85th birthday for city stage school that’s taught some of Liverpool’s most famous screen and stagestars

One of the city’s longest running performing arts schools, Liverpool Theatre School, celebrates its 85^th birthday this month with plans to mark the milestone throughout 2024.

Maxine Ellis, principal of the Liverpool Theatre School, which has trained many of Liverpool’s actors and entertainers past and present, says it will pay tribute to its students, graduates and staff during the anniversary year, as well as look forward to ‘exciting plans’ for the future.

And she adds:

“If we can achieve as much in the next 85 years as we have done already, I’ll be very happy!”

The Sefton Street-based school was begun by Anastasia Morrisey in the basement of her home in 1939.

In that same year her granddaughter, Norah Button, was born – and attended lessons as soon as she could walk!

It was the now renowned Norah who went on to become a professional performer and later Principal of Liverpool Theatre School, running the school for more than five decades.

Although it is now headed up by former student and professional dancer Maxine, Norah continues to teach and inspire students, so much so she was named in the King’s New Year’s Honours List, earning a British Empire Medal for her contribution to dance and her commitment to improving opportunities for young people in the city – that same city which awarded her its Freedom in 1970.

Liverpool Theatre School has produced countless professional performers over the years including: Graham Bickley, best known for playing Joey Boswell in the TV sitcom Bread as well as starring in a number of West End shows from Les Miserables to Miss Saigon; Sam Kane who’s appeared in TV shows from Emmerdale to Coronation Street, and Tommy Sherlock who’s performed in West End shows like Matilda the Musical and Wicked before joining Tenors of Rock in Las Vegas.

Graeme Pickering, a well-known and respected choreographer and casting consultant, trained at Liverpool Theatre School, and Cliff Watson from The Christians also went there.

More recently, its list of successful performers include:

Oliver Ormson, who is currently starring as Prince Hans in the West End adaptation of Frozen

Natalie Pilkington, who is touring in SIX and last year made her West End debut as Catherine of Aragon in the smash hit show

Alex Patmore who recently played Mickey in the UK tour of Blood Brothers and Bobby in the UK tour of Cilla the Musical

Tim Lucas, who played Sammy in the UK Tour of Blood Brothers and Kenny in the UK tour of Cilla the Musical, and more recently starred as the Genie in Theatre Royal St Helens’ acclaimed panto, Aladdin

And, Ian Gerard Whyte, who stars as Thorvaldr in TV action thriller The Northman, with A-listers Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke

Dancers from Liverpool Theatre School can also be seen performing all over the world, and a group of its dance students was chosen to star alongside the likes of Lily Cole, Lila Moss and Drag Race stars Tayce and Bimini in a fashion film by top British designer Richard Quinn. (The film was choreographed by Liverpool Theatre School dance tutor, Dane Bates).

Natalie Pilkington - who is touring in SIX and last year made her West End debut as Catherine of Aragon in the smash hit show — Credit: Johan Persson

Speaking about reaching such a significant milestone, Maxine continues:

“As we celebrate 85 years of Liverpool Theatre School, we’re incredibly proud to have given so many of the city’s talented young performers the opportunity to train professionally, preparing them for success in the industry.

“We work with some of the best tutors in the business to make elite training, which was once only available in London, accessible to people in Liverpool.

“During our anniversary year, we plan to celebrate the hard work and achievements of everyone who makes up the Liverpool Theatre School family from our students and graduates to the incredible teachers and support staff who have always made the place so special. We have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline for the next few years and I’m looking forward to seeing Liverpool Theatre School continue to thrive.”

The anniversary year has proved a time of reflection for Norah, looking back on its humble beginnings in the basement of her gran’s house in Upper Parliament Street to the centre of excellence it is today.

She smiles:

“Sharing my 85^th birthday celebrations with Liverpool Theatre School makes me feel very proud. The school has changed a lot over the years but my gran’s determination to improve opportunities for talented performers from working class backgrounds is still very much part of the ethos today.

“No young person with talent should ever miss out on professional training because of their family’s financial circumstances, which is why Liverpool Theatre School offers a number of fully funded places and bursaries every year to make elite courses more accessible.”

Norah says:

“Liverpool Theatre School holds lots of dear memories for many people and it’s been an honour to teach so many students over the years. I’m sure my gran would be delighted to know that her legacy lives on, so here’s to many more years of success!”

During Liverpool Theatre School’s anniversary year, there will be a number of special performances taking place locally, as well as a graduate showcase at London’s Leicester Square Theatre.

Talented performers who are considering a career in the industry will also be invited to find out what it’s like to train at Liverpool Theatre School with a series of taster days; and local secondary schools and colleges will be offered free masterclasses and workshops for students with a flair for singing, dancing and acting.

The centre of excellence is one of just 15 stage schools in the country, and the only one in Merseyside, to offer the government funded dance and drama awards (DaDAs), designed to support students who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of professional training.

And, while Liverpool Theatre School accepts only the most talented students aged 16 plus on its elite professional training courses, younger performers can attend evening and weekend classes open to anyone with a passion for singing, dancing, and acting.