Philip Olivier serves up Scouse down the Ale House…

We are all invited for a pint down the pub next week as The Ale House returns and comes to The Dome on Renshaw Street for a four week run from Thursday, February 25^th to Saturday, March 19^th giving the audience a glimpse inside a local drinking establishment and the regulars which frequent it.

Actors, Philip Olivier and Jake Abraham have joined forces to co-direct and star in their own version of the hilariously rowdy comedy from Furlong & Power (the writers of Night Collar).

Philip who made his name on Brookside and has recently appeared in Benidorm spoke to Ben Osu about the show and celebrated all things Scouse ahead of Global Scouse Day which takes place during the shows run on Sunday February 28th. The city is invited to help spread the word about our favourite dish using the hashtag on twitter #GlobalScouseDay. A host of restaurants, bars and cafes in the city will be serving it up, showing the world that scouse is most certainly still on the menu.

The Ale House also sees talented actress Lindzi Germain back behind the bar as the big hearted landlady Lucy, serving an eclectic mix of crazy characters. Meet Yogi (Philip Olivier), your typical bragging looney tune and Trevor (Jake Abraham) a Tourettes suffering war veteran with uncannily timed ticks.

Throw in Kick Off played by George Wilson, a punch drunk bruiser, Robbo played by James McMartin with the hangover from hell and dodgy guts, Les O’Dochartaigh as Father Flaherty, Bernie Foley as Mary and Nelly and Kivan Dene as Hawker and Les, not to mention pint guzzling old Joe played by Nick Birkinshaw and you have a comedy mix of crazy characters you may find familiar from your local pub.

This popular play recently went down a storm in St Helens Theatre Royal – so much so, that when it finished, two members of the cast decided to go back for last orders!!

It will be the first experience of directing for the duo who are certainly not strangers to the stage or screen. Philip and Jake have many years’ acting experience between them with Phillip having starred in TV shows Brookside and Benidorm and Jake appearing in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to name but a few of their performances.

And they are very excited to be directing their first site specific play at The Dome which they describe as “Liverpool’s hidden gem!”

The Grade II listed building on Renshaw Street has had many uses including a Methodist Church, cinema, home of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Barcelona bar. The building is blessed with Victorian grandeur and is now home to the alternative retail haven known as Quiggins, as well as serving as a multi-purpose performance space.

So set a date for a night at the Ale House. The comedy is set on New Year’s Day, the day after the night before and the shenanigans that follow will have you crying with laughter. Combined with a touching narrative and music that with have you dancing in the aisles, this is face-achingly funny show is not to be missed!

Tickets are priced £20 with 241 mid-week offers and are on sale from Ticketquarter. Call the box office on 0844 8000 410 or visit www.ticketquarter.co.uk