Liverpool’s relaunched Epstein theatre follows its successful Christmas panto season with a large number of shows and concerts.
The theatre’s new management team, Epstein Entertainments, started work last October, and the reopening of the Hanover Street venue has proved a hit with audiences.
The theatre’s spring programme includes comedy, drama, music, burlesque, adult pantomime, drag queens and family entertainment, including an Easter half-term panto in April.
The season has a large number of bands and tribute performances, from Abba Forever (February 4) to Darkside: The Pink Floyd Show (February 12), which plays Floyd’s album Dark Side Of The Moon in its entirety.
Family show The Monkey With No Bum – Live On Stage comes up on the afternoon of February 20 and is based on the popular children’s book by Asa Murphy. It’s an interactive show full of dance, music and laughs and is suitable for children up to eight.
Another show for the young is Absolute Children’s Opera’s Hurrah! For The Pirate King on the afternoon of February 27. Follow the Pirate King’s adventures as he takes audiences on a musical journey to find treasure, with excellent singing in an easy introduction to opera.
New play Orton: Fallen Angel (March 4) from Grin Theatre Company is writer Wes Williams’s reimagining of the turbulent relationship between iconic character Joe Orton and his partner Kenneth Halliwell and is based on true events and incidents (over 16s only).
Panto returns in March, but not for children. Sleeping With Beauty: An Adult Pantomime (March 13) is a new take on the classic with a grown-up twist, starring Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road actor Ben-Ryan Davies and panto favourite Liam Mellor.
Experience beautiful show tunes in Music of the Night (March 25), featuring West End and Broadway musical standards from Les Miserables, West Side Story and The Lion King, presented by international tenor Roy Locke – a former lead in Phantom Of The Opera – with guest Leigh Rhianon Coggins.
Easter half-term brings yet another panto. Regal Entertainments’ Jack and the Beanstalk (April 13-24) is brought to you by the team behind successful mid-year pantos at St Helens Theatre Royal.
More theatre comes later in the year with a run of a Helen Forrester’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey (November 5-12).
Epstein Entertainments’ artistic director Bill Elms said: “After a festive run of Beauty and the Beast, we’re incredibly excited to now announce our spring season. The programme features a fantastic variety of shows and we are eager to enter this new era for the Epstein with anticipation and optimism for a bright future.”
Full season details here
Hurrah! For The Pirate King will undertake a short tour for half-term to the Atkinson, Southport (February 18); The Old Courts, Wigan (Feb 20); The Old Rep, Birmingham (Feb 23); Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax (Feb 24); the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph, Saddleworth (Feb 25), with the final performance at the Epstein on February 27. Ticket details on the company's Facebook page here.