwin, Adam Keast, Mark Moraghan, Daniel Ross, Lenny Wood, Matt Connor, Lydia Morales-Scully, Spencer Butts.
Written by Nicky Allt. Directed by Howard Gray. Designed by Mark Walters.
The Scousetrap
23 September to 29 October
David Benson, Eithne Browne, Helen Carter, Gabriel Fleary, Jack Lane, Zain Salim, Keddy Sutton, Liam Tobin.
Written by Kevin Fearon and Cal McCrystal . Directed by Cal McCrystal. Designed by takis.
The Scouse Jack and The Beanstalk
11 November to 28 January
Emma Grace Arends, Emma Bispham, Jake Abraham, Michael Fletcher, Liam Tobin, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Sheen, Andrew Schofield, Keddy Sutton.
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
Two Of Us
10 February to 25 February
Tom Connor, Mark Newnham, Ben Gladwin, Greg Joy, Adam Keast, Mike Woodvine.
Written by Mark McGann Bob Eaton. Directed by Bob Eaton and Howard Gray. Designed by Christopher McCourt.
Bingo Star
10 March to 8 April
Helen Carter, Paul Duckworth, Paige Fenlon, Jonathan Markwood, Alan Stocks and Keddy Sutton.
Written by Iain Christie. Directed by Emma Bird. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
A Thong For Europe
21 April to 27 May
Emma Bispham, Eithne Browne, Andro Cowperthwaite, Gemma Dobson, Lindzi Germain, Keddy Sutton, Kathy Bancroft and Adam Scotland.
Written by Johnathan Harvey. Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Designed by Jocelyn Meall.
Vernons Girls
9 June to 8 July
Jamie Clarke, Jessica Dives, Tasha Dowd, Caitlin Lavagna, Rebecca Levy, Abigail Middleton, Lydia Morales Scully. Emma Jane Morton, Izzy Neish, Siobhan O'Driscoll and Lynwen Haf Roberts.
Written by Karen Brown. Directed by Bob Eaton. Designed by Alfie Heywood.
A Greasy Spoon
28 July to 26 August
Lindzi Germain, Anthony Gough, Jay Johnson, Adam McCoy, Ben Philips and Hayley Sheen.
Written by Alice Bunker-Whitney. Directed by Francesca Goodridge. Designed by Alfie Heywood.
Boys From The Blackstuff
15 September to 28 October
George Caple, Dominic Carter, Helen Carter, Aron Julius, Oliver Mawdsley, Nathan McMullen, Lauren O'Neil, Andrew Schofield, Barry Sloane and Mark Womack.
Written by Alan Bleasdale and James Graham. Directed by Kate Wasserberg. Designed by Amy Jane Cook.
The Scouse Dick Whittington
10 November to 27 January
Emma-Grace Arends, Emma Bispham, Jamie Clarke, Paige Fenlon, Lindzi Germain, Adam McCoy, Andrew Schofield, Hayley Sheen, Keddy Sutton and Liam Tobin.
Written by Kevin Fearon. Directed by Mark Chatterton. Designed by Olivia Du Monceau.
Studio
In 2017, the theatre's basement level was converted into a performance space, tailored to smaller scale theatre, music and comedy events. This was supported by Arts Council England, as part of the third stage of the theatre's refurbishment and work was completed in January 2018.[21]
The art deco style space seats around 150 people and has been home to both inhouse shows and numerous visiting companies.
Comedy events have included the return of the Rawhide Comedy Club, It's a Scream Comedy Club, the Alternative Black Cabaret Showcase (Boisterous Theatre Company) and various solo stand-up comedians. Dane Baptiste, Pauline Daniels, Pete Price and Paul Sinha have been among the most notable performers.
The theatre began producing inhouse stage plays for the Studio, starting with 2018's The Rainbow Connection.[22] Several subsequent productions have been written by students of their Stage Write Playwright Development Programme, which aims to aide new, local playwrights in developing their craft.[23] The Studio also regularly hosts Stage Write Nights, script-in-hand readings of extracts from new works. Some of these plays showcased have gone onto be performed in the Studio and even on the main stage.[24] See below for a full list of Studio shows.
Show Title
Dates
Cast
Creatives
2018
The Rainbow Connection
3 April to 12 April
Danny O’Brien, Angela Simms.
Written by Joanne Sherryden. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Sophie Bailey, Kate Harvey.
2019
Masquerade
24 July to 10 August
Roy Brandon, Eithne Brown, Julie Glover, Adam McCoy, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Waterhouse.
Written by Laura Lees. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Christine Hatton.
Pig
4 September to 14 September
Abigail Middleton, Karen Young.
Written by Sarah Power. Directed by Olive Pascha. Designed by Ellie Light.
Knee Deep in Promises
2 October to 19 October
Lewis Bray, Debbie Brannan, Sharon Byatt.
Written by Deborah Morgan. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Christine Hatton
Written by Wendy Dickinson. Directed by Emma Bird. Designed by Christopher McCourt.
Offered Up
22 June to 9 July
Helen Carter, Katy Metheringham, Harvey Robinson, Ben Tiramani.
Written by Joe Matthew-Morris. Directed by Paul Goetzee. Designed by Alfie Heywood
Stocking Fillers
14 December to 30 December
Paul Duckworth, Helen Carter, Sinead Renaye, Joe Shipman.
Written by Rachel Hunter, Wallace Charles, Harvey Robinson, EJ Fisher, Rachel Clark, Jacqui Dunne, Liz Redwood. Directed by Emma Bird. Designed by Jen Baron.
2023
Cosmic
22 March to 8 April
Clare Hackett, Connor Henry, Andy McLeod, Mark Rice-Oxley and Kalli Tant.
Written by Joe McNally. Directed by Deborah Yhip. Designed by Christopher McCourt.
Stocking Fillers
7 December to 30 December
Charity Bedo-Addo, Charlie De'Ath, Jamie Peacock, Angela Simms.
Written by Jacqui Dunne, Liam Gillies, Janine Hammond, Michael Hartless, Ste Mc, Stewart McDonald and David Sindall. Directed by Nicole Behan. Designed by Jen Baron.
^John M. Turner, "Pablo Fanque, Black Circus Proprietor," in Black Victorians, Black Victoriana, edited by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina (Rutgers University Press: New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2003)
