Originally published by L.S. Media. June 18th 2011.

Cast: Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield, Francis Tucker.

For the fifth time in as many years Brick up the Mersey Tunnels arrived at the Royal Court Theatre to a great fanfare and armed to the teeth with well loved gags and up to date topics that would make any other show seethe with jealousy.

Not for nothing has Brick Up…become a firm favourite with audiences throughout Liverpool and beyond with fans of the hit show coming back time and time again to witness the range of comedic talent that runs through the heart and soul of the show.

There can’t be anybody who hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing this show that it may become redundant to explain the plot however the thinly layered jokes and quips that all members of the Liverpool and Wirral divide say in everyday life throughout the year that what if someone took it seriously and actually was able to stop each warring side from ever having to meet. This is the premise of Brick Up…which has been captured superbly by the writers Dave Kirby and Nicky Alt and by the actors and musicians who make up the ensemble and who give off that tremendous family feel that is evidence when they all appear together on stage.

The cast has not changed since the plays first outing which is a huge compliment to all and the company show no sign of fatigue as they portray the caricatures of Liverpool and the Wirral that everybody can name in a beat of heart.

Roy Brandon, Eithne Browne, Carl Chase, Suzanne Collins, Davy Edge, Adam Keast, Andrew Schofield, Francis Tucker, Musical Director Howard Gray and Herbert the Cat deserve plaudits for going above and beyond the call of theatre duty for providing some much needed laughter in these times of hardship and austerity.

Brick up the Mersey Tunnels in years to come will surely go down in the annals of local theatre as one of the most successful Liverpool productions ever. It has continually thrilled audiences with its satirical look at life that divides Liverpool from the Wirral and the manmade structures that connects the two areas.

If you see nothing else this summer, make sure you catch Brick up the Mersey Tunnels, you won’t regret a single minute.

5 stars

Ian D. Hall