Empire Theatre Archives - North West End UK

Award-Winning Classic Thriller Returns to Liverpool

20Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Award-Winning Classic Thriller Returns to Liverpool

Following a sell-out tour in 2022, and a sell-out Liverpool Empire Theatre run in early 2023, Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls returns to the city for another Empire stint from 19th – 23rd November 2024. Casting to be announced. The story? It's a classic: when Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, An Inspector Calls is a must-see for a whole new generation. “We’re thrilled to be presenting another tour of An Inspector Calls," says Director S...

22Feb

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

Edward Scissorhands – Empire Theatre

A magical production that is simply stunning! There is nothing like seeing a live ballet and when Matthew Bourne is the choreographer you know it will not disappoint. He is a magician of imagination and originality, bringing stories to life for contemporary audiences. Tim Burton’s gothic fantasy Edward Scissorhands, was a strange, yet hauntingly beautiful fairytale, which came to the cinema in the 1990s. Bourne developed this bittersweet story, and it was first performed in 2005 with subsequent tours. Despite seeing many of his other magnificent ballets, this was my first time seeing Scissorhands - and it was simply stunning! Bourne works his magic once again, to give us an enchanting visual feast for the eyes, as well as really bringing out the comedy moments, which the packed ho...

13Apr

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

SIX – Empire Theatre, Liverpool

What would happen if you took hit musical Hamilton, gave it some Eurovision cheese, some Drag Race sauce, some Little Mix girl power and some unashamedly British humour - and then made it about Henry VIII’s wives? Six of course. Less of a musical, more of a concert, this empowering 80-minute sass-fest is something completely different. With a symbolically all-female cast and all-female band (the effortlessly cool Ladies in Waiting: Musical Director / Keys - Anna Senger, Guitar - Laura Browne, Drums - Migdalia Van Der Hoven, Bass - Ashley Young) it really does feel as though you’re at a sold-out high-production pop show. We meet the six queens (Catherine of Aragon - Chlöe Hart, Anne Boleyn - Jennifer Caldwell, Jane Seymour - Casey Al-Shaqsy, Anna of Cleves - Grace Melville, Katherine ...

30Jan

By Blathine MaguireNo Comments

North West

Jersey Boys – Empire Theatre

‘Jersey Boys’ is touring the UK at the moment and tonight it’s the opportunity of the Empire, Liverpool to host the famous four as we watch the story of Frankie Valli & the four seasons unfold live on stage! This jukebox musical, which was written in 2004, celebrates the group that took the world and the music industry by storm in the 1960s and the 1970s. The story is quite basic compared to other musicals but perhaps this is because it’s much closer to the truth than most musicals. It starts at the beginning where a young Tommy DeVito (Dalton Wood) is in and out of trouble and trying to make a break in the music industry. He takes a young Frankie Valli (Luke Suri) under his wing and alongside Nick Massi (Norton James), they make a band. They are on the lookout for a fourth member a...

8Sep

By Hazel BumbyNo Comments

North West

Magic Goes Wrong – Empire Theatre

Firstly, I must say how nice it was to be back in a theatre and the Empire is one of my personal favourites. The staff are always so helpful and friendly. Having watched the first two plays by this creative team, and being happy with a bit of magic, I was very much looking forward to this play. However, unfortunately I felt this fell quite flat in comparison to The Play That Goes Wrong and The Bank Robbery That Goes Wrong. The set was simple but effective with some fabulous lighting which ‘went wrong’ a few times throughout the evening and this was accompanied with excellent sound effects. There were no actual hiccups with sound and lighting throughout the show which is testament to a cracking technical crew. Well done to all involved with this. There was only one song in the e...

31Aug

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

Hairspray – Empire Theatre

Bank holiday weekend, and the last week before kids are back to school and what better than a treat to see musical phenomenon Hairspray as it hits the stage in Liverpool! We arrived at the theatre in plenty of time but were greeted by a massive queue snaking around all the way to the entrance of the Lime Street Station. The queue, presumably due to the checking of covid status in addition to bag searches and tickets, was rather frustrating and after waiting 20 to 30 minutes to enter, we reached the front of the queue for 7.30pm by which time the show was already starting late (as half the audience was still outside), meaning a mad dash to find your seat and prepare. Not a great start I must say, but fingers crossed this can be much better organised for the next show in the run... Aft...

24Aug

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

North West

Heathers the Musical – Empire Theatre

How very anticipated. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air upon arrival at the theatre. Whilst it was a week later than planned, you could tell for the majority of the audience, it was their first return to the theatre since they were shut last year and boy where they excited to see this cult classic on stage. You couldn’t tell that the cast had been off unexpectedly the week before, the energy and joy of them being back on stage was met with the reactions from the audience. It was difficult to tell who was more excited to be there, the cast or the audience. The show, based on the film of the same name, is a dark comedy about how a ‘nobody’ Veronica Sawyer becomes friends with the popular girls at school, who are coincidentally all named Heather (Chandler, Duke a...

14Aug

By Harriet AndrewsNo Comments

North West

Chess – Empire Theatre

Chess is a musical with so much to talk about, a fantastic score, with beautifully textured orchestral and vocal writing. It has some of the most difficult roles and arias in all of musical theatre, and a concept full of incredible depth. The Chess world championships act as only the top layer of this dynamic narrative, with the Cold War, East/West relations, and hierarchy in society acting as the underpinning concepts. The narrative of ‘Chess’ is often convoluted, difficult to understand and a bit dull, but this production should be noted for providing lots of clarity on this, and the narrative drove forward right throughout. The first thing to say about this performance is that the vocal performances of the principal cast were sublime - truly of tip top professional quality. The th...

7Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Empire Theatre, Liverpool

Liverpool Empire Theatre is a theatre located on the corner of Lime Street and London Road in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom. The playhouse, which opened in 1925, is the second one to be built on the site. It has the largest two-tier auditorium in Britain and can seat 2,348 people. During its time it has hosted many types of entertainment, including variety shows, musicals, operas, pop concerts, and plays. The Beatles appeared in the theatre in their early days. The theatre has hosted two Royal Command Performances and in 2007, a Royal Variety Performance to mark Liverpool's being designated a European City of Culture the following year. It is sited in the William Brown Street Conservation Area. History The site's first theatre, which was at that time was Liverpoo...