Liverpool Empire Archives - North West End UK

20Oct

By Bethany EastonNo Comments

North West

Mean Girls – Liverpool Empire

It is always a challenge when putting a loved classic on stage - although this iconic film feels like it premiered yesterday, it was released in 2004! It is no wonder then that so many in the audience were hit with nostalgia, as the familiar and well-loved characters were brought to life on stage and with song. The story was revisited in film format in 2024, demonstrating that its themes remain as relevant today as they were two decades ago and continue to resonate with a new generation of Mean Girls fan. The musical, based on the book by Tina Fey, follows Cady Heron (Emily Lane), a teenager who is home-schooled in Kenya but wants to experience life with other teenagers. Moving with her mum (Jennifer Ellison) to Illinois, Cady navigates the hierarchy of other students at North Shore Hig...

8Oct

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Lord of the Dance – Liverpool Empire

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance has been entertaining audiences around the world for an incredible 30 years and three decades on, this spectacular show proves it has certainly lost none of its magic. Since opening in Dublin in 1996, Lord of the Dance has become a worldwide phenomenon, playing to more than 60 million people across 70 countries, and now the show is back with a special 30th Anniversary Tour celebrating its incredible history. Ive seen the show in various forms over the years and I again got the pleasure of watching the show at the Liverpool Empire as part of this tour and from the moment the curtain went up, this was a fantastic night of pure entertainment. Lord of the Dance has always been much more than simply an Irish dancing show. There is a story, fantastic ...

16Sep

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Barnum – Liverpool Empire

Step right up, step right up and prepare to be entertained, because Barnum has arrived at the Liverpool Empire! Based on the life of the legendary American showman P. T. Barnum, this bright, colourful musical takes audiences through the highs and lows of the man who famously built an entertainment empire on ambition, imagination and the promise of giving audiences “something they’ve never seen before”. At the centre of this production is Matt Rawle who plays the one and only P. T. Barnum. Rawle brings an infectious charisma and an almost childlike enthusiasm for each of his next big ideas. He is the man with the gift of the gab. There is plenty of humour in his portrayal, but contrastingly we get to see more of an edge to Barnum, a willingness to use others for his own gain, to ma...

8Sep

By Coral MourantNo Comments

North West

Waitress – Liverpool Empire

The diner doors are open and excitement is served, as Liverpool Empire welcomes the UK tour of Waitress. And this particular audience got an extra helping of sweetness added to an already superb show. Jenna is an expert pie-baker and waitress, whose dreams of happiness seem a little out of reach. While her friends support her, and a new Doctor in town spices up her love-life, Jenna has to take matters into her own hands; will baking the perfect pie be the solution to her problems? Based on the film by Adrienne Shelley, this musical takes a fantastic score by Sara Bareilles and an inspiring story written by Jessie Nelson and creates a perfectly seasoned piece. (Yes, there are more baking puns to come) This evening, Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez donned the leading lady’s apron for the first ...

Matt Rawle Returns to The Tightrope For a Spectacular Barnum Comeback in Liverpool

4Sep

By NewsdeskNo Comments

Interviews

Matt Rawle Returns to The Tightrope For a Spectacular Barnum Comeback in Liverpool

Returning to the lead role in Barnum - The Circus Musical for its UK and Ireland tour, Matt Rawle says: "It's such a dream part for an actor because there's the showman aspect to Barnum, of course, but he's also a flawed human being. He was an entertainer who wanted to bring joy to people's lives. He had great imagination and he was a philanthropist, but the flip side of that is that he could be exploitative. All of that makes for great drama amidst all of the songs and spectacle." Connecticut-born P. T. Barnum revolutionised entertainment in the 1800s through the Barnum & Bailey Circus and his sensational The Greatest Show on Earth. With music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart and a book by Mark Bramble, the musical about the colourful life of the marketing genius and master...

9Jul

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Moulin Rouge – Liverpool Empire

Ever wondered what it would be like to enter Paris and be enthralled within a world of Freedom, Beauty, truth and love? Well, now you cancan can. Moulin Rouge the world tour has descended in the iconic Liverpool empire. From the moment they opened the house doors you were immersed from having the house open call in French to entering an auditorium that made you feel like you time travelled to Paris. Having seen the real place myself there wasn’t much that was different every intricate detail was adhered to. The musical by John Logan based of the iconic film by Baz Luhrmann, set in 1899 in the bohemian district of Paris. Where at the club it has a star attraction Satine (Verity Thompson). Where common folk and aristocracy flock to see the beauty and wonder she beholds at the club. The club ...

16Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

The Bodyguard – Liverpool Empire

The UK tour of The Bodyguard brings the high-stakes, romantic thriller to life on stage, expertly balancing the glitz of a pop concert with the tension of a dark TV drama. Telling the story of superstar Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer - the former Secret Service agent hired to protect her from an obsessive stalker - the show manages to be both a spectacular showcase of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits and a genuinely gripping theatrical experience. The show doesn't gently ease you into your seat; it commands your attention from the absolute second the house lights fade. Opening with an explosive rendition of "Queen of the Night," the production immediately immerses the audience into the high-octane world of a global mega-celebrity. What follows is a clever juxtaposition of high-energy...

21May

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Sunny Afternoon – Liverpool Empire

Sunny Afternoon captures the spirit of The Kinks with grit, energy, and undeniable heart, delivering a musical that feels both raw and deeply human. Rather than presenting a polished version of the band’s rise to fame, the production leans into the tensions, frustrations, and contradictions that shaped the music, giving the show an authenticity that resonates throughout, directed by Edward Hall. What makes the musical particularly effective is how closely the songs reflect real life. Tracks such as “Waterloo Sunset,” “Days,” and “You Really Got Me” emerge naturally from the emotional struggles of Ray Davies and Dave Davies, revealing the loneliness, ambition, and family conflict beneath the swagger of the 1960s rock scene. There is something wonderfully unvarnished about the production ...

To Kill a Mockingbird – Liverpool Empire

13May

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

To Kill a Mockingbird – Liverpool Empire

To Kill a Mockingbird at the Liverpool Empire is a powerful and emotionally charged production that proves Harper Lee’s story still has enormous relevance today. Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation brings a sharper, more contemporary edge to the novel, while Bartlett Sher’s direction balances moments of humour and warmth with the darker realities of racism, injustice and prejudice. The result is gripping theatre that feels both timeless and uncomfortably current. Set in 1930s Alabama, the story follows lawyer Atticus Finch as he defends Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. Told through the eyes of Scout, Jem and Dill, the production cleverly contrasts the innocence of childhood with the ugliness of the adult world around them. This adaptation also digs deeper int...

6May

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

Rocky Horror Show – Liverpool Empire

Newly engaged preppy Brad and Janet are stranded after their car breaks down outside Dr Frank N Furter's mansion. They are greeted with his eccentric servants doing the time warp before meeting the sweet transvestite himself. Taking place over the course of one night, they are introduced to a world of seduction and lose their innocence. Camp, eccentric and utterly bonkers. As energetic of a night at the theatre than you’re going to get. There's a reason it's still a cult classic 50 years later. A massive part of the show if you didn't already know, is the audience involvement. Not only do the majority dress up as their favourite characters and boy do people really commit, but they sing along and shout lines at certain bits too. I'll admit, I didn't know these parts having only seen i...