On Stage with Pete Price: Hamilton, Making It!, Only Fools and Horses the Musical and more from Liverpool’s theatres

Each month Liverpool legend Pete Price lifts the curtain and takes you into the spotlight of Liverpool’s best theatres.

Not only will he look at the shows on right now that you should see, he’ll look ahead to let you know what’s coming while also re-living some of his – and the city’s – favourite moments on stage from years gone by. 

Pete’s never short of an anecdote or an opinion, so here are the shows and stars that have got him talking in May …

What I’ve seen this week

I first saw Hamilton in the West End and now at the Empire and both times the production took my breath away, it’s electrifying. I know it’s become famous for its music, that blend of traditional musical theatre with hip hop, RnB, and rapid-fire rap, but for me there was one stand-out element – the character of King George. It’s so different to the rest of the musical and the comic timing of the actor who plays him is brilliant.  I would kill to do that part and I personally think he steals the show.

As well as Hamilton this week I’ve been to see Making It at the Royal Court and I was belly laughing all the way through. It’s a two-hander, Drew Scholfield plays about nine parts alongside Cath Rice who co-wrote it and it’s everything I’ve ever been through in every terrible club! I thought it was tremendous.

What’s coming up

Only Fools and Horses the Musical is coming to the Empire in June and I think the beloved characters from the telly translate well to stage and it really captures the spirit of the show. It’s the Empire’s 100th birthday year so they’re pulling out every stop to bring the big productions here. If you’re a fan of the TV series you’ll love it because people can’t get enough of the characters and they’ve taken the best bits and put them together – Paul Whitehouse is playing grandad on the tour too so that’s a bonus.

Sharing the spotlight

Another great Liverpool venue celebrating a big birthday this year is the Olympia which turns 120. The Prat Pack sold out at the start of May, it was Bradley Walsh, Joe Pasquale, Brian Conley and Shane Richie, and I’ve worked with every one of them. I couldn’t make it that night because I was working but I believe it was spectacular. They’re mates and they’re all old school, they’re the end of that variety era – they did comedy and songs, they’ve all got very good singing voices, and they went down a storm. 

Stage in the city

How exciting it is that the Epstein is reopening, a small space in Liverpool which is needed so much for new theatre, and I’m so pleased that Regal Entertainments are bringing Cinderella there this Christmas. Panto is a tradition at that theatre and it’s priced well for families, so it’s definitely good news. I wish the new owners all the luck in the world. 

The showdown

Why do some people feel the need to get up and go to the bar in the middle of a show? A lot of theatres are allowing this now and it’s the most irritating thing. I’ve had people near me going out and coming back with three beers, then they need to get up to go the toilet … and get another beer while they’re there! They spill it when they’re trying to get to their seats in the middle of a row and it’s just so unnecessary.  Theatre manners have gone out the window. 

Get the latest theatre news for Liverpool HERE.

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