The Epstein Theatre has enjoyed an amazing and eventful first year since reopening, re-establishing its reputation as one of Liverpool’s best loved theatres and as a leading venue for live entertainment. The venue is set to be even busier throughout 2013, the year which marks the 100th anniversary of theatre on Hanover Street and the Epstein’s management is delighted to announce an exciting and diverse line up across the coming months, with events spanning live music, comedy, the very best variety performances, burlesque, plays and musicals.
Kicking off the spring/summer programme is the return of Liverpool Sound City, the largest city centre music and arts festival in the U.K. From Thursday 2nd untill Saturday 4th May Liverpool will see live performances from over 360 artists in a range of venues around the city with the Epstein Theatre hosting gigs from cutting edge artists Stealing Sheep, Icelandic Star Soley and Liverpool’s very own Tea Street Band.
A double bill from Ensemble 10/10, the R.L.P.O.’s contemporary music ensemble graces the stage on the 8th May with a performance of Stravinsky’s musical folk story The Soldier’s Tale followed by Settle, a brand new piece written especially for the ensemble by Liverpool-born Emily Howard. R and B fans will be excited to learn that M.O.B.O. UnSung Winner 2012 Esco Williams and his band The Kontrollers are set to play a one-night only homecoming show on 28th June.
Musical Theatre is well represented this summer on Hanover Street. On 11th May Liverpool’s Caz and Britney present the hilarious Scottie Road The Musical which made its acclaimed premiere at Homotopia 2012 and now graces the Epstein stage on a larger scale.
Liverpool’s Life in Theatre Productions (Life in the Theatre, The Last 5 Years, Mam! I’m ‘ere!) is excited to bring two Broadway musicals to the Epstein Theatre in 3 months! The sell-out, award-winning and critically acclaimed The Last 5 Years runs from the 2nd untill 23rd June. Directed, designed by, and starring Liverpool actors Helen Carter and Stephen Fletcher, with Musical Direction by Nick Phillips, and written by Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World and Parade), The Last 5 Years is a heart-breaking and hilarious musical about two New Yorkers’ ups and downs in love over the course of five years together. Then from 15th August till Sat 7th September Life in Theatre Productions bring their second exciting show – The Sunshine Boys! Neil Simon’s Broadway and West End comedy classic sees one-time vaudevillian double-act, “Lewis and Clark”, who haven’t spoken to each other in years, reunited. Its 1972 in New York and C.B.S. invite the comedy duo to be re-united for a nostalgic History of Comedy T.V. special. Forced together again, old rivalry resurfaces as they prepare to take centre stage for one last time… A great cast is soon to be announced so watch this space.
Another musical gracing the Epstein stage this year is Judy and Liza, celebrating the two women who have become synonymous with musical theatre, Judy Garland and Liza Minelli in a show which recreates the pair’s world-famous 1964 London Palladium concert for one night only on 29th June. Starring two highly renowned West End leading ladies (Emma Dears and Lucy Williamson) and with orchestrations from renowned composer Michael England this is a must see for all musical theatre enthusiasts.
Rebekah Pichilingi, Theatre Manager, said, “It has been an amazing 12 months since the Epstein re-opened and we are delighted to announce a lineup of exciting and diverse shows for summer 2013 which make a fitting celebration of 100 years of theatre on Hanover St for the venue’s centenary year. With a plethora of performances from musicals to dance and comedy, our new season has something for everyone. Over the last year I have been privileged to see this beautiful theatre re-establish itself as one of Liverpool’s favourite venues, something I am honoured to have been a part of.”
David Pichilingi, C.E.O. of Liverpool Sound City and the Epstein Theatre said, “We are delighted to see the Epstein back up and running as the gem of Liverpool’s favourite venues. Myself, the theatre management and staff feel immensely privileged to have been part of making this happen over the last 12 months and I look forward to an even busier 2013 at the venue, in which we celebrate 100 years of a theatre on Hanover Street. I think theatregoers old and new will be so impressed with the venue and its offering, both in terms of shows in the auditorium and also the facilities for a range of other corporate and cultural events.”
Stephen Fletcher, Executive Producer of Life in Theatre Productions said: “I am so pleased to be bringing a bit of Broadway to Liverpool and following the success of our last summer’s run at The Actors’ Studio, and having reached so many people with our Christmas show, it seemed right to give The Last 5 Years another run on a bigger stage and in front of a bigger audience. I have had The Sunshine Boys on my wish list for some time. It is hilarious, and on The Epstein stage – a former music hall and vaudeville venue in its 100th year- It’s as though it’s meant to be. Sonia Friedman, producer of the recent West End run, starring Danny De Vito and the recently deceased Richard Griffiths, has given her blessing to our production- a real mark of support for the show and an endorsement for the company.”
The Brand New season brochure can be viewed by clicking here http://issuu.com/billelmsassociates/docs/epstein_brochure_summer_2013_final/1