Margaret Connell and Siobhan Noble of the Lantern Theatre. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

The Lantern Theatre on Blundell Street has reached a very special anniversary this weekend. The theatre, which has become a creative hub in Liverpool, celebrated its first birthday and in some style.

The Lantern Theatre has joined the likes of the Unity Theatre and The Actors Studio as being an important theatrical space for Liverpool audiences to watch decent and interesting theatre and quality music. Run by the hard work of mother and daughter team of Margaret Connell and Siobhan Noble, the salubrious and welcoming atmosphere of the theatre was given a heady and invigorating dose of celebration as the much deserved party got into full swing.

Music for the event was provided by Johnny Panic and the Fever, Great Plain Sundance, Cornwall’s Jonathon Stafford and Mark Hughes and as the invited guests listened to the melodies coming from within the theatre, the memories of some of the great theatre that has taken place within its walls was uppermost in people’s  minds. From Donna Lesley Price’s superb Our Country’s Good to Igor Memic’s Happy, the plays have been paramount in the fledgling theatre’s success.

New plays to come to the Lantern in the future will no doubt keep this theatre in the public eye and retain the excellent support that has seen the Lantern become a great favourite of the Liverpool fringe.

Ian D. Hall