Shrek to take 'ogre' Southport Flower Show

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Beloved ogre Shrek and the beautiful Princess Fiona will ‘swamp’ Southport Flower Show’s opening day on Thursday August 20

Shrek The Musical® plays at the Liverpool Empire from Wednesday November 25–Sunday December 6

The characters of Shrek The Musical® will be making appearances throughout the day as part of the celebrations of the opening of Southport’s annual flower show, ahead of the production’s triumphant return to the North West.

The flower show will feature a specially designed Shrek swamp, by award-winning gardeners, Mook Gardens LTD, giving visitors a chance to meet Shrek and Princess Fiona on their home turf.

Visitors to Southport Flower Show have the delight of exploring Shrek’s garden and his floral swamp house throughout the show (Thursday August 20–Sunday August 23) with the chance of bumping into the star couple on the opening day.

Shrek commented: "I confess a trip to the Southport Flower Show is a first for me, but of course when I heard there was going to be a recreation of my swamp I couldn’t resist. Fiona is really excited and hopes the flower show might inspire me into developing more of a gardening habit. I already have the green fingers so that’s a good start. We couldn’t resist visiting as the tour of Shrek The Musical will arrive in Liverpool in November/December time and has its very last date in February at the Lowry in Salford."

Ray Roukin, general manager at Southport Flower Show, added: "We're really pleased to be welcoming Shrek and his swamp garden to the show this year, it's going to be a unique attraction and should prove a big draw for young and old alike."

Shrek and his garden join a number of family attractions at this year's show, including free-flying birds of prey, dog displays and award-winning clowns Sonny and Rainbow. The show will also be having its first ever Super Kids Sunday which includes a dedicated Children's Marquee on the final day of show, with science workshops and fun, interactive activities.

Entry to the show-ground is free for children under 16, when accompanied by a paying adult, so there have never been more reasons to take the family to Southport.

Southport Flower Show runs from Thursday August 20-Sunday August 23. For more information, visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk or call 01704 547147. Southport Flower Show Tickets cost just £18 in advance, a 20% saving on the gate price.

Shrek The Musical® is coming direct from London, where it was seen live on stage by nearly a million people, and will run at Liverpool Empire Theatre from Wednesday November 25-Sunday December 6, and The Lowry from Wednesday February 2–Sunday February 20 2016.

Based on the Oscar® winning DreamWorks film and featuring all-new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, Shrek The Musical® brings the much-loved DreamWorks characters to life, live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza.

Tmesis Theatre Announce A Second Tour Of That’s Amore Including Five North-West Dates

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Tmesis Theatre

Tmesis Theatre have announced plans for a second tour for this Autumn of That’s Amore; it’s all about love: wanting it, having it, keeping it and losing it.

That’s Amore completed a successful UK tour earlier this year, and will now open in five venues across the North-West in Chester, Warrington (part of Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival), Northwich, Ulverston and Liverpool in October this year.

That’s Amore is a hilarious, fast-paced, passionate and emotional piece of physical theatre which explores the vast world and culture of romantic love, from chance encounters to hidden desires, and emotional extremes to the science of romance. The piece discovers the flesh and philosophy behind what makes our hearts beat faster.

Tmesis Theatre’s Elinor Randle will once again take the role of Director of the piece. This production is the first time in the company’s 10-year history that she has not performed in a Tmesis piece.

That’s Amore combines Tmesis’ trademark physicality and an ensemble of performers, with text from long-term collaborator and award-winning writer Chris Fittock, stunning visuals and a combination of popular and original music.

A Unity Commission, the play promises to be one which everyone can relate to. That’s Amore will feature a cast of four: Jennifer Essex, Adam Davies, Eleni Edipidi and Ross McCall.

Audiences can also look forward to the production talents of designer Lois Maskell, lighting designer Beccy Hillam, projection designer Sam Meech, and composer Meike Holzmann to set the scene and showcase the play’s musical and visual setting.

Artistic Director Elinor Randle commented: “After a brilliant reception to the first stage of the tour from audiences everywhere, I'm really excited to take That's Amore out to more national venues. I'm working with four hugely talented performers and a bigger and more visual new direction. The show has an amazing creative team and is a crazy, funny, emotional rollercoaster of a piece, which explores what we all want in the end, to be loved.

“We want audiences to be caught up in the moment, swept away with the excitement, confusion and agony of romance. To recognise how love strips us of our dignity and just how funny it all really is.”

The production will feature songs familiar to most audiences who have been struck by Cupid’s arrow, such as Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart; A-ha’s Take On Me; Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares To You; George Michael’s Careless Whisper, Leonard Cohen’s Take This Waltz and, of course, the title name, That’s Amore by Dean Martin.

The newest addition to Tmesis Theatre’s impressive production repertoire, That’s Amore, joins the list of successful European toured shows, following Tmesis, Memento Mori and Anima, their trilogy on life’s journey, The Dreadful Hours and Wolf Red.

View the That’s Amore promo video at http://tmesistheatre.com/performances/thats-amore/.

West End and Broadway show opens in Liverpool to rave reactions

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The National Theatre’s multi award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time opened at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre last night, and brought the entire auditorium to its feet receiving a roaring standing ovation.

The production showing in Liverpool until Saturday July 25 as part of a nationwide tour of UK and Ireland, saw a host of celebrity guests at the opening which included Hollyoaks stars Jessica Fox (Nancy Osborne), Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen) and Cameron Moore (Cameron Campbell). Liverpool gymnast Beth Tweddle, presenter Nikki Dean, Britain’s Got Talent’s Becky O’Brien and actor Kris Mochrie were also in attendance.

The entire cast of Curious Incident were thrilled with the audience reaction and are looking forward to seeing the sights in Liverpool during their week in the City.  Joshua Jenkins, who plays Christopher, and is a huge fan of the Beatles has already been in a Magical Mystery tour of Liverpool with fellow company members.

Lucas Hare, who writes a blog called The Blog in the Night-Time about the Curious Incident tour has just completed an entry about their first night in Liverpool. The blog includes an interview with Joshua Jenkins as his character Christopher Boone talking about his impressions of Liverpool. You can read it at http://thebloginthenighttime.blogspot.co.uk/.

Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, which received seven Olivier Awards in 2013, including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design, opened to rave reviews which all praise the spectacular performances from the cast including Joshua Jenkins who plays the central role of Christopher.

The New York production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has also been nominated for six prestigious Tony Awards, including Best New Play, Best Direction of a Play and Best Scenic Design of a Play.

The show tells the story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone. He stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog, which has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The central role of Christopher is played by Joshua Jenkins with Geraldine Alexander as his teacher Siobhan, Roberta Kerr as Mrs Alexander, Stuart Laing as his father Ed, Gina Isaacs as Judy, and Clare Perkins as Mrs Shears.

The cast is completed by Chris Ashby (alternate Christopher), Emmanuella Cole (Punk Girl), Edward Grace (Mr Thompson), Lucas Hare (Roger Shears), John McAndrew (Reverend Peters) with Kieran Garland, Ann Marcuson, Paul Sockett and Jessica Williams in the ensemble.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is directed by Marianne Elliott, who co-directed the National Theatre’s record-breaking production of War Horse. The production is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, video design by Finn Ross, movement by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is open now at Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday July 25.

Countdown is on as West End show heads to Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The countdown is on until the National Theatre’s multi award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time arrives in the city for its Liverpool premiere.

The show opens at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre next month as part of a nationwide tour of the UK and Ireland. The play is also running concurrently at the Gielgud Theatre in London and at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will run at the Liverpool Empire from Tuesday July 21-Saturday July 25.

Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time received seven Olivier Awards in 2013, including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design.

The New York production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was the winner of  five prestigious Tony Awards, including Best New Play for Simon Stephens, Best Direction of a Play for Marianne Elliott and Best Scenic Design of a Play for Bunny Christie and Finn Ross.

The show tells the story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone. He stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog, which has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Playwright Simon Stephens said about adapting Haddon’s novel for the stage: “The adaptation was a really joyful experience. I knew two things in adapting the play. I knew that the key to it was the relationship between Christopher and his teacher. Although it’s not that central in the novel, what struck me was that everybody in life has a favourite teacher. Even people who hated school, even people who found school a miserable experience, had one teacher who they loved more than others and thought got them in a way that other teachers didn’t. I knew that if I could get that relationship right, then we could create an evening in the theatre that people could recognise themselves in.

“The other thing I knew was that Marianne Elliott had to direct it. I think she’s a visionary director, I think she’s a director of extraordinary imagination, but she’s also a very democratic director. This can’t be a piece of theatre that alienates people. It has to be a piece of theatre that you can come to if you’re 10-years-old or if you’re 90-years-old. It needs to appeal to people that have very high art taste in theatre, but also it’s got to be a family night out, and I thought that Marianne could release that really beautifully and really perfectly. Everybody working on it, the entire creative team, were united in wanting to tell Christopher’s story as honestly and properly as possible.

“All I ever wanted to do was to make Mark Haddon happy. He came to see rehearsals and the previews and the show at the National and in the West End and Broadway and he fell back in love with Curious Incident all over again. That makes me as proud as anything.”

Author Mark Haddon added: “When I wrote Curious Incident I was absolutely convinced that it couldn’t be adapted for film or stage. The novel is one person’s very insulated and sometimes profoundly mistaken view of the world. We’re stuck inside Christopher’s head from cover to cover. We see the world the way he sees the world. And there’s the problem. Or so it seemed to me. Theatre is radically third person. You can infer what people are thinking but you can do so only from what they say and what they do. I simply couldn’t imagine how Christopher’s story could be told with any integrity in this way. Simon’s genius was to recognise that I was completely and utterly wrong.”

The central role of Christopher is played by Joshua Jenkins with Geraldine Alexander as his teacher Siobhan, Roberta Kerr as Mrs Alexander, Stuart Laing as his father Ed, Gina Isaacs as Judy, and Clare Perkins as Mrs Shears.

The cast is completed by Chris Ashby (alternate Christopher), Emmanuella Cole (Punk Girl), Edward Grace (Mr Thompson), Lucas Hare (Roger Shears), John McAndrew (Reverend Peters) with Kieran Garland, Ann Marcuson, Paul Sockett and Jessica Williams in the ensemble.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is directed by Marianne Elliott, who co-directed the National Theatre’s record-breaking production of War Horse. The production is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, video design by Finn Ross, movement by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

Physical Fest 2015

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Unity Theatre

Just one week until Liverpool's International Physical Theatre Festival returns

It is now just one week until Liverpool’s Tmesis Theatre and Physical Fest return to the city for 2015. This year’s festival runs between Friday May 22–Saturday May 30 and offers an incredibly diverse range of acts and performances that are not to be missed.

As always, Tmesis Theatre will be bringing the very best and most established artists from all corners of the globe, with companies from Italy and Spain joining the UK performers for a truly international Physical Fest.

Physical Fest will launch on Friday May 22 at The Unity Theatre with Pact with Pointlessness, a one woman performance that lies somewhere between stand up and vaudeville. A double act for one from acclaimed choreographer Wendy Houston, who created it to tackle the death of her friend, choreographer and dancer Nigel Charnock - who she performed with in DV8, the show is full of crackling wit and ridiculous movement and is a frank demonstration of how it feels to be knocked sideways by death, renegotiate and carry on.

On Saturday May 23, also at The Unity, Ship of Fools present From the Cradle to the Bin, a hilarious odyssey about being thrown on life’s scrapheap, told through live music, grotesque parody and shocking imagery. Follow Mr Whitey, an affable English gent, as he spends his final days on the edge of a broken care system. Meet inept carers, sneering owners, money hungry family members and a whole host of others who are sure to make Mr. Whitey’s final day a memorable one.

Following on from his fifteen minute debut at Physical Fest 2014, Leebo Luby has had direction from Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey) to create a new absurd and extraordinary show, Faruchio Peru is Extraordinare. On Sunday May 24 at The Bluecoat, self-proclaimed ‘showman’ Faruchio Peru is an enigma wrapped in an ego, surrounded by an unpronounceable name, in this one man clowning show. An extraordinary man in ordinary times? Or a very ordinary man in extraordinarily absurd times? What does he want? What does he mean? Is there anything Farucchio Peru cannot do? He thinks not but is he mistaken?

Monday May 25 sees a night of work in development extracts at The Joe H Makin Centre, LJMU. In a double bill of exciting new physical work, Animikii Theatre present biblical tale Cain and Abel, exploring the theme of brotherhood through reimagined mythology, weaving vocal and movement languages with striking imagery and powerful music.

Then Yorgos Karamalegos presents some initial ideas from a two week workshop exploring the idea of Home and feelings of alienation with his core team, dramaturge Despina Sidiropolou and actor Tatiana Spivakova. Using the story of Medea as an entry point to their research as well as a personal study of the psychological triangle of mother, father and child.

Monday May 25 and Tuesday Ma 26 also feature Wild Trio, a site specific dance performance at 45-61 Duke Street, providing a refuge from capitalism in the heart of Liverpool 1. The Wild Trio have assembled and prepared, rigorously shedding social skins for the arrival of unexplainable phenomena. Site specific performance with dance artist Laura Doehler, Cathy Walsh and Genevieve Say.

Also on Tuesday May 26 at The Unity, Animal Religion present a stunning contemporary circus performance which brings out the inner animal in us all. In a grotesque parody of the modern human and the differences between the sexes, the stage is transformed into an “animalarium”; with acrobatics, heels, a spoon in the nose, rooster fight and ritual dances. It questions what is animal and what is human and includes a post show Q & A.

Friday May 29 sees the return of the annual Fest Live  at The Unity, an international showcase for the most exciting new physical and visual work from both emerging and established artists internationally which is carefully selected by a panel of the UK festival directors. With styles ranging from clown to dance theatre and hosted by a very special comic guest compares, Fest Live is an entertaining evening not to be missed.

Following the success of last year’s first draft of his hilarious clown show at last year’s festival, Jamie Wood returns with Oh No! to bring in the end of the festival on Saturday May 20. The new version of the show has been polished, trimmed, tucked and battered. When John Lennon fell in love with Yoko Ono the world was shocked. When they claimed there love was politics and art, the world squirmed. When Lennon was assassinated the world mourned. Playing amongst the enigmatic instructions of Yoko Ono's art works, in the shadow of Lennon's death, Oh No! is a psychedelic ride - a wonky homage to the woman damned for destroying the Beatles and a show about reckless optimism, high art and what we might yet have to learn from the hippies.

And if this line up wasn’t enough, The Unity Theatre also comes alive before and after the show. Come early to see intimate performances, pop up street theatre and have a bite to eat.

Squash Nutrition are serving delicious, locally gown food at every Unity Theatre show from 6pm. Buy two courses for just £5 with your ticket! Or just turn up and choose from a different seasonal menu every night.

Tmesis Theatre Graduate Company present Honky Tonk Hideaway before every show. A strange saloon, some deadly sins all add up to a physically immersive 15-minute experience. Presented at Unity 2, every night before and after the main Fest show at The Unity.

And as a final preshow warm up go on a solo trip into the bizarre beyond; Solotoria invites participants to step into the only seat in the house to view a repertory of shows including ballet and opera- totally immersive experiences in less than three and a half minutes. This is theatre for one, a miniature personal entertainment that has charmed and delighted all ages. Pop by and smile between 6-8pm before all of the Unity Theatre shows.

There will as ever, be a wide selection of participatory workshops and classes to take part in and full details of these can be found at www.physicalfest.com.

Physical Fest has become one of the international key events in Liverpool’s cultural programme, bringing the world's best local, national and international movement and physical theatre artists to Liverpool in an exciting 9 day programme of events, workshops, taster classes and performances. With an exciting and diverse line up, 2015 promises to deliver the exceptional class of entertainment this festival has become renowned for.

Liverpool's International Physical Theatre Festival returns

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Tmesis Theatre/Physical Fest

Liverpool’s Tmesis Theatre and Physical Fest are back for 2015 with a line up that will be bigger and better than ever.

This year’s festival runs between Friday May 22–Saturday May 30, and for those who can't wait that long, there is a special festival warm-up weekend for young people with Young Physical Fest on Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3.

As always, Tmesis Theatre will be bringing the very best and most established artists from all corners of the globe, with companies from Italy and Spain joining the UK performers for a truly international Physical Fest.

Physical Fest will launch on Friday May 22 at The Unity Theatre with Pact with Pointlessness, a one-woman performance that lies somewhere between stand-up and vaudeville. Created to tackle the death of her friend, choreographer and dancer Nigel Charnock (with whom she performed with in DV8), the show is full of crackling wit and ridiculous movement and is a frank demonstration of how it feels to be knocked sideways by death, renegotiate and carry on.

The Unity will also play host to mini performances Honky Tonk Hideaway (a 15-minute immersive experience) and Solotoria, a show for one audience member in less than three and a half minutes. Both will be performed before the main shows at The Unity throughout the Festival.

On Saturday May 23. also at the Unity Theatre, Ship of Fools present From the Cradle to the Bin, a hilarious odyssey about being thrown on life’s scrapheap, told through live music, grotesque parody and shocking imagery. Follow Mr Whitey, an affable English gent, as he spends his final days on the edge of a broken care system.

Following on from his fifteen minute debut at Physical Fest 2014, Leebo Luby has had direction from Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey) to create a new absurd and extraordinary show, Faruchio Peru is Extraordinare.

On Sunday May 24 at The Bluecoat, self-proclaimed ‘showman’ Faruchio Peru is an enigma wrapped in an ego, surrounded by an unpronounceable name, in this one-man clowning show.

Monday May 25 sees a night of work in development extracts at The Joe H Makin Centre, LJMU. In a double bill of exciting new physical work, Animikii Theatre presents the biblical tale Cain and Abel, exploring the theme of brotherhood through reimagined mythology, weaving vocal and movement languages with striking imagery and powerful music.

Then, Yorgos Karamalegos presents initial ideas from a two-week workshop exploring the idea of Home and feelings of alienation, using the story of Medea as an entry point.

Monday May 25 and Tuesday May 26 also features Wild Trio, a site specific dance performance providing a refuge from capitalism in the heart of Liverpool ONE.

Also on Tuesday 26 May at The Unity, Animal Religion present a stunning contemporary circus performance bringing out the animal in us all. In a grotesque parody of the modern human and the differences between the sexes, the stage is transformed into an “animalarium”; with acrobatics, heels, a spoon in the nose, rooster fight and ritual dances.

Friday 29 May sees the return of the annual ‘Fest Live’ at The Unity, an international showcase of the most exciting new physical and visual work from both emerging and established artists, which is carefully selected by a panel of UK festival directors.

Following its UK Premiere at last year’s festival, Jamie Wood returns with Oh No! to bring in the end of the festival on Saturday May 30. Playing amongst the enigmatic instructions of Yoko Ono's art works, in the shadow of Lennon's death, Oh No! is a psychedelic ride, a wonky homage to the woman damned for destroying the Beatles and a show about reckless optimism, high art and what we might yet have to learn from the hippies.

There will also be a fantastic selection of Street Theatre set loose upon the public, taking place at various locations across the city including performances from Boom Booms, Eggmen and Conflux.

As always, the festival will also include a series of interactive workshops with sessions available in clowning, improvisation and physical theatre from top names in physical theatre including Anna-Helena McLean, a former member of Poland’s Gardzienice Centre for Theatre Practices; Yorgos Karamalegos; Jamie Wood; Italian company Instabili Vaganti; Vivien Wood; and Spanish company Animal Religion. Workshops will take place at The Bluecoat; full details on how to book a place can be found at www.physicalfest.com.

Ahead of the main festival, Physical Fest presents a weekend of free workshops and shows between Saturday May 2-Sunday May 3 at The Bluecoat. Aimed at young people and families, the special programme of events will feature workshops and performances suitable for all ages, including Parkour performance with The Urban Playground Team, life-sized Punch & Judy from Foolsize Theatre, plus puppet making, stage combat, circus skills and theatre games. There will also be performances inspired by The Bluecoat itself performed by local youth groups, and a show exploring life as a 17-year-old in a collaboration between Young Everyman Playhouse and Off the Ground.

Elinor Randle, artistic director of Physical Fest, commented: “Last year was a milestone for Tmesis Theatre and Physical Fest with it being the 10th Anniversary; it was an incredible achievement and testament to the artists and everyone involved, and of course for the people of Liverpool that have supported us and made it possible for us to come back year after year. This year, we have been working harder than ever to ensure a fantastic programme of events. There is more performance than ever, with something to do every night, food and festival club at the Unity, street theatre, as well as a developed and packed weekend for young people in early May.”

Physical Fest has become one of the international key events in Liverpool’s cultural programme, bringing the world's best local, national and international movement and physical theatre artists to Liverpool in an exciting nine-day programme of events, workshops, taster classes and performances. With an exciting and diverse line up, 2015 promises to deliver the exceptional class of entertainment this festival has become renowned for.