THEATRE
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Showtime:
Empire Theatre with glass extension on left www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk
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The biggest theatre in Liverpool, it hosts top shows by the leading companies, ranging from opera and ballet to West End musicals. With 2,370 seats, it is also a venue for top stars such as Tom Jones, tribute bands and children's shows.
Scene of The Beatles's last concert in Liverpool in December 1965, the Empire opened in 1925. In recent years, it has undergone a series of improvements. The latest is a glass frontage. The Empire is situated in Lime Street. Phone 0151 709 1555, or box office on 0870 606 3536. www.liverpoolempire.co.uk
UNITY
Currently the city's most innovative theatre. A fascinating array of drama
is performed at the Unity whose patrons include Alison Steadman, Cathy
Tyson, Ian Hart, John McArdle, David Morrissey and Mark Womack.
It also offers music, dance, comedy and children's shows. Most notably, however, the Unity strives to nurture new companies and provide a home for experimental work. It is located at 1 Hope Place, L1 9BG. Phone 0151 709 4988. www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
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Turns
of the Centuries: The Edwardian-style Playhouse Theatre (centre)
with modern extension on the left |
Britain's oldest repertory company opened in 1911 in the former Star Music Hall. Following a £2.6million refurbishment, the Playhouse, with its proscenium arch, re-opened in December 2000. It is run by the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust which is also responsible for the Everyman Theatre. Playhouse, Williamson Square, L1 1EL. Phone 0151 709 4776. www.everymanplayhouse.com
EVERYMAN
The Everyman has a distinguished history of putting on its own productions
and new ways of presenting established work. Founded in the mid-1960s,
the Everyman has nurtured talents such as Willy Russell and Alan Bleasdale.
Its semi-circular thrust stage is housed in a former 1830s revivalist preaching house near the Metropolitan Cathedral. The theatre has its own restaurant. The Everyman, 5-9 Hope Street, L1 9BH. Phone 0151 709 4776. www.everymanplayhouse.com
NEPTUNE
A wide-ranging programme that stretches from Shakespeare to Humpty Dumpty
to the Mersey International Shanty Festival. The Edwardian-style Neptune
is situated two minutes walk from Central Station in Hanover Street, L1
3DY. Phone 0151 709 7844 for a full programme of forthcoming performances.
www.neptunetheatre.co.uk/neptune/home.htm
LIVERPOOL
INSTITUTE for PERFORMING ARTS
Wide rang of performances from students of LIPA, held in its 500-seater
Paul McCartney Auditorium, a traditional proscenium arch theatre, or in
the Sennheiser Studio Theatre, a flexible performance space with seating
for up to 130 LIPA, Mount Street, L1 9HF. Box office: 0151 330 2282. www.lipa.ac.uk
YELLOW
HOUSE
Yellow House is a Liverpool-based cultural centre which floats around
Europe, organising arts projects and putting on performances, involving
many youngsters who would normally not consider participating in theatre.
www.yellowhouse.info
LIVERPOOL
TALES
If you enjoy theatre, you like a good yarn. For 100 tales on living in
Liverpool in the past and the present, log on to the Mersey Mouth's www.liverpooltales.com
and scroll down - as John does go on a bit.
Liverpool has enjoyed a reputation for producing comedians since the days of music hall, notably Robb Wilton, Ted Ray, Tommy Handley and Arthur Askey, inspiring the phenomenal Ken Dodd.
Liverpool comedians, however, have come in for criticism. In the 1970s, some toured the country with countless gags about thieving by Liverpool dockers - it did go on, as elsewhere - but sadly it engendered a Scouse stereotype. They got laughs and so more Liverpool comedians persisted with such gags "Around our way ..."
Now we don't seem to produce any famous comedians - serves us right. We mainly rely on touring comics.
RAWHIDE
COMEDY CLUB
Generally open three, sometimes four, nights a week at Central Hall, Roscoe
Gardens, Mount Pleasant, L3 5SA. Booking hotline 0700 4729 4433. www.rawhidecomedy.com
LAUGHTERHOUSE
COMEDY CLUB
Friday & Saturday nights at Baby Blue in the Albert
Dock and Saturday nights downstairs at The
Slaughterhouse pub in Fenwick Street. To book tickets
phone 0870 20 266339 or visit www.laughterhouse.com
NEPTUNE THEATRE
Over the year, a dozen or so touring comedians perform at this council-owned
theatre, near Central Station. Lenny Henry, Mark Thomas and Jeremy Hardy
were among those appearing in autumn 2004. Neptune Theatre, Hanover Street,
L1 3DY. Phone 0151 709 7844. www.neptunetheatre.co.uk
LIVERPOOL COMEDY FESTIVAL
They only did it for a laugh. Organisers of the 2004 festival had more
than 200 performers and 100 shows over 18 days in July. They hope that
the 2005 festival will be bigger. www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.com
Great effort has been made to ensure every detail is correct. However
no responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, or subsequent changes.
Please phone to check.