History Live brings The Great and The Good back to life at St George's Hall next week

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

St George’s Hall are proud to announce their latest historical extravaganza, History Live - The Great and The Good, which comes next week from Tuesday September 1-Sunday September 6, and brings to life some of the most inspiring figures from Liverpool’s past in the atmospheric cells and catacombs of St George's Hall.

A group of local historians, enthusiasts and actors from In Another Place community group have got together to form History Live, celebrating the incredible achievements and selfless acts of historic Liverpudlians such as Josephine Butler, Edward Rushton, Doctor Duncan and more.

St George's Hall has had a number of very successful re-enacted history tours but this is the first one to concentrate on the cities inspiring historical characters who were motivated and energized by their faith. Liverpool has a very strong Christian heritage – from the monks that started the ferry across the Mersey, to some of the abolitionists of the slave trade – like Thomas Hope of Hope Street fame. The Great and the Good concentrates on five characters mainly from the Victorian era, all motivated by their faith. From the wealthy Joseph Williamson and his tunnels, to the poverty stricken Kitty Wilkinson and her laundry service to combat cholera in the slums. Visitors will also meet Edward Rushton, founder of the first school for the blind, and Dr. Duncan and Josephine Butler, campaigners in the fields of health and education for women.

Hannah Johnson, director, commented: "St George's Hall has hosted some very successful tours in the last few months and they are keen to promote our new production which is interactive, informative and inspiring. Not to be missed!"

Alan Smith, manager of St Georges Hall, added: “St George’s Hall is delighted to host a new and dynamic series of heritage gallery and catacomb tours which focus purely on the great and good of Liverpool. The spotlight is turned onto Liverpool greats who have made outstanding contributions to the life of people from the city and beyond. History Live have an outstanding record of producing great public theatre and performances and I am sure they will produce outstanding performance in the catacombs.”

In Another Place is an all-inclusive Christian charity that uses large scale theatrical events to encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, young and old and all abilities. They are best known for their two huge Narnia productions with 500 participants and an audience of 17,000 walking through the experience over a two-week period.

For further information, visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

Plácido Domingo opera stars heading to St George's Hall

Ekaterina Lekhina

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

First of four concerts features Grammy Award-winning Ekaterina Lekhina

The stars of Plácido Domingo’s Operalia are heading to Liverpool this Autumn for a new opera performance series at St George’s Hall.

The Liverpool Opera – Four Seasons makes its debut at the iconic venue on Thursday October 1, at 19.30, with a concert headlined by Grammy Award-winning Russian soprano Ekaterina Lekhina to launch the programme.

The performance will take place in the stunning Concert Room and the programme will include works by Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and Donizetti.

Soprano star Ekaterina Lekhina will be joined by special guest Barbara Ruzsics, who lives in Liverpool and graduated at the Liszt Academy of Music and student of Soprano star Eva Marton; and David Walters who is Liverpool Hope University’s accompanist and piano tutor.

The concert series is presented by GuliAnd Management and features the stars of Plácido Domingo’s Operalia, the world opera competition, with four opera singers performing during each season.

Gyula Mesterházy, co-founder of GuliAnd Management, commented: “Liverpool’s cultural offering continues to grow so we are delighted to debut this new series of concerts in the city. We chose the Concert Room at St George’s Hall as the perfect backdrop to perfectly complement the beautiful voices our audiences will hear.”

Ekaterina Lekhina made her international opera debut in 2007 at the Vienna Volksoper, and has performed at venues including the Royal Opera House; Deutsche Oper; Bolshoi Theatre; Staatsoper Berlin; and Teatre Real Madrid.

She has worked with celebrated conductors including Antonio Papano, Kent Nagano, and Leopold Hager. She won the prestigious Diapason d’Or prize in France, and took first place at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Paris.

Spanish singer Domingo is celebrated globally as one of the Three Tenors, the trio who performed together throughout the 1990s and early 2000s which also included fellow Spaniard José Carreras and Italian singer Luciano Pavarotti.

For further information, visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

Celebrate Pride this weekend!

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Pride

St George's Hall to be illuminated in a glorious coloured rainbow of lights

Liverpool Pride returns this weekend for its sixth consecutive year with a full weekend of flamboyant and vibrant activity taking place across the city celebrating the LGBT community.

One of the host venues, St George’s Hall, has just announced that they will be showing their support to Gay Pride by illuminating the columns on the front of the Grade II listed building; lighting up the hall in a spectacular rainbow of colour to represent the colours of the Pride flag. This will take place on the evenings of Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1.

Alan Smith, manager of St George’s Hall, commented: “St George’s Hall is delighted to support Pride for its celebrations. The East Portico columns at the top of the Plateau will be lit up in a brilliant spectacle of Rainbow lights on Friday and Saturday evening which will be a grand way to start the weekend, and the family-friendly event in St John’s Gardens brings further celebration and light into the heart of the city and reaffirms the halls commitments to be truly multicultural, inclusive, and embracing all of the community.”

As ever, the Liverpool Pride March will kick off the celebrations on Saturday August 1 which will then be followed by a free events programme held in the prestigious backdrop of the St George’s Quarter and within St John’s Gardens.

Those marching are asked to gather at the muster point at Liverpool’s iconic St. George’s Plateau from 10.30, with the march starting at 12.00.

There will be extended muster time activity hosted by celebrated Drag Queen, The Vivienne and Paul St German, which includes performances from LIPA, Royal Court Community Choir, Empire Youth Theatre performing songs from Legally Blonde, Encore Productions and poems by Liverpool poet Gerry Potter.

There will be speeches from Liverpool’s Lord Mayor Tony Concepcion, Natalie Bennett MP (leader of Green Party), Labour MP Stephen Twigg, Councillor Gary Millar and other LGBT patrons and activists.

They will also be announcing the winner of the school competitions to design a t-shirt (judged by Stone Wall Chief Exec Ruth Hunt) and the poetry competition (judged by CEO of Diversity Role Models Suran Dickson).

The Liverpool Pride March will then commence through the streets of Liverpool which this year for the first time ever will go through the Stanley Street Gay Quarter.

Once back at the plateau, there will be further speeches and performances as well as a special Balloon Release. This will launch a full afternoon of events scheduled in St John’s Gardens.

St Johns Gardens and St Georges Quarter will remain an alcohol-free zone.

Bring your picnic baskets and pitch a spot and relax on the comfy pink bean bags in St John’s Gardens to enjoy pink lemonade and afternoon tea with The Pride Pink Picnic. Food and soft drinks will also be available for purchase.

Check out the Community Zone which includes an Education Area sponsored by After Adoption, a Kids Game Area, and Market.

The Education Area offers a varied programme throughout the day for all ages which includes: a video from the Michael Causer Foundation which outlines why the Foundation was set up; DWF present facts and advice for same-sex couples wanting to start a family; Diversity Role Models present workshops which give an insight in to life in the school classroom; Sahir House present some of their latest work; Purple Tie Promotions present a Trans panel discussion about life before and after the ban was lifted on LGBT serving members of the Armed Forces; various Q+A sessions including Liverpool Trans and LGSM; Kreative Kaos will present an exciting performance of children’s story The Pirate Princess; Story time corner with readings of LGBT children’s books throughout the day.

Acoustic Music will be provided in the education area with a host of local artists performing throughout the day, including Out on Stage contestants Eleanor Nelly and Joseph Lofthouse.

Kids of all ages will be entertained for hours in the Kids Game Area which will include giant versions of Jenga, Connect Four, Coyts, Pick up Sticks, Snakes and Ladders, hula hooping, skipping, limbo, table tennis, space hoppers, nought and crosses and parachutes.

There will also be a market which will include a wealth of stalls to stock up on souvenirs, gifts and mementos as well and food and drink stalls and information stalls including various LGBT services plus stalls which offer links to local and national groups for teens to get information and resources for teachers and education providers to use in their classrooms.

The Incredible Moving Picturehouse will also be driving into the city for a special programme of movies supported by Unison North West LGBT Group and Thinking Film. Four LGBT feature films will be screened: Hairspray, Pride, Soft Lad and Dressed as a Girl, running from 14.00 to 22.30; tickets are £6.00 per screening and are now on sale.

Dance the night away at The Ball and Chain Fundraiser, a special event at city centre venue Amanzi on Water Street from 19:30. The event which is being organised in partnership with Soul Inspired Events will include a host of Liverpool’s hottest and freshest talent including the 2015 Out On Stage finalists Skylights and Jess Kemp plus this year’s winner Shamona plus performances from Jes Stretton, Court Royal and Amique.

Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased in advance for £10 via email to tickets@liverpoolpride.co.uk or in person at The Lisbon on Victoria Street, or can be purchased on the door at Amanzi for £12.

Stanley Street Quarter will also be hosting a wide range of entertainment and events throughout the weekend. Please visit www.stanleystqtr.co.uk for more details.

GYRO Youth Space, a service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans* Young People aged 13-25 will also be celebrating Pride with a selection of games, music, trans*zone, art, photo booth and food from 1pm-5pm at YPAS Bolton Street, Liverpool, L3 5LX.

The programme continues on Sunday August 2 with Breaking Our Chains: Health and Creativity at the Bluecoat from 14.00 which offers an afternoon of health, healing and creativity featuring: Big Luv Sista Choir and Circle, First steps in Pride & Confidence building from The Armistead Project; creative activities with POM POM and FREE hand and arm massage from Kiehl's of Liverpool One alongside Wishes & Prayers bunting making with Liverpool Pride.

The weekend then comes to a poignant close with the Michael Causer Foundation Vigil taking place at 17.00 at Temple Square, with the date of Liverpool Pride always coinciding with the anniversary of when murdered gay teenager Michael Causer tragically lost his life. Michael died on August 2 2008, and the festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and empower the LGBT communities. This year’s Liverpool Pride takes place a week before what would have also been Michael’s 26th birthday. The Michael Causer Vigil will be held on Sunday August 2 at 17.00 at Temple Square, off Dale Street.

Liverpool Pride 2015 is being supported by main sponsors Homes For Everyone and Liverpool City Council. Supporters also include After Adoption, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Hugh Baird College, Unison North West LGBT, and Barefoot Wine.

Anyone wishing to participate in the march should pre-register at www.liverpoolpride.co.uk/liverpool-pride-march-registration.

Keep up to date with Pride Liverpool announcements by visiting www.liverpoolpride.co.uk, where people can also register to volunteer or find out about sponsorship opportunities.

The art of Frank Green

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

Attend a special talk with Frank Green

St George's Hall are delighted to announce a series of Artist Talks with Frank Green will take place throughout August to coincide with the Liverpool artist’s exhibition, which is currently open to the public every day until Monday August 31.

The 40-minute sessions will take place in the Reid Room on Saturday August 1, Thursday August 20, Saturday August 22 and Saturday August 29 at 14.00 on each of these dates, and early booking is advised due to limited capacity.

In these special talks, guests will get an in-depth insight of Frank’s long-standing love of art as he discusses his experience as an artist, with the use of projection to animate the talks demonstrating the theory and technique through his use of medium and colour apparent in his works.

Tickets are priced at just £10, which also includes admission in to the exhibition and an opportunity for a Q&A with Frank after the talks.

Frank Green has been drawing and painting Liverpool cityscapes since he was a student at Liverpool College of Art, Hope Street, in the 1960s; and whilst the exhibition will focus, for the most part, on pictures of Liverpool (streets, churches, pubs and city views), there will be a selection of rarely-seen fine sepia drawings of Malta, and watercolours of France, Italy and Wales.

Following on from the hugely successful Frank Green and the Welsh Builders exhibition at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in North Wales earlier this year, in which the Welsh builders who contributed to the architectural wealth of Liverpool were celebrated, Frank is now thrilled to be one of the first artists to have his work displayed at the new galleries at St George's Hall.

Visitors can expect to see a vast body of work attesting to Frank’s great fondness for the city of Liverpool, its people and architecture; and will feature the artist's work in watercolour, oil, pastel, conté crayon, pencil, and pen and ink across the six new galleries in the basement of St George’s Hall.

For more news on Frank Green, and to view a selection of prints by the artist in his online shop, visit www.frankgreen.co.uk.

Tickets can be purchased from St George's Hall Shop or by calling 0151 225 6903.

March with Pride this weekend

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Pride

New March route to include Stanley Street Quarter; Muster activity hosted by drag queen The Vivienne

Liverpool Pride returns to the city this weekend for its sixth consecutive year, and as ever it commences with the colourful and vibrant Liverpool Pride March through the streets of Liverpool city centre on Saturday August 1.

With this year’s theme set as Love is No Crime, stand tall and celebrate the LGBT community by taking part in the March, which for the first time ever will this year go through the Stanley Street Gay Quarter.

Anyone wishing to participate in the march should pre-register at www.liverpoolpride.co.uk/liverpool-pride-march-registration.

Those marching are asked to gather at the muster point at Liverpool’s iconic St. George’s Plateau from 10.30, with the March starting at 12.00.

There will be extended muster time activity leading up to the increasingly popular and poignant march, with a programed schedule of speakers and entertainment hosted by The Vivienne and Paul St German, this includes performances from LIPA, Royal Court Community Choir and Empire Youth Theatre and poems by Liverpool poet Gerry Potter.

There will be speeches from Liverpool’s Lord Mayor Tony Concepcion, Natalie Bennett MP (leader of Green Party), and Labour MP Angela Eagle, Councillor Gary Millar as well as other LGBT patrons and activists.

They will also be announcing the winner of the school competitions to design a t-shirt (judged by Stone Wall Chief Exec Ruth Hunt) and the poetry competition (judged by CEO of Diversity Role Models Suran Dickson).

The Muster at St George's Hall is an important part of the Pride day, where participants, spectators and organisers all join together to appreciate what Liverpool Pride represents and the importance of continuing this outstanding event each year.

After leaving St George’s Plateau, the March route will proceed along Lime Street before taking in Queen Square Bus Station and Whitechapel, then making its way on to Lord Street to the Victoria Monument, right on to Castle Street, right on to Dale Street, left on to North John Street, right on to Victoria Street before turning left up Stanley Street and continue along Dale Street, over the Churchill Way Flyover before arriving back at St George’s Plateau.

Once back at the Plateau, there will be further speeches and performances as well as a special Balloon Release.

This will launch a full afternoon of events scheduled in the St George’s Quarter and within St John’s Gardens.

The programme will include The Pink Picnic; An Education and Community Zone; A Market Area; Food and Drink Stalls; Picturehouse Travelling Cinema; Acoustic Music; Workshops; Family Zone and Speakers Corner with special guest in attendance.

Please note that St Johns Gardens and St George's Quarter will remain an alcohol-free zone.

The date of Liverpool Pride always coincides with the anniversary of when murdered gay teenager Michael Causer tragically lost his life.

Michael died on August 2 2008, and the festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and empower the LGBT communities.

This year’s Liverpool Pride takes place a week before what would have also been Michael’s 26th birthday.

The Michael Causer Vigil will be held on Sunday August 2 at 17.00 at Temple Square, off Dale Street.

Liverpool Pride 2015 is being supported by main sponsors Homes For Everyone and Liverpool City Council.

Supporters also include After Adoption, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Hugh Baird College, Unison North West LGBT, and Barefoot Wine.

Keep up to date with Pride Liverpool announcements by visiting www.liverpoolpride.co.uk, where people can also register to volunteer or find out about sponsorship opportunities.

St George saves the day

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Pride

A free Pride programme to be held in the St George's Quarter

Liverpool Pride organisers are delighted to announce that there will be a free events programme on Saturday August 1 and will be held in the prestigious backdrop of the St George’s Quarter and within St John’s Gardens.

The programme will include the Pride Muster and March; The Pink Picnic; An Education and Community Zone; A Market Area; Food and Drink Stalls; Picturehouse Travelling Cinema; Acoustic Music; Workshops; Family Zone and Speakers Corner with special guest in attendance.  St Johns Gardens and St Georges Quarter will remain an alcohol free zone.

Liverpool Pride will commence with an extended muster time on St George’s Plateau from 10.30 with a programme of entertainment and speakers on St Georges Plateau including popular Liverpool Poet Gerry Potter. This will lead up to the increasingly popular and poignant Liverpool Pride March starting from St George’s Hall, which remains a highlight of the day. This year, the March route will loop around the city beginning and ending at St George’s Plateau and for the first time ever will pass through Liverpool’s Stanley Street Quarter

When the March has returned, bring your picnic baskets and pitch a spot in St John’s Gardens to enjoy pink lemonade and afternoon tea with The Pride Pink Picnic and enjoy a family fun day, packed with an array of activities on offer. Food and soft drinks will also be available for purchase.

The Education Zone will offer LGBT talks, workshops and activities for all ages, and attendees already confirmed include After Adoption; Association of Teachers and Lecturers; Broken Rainbow; Brook; CARE Fertility; Chalice Media Group; Diversity Role Models; DWF LLP Law Firm; Educate and Celebrate; Homotopia; LGSM; Liverpool Bi Group; Liverpool Trans; Mermaids; Michael Causer Foundation; New Beginnings; Purple Tie Promotions; Sahir House and The Whitechapel Centre.

Highlights of events taking place in the education zone include a video from the Michael Causer Foundation which outlines why the Foundation was set up, DWF present facts and advice for same-sex couples wanting to start a family, Diversity Role Models present workshops which give an insight in to life in the school classroom, Kreative Kaos will present an exciting performance of children’s story The Pirate Princess and there will be various Q+A sessions including Liverpool Trans and LGSM.

Children and parents alike will be able to take advantage of Story Time Corner with books available to enjoy which focus on gender identity and different family set-ups, as well as a host of Celebrity Guest readers throughout the day including professional comedian Bethany Black who recently featured in the hugely successful and popular multi-channel shows Banana, Cucumber and Tofu where she was the first trans actress to play a lead role, plus rising soulful R&B artist Jes Stretton who returns after performing on Liverpool Pride’s main stage in 2014.

Music will be provided in the education zone with a host of local artists performing throughout the day, including Out on Stage contestants Eleanor Nelly and Joseph Lofthouse entertaining the crowds with a fantastic selection of acoustic tracks.

The Incredible Moving Picturehouse will also be driving into the city for a special programme of movies supported by Unison North West LGBT Group and Thinking Film. They will be screening four LGBT feature films: Hairspray, Pride, Soft Lad and Dressed as a Girl, running from 14.00-22.30; tickets are £6.00 per screening and are now on sale.

There will also be a market which will include a wealth of stalls to stock up on souvenirs, gifts and mementos as well and food and drink stalls and information stalls including various LGBT services plus stalls which offer links to local and national groups for teens to get information and resources for teachers and education providers to use in their classrooms.

After previously announcing a downsize in scale to this year’s festival, organisers have been working tirelessly to put together as full a programme as possible and are delighted to have secured the remarkable setting of St John’s Garden to hold this year’s day time events.

Joan Burnett, Trustee of Liverpool Pride Charity, commented: "We want to thank Liverpool City Council and Homes4Everyone and our other supporters for their unwavering belief in Liverpool Pride; they have made our day possible!

“St John's Gardens is a beautiful setting for the day, so near the Stanley Street Quarter and having been the site of a Pansy Project intervention before now. We hope to both entertain and educate in equal measure and our emphasis will be on young people and their experiences. We'll have great speakers on stage, a vibrant market area and plenty for everyone to do and see! Whilst we do remind everyone that this is an alcohol free zone, we encourage you to join us for the perfect summer picnic and enjoy Liverpool Pride to the max.”

Alan Smith, Manager of St George’s Hall, added: “St George’s Hall is delighted to support Pride for their March and celebrations in St John’s Gardens. The family friendly event in St John’s gardens brings further celebration and light into the heart of the city and reaffirms the halls commitments to be truly multicultural, inclusive, and embracing all of the community.”

Liverpool Pride 2015 is being supported by main sponsors Homes For Everyone and Liverpool City Council. Supporters also include After Adoption, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Hugh Baird College, Unison North West LGBT, and Barefoot Wine.

Keep up to date with Pride Liverpool announcements by visiting www.liverpoolpride.co.uk, where people can also register to volunteer or find out about sponsorship opportunities.

Catacombs tours return with new stories this September

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

Explore the depths of St George's Hall with new, compelling theatrical stories in the Catacombs of Liverpool's darkest history

The increasingly popular theatrical Catacombs tours of St George’s Hall Liverpool return this September, with brand new stories in the next instalment of The Catacombs Of Liverpool’s Darkest History. This is the fifth series of tours which follows hugely successful sell-out runs in March and June.

The new tours will run from Monday September 28–Sunday October 4, with four tours each evening at 18.00, 18.45, 19.30 and 20.15. Tickets are priced at £15 per person.

Back by popular demand, the tours explore the most chilling and infamous of crimes from Liverpool’s dark past, with the shocking tales recreated within the cells and catacombs of Liverpool’s most celebrated and historic building.

St George's Hall can be aptly described as a capsule for Liverpool’s history; whilst the rich and influential enjoyed the grandeur and opulence that the Great Hall had to offer, there existed a harsher reality in the cells below. Men, women and children crammed into tiny stifled cells awaiting their punishment. Nowhere in the city could you find a more relevant space to animate some of the darkest elements of Liverpool’s criminal past.

Theatrical company Lovehistory who produce the Catacomb series, can promise that these new promenade tours will be the most compelling to date consisting of powerful theatrical performances that will undoubtedly move their audience.

The promenade performances will lead the audience into the dark cells below where those waiting to be condemned would spend their final moments. In the dark shadows of Liverpool’s history, visitors will encounter the characters and witness a series of thought provoking and expertly choreographed scenes of Liverpool murders, torment and cruelty. Behind every dark corner lies a hidden story which will be exposed.

LoveHistory can reveal the first of the new stories to be featured in this new series of tours. Hear the heinous tale of the 1931 murder of Julia Wallace, one of the most baffling crimes to ever hit Liverpool.

After a mysterious caller sent Julia’s husband, William Herbert Wallace, on a wild goose chase looking for a street that didn’t exist he returned to find his wife brutally slain in their own home. A sensational trial followed and William came within inches of being executed for his wife’s murder however the lack of evidence spared him. This was only the start of the story however as the inexplicable aspects of the case that saved William’s life continues to intrigue amateur sleuths to this day.

This tale of murder and mystery will be expertly recreated along with other shocking stories which will be announced in due course, by a team of professional actors who will leave audiences spines tingling as they discover the gruesome details of the innocent victims, the not so innocent perpetrators of these vicious crimes and those who carried out the sentence of the court – the executioner.

Judy McLean, Creative Director of Lovehistory, commented: "We at Lovehistory are all very excited to return to St George's Hall in September with a fifth series of Catacomb Tours. We have had thousands attend these tours and what has been the most pleasing for us has been people’s reaction to the stories we tell and how we tell them. These shows always seem to exceed people's expectations due to the quality of the production. It's a fantastic building and so relevant to history of the city."

The Catacombs Of Liverpool’s Darkest History promises to be the most haunting and gripping tour to date.

For further information, visit www.lovehistory.co.uk or www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

St George's Hall to unveil its exquisite minton tile floor

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

Visitors to Liverpool’s St George's Hall will get the rare opportunity to view the spectacular Grade II listed building in all of its remarkable glory this August, as its famous Minton Tiled flooring will once again be unveiled from Friday August 7-Sunday August 16.

Amongst the world’s finest examples of an encaustic tiled floor, the handcrafted mosaic of more than 30,000 tiles were concealed in the 1860s to allow dancing and events at the prestigious venue.

The intricate and exquisite patterned tiled flooring depict the Liver Birds, the Roman god Neptune, sea nymphs, dolphins and tridents in what was the largest Minton pavement in the world when reconstructed.

Councillor Wendy Simon, Cabinet member for culture and tourism, commented: “The fantastic Minton Tiles at St George’s Hall are always hugely popular with tourists and residents each time they are revealed.

“The craftsmanship that has gone into the tiles is simply astounding and I would urge anyone who hasn’t yet seen them to go along to St George’s Hall and see these magnificent tiles.”

The Hall will be open daily from 10.00-17.00 (last entry at 16.00) where visitors will be able to view Liverpool’s hidden gem and gaze again at the site of the Great Hall in all its original grandeur.

There will also be one-hour guided Walk the Floor Tours available each day from 10.00-11.00 and from 16.00-17.00 in which visitors will learn about the history of the Hall and the famous flooring and then be able to access and walk on the World renowned Minton Tiled floor.

If that wasn’t enough then why not enjoy a Night on the Tiles; each evening from 18.00-21.00, guests will be able to enjoy the rare privilege of being able to “walk” on the world heritage site floor whilst enjoying a free glass of fizz, and there will also be food available to purchase each evening.

Be sure not to miss this rare opportunity to witness one of the city’s most iconic and grand buildings in all of its original splendour when its infamous Minton Tiled flooring is unveiled from Friday August 7– Sunday August 16.

For further information, visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

En Route To Mozart

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

Second instalment in new concert series from St George’s Hall’s Resident Orchestra

The Concert Room at Liverpool’s iconic St George’s Hall will host En Route to Mozart on Sunday May 17, the second in a new series of classical concerts by St George’s Hall’s own orchestra-in-residence, L’Orchestra dell’ Arte.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the central pillar of the three concerts, showing how Mozart’s genius was shaped by his predecessors, and how he, in turn, passed on the torch to successive composers.

This concert will highlight some of Mozart’s key influences, including performances of Handel’s The Fireworks Music, Pachelbel’s Canon, Haydn’s Symphony 99, and soloist Steven Joseph performs Mandolin and Lute concertos of Vivaldi.

As well as live performances, these will be interspersed with stories behind the music, presented in the inimitable style of Edward Peak: light-hearted, personal and always informative.

Director of Orchestra dell’ Arte, Edward Peak, was the recipient of this year’s The Wirral Award, a Civic Recognition Award for his outstanding achievement, distinguished service to the borough and life-long services to Music and the Arts; presented to him In March of this year by the Lord Mayor of Wirral Mr Steve Foulkes during a ceremony in Wallasey Town Hall.

Edward is well known to audiences from his career with the RLPO as both performer and Conductor and more recently as a presenter for Bay TV.

Edward Peak, director of Orchestra dell’ Arte, said: “It is with enormous pleasure and anticipation that I am looking forward to our second series of concerts at the fantastic St George’s Hall. Support from everyone concerned with our first season has been amazing.  Our second series which will be a journey showing how even a great genius needs inspiration from others. Mozart in turn inspired a host of subsequent artistes and changed the musical profile of the world.

“Following this season, we have already plans in place for the next stage in our musical journey: the composers who built on, added to and improved on Mozart’s lead.”

Following on from March’s Mainly Mozart, the second show in the series will once again offer audiences truly captivating performances, bringing to life music and stores of an irrefutable timeless era.

For further information, visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

The Craft Mine now open at St George's Hall

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

The Craft Mine, an incredible maze of creative workshops and interactive games, is now open in the catacombs and galleries in one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings.

Be sure not to miss the amazing mine of innovative craft activities that the Craft Mine has to offer.

It is already entertaining kids of all ages with two hours of mind-blowing activities, and is open now at St Georges Hall from Tuesday April 14-Friday April 17.

Explore the maze packed with activities to take part in, as you discover the amethyst mine with the Explode a Volcano! cave, try to make it across the optical illusion bridge and make a kinetic optical illusion cube in the Optical Illusion Cave, create crazy caricatures and 2D cartoon designs and put dancing skills to the test with dance off’s in the Boogie Boots Room.

Disney Frozen fans will love the Frozen cave, where they can design beautiful crafts with Elsa and Anna, take the Fast Paced ACE Race challenge to race Sponge Bob against R2D2, and in the incredible Catacomb caves Minecraft and Pacman game-offs and competitions will be held on huge arcade screens.

This is an action-packed, fun-filled experience with prizes and treats throughout; one lucky Craftminer per session will also win the Craft Mine Creative Genius Award! This is awarded at the end of each event session.

Each child will receive a free Craft Mine bag to fill with the arts, crafts and treats they create and collect on their adventure. The event also features a gem stone treasure hunt for all the family, linking to Liverpool museums, and ticket holders will receive a money off voucher for cafes and restaurants around the city. Activities cater to different age levels from 5-14, with chill out zones and healthy refreshment kiosks mapped within the “mine”.

W.I.L.D In & Out Camp Creative Director Lynne Winstanley said: "The launch of the new Craft mine at St Georges Hall has been a great success so far, so much so that one family have visited us twice! The main attractions of the event so far have been Mine Craft Steeplechase and Giant Archery. We personally adore the huge mural wall that the children of Liverpool have created themselves and everyone also loves Disney’s Elsa and Anna attraction, even the parents. Our tickets are selling quicker than our children’s picnic baskets in our café so get yourself down here and enjoy the fun."

A fun and educational experience which encourages communication and team skills, The Craft Mine is a brilliant day out for the whole family.

Tickets are available to purchase in advance from TicketQuarter or on the day at St Georges Hall. A child’s ticket is priced at £10, with one free adult accompanying up to 3 children, and extra adult tickets at £3. Tickets are limited for each session, so book early to avoid disappointment.

To book tickets for The Craft Mine, click here.

New Catacombs tours confirmed for June following sell-out success

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

Explore St George's Hall with new stories - "The Catacombs of Liverpool's darkest history"

The increasingly popular theatrical Catacombs tours of St George’s Hall will return by popular demand in June with new darker stories.

This is the fourth series of Catacombs stories and follows a successful sell-out run earlier this year.

Visitors to St George’s Hall in June will experience ‘The Catacombs Of Liverpool’s Darkest History’, peeling back the layers of yesteryear to reveal what lies within the heart of Liverpool’s most celebrated building.

The new tours will run for six consecutive days between Monday June 15 and Saturday June 20, and for the first time, they will feature five tours each evening at 6.00pm, 6.45pm, 7.30pm, 8.15pm and 9.00pm; tickets are priced at £15 per person per tour.

St George's Hall is widely regarded as one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world and is a Grade I listed building, yet many people are still yet to discover its mysterious past and stories dating back to a dark history.

The Catacombs of Liverpool’s Darkest History is staged by theatrical company Lovehistory Ltd, who return to St George’s Hall for the fourth series of stories, with this latest collection being the darkest yet. The Lovehistory actors will bring new characters and their stories from Liverpool’s murderous past to life before the eyes of visitors.

Previous Lovehistory Catacombs sell-out tours have seen over 1,000 visitors descend on St George’s Hall in one week to hear the series of stories. Lovehistory will present new stories from Liverpool’s darker past for this fourth series. The stunning theatrical performances are guarantees to send chills down the spine.

These promenade performances will take you into the dark cells below the grandness of the Great Hall, where those waiting to be condemned would spend their final moments. In the dark shadows of Liverpool’s history, visitors will encounter characters telling their tormented tales. Behind every dark corner lies a hidden story which has not been heard for over 100 years.

New stories include that of Captain Henry Rogers, the sadistic ship’s captain who was hanged for the murder of one of his crew. Then there is the bare knuckle boxing fight that left a man dead and the other at the mercy of the judge. Hear these stories and more come back to life in The Catacombs of Liverpool’s Darkest History.

These spellbinding tours uncover the tales of past criminals who were hanged for their crimes, those who were judged and sentenced by law, and those who carried out the sentence of the court – the executioner.

Judy McLean, Creative Director of Lovehistory, commented: “We are very pleased to be running a fourth series of these unique theatrical tours. I can’t think of anything more relevant to the city than to tell the stories of our past in this way. We all learn about kings and queens in school but these re-enactments reveal not only the stories about the characters but they also portray a way of life of the men, women and children who lived in dire poverty, and those who were punished by law and sent to their death.

“Although some of the content can be quite dark we try to make these tours informative and entertaining. What we have seen with the tours is that everybody seems to take away something different from them, and we are now looking forward to telling these new stories in St George's Hall and bringing forgotten tales back to life.”

Alan Smith, St George’s Hall Manager, added: “The Catacombs Tours have proved extremely popular, with visitors returning for each new series to hear all about the lives of the new characters. The Catacombs provide the perfect backdrop for darker theatrical events, which give visitors the opportunity to explore St George’s Hall from a whole new perspective. We look forward to welcoming back Lovehistory and their team of talented actors for this fourth series. We anticipate another sell-out and wish them well for a successful run.”

For further details, visit www.lovehistory.co.uk or www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.

St George's Hall commemorates the memory of The Lusitania with special public dinner

The Lusitania.

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St George's Hall

On Thursday May 7, Liverpool’s St George’s Hall will play host to a special public dinner to commemorate the memory of The Lusitania, the Liverpool ship that set sail from New York on May 1 1915, never to arrive at its destination.

Guests will enjoy a delicious 3-course meal authentic to the menu served to passengers on-board the ship whilst enjoying the sumptuous surroundings of St George’s Hall, and will remember a vital piece of Liverpool history whilst having the opportunity to dance the night away to a live dance band playing music from the era.

This event tackles the beauty, as well as the tragedy, of the ship that made 101 round trips from Liverpool, via Queenstown to New York and back between September 1907 and May 1915, before being sunk on her 202nd fateful voyage.

Celebrating the centenary of this tragic tale, the event will feature a guest speech from local historian Steve Binns MBE, and feature rare images from Cunard of The Lusitania’s history, as well as other ships of the Cunard line.

Guests will be dined with a 3-course dinner which includes a starter of Potage St Germain, a main course of Daube de Boeuf a la Bourguignonne, Pommes mousseline and Chou-fleur au gratin and with Bavarois aux fraises sur genoise for dessert. (Starter: Cream of sweet pea soup. Main: Braised Beef, glazed onions, mushrooms and sweet cured bacon with creamed mashed potatoes and grazed cauliflower. Desert: Strawberry mousse with light vanilla sponge.)

The Lusitania Commemorative Dinner takes place at St George's Hall, Liverpool on Thursday May 7 at 19.30. Tickets are £48, subject to a booking and handling fee.

All tickets can be purchased in person at TicketQuarter at Queen Square, Liverpool, or online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk. Alternatively, call 0844 800 0410 to book tickets.

For further information, visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk.