Bill Elms Archives - Page 2 of 2

2Jul

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Swan Song – Unity Theatre

I have just returned home from Liverpool’s Unity Theatre, or for the purposes of this evening a high school back in 1997. Swan song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement all I can say is that I truly hope that this is not Andrew Lancel’s swan song because he is outstanding in this role. I don’t quite know what I was expecting tonight but Lancel’s portrayal of the character was the polar opposite to any role you may have seen him in previously. Andrew has had a celebrated career including several leading roles in television. I personally can’t look at him without picturing his character from Coronation Street. I also saw him in the national tour of The Sound of Music last year in Blackpool. The guy seems to be able t...

First Waves Of Shows Announced For Liverpool Theatre Festival 2021

29Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

First Waves Of Shows Announced For Liverpool Theatre Festival 2021

The first wave of shows for the second annual Liverpool Theatre Festival taking place in September have been announced, with tickets going mow on sale. The inaugural Liverpool Theatre Festival was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms and staged in September 2020. Bill stepped in to bring entertainment back to audiences after theatres across the country were ordered to close their doors as part of the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020. The outdoor festival went on to be a huge success, scooping an award and shortlisted for further accolades, winning praise across the industry for once again giving live performance a platform during the most challenging of times. Liverpool Theatre Festival runs between Wednesday 1st September and Sunday 12th September 202...

21Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Dive Into Swan Song at The Dukes

Jonathan Harvey’s bittersweet comedy Swan Song travels to The Dukes in Lancaster this July, on a short northern tour. This revised version of Harvey’s play stars TV and stage actor Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, Cilla: The Musical), is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw (Coronation Street, Our Girl) and is produced by Bill Elms, Liverpool Theatre Festival’s Artistic Director. Set in Liverpool in 1997, the show follows Dave Titswell, a gay, middle-aged English teacher. He has a crush, but life, love and work are never straight forward for Dave. Will a school trip to The Lakes change things for the better, or make things decidedly worse? Swan Song will make audiences laugh, but equally pull at the heartstrings. Everyone knows someone like Dave – or could even...

Full Programme Revealed For Inaugural Little LFT Event For New Works

22May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Full Programme Revealed For Inaugural Little LFT Event For New Works

A programme of 14 new works to be premiered at the inaugural Little LTF event in Liverpool this Summer has been revealed. Little LTF is a new strand to the hugely successful Liverpool Theatre Festival, which was staged for the very first time last September in response to an ongoing need for live entertainment during Covid-19. The outdoor festival at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms, who stepped in to bring entertainment back to audiences after theatres across the country were ordered to close their doors as part of the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020. The festival was so well received last Autumn, that Bill was determined to take the event to the next level by introducing an open call for artis...

Andrew Lancel In One Man Show By Jonathan Harvey To On Northern Tour In July

4May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Andrew Lancel In One Man Show By Jonathan Harvey To On Northern Tour In July

Following its critically acclaimed sell-out premiere at Liverpool Theatre Festival in September 2020, Swan Song, a revised comedy by acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading out on a northern tour in July following its rescheduled February dates due to lockdown. Swan Song, a one-man play starring Andrew Lancel, is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms. The play will open at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre for six performances over three nights, this will be the first live performances at the theatre since closing in March 2020. The show then moves on to reopen the Little Theatre in Southport, Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, and City Varieties in Leeds. All venues will adhere to the current restrictions set out by the Government and will have ...

Live Theatre Is Set To Return As By The Waters Of Liverpool Announces The Continuation Of Its UK Tour

5Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Live Theatre Is Set To Return As By The Waters Of Liverpool Announces The Continuation Of Its UK Tour

The acclaimed stage production of Helen Forrester’s, By The Waters Of Liverpool was cut short last March after just three venues into a seventeen venue tour; but now producers have announced the continuation of their UK tour in Autumn 2021. Writer and Co-producer Rob Fennah said: “When we launched By The Waters Of Liverpool last year the response was so overwhelming we were determined not to let the pandemic get the better of us. We have a mantra when things get tough, ‘don’t give up – don’t give in!’ “By The Waters is not only returning to the stage in September, it is going to be bigger, bolder and more glorious than ever. Co-producer Bill Elms added: “With the vaccine roll-out going so well, we can now see the light at the end of a dark tunnel for the theatre industry and we ju...

Andrew Lancel In One Man Comedy By Jonathan Harvey Touring England In February

8Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Andrew Lancel In One Man Comedy By Jonathan Harvey Touring England In February

Following its critically acclaimed sell-out premiere at Liverpool Theatre Festival in September, Swan Song, a revised comedy by acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading out on tour in February to coincide with LGBT History Month. Swan Song, a one-man play starring TV and stage actor Andrew Lancel, is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms. The play will open at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre for six performances over three nights, this will be the first live performances at the theatre since closing in March. The show then moves on to The Atkinson Southport, Lighthouse Poole, Swan Theatre Worcester, Belgrade Coventry, Dukes Lancaster, City Varieties Leeds, and Capitol Horsham. All venue will present to socially distanced audiences and mor...

Laughterhouse Comedy – Liverpool Theatre Festival

13Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Laughterhouse Comedy – Liverpool Theatre Festival

Theatre is alive once again here in Liverpool, the Bombed-out Church is hosting the Liverpool Theatre Festival by Bill Elms Associates. Offering theatre from plays to comedy and even music. Its fair to say its been a rather odd few months with the Corona Virus but last night felt like theatre has never been away. Each pod was socially distanced, and it was seat service when it came to ordering drinks. Before entering your temperature is taken and hands are sanitised. The staff of the festival were on the ball when it came to safety. Last night’s entertainment was a comedy night from Laughterhouse Comedy. Opening the night was Compere Chris Cairns whose fast-witted humour had the audience laughing as soon as he started speaking. His humours and quick-fire nature started the night right. ...

Andrew Lancel To Open Liverpool Theatre Festival With One Man Comedy Play By Jonathan Harvey

6Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Andrew Lancel To Open Liverpool Theatre Festival With One Man Comedy Play By Jonathan Harvey

Swan Song, a comedy by Liverpool playwright Jonathan Harvey, will open a brand-new theatre festival in the city next week marking the return of live outdoor performance. Liverpool Theatre Festival will take place between Friday 11th September and Saturday 19th September 2020 in the grounds of St Luke’s Bombed Out Church and will help to kick-start the return of theatre productions in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. Swan Song is a one-man play written by Jonathan Harvey and starring Liverpool actor Andrew Lancel. The play will be directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw. The show is produced by Liverpool Theatre Festival, in association with Bill Elms Productions and Quarry Street. credit Matt Ford Swan Song will officially start the nine-day run of Liverpoo...

New Liverpool Theatre Festival To Take Place Outdoors In September

27Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

New Liverpool Theatre Festival To Take Place Outdoors In September

Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms has created a nine-day outdoor live performance festival to support the city’s devastated theatre scene in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool Theatre Festival will take place between Friday 11th September and Saturday 19th September 2020 and is being staged in association with the team behind St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. The event will take place within the church walls, in the grounds of St Luke’s in the heart of Liverpool city centre and will follow stringent social distancing and Government guidelines. Tickets for Liverpool Theatre Festival go on sale at 12pm on Thursday 27th August. Tickets start from £10. Live performances came to a complete standstill nationally in mid-March due to Covid-19 lockdown. This has had a devasta...