Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
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.
 Front elevation on Roe Street | |
| Address | 1 Roe Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK |
| Coordinates | 53.4074°N 2.9813°W |
| Public transit | Lime Street railway station |
| Type | theatre |
| Genre(s) | Theatre, Musical, Concerts |
| Capacity | 1,186 seats |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 1938 |
| Opened | 17 October 1938 |
| Architect | James Bushell Hutchins |
| Website | |
| liverpoolsroyalcourt | |
Although the Liverpool Blitz during the Second World War destroyed many of the buildings around it, the Royal Court itself remained intact. Throughout the war, many well-known artists performed here, including Ivor Novello, Margot Fonteyn and John Gielgud. Richard Burton made his stage debut here and Judi Dench made her professional stage debut in September 1957.
In the 1980s it became home to rock and pop concerts, hosting artists such as The Smiths, Slade, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M., Iron Maiden, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, Roger Taylor, Brian May, U2 and George Michael.
In 1990, the building was listed as Grade II, highlighting the fact that it is a major part of Liverpool's heritage.
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
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.
Although the Liverpool Blitz during the Second World War destroyed many of the buildings around it, the Royal Court itself remained intact. Throughout the war, many well-known artists performed in the Royal Court, including Ivor Novello, Margot Fonteyn and John Gielgud. Richard Burton made his stage debut at the Royal Court in an Emlyn Williams production. The 22-year-old Judi Dench made her professional stage debut here in September 1957, playing Ophelia in an Old Vic production of Hamlet[6]
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]
The music videos for "Let It Go", "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)", and "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" by the British rock band Def Leppard were directed by Doug Smith and shot on 22 July 1981. The photo on the "Let It Go" single cover was taken from that shoot.
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
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.
Technical
Flying
The counterweight fly system has recently 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 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 FOH rigging. 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 televisions 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.[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]
Pantomime returned to the Royal Court in (2006) with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Hollyoaks' Christina Bailey as Snow White.
Notable shows
Slappers and Slapheads
- 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.
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.
Lennon
- Performed 2010 and 2013, Lennon is a play by Bob Eaton based on the life of John Lennon.[16] In 2010 the lead role was played by Andrew Schofield,[17] in 2013 by John Power. The musical premiered in 1981 at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool and was shown Off-Broadway, New York in 1982.[18] Its 1985 London Astoria Theatre production won the Sunday Times Award for Best Musical and two Olivier Award nominations.
You'll Never Walk Alone
- 2011, 2014, 2017 & 2020
The story of the Liverpool Football Club, written by Nicky Allt.
Stags and Hens
- 2008 – Stags and Hens by Willy Russell
The Miracle of Great Homer Street
- 2018
Starring Les Dennis and Andrew Schofield, TMOGHS is written by Gerry Linford, winner of 'Highly Commended Award' by Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize[19]
Girls Don't Play Guitars
- 2019 & 2020
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 | Written by Dave Simpson. Directed by Bob Eaton. |
| Shout! | 20 May to 4 June | Emily Chesterton, Hayley Hampson, Miriam O’Brien, Evangeline Pickerill and Katie Tyler | Directed by Francesca Goodridge. |
| The Royal | 17 June to 16 July | 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 March 16 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. |
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 |
|
Merry Christmas, Carol |
9 December to 29 December | Eithne Brown, Helen Carter, Jessica Dives, Rachel Hilton, Molly Madigan, Paislie Reed, Angela Simms. | Written by Helen Carter. Directed by Joe Shipman. Designed by Christine Hatton. |
| 2022 | |||
| Hey Bunny, Get Loose! | 11 May to 28 May | Sinead Cullen-Barrett, Keiran Foster, Julie Glover, Shaun Mason, Debra Radclifee, Angela Simms. | 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 | December 14 to December 30 | 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. |
References
- "Royal Court Liverpool". Theatres Trust. 2017.
- 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)
- "Her Majesty's Theatre, Seagate, Dundee".
- "The Theatre Royal, 100 Grey Street, Newcastle".
- "The Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow".
- Who's Who In the Theatre, 17th edition, Gale (1981)
- Royal Court Theatre Liverpool | Royal Court | Royal Court Liverpool - a brief history
- Port Cities: - The Royal Court Theatre
- Historic England (2011). "The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool (1262027)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- "Rawhide comedy club returns home". 25 July 2008.
- "Liverpool Echo: Latest Liverpool and Merseyside news, sports and what's on".
- "Liverpool's Boisterous Theatre founders: 'First-timers tell us they didn't know theatre could be like that'". Archived from the original on 24 May 2019.
- "The Royal Court Theatre, Roe Street, Liverpool".
- "It's Behind You - Pantomimes at the Liverpool Royal Court".
- Slappers and the slapheads enjoy a Royal night out
- "Bob Eaton".
- "Review: Lennon, Royal Court Liverpool - MADE UP". Archived from the original on 15 October 2019.
- Lennon at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize
- Proudfoot, Ben (17 December 2019). "Opinion | We Made Rock History. Here's Why You Don't Know Us". The New York Times.
- Merkin, Ros (April 2019). Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre: 'A Brave Venture'. Liverpool University Press. p. 347. ISBN 978-1-78694-223-4.
- "Royal Court opens new downstairs theatre space with The Rainbow Connection". The Guide Liverpool. 20 March 2018.
- "STAGE WRITE PLAYWRIGHT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME". Liverpool's Royal Court.
- Jay@TheGuide (18 November 2021). "Free Playwright Development Programme returns to Liverpool's Royal Court in 2022". The Guide Liverpool. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
External links
- Royal Court Liverpool website
- What's On At The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
- Brick up the Mersey Tunnels Review.
- Liverpool Theatre History
