The first eight live shows for this year's Liverpool Theatre Festival have been confirmed.
The multi award-winning festival returns this autumn for its third consecutive year. The event came to fruition in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic as a way to showcase and support creatives, whose work and livelihoods was completely halted after theatres closed and live performances were stopped.
Since its launch, the festival has become an annual affair, going on to win awards and garner praise from the arts industry and audiences alike. Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 will take place at outdoors within the walls of the historic St Luke's Bombed Out Church in Liverpool's city centre. It will begin on Wednesday, August 31 and finish on Sunday, September 11 2022.
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Liverpool Theatre Festival now also includes new works fringe event, Little LTF (Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works), which was staged in spring 2021 and 2022, offering writers and performers a platform to stage new productions. Tickets for the autumn event are on sale now, with the first eight shows a blend of comedy, drama, musicals, drag, family shows, and opera.
The first shows confirmed include Laughterhouse Comedy; Opera Beneath The Stars; Ma Joyce's Tales From The Parlour; Dame Fanny & The Starlets – A Family Friendly Drag Show; Drag Me To Church – Dragstravaganza; Julie Madly Deeply, and Looking For Me Friend – The Music Of Victoria Wood.
Also confirmed is 97+, a drama based on the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster, written by Tom Cain. The production was premiered at Little LTF earlier this year, and has been chosen by Festival director Bill Elms to perform at the main event after receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences.
Producer and artistic director Bill Elms said: "It's just two months to go until the curtain rises on the third annual Liverpool Theatre Festival, and we are thrilled to announce the first eight shows. The festival was created out of a love and need for live performance during a very difficult time – giving creatives and performers a much-needed platform to entertain audiences once again, and now, along with Little LTF, it's gone on to become an important theatrical event in Liverpool's cultural calendar, thanks to its growing popularity.
"We continue to strive to offer a strong and diverse programme – and the announcement of the first productions showcases just a small taster of what we can offer festivalgoers this year. I am delighted to invite new play 97+ to be part of the main Liverpool Theatre Festival after it received such an incredible reception in Little LTF in spring – powerful and emotional, audiences need the opportunity to see this work again."
Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 is sponsored by TicketQuarter and Victor Welsh Media and Entertainment Law. Partners for this year's event include Fostering Solutions, Bills Elms Associates, Epstein Theatre, and dBS Solutions.
Organisers are delighted to announce Liverpool based children's charity Kind as the festival's official charity partner, which will include bucket collections at show performances. Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 is dedicated to the memory of baby Michael James who would have been celebrating his 21st Birthday this September.
Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 confirmed shows
Laughterhouse Comedy
Friday, September 2 at 6pm and 8.30pm. Comedy, 16+, tickets from £22
Laughterhouse is one of Liverpool's longest running comedy clubs and has strived to bring the very best in live comedy to audiences across the UK for 14 years. Laughterhouse is delighted to be back for a third consecutive year at Liverpool Theatre Festival, bringing festivalgoers an evening of hilarity featuring Scouse favourites and the very best acts on the international comedy circuit. Line-up to be announced.
Ma Joyce's Tales From the Parlour
Sunday, September 4 at 2pm. Black arts, 12+, tickets from £18
Written and performed by Victoria Evaristo and directed by Angela Ekaette Michaels, Ma Joyce celebrates the triumph and tragedies of motherhood, grandmotherhood, and her observation of Liverpool's social, economic and political life, from a humorous perspective. Set in Liverpool, the play tells the story of a mixed-race grandmother of Nigerian and Irish heritage as she celebrates her birthday and revisits the people and places from her past. Ma Joyce takes audiences on a rollercoaster journey back to her childhood in the convent in the Welsh countryside; the romantic meeting of and subsequent relationship with her late Nigerian husband Mani; and her journey to Nigeria only to discover that: "In England I am black. In Africa I am white. It's a funny, bloody world."
Opera Beneath the Stars
Thursday, September 8 at 7.30pm. Music, 12+, tickets from £28
Absolute Opera presents an evening of sublime operatic and classical hits in the stunning open-air surroundings of St Luke's Bombed Out Church. The show stars national and international performers, including Tenor Roy Locke (Opera Australia) and Soprano Leigh Rhianon Coggins (Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company). With live piano accompaniment by Per Nielsen, this enchanting gala evening will feature the most well-loved and popular songs from Grand Opera, Operetta, Neapolitan Song, and modern classical and musical hits, all performed by world-class performers sporting evening wear.
97+, a drama based on the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster
Friday, September 9 at 6pm and 8.30pm. Drama, 16+, tickets from £20
Selected to perform at the main Liverpool Theatre Festival following its huge success at Little LTF festival of new works earlier this year, this drama is based on the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster. Set in 2012 and haunted by their memories, Hillsborough survivors John and Steve each deal with the trauma they suffered as young boys, now they're middle-aged men. Despite countless setbacks, the Hillsborough survivors continue their fight for justice. Starring Colin Kilbride, Leslie Longley, Julie McCabe and Alice McKillop.
Dame Fanny & The Starlets - A Family Friendly Drag Show
Saturday, September 10 at 4.30pm. LGBT+ arts, 8+, adult tickets from £15, children's tickets priced at £12.50
Join hostess and Liverpool lass Dame Fanny De Faux, the magnificent Mystique, beautiful Brooke Spears, and incredible Iva Bouquet for a medley of music, dance, comedy, games and more. Anything goes at Dame Fanny shows, produced by TBC Events, and if a younger audience member has a special skill they'd love to share, there'll be the perfect opportunity in the 'talent show' section of the afternoon. Ticket holders should feel free to blow their trumpet, twerk it out on the dance floor, lip sync to their heart's content, or do whatever it is they do best. During this fun-filled family event, the performers will choose a member of the audience to be beautifully transformed, before taking to their throne and being crowned 'Queen for a Day'.
Drag Me To Church – Dragstravaganza
Saturday, September 10 at 8pm. LGBT+ arts, 18+, tickets from £18
The only drag show that guarantees, if audiences don't have fun, they will "fully refund their dull life back to them". Following a comedic turn in 2021 and a mini tour of Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham in 2022, the 'Keller Kweens' are high heeling it to Liverpool Theatre Festival with a truly unique 'dragstravaganza' of a night. Produced by TBC Events, the adults only show is hosted by Dame Fanny De Faux, and joined by The Starlets. There'll be shameless shenanigans, live performance, games, giveaways, high jinks and more. There will also be the chance for a volunteer audience member to take to the stage and compete in a lip sync challenge. Another audience member will be chosen to be transformed into a 'Queen for the Night'.
Julie Madly Deeply
Sunday, September 11 at 2.30pm. Musical, 8+, tickets from £20
The West End and Off-Broadway smash hit show will come to Liverpool Theatre Festival on its final day. Adored by millions, Dame Julie Andrews is a genuine showbiz icon. This charming yet cheeky cabaret takes a look at fame and fandom through the eyes and voice of award-winning performer, Sarah-Louise Young (Fascinating Aida, An Evening Without Kate Bush). Julie's songs from musicals including Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music, and My Fair Lady are intertwined with stories and anecdotes about her life, from beginnings as a child star to the challenges of losing her famous singing voice. What emerges is a delightfully funny and candid love letter to a true showbusiness survivor. Sarah-Louise is joined on piano by long-term collaborator Michael Roulston (Fascinating Aida, The Now Show).
Looking For Me Friend – The Music Of Victoria Wood
Sunday, September 11 at 6pm. Musical, 12+, tickets from £20
Cabaret performer and television personality, Paulus enters his 30 th year in entertainment with a loving tribute to his idol – the late, great Victoria Wood. Joined on stage by musical director and old friend Michael Roulston, together they prove what many have known for decades – that it takes two men to do the work of one woman, and half as well. Paulus will remind audiences of Victoria's best-loved songs through the decades, including It Would Never Have Worked, Reincarnation, and the classic Ballad of Barry & Freda (Let's Do It). As well as the songs, he explores the musicality of Victoria's sketches and catchphrases, the Northern accent, and the modern 'Polari' that has evolved among her legions of fans through the quoting of her enormous body of work.
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