Programme
By Nicky Allt • Production created and originally directed by Bob Eaton • Director Howard Gray Lighting Designer Ian Scott • Sound Designer Kate Harvey • Video Designer Jamie Jenkin
23 April to 22 May 2021 Tickets from £14
0151 709 4321 liverpoolsroyalcourt.com /royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv
Welcome To
Hi and welcome to Liverpool’s Royal Court and our little offering for Christmas, the Royal Court’s Selection Box. It was sometime during the summer lockdown that I met up with the director, Stephen Fletcher to discuss what we were doing for Christmas this year. We’d spent the previous 6 months or so looking at story and character ideas for the Scouse Sleeping Beauty and you’ll be pleased to hear it promises to be a cracking show. But there was something not quite right. It was proving difficult to work on the show when at the back of our minds, to be honest we didn’t have a clue where we would be by Christmas. And by that I mean, the theatre, Liverpool… everything. How can you work on a show when you might not have a theatre? But Christmas at the Royal Court has become something quite special. We hear from so many of the audience that this is how they start Christmas, the actors, band and everyone backstage look forward to it, it creates work for almost 100 people for 12 weeks from front of house staff to chefs, from stage management to box office. We had to do something, but at the same time be prepared to do nothing. In fact it was only when the government announced the new tiers as we came out of lockdown and Liverpool was in Tier 2 that we knew we had a chance of putting the show on. And I feel for our colleagues in other theatres, even as close as Manchester, who have worked as hard as we have to create a show only to find that all that effort has been wasted. It must be so disappointing for them and their audiences. So we have the Selection Box. In a way not doing the usual style show was liberating. We could do anything but at the same time we had to be aware of what you the audience expect. Stephen and I decided on a format that allowed the actors to do what they want within a musical framework created by Stephen and our ace musical director Howard
Gray and we have a show that is a mix of lovely individual turns and some set pieces and songs from previous shows. When it came to the set for the show we turned to Olivia Du Monceau who did such a great job last year on Snow White. We needed something that was clever enough to be the backdrop to lots of unconnected set pieces. Olivia’s done a great job again – and she also found time to bring Elodie in to the world on Monday 30 November. Congratulations on both creations. A big thank you to the Arts Council who have been incredibly supportive throughout this year and in addition we were delighted to receive a Recovery Fund grant to help see us through to next year. To ensure that the show goes on, that grant has allowed us to employ two casts, two stage management teams and two stage crews. There are so many bubbles in the theatre it’s like an Aero. That Arts Council grant has also enabled us adapt the building to be as virus-safe as any building in the city. Every door handle has been fitted with an anti-bacterial cover, the entire auditorium is ‘fogged’ with an anti-bacterial spray before each new audience arrives which kills the coronavirus. The health and safety of you, our staff and all the actors and musicians involved in this show is our priority. Without you we wouldn’t have a theatre – so you could say we’re investing in the future. And when that future does come, when the vaccine is rolled out and life returns to normal , how fantastic it will be. I don’t think any of us will take anything we do here at the theatre for granted. And I believe it will be all the more special because of that. So until then, sit back and enjoy this wonderful Selection Box and stay safe, we need you in the future! Merry Christmas.
Kevin Fearon Executive Producer Liverpoool’s Royal Court
A GREAT PLACE TO EAT AND DRINK WITH FRIENDS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY CENTRE
PRE-THEATRE MENU AVAILABLE 4PM TO 7PM MONDAY TO SATURDAY 2 COURSES FOR £16
3 COURSES FOR £20
89 Roe St, Liverpool, L1 1EP 0151 702 5891
courtyardbk.co.uk
/courtyardbk
@courtyardbk
@courtyard_bk
A well deserved EXTENDED SHOPPING HOURS Shop from 8am until late throughout December for you to get the most out of this Christmas. Over 100 stores, 24hr city parking and open till late.
Check out all of our extended hours at stjohns-shopping.co.uk
Stephen Fletcher Director & Developer It's March 2020. I am sat on row E in The Royal Court theatre stalls, about to watch the second performance of a show I had been directing and working on with an amazing group of performers and creatives called Pete Price is Dead. Before the curtain went up, I got a text from a friend to say that West End theatres were closing the following week due to “the pandemic”. Like most people, I’d been aware of what was going on, without naming it anything so serious as that, but being busy with the usual chaos of tech sessions, lizard costumes, explosions and more, I had lost touch with how fast things were moving. Two days later, as the cast took their bow at what was to be our final show, an older lady who was sat next to me said, “Well done, lad. That was great, that.” I said, “Thanks very much. Take care. I’ll see you at the next one?” She replied, “I hope so, son. I really do.” And she meant it. The penny dropped. The news was real; it was serious, and this was actually happening. Like a lot of people, I hoped it would somehow pass us by.
With just four shows under our belt, our month-long run was cancelled. Our hard work was over. The props, costumes and set were put in mothballs, and, following a final drink in the courtyard, the entire company went their separate ways and straight into lockdown. All theatres across the world went dark. TV sets were closed. Concerts and festivals were scrapped. Tours and gigs were pulled. The whole of the entertainment industry was put on hold. The things we all instinctively reach for to entertain, move, amuse and distract ourselves were vanishing. Now, the world turned to films, old tv dramas, live theatre streaming and other creative outlets to take them as far away from the reality we were all facing as possible. Through it all, I kept thinking about one thing- that without theatre, without a stage, none of that stuff would exist. It kept playing in my head that, without realising it, theatres are where it all begins. Find most screenwriters, actors and directors, designers and technicians, and you can trace their roots back to the stage. So, at one point in lockdown,
when it was looking scarily like theatres were likely to close forever, or at least were being left to survive on their own, I was worried about what that would mean for so many of the people I know and love. That’s why now, after all these months, the effort The Royal Court has put into making this particular show happen, has to be applauded. I don’t know of any other producing house in the country doing what we are doing on the scale we are doing it. And it’s because this venue recognises a lot of what I’ve just spelt out- artists and creatives are the lifeblood of any theatre. Without the people creating the thing we see on the stage, there is no show, there is no audience, there is no building. It all starts with the artist. With a cast of 14 actors, a live band, full tech support, design teams, sound, lights, backstage crew, front of house staff, box office teams, maintenance and more, The Royal Court is not only providing much-needed entertainment but is sustaining an entire family of people attached to this venue at the most precarious time in all our lives. And for that, I know I and the rest of the company, are very grateful for this chance. I seriously don’t know what we would all be doing without it. The Selection box idea which you will see today, began as a variety night. It has grown into something more personal. I wanted to create a celebration of what our performers
can do, put together a reunion, create a thank you from the cast to our audience for your support over the years and a chance to acknowledge what a special place this venue has in all of our lives. Believe me when I say that we’ve missed you all so much. Like everyone during this year, we have faced challenges and hardships, anxieties and loss. For me, personally, it’s allowed me to take stock about what is important, and what really matters in life and who I want to try and entertain with the work I create. With our Selection Box, and other shows I have been a part of here, I have always tried to give the audience a bit more than they expect from a night at the theatre and I hope to build on that with more directing and new writing ahead if I’m lucky enough. I hope to take as many of you along with me as I can, and I will always do my best to offer an entertaining, engaging, and uplifting night out. This year has taught me just how important that is to all of us. I hope you enjoy yourselves watching our show. It has been created with love. Stephen PS- Not everyone of our audience who saw last Christmas will be with us this year, and it is to them I would like to dedicate this show.
A brilliant new comedy with Leanne in the mourning!
PETE PRICE IS DEAD Written by Leanne Campbell • Directed and Developed by Stephen Fletcher • Designed by Jocelyn Meall Sound Design by Kate Harvey
8 October to 6 November 2021 Tickets from £14 No booking fees!
0151 709 4321 liverpoolsroyalcourt.com /royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv
Company Biographies WE PUT THE CITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The latest ‘whats on’ news for Liverpool, when and how you want it
Follow The Guide now
@TheGuideLpool www.theguideliverpool.com
ENJOY THE SHOW
Rehearsals
Rehearsal photographs by L1 Photography
Cast & Company Cast
Crackers Jake Abraham Jamie Clarke Michael Fletcher Catherine Rice Andrew Schofield Keddy Sutton Liam Tobin
Presents Roy Brandon Eithne Browne Stephen Fletcher Lindzi Germain Joe Speare Michael Starke Hayley Sheen
Band Keys Guitar Bass Drums
Ben Gladwin Mike Woodvine Howard Gray Greg Joy
Company Developed by Stephen Fletcher and Howard Gray with additional material by the cast Director Stephen Fletcher Musical Arrangements and Musical Direction Howard Gray Choreographer Bev Edmunds Designer Olivia Du Monceau Lighting Designer Ian Scott Sound Designer Kate Harvey Video Designer Jamie Jenkin Wardrobe Supervisor Marie Jones Stage Manager Sean Gannon Workshop Manager Mick Bawden
Crackers DSM ASM Crew Sound No2 LX Op Sound Op Dressers
Carpenters Mike Gray Jonathan Defty
Presents
Steph Carter Snowzie Rose Jake Pendleton Helena Harvey Jamie Haining Jono Tringham Kate Hinson
DSM ASM Crew Sound No2 LX Op Sound Op Dressers
Workshop Runners Mick Colligan Daryll Hanton
Set by Sightlines Thanks Envision Barry at Colourcreate The Guide Liverpool
Rhys Carl Amy Whalley Gary Currin Liam Mcgrath Rebecca Maguire Jono Tringham Hannah Marshall Abbie Caskie Painters Roberta Mckeown Michael Martin
Cast Biographies The Desert. This was the first time a Laurel & Hardy film has ever been produced on stage and received massive critical acclaim.
Jake Abraham
Roy’s West End debut was as Ariel in The Olivier Award winning musical, Return To The Forbidden Planet. Roy has also played Dame in over 30 pantomimes, including Ugly Sister
Theatre includes
at The Liverpool Empire in 2008 (City Of Culture Year) alongside Cilla
Brown Bitter Wet Nellies and Scouse (Liverpool Everyman); On The
Black and Les Dennis and at The Empire again as Widow Twankey with
Ledge by Alan Bleasdale and Guiding Star by Jonathan Harvey (Royal
Claire Sweeney. Roy also had a five year stint in The Rock’n’Roll Panto
National Theatre and Liverpool Everyman tour); The Pinocchio Boys by
at the Everyman Theatre.
Jim Morrison (Young Vic); Council Depot Blues. Lost Soul 1 and 2 by Dave Kirby. A Fistful Of Collars, Scouse of the Pacific, Merry Ding Dong by Fred Lawless, YNWA by Nicky Allt, A Miracle On Great Homer Street and Yellow Brick Road by Gerry Linford (Liverpool’s Royal Court).
TV Credits include: Coronation Street, Brookside, Bread, Watching, Albion Market, Undercover Customs, Liverpool 1, A&E, Children’s Ward, Big Meg/Little Meg, And The Beat Goes On, Playing The Field, Nice Guy Eddie, Merseybeat, Johnny & The Bomb, Mobile, Lillies and
Films include
numerous commercials and radio voiceovers.
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels by Guy Ritchie, Mean Machine by Matthew Vaughn, London Boulevard, 51st State, Blonde Fist, Spike Island and The Parole Officer.
Film Credit: Julie & The Cadillacs alongside Thora Hird, Victor Spinetti and Toyah Wilcox.
Television includes Sharpe’s Gold, The Governor, Justice, GBH, Liverpool One, Red Dwarf, Help, The Bill, Holby City, Moving On. I have been fortunate enough to work on a number of plays at the Royal Court Liverpool. Being involved in this Christmas show really makes me
Eithne Browne
feel like part of the family. The Royal Court has gone above and beyond to provide the people of Liverpool with another festive feast for the eyes and ears. All the staff who have pulled this off in these tough and uncertain times deserve a round of applause.
Eithne is thrilled to be back on stage here at the Royal Court. Eithne’s first appearance was on stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. On its transfer to the West End Eithne took over from Barbara Dickson in the lead role for over 50 performances. Not bad for a first job! Her other favourite stage plays include: Shirley Valentine (Northcott
Roy Brandon
Theatre); Educating Rita (national tour); To Kill a Mockingbird (New Vic Theatre, Stoke); Stags and Hens (New Vic, London); 8 Miles High, Alfie, A Pocket Dream (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); Billy Liar, A Month
Roy’s professional acting debut was at the Liverpool Playhouse, in the
in the Country (Salisbury Playhouse); Talking Heads (Arts Academy,
hugely successful rock ‘n’ roll musical, Cavern Of Dreams.
Liverpool); A Sense of Justice (Perth Repertory Theatre); The Secret
Theatre work since has included:
Garden (Byre Theatre, St Andrews); Intent to Murder, Say Who You
Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, One For The Road, Superted, The Fosdyke Saga, Imagine, Hurt, Trafford Tanzi, The Sound Of Fury, Just For Laughs, Animal Island, Surf’s Up, Stan & Ollie, The Little Feller, The Berserker Boys, Good Golly Miss Molly, Rocky’s Last Round, On The Ledge, The Salon, Council Depot Blues, Reds and Blues, Down Our Street, Life, a brand new musical, and Brick Up Two – The Wrath of Anne Twacky, playing the role of Dennis Twacky
Are, Boeing Boeing (English Theatre, Vienna); Limestone Cowboy (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); The Odd Couple, An Awfully Big Adventure, Tartuffe, The Star (Liverpool Playhouse); Wuthering Heights (National Tour); The Full Monty (National Tour); Vagina Monologues (Neptune Theatre and Royal Court Liverpool); GYD Diet, The Sum, Northern Flight (Everyman Theatre); Mam I’m ‘Ere (Dome Liverpool); Tuppence To Cross The Mersey (Epstein Theatre and
for the 11th year running!
touring); I Am Janet (Gap Theatre Manchester); Brick Up the Mersey
Roy starred as Stan Laurel in The Royal Court production of Sons Of
Miles High, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Merry Ding Dong, Funny
Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Two, Cinderella, Eight
Money, Ladies Day, Masquerade, Special Measures and Golden Oldies (and teas and coffees) (Royal Court Liverpool). TV Roles: Chrissy Rogers in Channel 4’s Brookside, she has appeared in:
Michael Fletcher
Coronation Street, Mobile, Lillies, Cold Feet (Granada); The Royal, Emmerdale (YTV); Doctors, Stretford Wives, Clocking Off, Peace Keepers, Having It Off, the BAFTA award-winning Room At The Top (BBC TV) and Secret State (BBC). Eithne was voted Woman Of The Year at the 2013/14 Daily Post & Echo Arts & Culture Awards. She is also the voice of the world famous Mersey Ferry.
What a year it’s been eh!? I’m so happy we are all able to be back with each other for Christmas. As I say in the show ‘it wouldn’t be Christmas without a Royal Court Christmas Show’ and now more than ever we need to come together and celebrate the good, whilst in no way forgetting the hardships we have all faced as a whole. This year more than ever I would like to thank you all for taking the time in joining us to escape for a few hours. Our Royal Court family is complete, albeit socially distant, but I hope you feel that the love and camaraderie is there with bells on. This show is for you, the person who is reading this. Without you, we
Jamie Clarke Jamie studied Acting at LIPA. Her Theatre credits include:
wouldn’t have a building to all come together in, so thankyou from the bottom of my heart. Here’s to a better 2021, stay safe everyone. Much love to you all xx Michael trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Scouse Snow White and Scouse Pacific (Liverpool’s Royal Court);
After graduating he became a top 20 finalist for the ITV1 Search For A
Revolt, She Said, Revolt Again! (Everyman YEP Festival); Refugee
Superstar with Andrew Lloyd Webber.
(Theatre Uncut); Mam! I’m ‘Ere! (Life In Theatre Productions);
His theatre credits include:
Official History Of Liverpool Football Club (Alterean Media, UK
Will in Pete Price Is Dead (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); The
& Ireland Tour); A Nightmare On Lime Street (Liverpool’s Royal Court); A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth (Lodestar Theatre Company); Hound Of The Baskervilles (Greenwich Theatre); You’ll Never Walk Alone (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Grand Opening Ceremony, Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RSC); Tales From The Haunted Liverpool (St George’s Hall); Twopence To Cross The Mersey (Liverpool Empire Theatre); Snow White (New Brighton Floral Pavilion); A Small Family Business, Sweeney Todd and A Chorus Line (LIPA).
Huntsman in The Scouse Snow White (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); Lead Vocalist and Ring Master in Xanadu and The Feast (Giffords Circus UK tour); Buttons in The Scouse Cinderella, Joseph in The Scouse Nativity (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); Man 1 in Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (YEP Everyman Theatre); Jonny Hamlet In Roll Over Beethoven (Belgrade Theatre); Boris in Scouse of the Rising Sun (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); Si in Mam! I’m ‘Ere (Life in Theatre Productions- Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); Ensemble in Something Wonderful - A Celebration of Rogers and Hammerstein (Hope Mill
TV credits include:
Theatre); Boris in Pharaoh Cross The Mersey (Royal Court Theatre
Hollyoaks (Channel 4); Doctors (BBC); The Royal (YTV).
Liverpool); Joseph in One Night In Istanbul Theatre and Arena Tour
She is also a successful session singer having provided lead and backing vocals for numerous bands and companies such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company, ALR Music, Stony Browder Jr, Kid Creole and The Coconuts and is touring the country with The Flynn and Tonics.
Jamie is honoured to be working with the Royal Court family this year and thanks everyone for coming to support the show and helping to keep theatre alive.
(Alterean Media Ltd); Boris/ Kawolski in Scouse of the Antarctic (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool); Paul McCartney- Yellow Submarine Tour (Italy Tour - Erasmus Theatre); Eddie in The Sunshine Boys (Life In Theatre Productions) Beast in Beauty and the Beast (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre); Pete in Departure Lounge (The Unity Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Man 1 (Songs For a New World- The Unity Theatre). Theatre credits whilst training include: Molina (Kiss of The Spiderwoman); Henry Etches (Titanic the Musical); Saturninus (Titus Andronicus); Roger (The Danny Crowe Show); Various (A Clockwork Orange); Billy Bigalow (Carousel); Action (West Side Story); Nanki Poo (Hot Mikado); Mordy (Three Sisters on Hope Street); Gertie (Fuddy Meers)
Cast Biographies I’d like to say a big well done to my brother Stephen, who as well as
Stephen is developing new work and is delighted to be back on the
developing the script, has directed the show and is in the other cast
Royal Court stage once again.
of The Royal Court Selection Box. In awe of you Ste. Well done for everything. Cheers all and take care. Mikey x
Lindzi Germain Lindzi is one of our city’s well known character actors and is one of the
Stephen Fletcher Stephen trained at LIPA. As well as his work as an actor, he is also producer of Life In Theatre Productions in Liverpool and the writer and director of Mam! I’m ’Ere.
Royal Court’s regulars - so much so she doesn’t even take her stuff home any more! Theatre credits include: Night Collar, Council Depot Blues, Lost Soul, Down Our Street, The Royal, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Alehouse, The Entertainer, Bon Voyage, Beserker
Theatre credits include:
Boys, Virgin Express, Desperate Scousewives, Merry Ding Dong,
A Life in the Theatre, The Sunshine Boys, The Last 5 Years, Mam!
Scouse Pacific, Scouse of the Antarctic, Scouse of the Rising Sun,
I’m ’Ere! (Life In Theatre Productions); A Streetcar Named Desire,
Pharoah ‘Cross The Mersey, Scouse Nativity, Mam I’m ‘Ere, Sex
Willy Russell’s Breezeblock Park (Liverpool Playhouse); Eric’s and
In Suburbia (tour), YNWA (Royal Court and tour), A Fistful of Collars,
Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman); The Scouse Cinderella,
Little Scouse on the Prairie, Her Benny, The King & I, King Lear,
The Scouse Nativity, Lennon, Our Day Out, Scouse Pacific, Little
Our Bessie, Reds & Blues, Scouse Cinderella, Lost Soul 2 and Achy
Scouse On The Prairie, Stags and Hens 30th Anniversary Remix,
Breaky Bride. Lindzi has appeared in many pantomimes throughout her
Noises Off!, Special Measures, and Canoeing For Beginners
career for LHK Productions and Pele Productions, appearing in Peter
(Royal Court, Liverpool); 57 Hours in The House of Culture (The
Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, Robin Hood and Babes In The Wood.
National Theatre Studio); Up on the Roof (Oldham Coliseum / The New Wolsey); Hamlet, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Shakespeare Festival); Cinderella (Liverpool Empire); Mary Stuart (The Donmar and West End); The Safari Party (The New Vic); Comfort (Old Vic); 7 Stories (Etcetera); 100% Bullet Proof (Soho Theatre); John Godber’s Teechers (Dubai) Betwixt: The Musical (The King’s Head); Top of the Heap / Cassanova Returns (Cardiff Global Search for a new musical Festival); The Wild Party (Edinburgh Fringe); She Loves Me (LIPA) and Falsettoland (NSTC/Edinburgh Festival). As Director, Stephen’s credits include: The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon, The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert
TV and film credits include: Lindzi has just finished filming Tin Star with Tim Roth. Bella in Clink (5Star), The Way We Are (Feature film), Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion (ITV), Les’ Liverpool (BBC), Bodies II (ITV), Common As Muck (ITV), Emmerdale (Yorkshire TV), Prime Suspect (ITV), Dave Kirby’s 15 Minutes That Shook The World, Gwladys in Reds & Blues: The Ballad of Dixie & Kenny, Adam (Short film) and Shooting Fish (short). Writing credits include: The Royal, Mother’s Pride, Lindzi Germain Merseymouth stand up show, Women With Balls.
Brown, Fabaret, Our Bev and This Is Our Bev co-created by Catherine
Lindzi is one of the presenters on The Guide Liverpool and has her own
Rice and himself, A Life in the Theatre by David Mamet, and his self-
vlog page Mersey Mouth.
penned disco-spoof musical, Mam! I’m ‘Ere!
Lindzi is currently penning a new musical for the stage and a brand new
TV Credits include:
comedy sketch show for Channel 5.
Emmerdale, The Liverpool Nativity, BRITZ, All About Me, Kerching, Ricky’s Joke Shop, Heartbeat, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. Stephen is also a regular voice for BBC Radio 4, various awards events including BAFTA, and is a member of the Old Vic New Voices Company. Follow Stephen on Twitter @SteFletcher1
TV credits include: Scully in Alan Bleasdale’s Scully. He has also appeared in three more Bleasdale series, as Peter Grenville in GBH in 1991, Jake’s Progress in 1995 and in Melissa in 1997. Other TV
Catherine Rice
credits include Maisie Raine; Sharpe; Murphy’s Law; Boys from the Blackstuff; Liverpool Nativity for BBC Three; Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World; Cilla; Moving On; Loco; Tin Star.
Catherine Rice is a Liverpool-based actress, comedian and writer. She has performed in many theatre tours up and down the country, as well as
For Phil and Neeta Hearne and Uncle Tommy.
appearing in numerous TV and Film projects. This will be Cath’s fourth appearance on the main stage at the Royal Court. She has enjoyed roles in Dave Kirby’s Lost Soul & Miracle on Great Homer Street by Gerry Linford. Cath has also performed on the
Hayley Sheen
downstairs Studio stage in her own award-winning sellout one women show Our Bev which was co-written and directed by one of the Royal Court’s favorites Stephen Fletcher. The team went on to produce ten short episodes during the summer in collaboration with Culture Liverpool. These can be found on YouTube #thisisourbev. They also recorded a special episode for BBC Radio Blown Away. There will be more news to come about “Bev” soon. Before lockdown Cath was performing at Liverpool’s Camp and Furnace playing another of her creations at the iconic monthly event Ya Nan’s Big Quiz. Nan has been shielding for the last few months. Cath is delighted to be performing in this year’s Royal Court Christmas show Selection Box with a cast filled with such talented actors and musicians.
Hello to the wonderful Royal Court audience. It is a joy to be able to get back on this stage this year in my 7th Christmas show at this amazing theatre. Credits include: Snow White in The Scouse Snow White; Sally in Mam I’m ‘Ere; Cinderella in The Scouse Cinderella; Eve in Adam & Eve and Steve; Mary in The Scouse Nativity; Blue Girl in Shout; Faryl in Golden Oldies; Daisy in Scouse of the Rising Sun; Multi-Role in Shake It Up Baby. After an extremely challenging year, this one is for my incredible Mum, Lynn Francis and for my Aunty Jean who will be dancing from above. I hope you all have a fantastic time and don’t forget a Christmas tip for our front of house team who have worked harder than ever to make this one possible. Merry Christmas!
Andrew Schofield Andrew has appeared in Blood Brothers in 1983 at the Liverpool Playhouse and in the subsequent transfer to the Lyric Theatre in London’s
Joe Speare
West End. He also appeared as George in Of Mice and Men at the Old Vic, London in 2005. Theatre credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels as Dickie Lewis; Smigger in Lost Soul in 2007 and 2008; Brian in Good Golly Miss Molly; Moey in the Alan Bleasdale comedy On The Ledge; Paul
Joe was born in Liverpool and he started performing in bands whilst still at school. He gained a diploma in Practical Musicianship and went on to sing with the a-capella group Natural High (who later became The Christians) and American Soul band, Chairman of The Board.
Sheldon in Misery; the Traveller in Eight Miles High; Danny in Council
Joe’s musical theatre credits include:
Depot Blues; Joe in Night Collar; JJ in The Flags and Mr Briggs in
Elf The Musical (Arena Tour); Guys And Dolls (Royal Exchange); I
Our Day Out - The Musical. He performed all of these roles at the
Can’t Sing (London Palladium); The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. Since then he has appeared in A Life In
Factory London); Jose in The Harder They Come (The Barbican,
The Theatre, The Sunshine Boys and Mam I’m ‘Ere (Life in Theatre
Birmingham and the West End); Carmen Jones (Southbank Centre);
Productions); Dreaming of a Barry White Christmas (Echo Arena).
The King in The King And I (Irish Tour); Boogie Nights 2 – The 80’s
Film credits include: Sid and Nancy, Distant Voices, Still Lives, Three Businessmen, Hamlet, Revengers Tragedy, Under The Mud.
(National Tour); Boogie Nights for Qdos Entertainment (National and South African Tour); The Official Tribute To The Blues Brothers for
Cast Biographies David Pugh Ltd (National and International Tours); Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Ronny Yu and starring Samuel L Jackson. Michael is probably best known
for The Turnstyle Group (National Tour); Genie in Aladdin at the Opera
to TV viewers as Sinbad, a role he played for fifteen years in Channel 4’s
Theatre, Manchester.
Brookside. He then spent six years playing Ken Hopkirk in Yorkshire TV’s
His other theatre credits include: Lucky Eric in Bouncers (Liverpool’s Royal Court), To Kill A Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Kujur in Slave: A
The Royal and Jerry Morton in Coronation Street. Michael was in the Christmas episode of Casualty. Michael also featured in the Channel 4 series The Virtues.
Question of Freedom (Feelgood Productions); Mullins in Peter Pan
In 2010 Michael was one of the three Edna Turnblads in the national
(Pele Productions); Jim in Huck (Fresh Glory Productions); Genie Of
tour of Hairspray with Michael Ball and Brian Conley. He followed that
The Lamp in Aladdin for First Family Entertainment (Opera House,
with the role of Monsignor O’Hara in the Whoopi Goldberg produced
Manchester); Daniel in Katrina (Oxo Tower, London); Reverend Sykes
national tour of Sister Act.
in To Kill A Mockingbird (Birmingham Rep & West Yorkshire Playhouse plus a National Tour); Harvey and Nude With Violin (Royal Exchange); The Mysteries 2003, Twelfth Night, Of Mice and Men, Martin Chuzzlewit, Bouncers, The Tokolosh (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); Bouncers and Hansel and Gretel (Octagon Theatre, Bolton); The Revenger’s Tragedy (The West Yorkshire Playhouse); Bare (Oldham
His recent roles here have included A Nightmare On Lime Street, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fazakerley, Scouse Of The Antarctic, Special Measures and Shed. He has also completed two films: Jack Ryan directed by Kenneth Branagh and a British film, Longtails, produced and directed by Elizabeth Arends.
Coliseum); Peter Pan and Toad of Toad Hall (Birmingham Repertory);
Since Michael’s last appearance at the Royal Court, he has done an
The North West Playwright’s Workshops (Contact Theatre,
episode of Moving On with fellow RC actor Jake Abraham. And is
Manchester); Waiting For Godot, The Double and Man Friday
waiting (Covid permitting) to complete working on a feature film here
(Liverpool’s Playhouse Studio) and several productions for Unicorn
in Liverpool called Stephen. But the biggest event of next year is
Theatre For Children in London.
the imminent arrival of his new Grandson. Which is a ‘Hayley Sheen
Joe’s television and film credits include: Prime Suspect V, Cracker, Coronation Street and Children’s
Production’ and is the second grandchild to appear in the Royal Court stage as a ‘bump’.
Ward for Granada Television; Raffle Baby for Real Life Productions;
Michael would like to dedicate this performance to family and friends we
Emmerdale for Yorkshire Television; The Bill for Thames; That Peter
have lost this year. Here’s to a brighter, kinder future. Peace and Love.
Kay Thing for Open Mike Productions; Cold Earth for Gatlin Pictures. He has also recorded September Song, The Last of The Mohicans and Anacaona for B.B.C. Radio 4.
Keddy Sutton Keddy trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and with
Michael Starke
Ken Campbell’s Improvisational Company - The School of Night. Theatre:
Michael began his professional career at Liverpool Playhouse in the
Mr Gum RND (National Theatre); Shirley Valentine (Theatre Royal,
1984 production of Cavern of Dreams by Carol Ann Duffy. The next
Bury St. Edmunds); Keddy was a member of the Liverpool Everyman
few years saw him appearing almost exclusively at the Everyman in
Rep Company in 2018 and played Sarah Woodling in Paint Your
Liverpool, where he appeared in such shows as The Resistable Rise
Wagon, Ma and Gustav in The Big I Am and Minister, Branom
of Arturo Ui, Hamlet, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew,
and Mum in A Clockwork Orange and in 2017 she performed in
She Stoops to Conquer, Three Sisters, and No Holds Bard. Michael
Fiddler On The Roof, The Sum, Conquest Of The South Pole
was the first ‘guest star’ in the Olivier Award winning The Play What I
and Romeo And Juliet (Liverpool Everyman); Pete Price Is Dead,
Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Other theatre work includes Be
Scouse Snow White, Scouse Cinderella, Scouse Nativity, Scouse
Bop A Lula, Blood Brothers (Leicester Haymarket) Anything Goes
Of The Rising Sun, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, Stags
(National Tour).
And Hens (Directed by Willy Russell and Bob Eaton For Capital Of
Film work includes: No Surrender by Alan Bleasdale, Distant Voices, written and directed by Terrence Davies, The 51st State directed by
Culture), and Slappers And Slapheads (Liverpool Royal Court); Terry Titter’s Summer Special (Liverpool Royal Court Studio); Princess And The Pea (Unity Theatre, Liverpool); Mam I’m Ere (Life In Theatre
Productions); Dreaming Of A Barry White Xmas (Liverpool Echo
Theatre/Mappa Mundi), Cider With Rosie & The Merchant of Venice
Arena); The Queen’s Knickers (The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath and UK
(Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmonds), Gods Official (West Yorkshire
Tour); Peppa Pig (West End and No 1 Tour); ; Cruel Sea (Liverpool
Playhouse and, a European tour of Pygmalion (American Drama Group).
Everyman); Handbag The Musical (Theatre In The Quarter); The Games, Hoof, Beasts And Beauties (Spike Theatre); Dormouse in Alice In Wonderland (Hope Street); Rita, Sue n Bob Too (Theatre Royal St Helens); Ken Campbell’s Improvisational School Of Night (The Globe, Drill Hall, Edinburgh Fringe, Jeremy Beadles Library and The Royal Court, London); Beyond Our Ken (National Theatre); In Pursuit Of Cardeenio (Edinburgh Fringe); 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton); Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and Dick Whittington (Buxton Opera House); Beauty And The Beast (Theatre Royal, Wakefield); Robinson Crusoe (Theatre Royal, Winchester); Singa-Longa-Eurovision (AJN Productions); Dorothy’s War (The Harmonettes, Northern Tour) Television: Good Cop and Nice Guy Eddie (BBC); Fated (Ace Films); Keddy appeared in her own driving documentary - Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre. Keddy was the face of Pot Noodle on the Internet. Radio/Audio: Keddy provides the Woodland Voices in Brian Jacques’ award winning audio chronicles - Redwall; Narrator of the April Ashley Project (Liverpool Museum); Narrator (Chester College); Narrator (BBC Learning). Keddy is a member of the vocal group Handbag of Harmonies. Writing: Tabbard The Musical and Caz ’N’ Britney Present Scottie Road The Musical (From Primark to Prison) and Mis Les (A Revolution In Rollers). Keddy would like to wish everyone a merry Xmas and a Happy new Tier Rollers).
Liam Tobin Previous work at the Royal Court: Pete Price is Dead, Lost in Colomendy, The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery and Slappers & Slapheads. Other Theatre includes: Miracle On 34th Street (Liverpool Playhouse), Sweeney Todd (Liverpool Everyman), Benny (Gilded Balloon Edinburgh Fringe), Paint Your Wagon, A Clockwork Orange, The Big I Am, Fiddler on the Roof, Conquest of the South Pole, The Sum, Romeo & Juliet (Liverpool Everyman Rep Company), The Hobbit (Dukes Lancaster), Hamlet (Clwyd Theatr Cymru), Clybourne Park, When the Rain Stops Falling (Unity Liverpool/Said & Done), A View From The Bridge (Liverpool Playhouse), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Brief Encounter , Dead Funny (Torch Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream &She Stoops To Conquer (Torch
Screen work includes Then & Now, Hollyoaks, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, The Royal, Heartbeat, The Cops, Seeing Red, The Second Comingand the feature film Al’s Lads.
Company Biographies Stephen Fletcher Director
See cast biography.
Olivia du Monceau Designer This is Olivia’s fifth design for the Liverpool Royal Court, previously Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, The Lonesome West, The
Howard Gray
Miracle On Great Homer Street and Yellow Breck Road and the
Musical Arrangements and Musical Direction
fourth design that has included a priest. Other Key Theatre credits include:
For the Royal Court, Howard has been the Musical Director for Lennon,
Uniglobal opening Ceremony (ECHO Arena); Kings (Nottingham
Our Day Out, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Eight Miles High, Sons
Playhouse); Town Mouse Country Mouse (Nottingham Playhouse);
Of The Desert, Council Depot Blues, Reds And Blues, Brick Up
Retreat : This is Human (HOME Mcr); One Step Forward
The Mersey Tunnels, The Scouse Nativity, Maggie May, The
(Dreamthinkspeak); Blood Wedding (Liverpool Playhouse); The Ruck
Scouse Cinderella and Scouse Pacific amongst many others. He has
Tour (CAST; Theatre Royal; Lawrence Batley Theatre); Thérèse Raquin
also directed two Royal Court Christmas shows Pharaoh ’Cross The
(Southwark Playhouse);
Mersey and Scouse Of The Antarctic and subsequently tours of One
A Bright Room Called Day (Southwark Playhouse).
Night In Istanbul and Celtic The Musical. He has been associate artist at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and was musical director for Blonde Bombshells Of 1943, a co-production with Hampstead Theatre, which won the Manchester Evening News Best Production for 2006. The show has subsequently toured nationally and internationally. Other work at the Octagon includes: Looking For Buddy, Little Voice, Once Upon A Time In Wigan, Oh What A Lovely War, The Song Of Singapore, Danny, Champion Of The World, and I Just Stopped By To See The Man. At the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham: Bread And Roses, The Ladykillers, Our Gracie, Close The Coalhouse Door, Martha, Josie And The Chinese Elvis, Dick Barton Special Agent, Union Street, Women On The Verge Of HRT, Private Lives, Feed, The Road To Nab End, Sweet Charity, and Brassed Off. Also a hatful of rock’n’roll muiscals and pantomimes. At the New Vic in Stoke: A Taste Of Honey, The Admirable Crichton, and Spring And Port Wine amongst many others. Other work includes any number of pantos at the Liverpool Everyman and Harrogate Theatre. Howard has worked on two of Dave Kirby’s films, Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World and Reds And Blues. Plus productions at Opera North, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Royal Exchange, Theatre Clywd, Coventry Belgrade, Worcester Swan, York Theatre Royal, Lancaster Dukes, Live Theatre Newcastle and Stephen Joseph Scarborough.
Site specifically she has designed plays in the Liverpool Tobacco Warehouse, Croxteth Fire station, Lancaster Castle, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Olivia has also designed 42 Theatre production for the MST most recently based at HOME Mcr and supervised for over ten years at LIPA. Key Exhibition credits include: April Ashley Portrait of a Lady (Homotopia / Museum of Liverpool); L8 Unseen (Museum of Liverpool); Harmony in Blue & Gold (Liverpool Art Biennial / Bluecoat gallery); Olympic Mascot statues (public art displayed on Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, The West End and Regent’s Park). In 2013 she was elected to represent the UK as part of the World Stage Design Exhibits for her design on drag queen Gale Force Council House Movie Star. Olivia designs for a number artistic disciplines predominantly theatre, exhibitions and art installations. Example of her work can be found at www.oliviadumonceau.com
Ian Scott Lighting Designer
Kate Harvey Sound Designer
Trained at Mountview
A list of sound credits include:
Recent credits: Maggie May, The Miracle of Great Homer Street
Corporate/Outdoor : Labour, Conservative, NUT, TUC and many more
(Royal Court, Liverpool); Up ‘n’ Under (fingersmiths); Reasons To Be
conferences. Various exhibitions. Symphony in the Park (Hoghton
Cheerful (Graeae); Silk…The Eternal Road (Century Theatre, Beijing);
Tower).
Duet for One (Birmingham Rep / Lee Dean & Daniel Schumann); All
TV: Stan James World Match Dartsplay (Sky Sports), Strictly
My Sons (Nottingham Playhouse) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ballroom (ITV), Danny La Rue(BBC), Spirit of Shankly (Granada DVD).
(Aldeburgh Festival).
Cruises : P&O World Cruises, Island Cruises, Celebrity.
Other work includes: Marco Polo / Messiah (Bergen National Opera);
Arena : Hot Ice (Stageworks Worldwide Productions); You’ll Never
Fish Eye (Theatre Alibi); The Solid Life of Sugar Water (Graeae /
Walk Alone (Alterean Media and Liverpool FC).
Theatre Royal, Plymouth / National Theatre); Owen Wingrave / Where
Music: The Christians, Chesney Hawkes, Sinita, Slade, Bad Manners,
The Wild Things Are (Aldeburgh Festival); Fawlty Towers Live (Roslyn
Toyah, Limahl, Cream UK Tour, Petula Clarke, Bobby Crush, East 17,
Packer Theatre, Sydney); The Royal / A Scouse Nativity / Lonesome
Liberty X, Jane McDonald, Coldplay.
West / Down The Dock Road (Royal Court, Liverpool); Flat Stanley (Polka / West Yorkshire Playhouse); Frozen (fingersmiths / Birmingham Rep); The Drummer Boy of Waterloo (Jubilee Opera); The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre); Our Friends Up North (Northern Stage); The Joke (Will Adamsdale / Fuel); A Skull In Connemara (Nottingham Playhouse); My Name is… (Tamasha); Oh! What a Lovely War / Frogs (National Theatre); Curlew River (White Light Festival, New York / UCLA Berkeley / St. Giles, Barbican); Animal Farm (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Abbey Theatre, Dublin).
Comedy: Jason Mansford, Peter Kay, Roy Walker, Norman Wisdom, Jim Bowen, Brian Conley, Brendan O’Carroll, Paddy McGuiness. Live Theatre: Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty (King Georges Hall, Blackburn); Mystique (Stageworks); Original TV Comedians (Blackpool Opera House); Paul Zerdin (Paradise Room Blackpool); Flags (Manchester Exchange); Mam I’m Ere (Life in Theatre); Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Bouncers, Night Collar, Our Day Out, Shirley Valentine, Sex in the Surburbs, Reds and Blues, Ladies Night, Lennon, Noises Off, Canoeing for Beginners, Lost Soul, Golden Oldies, The Royal, Scouse Nativity, Girls don’t play guitars (Royal Court Liverpool); Twopence to cross the Mersey (Pulse Records); SHOUT! (Max Emmerson Productions); Out of Order and It runs in the family (Ray Cooney Comedy Company) Bang Bang (A production for John Cleese at Mercury Theatre, Colchester) Omnibus (Unity Theatre) Judy and Liza National Tour (Produced by Royal Court Liverpool) By the waters of Liverpool National Tour (Pulse Records).
Company Biographies Jamie Jenkin
Beverley Norris-Edmunds
Video Designer
Choreographer
Jamie is the in-house graphic and video designer at Liverpool’s Royal Court.
Beverley is delighted to be back at the Royal Court.
Starting as marketing assistant at the theatre in 2005, he has designed artwork for over 50 shows.
Productions worked on here include: Scouse Snow White, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Scouse Pacific, Lost
Video Designs for Theatre include:
Soul 2, Scouse Nativity, Golden Oldies, The Royal, Father O’Flaherty
Willy Russell’s Our Day Out - The Musical, A Fistul Of Collars, Lennon,
Saves Our Souls, Sex in Suburbia, Canoeing for Beginners,
Ladies Day, Hitchhikers Guide to Fazakerley, Ladies Night, Canoeing
Bouncers, Special Measures, Our Day Out The Musical by Willy
for Beginners, The Scouse Nativity, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our
Russell (premiered 2009 and 2010), Ladies Night, Good Golly Miss
Souls, A Miracle On Great Homer Street, Home, Going Halves,
Molly, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Dirty Dusting, Nightmare on Lime
The Royal, The Scouse Cinderella, My Fairfield Lady, The Menlove
Street, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Brick up the Mersey Tunnels 1
Avenue Murder Mystery and Girls Don’t Play Guitars (Liverpool’s
and 2, Merry Ding Dong, Slappers and Slapheads, Reds ‘n’ Blues.
Royal Court); Masquerade and Knee Deep In Promises (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio); Cured (Liverpool’s Royal Court in association with DaDaFest & Unlimited); The Dream Team and VR Family (Liverpool’s Royal Court Youth Theatre); Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Shakespeare Festival); Scouse: A Comedy Of Terrors (Dome Liverpool); Judy & Liza (National Tour); YNWA (Alterean Productions, international tour); The Big I Am (Liverpool Everyman); Celtic The Musical (Alterean
Recent choreography includes: The Worst Witch, recent Olivier Award winner for Best Family Show (UK Theatre Tour, Vaudeville Theatre West End, Royal and Derngate Theatre Northampton); Around the World in 80 Days which premiered at The New Victory Theatre on Broadway New York after It’s UK tour starting at the New Vic Theatre (Newcastle -under-Lyme).
Productions, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow), The Salford Docker (Salford
For New Vic Theatre Stoke:
Community Theatre, Lighthouse Salford) and Peter Pan (Storyhouse
Numerous productions most recent being The 39 Steps,The Prince
Chester).
and the Pauper, Handbagged, Much Ado About Nothing and Cyrano (co-production with Northern Broadsides), Astley’s Astounding Adventures,Playhouse Creatures, Treasure Island, Around The World In 80 Days (co-production with Kenny Wax , Simon Friend and Royal Exchange), The Snow Queen (UK Theatre Award Winner). Oldham Coliseum: Again numerous productions. Most recent include Oh What A Lovely War, Up ‘n ‘ Under, Hot Stuff, Chicago (MEN Theatre Award Winner for Best Ensemble). For Northern Broadsides and touring: Much Ado, Hard Times, Cyrano, Love’s Labours Lost. Touring credits include: Return To The Forbidden Planet, Carmen, Sex In Suburbia. TV credits include: Disney’s The Evermoor Chronicles, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, CBeebie’s The Magic Door, Butterfly, Sunny D, Fernando Torres Nike Commercial, September Song, Brookside and the feature film O Jerusalem. Beverley has also choreographed numerous productions for The Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres, Bolton Octagon, Hull Truck Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, Liverpool Empire Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, Haymarket Theatre Basingstoke,
Harrogate Theatre, New Perspective Theatre company and for the award winning Tmesis Theatre, Claybody Theatre and Imaginarium Theatre Companies.
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.
Life In Theatre and
Liverpool’s Royal Court proudly present
The smash hit summer show is back!
r Written and D irected by Stephen Fletche
25 June to 24 July 2021 Tickets from ÂŁ14 No booking fees!
0151 709 4321 liverpoolsroyalcourt.com /royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv @royalcourtliv