10 theatre shows you’ll want to see in Liverpool this Spring and Summer

Liverpool’s theatres are well and truly back in action and this Spring/ Summer there’s plenty to see at the Unity, Royal Court, Everyman, Empire, Epstein and Playhouse.

There’s nothing like a bit of live theatre and the buzz it creates from the moment the curtain goes up.

And, from musical magic to Shakespeare and classic comedies, there’s loads of great shows to keep us entertained in Liverpool this Spring and Summer.

In fact, there’s guaranteed to be one you’ll want to watch from this little lot…

Rocky Horror Show – Liverpool Empire

Starring Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba as Brad and directed by Christopher Luscombe, the Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party and features timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting, show-stopping Time Warp.

The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter.

Something About George: The George Harrison Story – Epstein Theatre

Blood Brothers favourite Daniel Taylor stars in the tale of Beatles’ legend George Harrison, Something About George, a brand-new show that tries to answer the question: where does life take you after being in the greatest band in the history of the world? With beautiful songs like My Sweet Lord, Something, and Handle With Care, it moves from heartbreak to hedonism, and song writing to success, and shows that life was anything but quiet.

Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice – Playhouse

The Olivier Award-winning comedy-drama from Jim Cartwright, which became a Golden Globe-winning hit film starring Jane Horrocks and Michael Cain, is on a UK tour. Former Corrie actress Shobna Gulati and Emmerdale and Blue Murder’s Ian Kelsey star with YouTube sensation Christina Bianco in this very northern mother and daughter fairy-tale. Different characters, Little Voice (Bianco) leads a quiet and unassuming life, while Mari (Gulati) lives a life full of booze, cheap thrills and seedy men. But LV starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, swapping the grey backstreets of Northern England for the bright lights of Hollywood and Broadway – from the safety of her own bedroom – and when Mari starts dating small-time club owner Ray Say, her astonishing impersonations of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to name a few, are thrust into the spotlight.

Monday, May 16 to Saturday, May 21

Mam! I’m Ere – Royal Court

Sally was left on her Dad’s doorstep one cold and windy Liverpool night.

25 years later and she has met the love of her life on her Dad’s failing Disco holiday campsite in Wales. There is just one person missing from her wedding plans – her Mam. After teasing out stories from her Dad’s best mates she narrows her search down to three very different women from his past. Believing they’ve won a glamorous mini-break away, the three unsuspecting Mums find themselves walking onto a creaky caravan park, greeted by an old flame some of them would rather forget, and right into her trap.

Starring some of Liverpool’s favourite theatre faces, Life In Theatre Productions and Liverpool’s Royal Court proudly present the return of the smash hit comedy Mam! I’m ‘Ere! Packed with hit after hit from the 1970s (but definitely no Abba) this show will have you dancing in the aisles.

10 June – 9 July.

Corrina Corrina, Everyman

You can’t beat a good mystery, especially when they’re dripping in suspense like this new drama from Liverpool playwright Chloe Moss. Following in her seafaring father’s footsteps, Corrina boards a cargo ship set for Singapore – but not everyone is pleased to have her aboard… and not everyone will make it to their final destination. It’s an edge of the seat, set-at-sea thriller that explores what happens when we think no one is watching. Might need to hold someone’s hand for this!

Tuesday, May 17 to Saturday, June 4

Chapters of a Teen – Unity Theatre

It’s great to see new stuff coming to the Liverpool stage, especially when it’s from the city itself. Chapters of a Teen is the brand-new show from the 20SH Youth Theatre, their first in a theatre since lockdown. Using rap, song, poetry, and verbatim documentary theatre, they’re set to present a funny, honest, and raw show exploring everything about being a teen, from sexuality, identity, family pressures and, of course, the bittersweet experience of first love and heartbreak.

See it from Thursday, July 21 to Saturday, July 23

Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat – The Empire

Sadly a little too old to play Joseph these days, Jason Donovan has returned to the show he’s now synonymous with to play Pharaoh, with Jac Yarrow in the title role. Based on the Old Testament story of the youngest son of Jacob who’s sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, the Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical will get you singing along before you know it with a clutch of classics including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go, Go, Go Joseph. Go, Go, Go on – just try not to join in!

Monday, June 6 to Saturday, June 11.

Our Town Needs a Nandos – Everyman

School’s a nightmare, boys are infuriating and Maccies is the only place open after 6pm. Growing up isn’t easy, but it’s even harder when you are from a place where no one expects anything of you – and especially if you’re queer or the new girl at school. Written by YEP alumni Samantha O’Rourke, Beth, Rachel, Zahidah, Ellie and Chloe are stuck – stuck in their drama group, stuck in school and stuck in their small town … which doesn’t even have a Nandos.

Thursday, June 23 to Saturday, July 2

One Man, Two Guvnors – Playhouse

If you think about One Man, Two Guvnors you immediately imagine James Corden, the now US talk show legend who made the play his own. But in this new touring production Jordan Pearson is the one getting the laughs as Francis Henshall who, fired from his skiffle band, finds himself juggling not one, but two jobs. What Francis doesn’t know is his first guvnor, small-time crook Roscoe Crabbe, is actually Roscoe’s twin sister Rachel, in disguise as her dead brother, who was killed by her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers. Francis’ second boss is Stanley Stubbers, on the run and desperate to be reunited with Rachel. All Francis needs to do is keep his two guvnors apart. Easy, right?

Wednesday, June 29 to Saturday, July 16