L I V E R P O O L ’ S
Programme
R O Y A L
C O U R T
PAUL
DUCKWORTH
JOHN
EVANS
ALAN
STOCKS
LIAM
TOBIN
by Nicky Allt Directed by Paul Goetzee • Designed by Alfie Heywood Lighting Design by Ian Scott • Sound Design by Kate Harvey
31 January to 29 February Tickets from £14 No booking fees!
0151 709 4321 liverpoolsroyalcourt.com /royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv
A brilliant new comedy with Leanne in the mourning!
Written by Leanne Campbell • Directed by Chris Mellor Designed by Jocelyn Meall • Sound Design by Kate Harvey
13 March to 11 April 2020 Tickets from £14 No booking fees!
0151 709 4321 liverpoolsroyalcourt.com /royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv
Youth Theatre Our fresh, new, innovative and relevant Youth Theatre is based here at the iconic Royal Court Theatre. It has been developed by young people for young people and delivers a range of opportunities FREE of charge for young people aged 11-25 from every part of the city. If you are interested in a career in the arts or just looking for something to do and somewhere to make friends, then come along and take part in singing, dancing, or even writing scripts!
Joining the Youth Theatre Do you know a young person who has a passion for theatre, acting, singing, dancing or writing? Tell them to complete an expression of interest form by visiting liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/youththeatre. Alternatively you can call 0151 702 5892 or email education@royalcourttrust.org
Everybody is welcome at the Royal Court Youth Theatre, there are no auditions or waiting lists to join. Thank you for buying a programme today and supporting the Youth Theatre. The funds we raise help us with ongoing running costs and keep the youth theatre free for all to access. The
Eleanor Rathbone Foundation
Community Choir Our Community Choir has been running for four years and sessions are open to everyone aged over 16 so bring along the whole family! Choir sessions are FREE to attend and open to all abilities – there is no audition process. Come along, have a laugh, make new friends, learn some new songs and remember some old ones.
Joining the Choir If you are interested in coming along to or if you just want to find out more information, contact education@royalcourttrust.org or phone 0151 702 5892.
NEW WRITING WORKSHOP Here at the Court we are not just interested in what is happening tomorrow, we are looking at next year, the year after and well into the next decade. With that in mind we have set up a programme to support new theatre writing called Stage Write. Writers can submit their work to us, whether finished pieces or just a couple of scenes. These pieces will then be read by experienced professionals and some may be chosen for a reading in front of an audience at one of our regular Stage Write nights, or workshopped with a cast and director. They can come from new or established writers, we just want to see the best new work. Submissions are invited on a rolling basis, with no deadlines and no fees. All types of work will be considered, comedy or drama, as long as they have been written for the stage and are submitted in a stage script format. If you have any questions or would like to submit a script, then please e-mail stagewrite@royalcourtliverpool.com. If you would like to be among the first to see these new pieces then join us for one of our showcases.
L I V E R P O O L ’ S
R O Y A L
C O U R T
25 Feb, 28 Apr & 23 Jun
0151 709 4321
royalcourtliv
£5
liverpoolsroyalcourt.com
@royalcourtliv
Downstairs at Liverpool’s Royal Court, 1 Roe St, Liverpool L1 1HL
With 150 seats in a mix of cabaret style and traditional rows The Studio is the perfect place for comedy, music and small scale theatre. You’ll find the same high quality shows and great service that you have come to expect from the Court, only smaller. The Studio has a strict no latecomers policy so please arrive in good time for the start of the show. Liverpool’s Royal Court present
MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAROL 9 to 29 December From £12
It’s Christmas Eve and Carol is working. She’s always working. All she needs to do is take some tough decisions and make a few more sacrifices but… is it worth it? Join us in the Studio this Christmas for a show that is full of great music and laughs that will keep you warm in the winter. PBJ present
MAISIE ADAM HANG FIRE 5 February £12
2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee, Amused Moose National New Comic 2018 and So You Think You’re Funny? winner Maisie Adam embarks on her debut UK tour. JAPE Productions present
MEN OF THE WORLD BY JOHN GODBER 8 February £10 / £8.50
Three Actors, Fifteen Characters, Countless Comic Capers! Three Coach drivers take us on a journey down the Rhine Valley, where highlights include The Student Prince, Jean’s swollen ankles and Sissy’s Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches. Berk’s Nest present
MAX AND IVAN COMMITMENT 28 February £12
Say ‘I do’ to the triumphant return of Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Max & Ivan. (BBC Two’s W1A, Radio 4’s Casebook…)
Nwoko Arts presents
SWEET MOTHER 13 & 14 March £12 / £10
Sweet Mother is an ongoing Oral History project charting the stories of local white women from the L8 community who fell in love and married black men in a time of racial unrest in the 1960s and 70s. Liverpool’s Royal Court presents
STAGE WRITE NIGHTS 13 & 14 March £5
Join us for an evening of script in hand readings from the Royal Court’s new writing programme.
Qweerdog Theatre present
ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY? 21 March £10
In an environment where no-one is safe to talk about feelings, let alone sexuality, it’s easy to misread the signs. One drunken night, a line is crossed; but by who? What actually happened? It’s difficult to find out when nobody wants to talk. Liverpool’s Royal Court Youth Theatre present
THE UNLIKELY CANDIDATE THE STORY OF THE SCOUSE RIPPER 25 March £10
Multi award-winning comedian Simon Munnery reprises his notorious alter ego, the bedsit anarchist Alan Parker Urban Warrior. Once the most radical, now the only radical, Alan returns with the old gold, the old truths, and some new truths (based on the old truths). Boisterous and Che Burnley present
ALTERNATIVE BLACK COMEDY SHOWCASE 25 March £10
After sell-out Edinburgh shows in 2018, the Black Showcase comes to Liverpool. Host Che brings top black comics and rising stars from around the globe. The night isn’t just black comedy - it’s black cabaret! Show And Tell in present
ALAN PARKER URBAN WARRIOR FAREWELL TOUR 25 March £10
Multi award-winning comedian Simon Munnery reprises his notorious alter ego, the bedsit anarchist Alan Parker Urban Warrior. Once the most radical, now the only radical, Alan returns with the old gold, the old truths, and some new truths (based on the old truths). Little Wander present
KIRI PRITCHARD McLEAN EMPATHY PAINS 26 March £13.50
Multi award winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean (Have I Got News for You, Live at the Apollo, 8 out of 10 Cats, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order) is back with her fourth full length show. Lantern Writers present
BOSS NEW PLAYS LOCAL WRITING FRESH OUT OF THE WRAPPER 4 April £10
Liverpool’s Lantern Writers have been working steadily with the best of the city’s acting talent in recent years, providing an opportunity for new theatre voices to be heard on the Merseyside stage. Show And Tell in association with United Agents present
RHYS JAMES SNITCH 9 April £12
Mock The Week regular and star of his own BBC Radio 4 series, Rhys James heads out on his first national tour.
0151 709 4321 royalcourtliv
royalcourtliverpool.com @royalcourtliv
Rehearsal Photos
Cast & Company
Gloria/Faith/Christian Carol Pianist Sherry Holly Eve Joy
Eithne Browne Helen Carter Jessica Dives Rachel Hilton Molly Madigan Paislie Reid Angela Simms
Writer Director Musical Director Designer LX & Sound Designer Wardrobe Supervisor Head Carpenter
Helen Carter Joe Shipman Russell Ditchfield Christine Hatton Helena Harvey Marie Jones Mick Bawden
Rehearsal DSM Tech SM
Rebecca Maguire Helena Harvey
Set by Sightlines Workshop Team Jonathan Defty Mike Gray Merry Christmas, Carol features the song Hold On by Molly Madigan Thank You Jonothan Tringham Kate Harvey-O’Brien Andy Edwards
Cast Biographies the Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly
Eithne Browne
Gloria / Faith /Taxi / Christian / Cleaner
Miss Molly, Two, Cinderella, Eight Miles High, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Merry Ding Dong, Funny Money, Ladies Day, Masquerade, Special Measures and Golden Oldies (and teas and coffees) (Royal Court
Eithne is thrilled to be back on stage here at the Royal Court.
Liverpool). TV Roles: Chrissy Rogers in Channel 4’s
Eithne’s first appearance was on stage at the
Brookside, she has appeared in: Mobile,
Liverpool Playhouse in Willy Russell’s Blood
Lillies, Cold Feet (Granada); The Royal,
Brothers. On its transfer to the West End Eithne
Emmerdale (YTV); Doctors, Stretford Wives,
took over from Barbara Dickson in the lead role
Clocking Off, Peace Keepers, Having it Off,
for over 50 performances. Not bad for a first job!
the BAFTA award-winning Room At The Top
Her other favourite stage plays include: Shirley
(BBC TV) and Secret State (BBC).
Valentine (Northcott Theatre); Educating Rita
Eithne was voted Woman Of The Year at the
(national tour); To Kill a Mockingbird (New
2013/14 Daily Post & Echo Arts & Culture
Vic Theatre, Stoke); Stags and Hens (New Vic,
Awards. She is also the voice of the world famous
London); 8 Miles High, Alfie, A Pocket Dream
Mersey Ferry.
(Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Billy Liar, A Month in the Country (Salisbury Playhouse); Talking Heads (Arts Academy, Liverpool); A Sense of Justice (Perth Repertory Theatre); The Secret Garden (Byre Theatre, St Andrews); Intent to
Helen Carter Carol
Murder, Say Who You Are, Boeing Boeing (English Theatre, Vienna); Limestone Cowboy
Helen has been working in theatre for 15 years
(Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); The Odd Couple,
as an actor, having performed many times on the
An Awfully Big Aventure, Tartuffe, The Star
Liverpool Royal Court stage. She has recently
(Liverpool Playhouse); Wuthering Heights
turned her hand to writing and is delighted to
(National Tour); The Full Monty (National Tour);
have her first show produced by the Royal Court
Vagina Monologues (Neptune Theatre and
Studio. She would like to dedicate this show to
Royal Court Liverpool); GYD Diet, The Sum,
her daughter, Ruby.
Northern Flight (Everyman Theatre); Mam I’m ‘Ere (Dome Liverpool); Tuppence To Cross The Mersey (Epstein Theatre and touring); I Am Janet (Gap Theatre Manchester); Brick Up
Helen trained at LAMDA. Her theatre credits include: My Fairfield Lady (Royal Court Liverpool), The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca (Hull Truck Theatre), Beauty and The
Beast and Aladdin (Hope Street Theatre, Drops of Light), The Star (The Liverpool Playhouse Theatre), Father O’Flaherty Save Our Souls
Angela Simms
(Royal Court Liverpool), Mam I’m ‘Ere (Royal
Joy
Court Liverpool), Scouse of the Antarctic (Royal Court Liverpool), The Sunshine Boys (Epstein Theatre,/Life in Theatre Productions),
Angela has been performing since the age of 14,
Word:Play Tour (Box of Tricks Theatre Company),
starting at The Everyman Youth Theatre. Angela
The Last 5 Years (Life in Theatre Productions),
completed her Drama degree and a Diploma in
The Gatekeeper (The Royal Exchange Theatre),
Acting from The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in
Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman)
NYC.
, No Wise Men (Liverpool Playhouse), Hatch
Angela has worked for BBC Radio 4 on Tontine
(Bolton Octogon/24:7 Theatre Festival), Dad’s
starring Alison Steadman. She has worked for
Army Marches On (Calibre Productions Tour),
Lime Pictures. Angela has featured in several
Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi (Liverpool
commercials for companies such as Aldi,
Playhouse), The Flint Street Nativity (Liverpool
Betfred and Iceland. Angela has mainly worked
Playhouse) Top Girls (Royal Court Theatre
in theatre and has a strong history in comedic
London 50th Anniversary performance), The
roles. Angela has worked on several productions
Honest Whore (William Poel Prize, The Globe
at Liverpool’s Royal Court such as Ladies Day,
Theatre, London).
Hitchhikers Guide to Fazakerley, Canoeing
TV Credits include:
for Beginners, Fistful of Collars. Angela has
The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca (BBC
performed in the Studio space at the Royal Court
Television), Wallander (Left Bank Pictures),
before, in Joanne Sherryden’s The Rainbow
Doctors (BBC Television),Beaten ( Coastal
Connection.
Productions),Judge John Deed (BBC Television),
Angela co-wrote The Royal which has been
A470 (S4C)
produced twice at Liverpool’s Royal Court
Film:
and was directed by acclaimed comedy
96 Ways to Say I Love You (Daisy Aitkens and
director Cal McCrystal (One Man Two
Georgia Moffet)
Guvnors, Paddington). Angela is currently on the Everyman and Playhouse Playwrights’ Programme to develop as a writer. Angela is thrilled to be performing at The Royal Court again in Merry Christmas Carol.
that has included performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Frantic Assembly,
Molly Madigan Holly
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, 20 Stories High and Contact Theatre. Paislie is really excited to be back at the Royal
Molly is a member of the Liverpool Royal Court and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Youth Theatre groups. She is currently studying Acting and Musical Theatre in Rare Studios. As well as an actress, she is an award-winning singersongwriter and her work has been performed
court after being playing Jenny in Maggie May The Musical last year as well as Lost Soul in 2017. Paislie’s most recent work includes filming an episode for Sky Atlantic drama Tin Star and featuring in BBC Radio 4 drama The Last Woman Killed In The War.
in local productions. Her song Hold On can be
Paislie also has skills in BSL and is particularly
heard within Merry Christmas, Carol. She has
interested in making the arts more accessible.
previously performed in multiple Youth theatre
Outside of acting she is a singer/songwriter
productions such as Badfellas with the Royal
and is set to combine her skill set to create
Court Youth Theatre and most recently, playing
and develop a new play with music about the
Dor in Jim Cartwright’s Road in the Liverpool
hospitality industry.
Everyman Theatre. Molly also landed a minor role in The Royal Court’s 2017 Christmas production of The Scouse Nativity. She is extremely
Rachel Hilton
excited to make her debut in a major role on
Sherry
the Royal Court Studio stage as Holly in Merry Christmas, Carol.
Rachel trained at Middlesex University with a BA Hons in Dance with Performing Arts and at
Paislie Reid Eve
Paislie Reid is a versatile performer, having begun her career in I’m A Juvenile Delinquent Jail Me she went on to feature as a main character in 2 seasons of CITV series The New Worst Witch. Since this early television debut, she has continued to have a lucrative acting career
Millennium Dance Theatre School with a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Performance. Theatre credits include: Our Town the Musical, Millennium Dome, Ugly Sister in Into The Woods (Middlesex University), Doris Finsecker/Hilary in Fame (Italian Tour), Woman 2 in Songs For a New World (Goldsmiths) TV credits include:
Peep Show, Mr Selfridge, Call The Midwife,
Hood Rock and Roll Panto Liverpool Everyman
Miranda, Semi Finals on Britain’s Got Talent
Theatre; Mother Nature, Guess How Much
with Caburlesque (2008)
I Love You, Selladoor Theatre UK; Ophelia/
Film Credits include: Short Film: Sue in The Painting by Darshan
Gravedigger, Hamlet Young Shakespeare Company; and Newsrevue, Canal Cafe Theatre.
Singh Bhuller; Body double for Ginny Weasley in
As a local Liverpool resident, Jessica is pleased
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part
to be spending Christmas with a home audience
I & II)
for once!
Rachel has recently moved back to Liverpool after 16 years in London. She has set up her own company called Holistic Harmonies. Within that she leads Singing Mamas Choirs, a pregnancy choir and intergenerational music & movement sessions. Her aim is to use the creative arts for the therapeutic wellbeing of all the family. Rachel is delighted to be making her Liverpool stage debut in the Royal Court Theatre.
Jessica Dives Pianist
Jessica has a BA from Royal Holloway and trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and singer, regularly performing as a solo act and with various bands across the UK. Often combining her music and acting worlds, Jessica’s recent credits include: Assistant MD/ Feste/Aunt Lupy/Duke of Burgundy et al., Twelfth Night, The Borrowers and Henry V Storyhouse and Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre Summer Season; Fairy Dandelion, Red Riding
Company Biographies Joe Shipman
Russell Ditchfield
Director
Musical Director
Joe is freelance actor/director working in a variety of contexts including directing physical clown shows for companies such as Idiotsinsync, Tales From Under The Counter & Random Acts of Wildness on their best comedy shortlisted show Legless‘n’Harmless at the Brighton Fringe and For One Night Only at the Unity Theatre. As well as community and youth theatre projects for Tmesis’ Young Fest & People First and has also directed a number of educational shows for Altru Drama.
Russell Ditchfield is an accomplished musician and composer. Having spent his youth in bands touring alongside the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen and Kasabian he has recently returned to his first love, Theatre. Russell has composed music for shows at The Park and Bush theatre in london and his music featured in Parakeet in at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. Groan Ups by Mischief Theatre, the last show he worked on as Musical Director, debuted earlier this year in the Vaudeville theatre in the West End. He is thrilled to be involved with Merry Christmas, Carol. It is his first Royal Court show and he hopes to be back again soon!
Joe is a founder member of EggPeople street theatre company which he created after taking part in Conflux’s (Now Surge) International Street Artist residency in 2013. For EggPeople he has devised numerous shows that he has performed at various festivals across the UK. He has also directed a number of community projects for the company and led street performance technique workshops. Joe was assistant director for EggPeople & Hope St Ltd’s collaboration Climate Change Is Rubbish, also mentoring the production’s emerging performers. Next year will see Joe directing a devised project for Arden School of Theatre, creating some new work with EggPeople & occasionally dressing up as a bumblebee. Joe hopes you enjoy Merry Christmas, Carol as much he has enjoyed directing it and working with Liverpool’s Royal Court.
Christine Hatton Designer Christine Hatton started her training in Interior Design and Graphic Design; she studied Spatial Design at Liverpool John Moores University and holds a BA Hons degree in Design for Performance from Edge Hill University. Christine was short-listed for The Linbury Prize 2013. She has worked for Lime Pictures as a set dresser on soaps such as Hollyoaks and Grange Hill, and design assistant on Brick Up 2 at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, and Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd at New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire in April 2012. Set designer on The Dybbuk by Ansky at Edge Hill University. She was subsequently asked to design Edge Hill’s end of year show to showcase all the performing arts called Explain! at the Everyman theatre 2015. She now works as a Freelance Stage Designer. Work includes; set design for Purcell’s Dido and
Aeneas (2014), set design for Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice for The About Turn Theatre Company based in London (2015), set design for Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore for CUOS based in Cambridge. In 2015, Christine was asked to exhibit a costume design for ‘Critical Costume 2015’ held in Helsinki, Finland. Recently Christine was set and costume designer for Laura Lees Masquerade and Deborah Morgan’s Knee Deep In Promises at the Royal Court, Liverpool 2019.
Helena Harvey Lighting & Sound Designer Helena is the newest member of the technical team at the Royal Court and a recent graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Credits include; Kensuke’s Kingdom, Bright Lights Big City, Mack and Mabel & Iconic (LIPA) , Lost Boys New Town & Introvert (National Youth Theatre), A Casual Conversation with Sir Paul McCartney (MPL), Red & Black (Slung Low Theatre Company), Wizard of Oz (Infinity Technical Services and BOS Musical Theatre Company),The Dumbwaiter (Peridot Productions), Bad Girls (R&D Productions), Crowd (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse); Masquerade, Pig, VR Family and Knee Deep In Promises (Liverpool’s Royal Court).
Marie Jones Costume Supervisor Marie studied fashion and then moved on to theatre costume interpretation at Mabel Fletcher College. Marie’s work as a freelance costumier has included costumes for Oldham Coliseum, The Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Jimmy
McGovern’s film Liam, Beyond Friendship for Mersey Television and the many pantomime dames who have appeared on the Everyman stage. She has worked extensively at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and has recently been employed as full time Wardrobe Supervisor at the Royal Court. Most recently Marie’s work at the Everyman and Playhouse has included: Much Ado About Nothing, The Electric Hills, The Flint Street Nativity, The Tempest, Unprotected, Billy Liar, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Urban Legend, Fly, Breezeblock Park, The Entertainer, Still Life And The Astonished Heart, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Anniversary, Dr Faustus, The May Queen, Cruel Sea and All My Sons. Marie’s other credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Stags and Hens - The Remix, On The Ledge, Misery, Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, The Salon, Funny Money, Merry Ding Dong, A Fistul Of Collars, Lucky Numbers, Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Reds And Blues - The Musical, Ladies Day, Bouncers, Scouse Of The Antarctic, Pharaoh ‘Cross The Mersey and Down The Dock Road, amongst many others, for Royal Court Liverpool, Brouhaha International Street Festival, Working Class Hero on the recent Imagine DVD, Costume Supervisor for many shows at LIPA, The Splash Project at MYPT and Twopence To Cross The Mersey at the Liverpool Empire.
Royal Court Staff Executive Producer Kevin Fearon Chief Executive Gillian Miller Finance Director Kevin Dunn Producer Jess Bolger Marketing Manager Iain Christie Executive Chef David Assall Finance Officer Alison Ward General Manager Thomas Wright In-House Designer Jamie Jenkin Production Co-Ordinator Clare Carlucci Marketing & Social Media Officer Aisling Davis Chief LX Jamie Haining Technical Stage Manager Matt Jones Box Office & Sales Manager (Maternity Cover) Laura Lees Community & Education Manager Miriam Mussa Costume Supervisor Marie Jones Workshop Manager Mick Bawden Finance Administrator Izzie Litwin Admin Assistant Phil McLoughlin Youth Theatre Officer Zain Salim
Deputy Front of House Managers Emma Keig, Kathryn Heffron Front of House Supervisor Kathy Hutson Front of House Jordan Barkley, Hazel Bawden, Colette Burgess, Sally Britton, Emma Clarke, Ellie Dunn, Audrey Flynn, Megan Franey, Bethany Fry, Finn Goulden-Jennings, Michael Hardy, Jennifer Heffron, Olivia Heffron, Paul Imrie, Jake Jones, Beth Karaski, Aimee Kelly, Lizzie Kendrick, Abbie Kenworthy, Jamie Kenyon, Sven Key, Phil Lyne, Faye McCutcheon, Cora Mason, Sam Massen, Michael Mountain, Phil Mcloughlin, Mia Molloy, Michael Nelson, Calum Norbury, Joe O’Neill, Jack Owens, Jamie Peacock, Jake Pendleton, Millie Quayle, Chloe Thorpe, Evan Trudgil, Odessa Walsh, Emma Walters, Alex Williams and Gina Zotova Cleaners Cleaning Supervisor: Debbie Chisam, Billie Chisam, Carla Cole,Joanne Kinsella, Kevin Tristram and Nick Watson. And a big thank you to all of our security staff for their hard work throughout the year.
Community Choir Master Jay McWinen Box Office Assistants Pat Breen-O’Neill, Erika Drummond, Finn Goulden-Jennings, Izzie Litwin, Anna Miller, Joe Morris, Ashleigh Owen, Jamie Peacock, Susan Segar, Angela Varley, Karen Young. Stage Door Allan Dodd & John Evans. Kitchen Daniel Ambrose, Daniel Awotwi, Steven Banks and Kyle Wardale. Kitchen Porters Billie Chisam, Debbie Chisam, Daniel Dunn, Thomas Thorpe, Kevin Tristram and Nick Watson.
Royal Court Supporters