September 2009 Archives

Hanif Kureishi's stage adaptation of his book The Black Album comes to the Playhouse on a UK tour from the National Theatre in October.
I gave him a bell yesterday to talk about the play, writing, life et al. You can read the result of our chat in the Echo's arts pages this Friday.

Those who feared they may miss out on seeing Alison Steadman present Life is Sweet at FACT tomorrow evening take note.
The Wood Street venue has announced this afternoon that demand has been so great for tickets (the 7pn screening has been sold out for some time) it has released some more tickets.

As you probably know from today's Echo (link at the end of this) I went to review Michael Ball at the arena last night.
Although he's shrugged off the Hairspray cross-dressing mantle at the moment, he's returning to the role of Edna Turnblad for a national tour next year.
He told last hight's audience "come and see me in Manchester."

Willy Russell's new version of Our Day Out seems to be doing roaring trade at the Royal Court Liverpool .
But I hear that some of the cast members need more supervision than others. And I don't mean the teenagers.

It's good to see so many Liverpool youngsters taking part in professional stage productions at the moment.
Firstly I went to see Willy Russell's re-worked musical version of Our Day Out at the Royal Court last week.
Then last night I went to review Kes (see today's Echo) which also features city schoolchildren in the cast.

Cabbie John Evans' play Payback opens at the Unity tonight at the start of a four-night run.
John is one of a number of Liverpool hackney drivers who spend their downtime on the ranks by writing plays, books, poetry and composing music.
They certainly are a talented lot.

Today the Echo has published my article about Alison Steadman and how she was helped on her road to stardom by the good folk of Liverpool.
There are probably a lot of people out there who aren't even aware that the star of Life is Sweet, Pride and Prejudice and Gavin and Stacey is even Liverpudlian - but she is, being born in Oxford Road hospital and growing up within shouting distance of Anfield.

We in Liverpool know what a rich cultural life the city has, and thanks to Capital of Culture a lot more people outside the city also know that now.
But it's always a boost to get a vote of confidence in our arts institutions, and that's what Tate boss Sir Nicholas Serota gave when he spoke at the Tate Liverpool annual dinner last Friday.

It takes two to tango - and you really do need to get on with your dance partner as I discovered when the Tango Fire! crew gave me a dance lesson on Friday.
I don't know if anyone saw my efforts in Saturday's Echo but if you go on the liverpool echo website there's even a video of my lesson.....

Well, I know Michael Shields is dominating today's headlines, but there's also some good news from Hope Street.
I watched at lunchtime today as Vasily Petrenko signed a new contract with the RLPO which commits him to Liverpool until 2015.