Time and tide wait for no man – so the saying goes – and it’s almost time for the angels at Old Fruit Jar Productions to get their wings with their production of It’s A Wonderful Life scheduled to premiere at Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio on 19th November through to 30th November before transferring to St George’s Hall on 10th December through to 13th December.
For those who don’t know the original, it’s Christmas Eve, Bedford Falls and George Bailey, a down-on-his-luck banker, believes life has left him behind. But when his guardian angel appears, George is astounded to witness what life could be like without all of the good deeds he’s done. Maybe life wouldn’t be as wonderful without him…
It was a delight to catch up with the team at their recent rehearsals where Artistic Director, Alex Carr, was keen to reiterate that it’s one of those stories that is completely timeless, passed down from generation to generation, and a privilege to bring to Liverpool in time for the festive period.
And in a week when the new government’s budget is hotly anticipated, Carr highlights the immediate parallels to current day issues within Mary Elliott Nelson’s script, which mirrors Frank Capra’s 1946 film, as it brings to the forefront themes of poverty, disparity, and mental health, as well as the transformative power of kindness, something we could all do with a little bit more of at present.
Carr adds that this timeless testament to the enduring power of resilience, community, and the indomitable human spirit in times of uncertainty provides a message that reverberates across the generations to remind us that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope and the potential for redemption.
Spending a Sunday afternoon watching this consummate cast at work certainly lifted my spirits and I am looking forward to performances at both venues, and which bring their own staging opportunities in the telling of this important piece but be quick because tickets are selling fast.
It’s A Wonderful Life performs at Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio from 19th to 30th November at 7.30pm with further matinee performances on Saturday 23rd and Saturday 30th at 1.30pm. Tickets are available via https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/studio/its-a-wonderful-life/
It’s A Wonderful Life then goes on to perform at St George’s Hall Concert Room from 10th to 13th December at 7.30pm with tickets available via https://www.stgeorgeshallliverpool.co.uk/events/its-a-wonderful-life/
Founded in 2019, Old Fruit Jar Productions thrives on telling stories in the most imaginative, engaging, and thought-provoking ways, showcasing their collective talent for all things creative as they do so. Further details on the company https://oldfruitjarproductions.co.uk/