
Theatre & Comedy
Get ready for big laughs as Night Collar pulls into St Helens Theatre Royal
5 hours ago

One of Merseyside’s best-loved comedies is back on the road and heading for St Helens Theatre Royal this September as Night Collar returns with a brand new production.
The hit cabbie comedy will be at St Helens Theatre Royal from Friday 26 September to Sunday 5 October 2026, with tickets on sale now for what promises to be a wild ride through Merseyside at Christmas.
Set on Christmas Eve, Night Collar follows a long-suffering taxi driver working the night shift who ends up picking up more than he bargained for. From a stag do lad left naked in a wheelie bin to an Elvis impersonator with problems at home, a rowdy couple mid-argument and a Santa with a dodgy belly, he’s in for a night he won’t forget.
Liverpool’s own John May will be behind the wheel for this latest version of Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power’s classic. He’s joined by Emma Grace Arends, Jenna Sian O’Hara, John O’Gorman and Sam Jones-Arthur who’ll play all the weird and wonderful characters he meets along the way.
If you don’t know John May already, you’ll have definitely seen him online. His comedy characters like Turkey Teeth, Kenny and Karen Corona and Derek have made him a social media favourite since lockdown. He’s also been on screen in everything from Coronation Street and Doctor Who to Little Boy Blue, Fresh Meat and Tin Star. Right now he’s on stage at Liverpool’s Royal Court in The Legend of Rooney’s Ring.


Emma Grace Arends is well-known on Liverpool’s theatre scene too, with credits at the Royal Court and Empire and even the Sydney Opera House thanks to her role in Peppa Pig’s Surprise. She’s also just recorded her first audiobook and has film and TV roles including Cilla.
Jenna Sian O’Hara is a regular at St Helens, most recently starring in Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Her other stage credits include The Salon, RuneSical at the Edinburgh Fringe and Electric Dreams at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
John O’Gorman might be best known for Brookside but he’s also been in Coronation Street and Peaky Blinders and recently played trade unionist Jim Larkin in Stone on Stone at the Epstein.
Sam Jones-Arthur is a familiar face in theatre, film and commercial work. He’s appeared in shows across the North West and also runs his own production company developing original work.
Night Collar will be directed by Chantelle Joseph who says she can’t wait to bring this local favourite back to the St Helens stage.
“It’s been nearly 15 years since we last staged Night Collar here and it’s always been a real audience pleaser. The comedy is full of larger-than-life characters and the cabbie at the centre of it all has his hands full from start to finish.
“John May is perfect for the part and the rest of the cast are all so talented. I know audiences are going to love seeing this new version brought to life.”
Night Collar runs at St Helens Theatre Royal from 26 September to 5 October 2026 and tickets are on sale now.
For more info and to book, head to the St Helens Theatre Royal website.
Keep up to date with all theatre shows across Merseyside here.
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