60th Anniversary Of The Cavern Club

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Music Show
Genre: Music
Date: January 16 2017
Location: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

On January 16 1957, the Cavern Club opened in Liverpool and, in the years that followed, it became the hottest place to be due to the increasingly-popular musical acts who would perform there, not least The Beatles who made it something of a spiritual home en route to becoming the most famous band of all-time. Although it was closed in 1973, it re-opened in 1984 and, since then, it has continued to act as a vital step along the way for inexperienced yet talented acts to make their names before becoming major stars in their own right.

To mark 60 years of the Cavern, a special show was held across two nights at the Philharmonic Hall. I was fortunate enough to attend the second evening, on the very date of the Cavern's Diamond Anniversary, which began specifically at 19:57 in line with the year of its foundation. Although I am too young to remember the Cavern at its 1960s peak, many of those in attendance were not, but regardless of age, this was a very enjoyable trip down memory lane.

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Lennon Through A Glass Onion

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Comedy Drama
Date: September 6 2016
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

The story of The Beatles, and of John Lennon in particular, has been told countless times, and in a theatre setting, this usually consists of a feel-good round-up of classic Beatles tunes. Lennon Through A Glass Onion, however, is very different, and the show succeeds because of this alternative approach.

Inspired by one of John's solo hits, Lennon Through A Glass Onion tells the story of his career from the perspective of John himself. Well, from Daniel Taylor who plays John; but he is so authentic in his look, his mannerisms, his dialect and, of course, his singing that many onlookers have noted that when watching this show, for a brief moment you almost forget that you are watching playing the role of Lennon, which is as high a compliment as one could possibly provide.

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Let It Be

Image Source: Royal Court Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Musical
Date: October 13 2015
Location: Royal Court Theatre

Although it's always a thrill to see an actor, a group or a show travel the globe to showcase their skills, there's nothing like watching them live in their home town. And that is what we get with the Liverpool performance of Let It Be, a hugely popular show based around the music of The Beatles, which has been held in the likes of Broadway in New York and the West End in London, but has now come home, so to speak, by holding shows in the city where it all began for the Fab Four, Liverpool, England.

Let It Be has no real storyline as such, with the show instead taking the form of a historical tribute to The Beatles. In some respects, it is a show of two halves, with the first half charting the evolution of The Beatles from their beginnings in The Cavern Club to their eventual expansion to America via their performance at Shea Stadium (with screens and videos providing a suitable background for each mini-collection of songs), and with the second part taking more of a concert feel, as the remainder of The Beatles' most famous tunes are performed as one long, singular set.

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Tickets now on sale for Let It Be

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Royal Court Theatre

Tickets for the International hit show that celebrates the music of The Beatles are now on sale in their hometown of Liverpool.

Direct from London’s West End, Let It Be will officially re-launch the multi-million pound refurbishment of the Royal Court Theatre and run for 5 ½ weeks from Thursday October 8–Saturday November 14 2015. The dates also coincides with John Lennon’s 75th birthday on Friday October 9, the first year with a switch in focus to celebrate his life and musical contribution.

The smash hit show that established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows when the production originally opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in September 2012, where it recouped its initial investment after just 18 weeks before transferring for a year-long run at the Savoy Theatre from January 2013– February 2014. The show has recently returned to the West End for an 8-month run at the Garrick Theatre.

Seen by over 1 million people worldwide, Let It Be continues to delight audiences across the globe, having recently performed to audiences in Germany, Japan, Moscow, and France. Let It Be showcases the music of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll band, in a spectacular concert charting the band’s meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces.

The show is packed with over forty of The Beatles’ greatest hits including Twist and Shout, She Loves You and Drive My Car, as well as global mega-hits Yesterday, Hey Jude, Come Together and, of course, Let It Be. Travel back to the magical sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

The music defined a generation, captured the hearts and ideals of millions, and now you can relive the memories in the city where it all began as Annerin Productions bring Let It Be to Liverpool.

Jeff Parry from Annerin Productions commented: “I could not have dreamed as a 9-year-old living in Canada, having received my first Beatles album, that I would be producing a show about the band in their hometown 51 years later. Destiny has some strange coincidences.

“Having been a Beatles fan since a young age, I studied the origins of the Beatles and Liverpool. I have visited Liverpool many times, most recently when Let It Be played at the Empire Theatre. I was overwhelmed with the Liverpudlians' show of support and their thanks to me for being part of the creation of the West End show.   To say the least, Let It Be is helping to keep the music of the Beatles alive throughout the world, and I am honoured to be bringing the show back to Liverpool.”

The show will officially launch the completion of a £2.8m refurbishment of the Royal Court. This will give audiences the chance to see the new foyer, box office, circle bar and terrace. There will also be improved access with a lift to all floors.

Kevin Fearon, Chief Executive of Royal Court Liverpool, added: “We announce some 8 or so shows each year, but none has been so exciting or as important for the Royal Court as Let It Be. This autumn, we will complete Phase 2 of our refurbishment works, and I can't think of a better show to mark this with. Our exciting building works have been a key part in attracting Let It Be to play for five weeks in Liverpool, the first time this has happened outside of a capital city. Let It Be marks a step up for Liverpool's Royal Court, and the future looks very exciting.”

Let It Be runs in the Royal Court Theatre from Thursday October 8-Saturday November 14. For ticket information, click here.

You can learn more about Let It Be by clicking here.

Let It Be to relaunch in Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Royal Court Theatre

Let It Be, the international celebration of the music of The Beatles which has been a West End and Broadway hit, will come home later this year to mark the official re-launch of the multi-million pound refurbishment of the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.

Let It Be will run for 5 ½ weeks from Thursday October 8 to Saturday November 14.

The opening is also set to coincide with John Lennon’s 75th birthday, which falls on Friday October 9.

This smash hit production established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows when it originally opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in September 2012, where it recouped its initial investment after just 18 weeks before transferring for a year-long run at the Savoy Theatre from January 2013–February 2014.

Presented by Annerin Productions, the show has recently returned to the West End for an 8 month run at the Garrick Theatre.

Seen by over 1 million people worldwide, Let It Be continues to delight audiences across the globe, having recently performed to audiences in Germany, Japan, Moscow, and France.

Let It Be showcases the music of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll band in a spectacular concert charting the band’s meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces.

The show is packed with over forty of The Beatles’ greatest hits including Twist and Shout, She Loves You and Drive My Car, as well as global mega-hits Yesterday, Hey Jude, Come Together and, of course, Let It Be.

Travel back to the magical sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

The music defined a generation, captured the hearts and ideals of millions, and now you can relive the memories in the city where it all began as Annerin Productions bring Let It Be to Liverpool.

Jeff Parry from Annerin Productions commented: “I could not have dreamed as a nine-year-old living in Canada, having received my first Beatles album, that I would be producing a show about the band in their hometown 51 years later; destiny has some strange coincidences.

“Having been a Beatles fan since a young age, I studied the origins of the Beatles and Liverpool, and I have visited Liverpool many times, most recently when Let It Be played at the Empire Theatre.

“I was overwhelmed with the Liverpudlians show of support and their thanks to me for being part of the creation of the West End show.

“To say the least, Let It Be is helping to keep the music of the Beatles alive throughout the world, and I am honoured to be bringing the show back to Liverpool.”

The show will officially launch the completion of a £2.8m refurbishment of the Royal Court.

This will give audiences the chance to see the new foyer, box office, circle bar and terrace.

There will also be improved access with a lift to all floors.

Kevin Fearon, Chief Executive of Royal Court Liverpool, added: “We announce some eight or so shows each year, but none has been so exciting or as important for the Royal Court as Let It Be.

“This autumn, we will complete Phase 2 of our refurbishment works, and I can't think of a better show to mark this with.

“Our exciting building works have been a key part in attracting Let It Be to play for 5 ½ weeks in Liverpool, the first time this has happened outside of a capital city.

“Let It Be marks a step up for Liverpool's Royal Court, and the future looks very exciting.”

Ticket sales to Group Bookers open on Monday March 23 at 10.00, whilst the public sale opens on Monday March 30 at 10.00.

Let It Be runs in the Royal Court Theatre from Thursday October 8-Saturday November 14.

You can learn more about Let It Be by clicking here.