The award-winning Liverpool Theatre Festival will return for its third year in the autumn – and its Mini-Me event, new-work-showcase Little LTF, is also to return, in May.
The main festival was first staged in September 2020 to boost the city’s live performance and creative arts sectors following the devastating impact on theatre of the pandemic. After a successful inaugural year, the event returned last year, with 2,700 festival-goers enjoying 23 performances of 16 shows over 12 days.
Last year also saw the introduction of the fringe event, Little LTF – a seven-day mini festival to show off new work and talent. Another 1,200 people attended – partly thanks to both festivals taking place in the open air, in St Luke's Bombed Out Church in the city centre, venue for this year's return events. This year's main festival will take place from August 31-September 11, and Little LTF comes up May 2-8.
The festival has received praise for its diverse range, which each year has featured comedies, musicals, drama, opera, dance, LGBTQ events and children’s productions.
Both festivals were created by city theatre producer Bill Elms, who has worked in the theatre industry for more than 30 years and also recently spearheaded the return of the city's Epstein Theatre. Bill has been nominated for a Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Award for the second consecutive year.
Both festivals will maintain a commitment to supporting local artists and and theatre companies; over the previous festivals 30 local and regional productions were staged, creating work for almost 200 performers during the pandemic.
Shows for the main Liverpool Theatre Festival will be announced in the coming months, but creatives and companies from the region can now submit new work for inclusion in Little LTF, the deadline being March 18. Full details here.
Bill Elms said: “We are incredibly excited by our return for a third year, with Little LTF back for its second year. When the pandemic struck, the live performance sector in Liverpool was hit hard. Live theatre has been my passion for more than 30 years and I just had to do something to help.
"Now we’re back with a main festival for established work and performers, and a fringe event to showcase and celebrate new work. Success stories are now being created as a direct result of the festival, with shows going on to achieve greater success in regional venues and touring.”
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