Latest news with #HauntedScouse
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Liverpool Royal Court: 'Theatre's rise is thanks to our inspirational city'
A theatre which has seen its annual attendance rise by 11% has said its success is down to being a "theatre for the people".Liverpool's Royal Court said local-themed productions had helped establish its reputation for shows "full of relatable characters, warmth and humour"."We've always been a Liverpool-focused theatre so the work that we create is for our audience, for Liverpool," executive producer Kevin Fearon said."We find writers who have got great Liverpool stories. The work we put on stage has to relate to our audience." Latest figures released in the theatre's annual review showed 187,319 tickets had been sold. The venue hosted some 409 performances as well as 11,437 school audience Fearon said since 2017 all of the theatre's plays had been new writing and it had a reputation for telling local stories. "The audience has to recognise characters they live with, or they know, or they work with - they have to be real people," Mr Fearon said."We have a formula for our work. It has to be Liverpool at its heart and for me that is warmth. It is a sense of humour and it is honest."If we get that right in a play the audience love it."Among its shows, the theatre staged the premiere of Alan Bleasdale's Boys From The Blackstuff, which was retold by writer James Graham in collaboration with Bleasdale. Other Liverpool-themed productions included Haunted Scouse, A Greasy Spoon and Bingo Mr Fearon also put the venue's growing success down to adapting to a changing audience and the introduction of cabaret-style dining."There's 170 seats for dining where people can have a meal and a drink before the show," Mr Fearon said."When the rest of the audience come in later the room has already got a feeling."It feels like you're in a place that's going to have a good time, that helps theatre, it's not a cold space."He said it had taken 20 years "to get it right" and constant feedback with visitors and asking them what they enjoyed."We listen to our audience," he said."Theatres across the country are finding it difficult to get audiences but we are very different to them, we write the work for our audience."What makes us all Liverpudlians is that we laugh at ourselves."A sense of humour that we have in Liverpool, that what gets us through the day and through our lives." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theatregoer removed after 'homophobic comment'
A theatre has said it was forced to remove an audience member from its venue after a homophobic comment was shouted during a play. Liverpool's Royal Court said the incident happened during a performance of The Peaceful Hour on Saturday. Posting on Instagram, the venue said the audience member was "removed from the building and has been banned from the theatre", with the incident also reported to police. "Offensive, hateful language is unacceptable and has no place in the Royal Court, Liverpool or wider society," the theatre said. The venue went on to say that it supported its cast, crew, audience and staff, adding it was "saddened that they had to hear such offensive language". "It is important that we foster spaces where respect and acceptance prevail. We believe in inclusivity and embrace diversity, we encourage those around us to do the same," the theatre said. It said in the Instagram post that "anyone found to be using offensive language including homophobic comments will be ejected from the theatre and banned from future performances". "We all deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued, regardless who we love or how we identify. We are against hate and actively support environments that support all people," Liverpool's Royal Court said. The Peaceful Hour is set in 1980s Kirkby and follows the relationship of Julie from Kirkby and Tim, an anthropology student from the Cotswolds. Written by Gerry Linford, the playwright behind Yellow Breck Road and Haunted Scouse, the show explores "true love, real life and cheesy love songs". The incident comes after a Dolly Parton-themed musical had to be suspended mid-show when homophobic abuse was hurled at the stage. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Dolly Parton musical halted over 'homophobic abuse' Liverpool's Royal Court
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Liverpool theatre removes audience member after 'homophobic comment'
A theatre has said it was forced to remove an audience member from its venue after a homophobic comment was shouted during a Royal Court said the incident happened during a performance of The Peaceful Hour on on Instagram, the venue said the audience member was "removed from the building and has been banned from the theatre", with the incident also reported to police."Offensive, hateful language is unacceptable and has no place in the Royal Court, Liverpool or wider society," the theatre said. 'Such offensive language' The venue went on to say that it supported its cast, crew, audience and staff, adding it was "saddened that they had to hear such offensive language"."It is important that we foster spaces where respect and acceptance prevail. We believe in inclusivity and embrace diversity, we encourage those around us to do the same," the theatre said in the Instagram post that "anyone found to be using offensive language including homophobic comments will be ejected from the theatre and banned from future performances"."We all deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued, regardless who we love or how we identify. We are against hate and actively support environments that support all people," Liverpool's Royal Court Peaceful Hour is set in 1980s Kirkby and follows the relationship of Julie from Kirkby and Tim, an anthropology student from the by Gerry Linford, the playwright behind Yellow Breck Road and Haunted Scouse, the show explores "true love, real life and cheesy love songs".The incident comes after a Dolly Parton-themed musical had to be suspended mid-show when homophobic abuse was hurled at the stage. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
