Michael Starke stars in Haunted Scouse now showing at Liverpool's Royal Court

Michael Starke returns to Liverpool’s Royal Court for the first show of 2024, and there’s spooky goings on at the city centre theatre.

Haunted Scouse opens today, 9 February, and runs until 9 March 2024.

Brand new comedy Haunted Scouse will kickstart a new season at the theatre with Scouse storytelling at its heart. Starring Michael Starke, Lynn Francis, Paul Duckworth and Helen Carter, directed by Emma Bird, Haunted Scouse is written by Gerry Linford (Yellow Breck Road, Ellen & Rigby) the show is about love, life and the afterlife.

Charlie Moon is sadly missed and his widow, Molly, is the one doing most of the missing. She feels guilty about how he passed and wants to make things right with him. If only he was still here…

Molly Moon’s dreams are about to come true as the ghost of her husband stalks the halls of their old house on the anniversary of his death. Well, more shuffles than stalks really. His back’s not great and he never got that ingrowing toenail sorted out.

Trapped in limbo and with only his Auntie Peggy for support, Charlie needs to solve the riddle of his death before he can move on to the next world but he keeps running into dead ends. While he’s at it he wants to keep that smarmy git from next door away from his house and he might put the willies up Molly for old times’ sake. Well, if you’ve got it, haunt it…

Michael Starke, who plays Charlie, a recently deceased Scouser, said:

“It’s so well written and a great piece, lovely cast and crew. Usually for me rehearsals are a bit of purgatory but this has been lovely. One of the great things is working with friends, and my wife, so it is great fun. It’s a comedy, but there’s heart and soul in it. I’m excited to be back on the stage and, in my humble opinion, the Royal Court is one of the best theatre spaces in the city, with the best audiences, and this is made for them”.

Royal Court - Haunted Scouse — Lynn Francis

Lynn Francis, who plays Molly, Charlie’s widow, and is also Michael’s real life wife, said:

“The thing I’m most excited about is working with my real husband who plays Charlie. It’s always exciting to be on the stage with Michael because he’s so creative and I’m also excited to see how the technical stuff will make it spooky”.

Director Emma Bird said:

“I’m really excited and looking forward to the spooky special effects we’re trying to create and I can’t wait for people to see it. It’s a comedy ghost story and we have a great cast and great creative team so we’re having a good laugh.”