The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley Programme

L I V E R P O O L

THE SHOW THAT SHOCKED THE 1970S IS BACK!

22 January to 8 February 2014 Tickets from ÂŁ13 0870 787 1866 royalcourtliverpool.com

/royalcourtliverpool

@royalcourtliv

WELCOME! MERRY CHRISTMAS! ‘NUFF SAID!

Kevin Fearon Chief Executive

A NOTE FROM YOUR WRITER Even those who don’t enjoy sci-fi movies can’t help but have been impressed by the cinematographic advances the genre has experienced over the years. From Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ to the recently released Alfonso Cuarón film ‘Gravity’, the special effects and computer-generated imagery available to sci-fi filmmakers nowadays has helped the genre to make massive leaps in quality, making today’s sci-fi films look incredibly realistic.

But despite these advance, I always look forward to watching really old sci-fi films. When these films were made, cinemagoers would have marvelled at what they were seeing on screen, but these days some of them are incredibly funny to watch. Robots made from cardboard boxes, aliens with TV aerials protruding from their heads, and planet landscapes which look as if they were filmed in a studio car park, will usually have me in fits of laughter from the first minute. Yes, budgets were low in those days, but production standards it seems were even lower!

Nowadays we can still laugh at Space movies, the comedy sci-fi genre is as popular today as it has ever been. Classic movies such as Star Wars, E.T., Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Trek have given us so many memorable moments and characters that beg comedy writers to lampoon and parody them. In ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fazakerley’ I have taken some of those moments and characters and had a bit of fun with them. Hopefully the diehard sci-fi fans will forgive my irreverence and enjoy the comedic slant I have attempted to add. ‘It’s sci-fi Jim, but not as we know it!’

I’ve been extremely privileged to have spent my last five Christmases at the Royal Court Theatre, and just like the last four, writing this year’s Christmas show has been an absolute pleasure. It’s been great to work with the creative team of Producer Kevin Fearon, Director Ken Alexander, Musical Director Howard Gray, and making her Royal Court Christmas show debut, Choreographer Nicola Bolton. The set designer and set builders have once again given us an amazing set (there isn’t a cardboard box or TV aerial in sight!), the costume designers and wardrobe personnel have made the actors look so good they could step straight into a Hollywood high budget

space movie, and our I.T. department has really pushed the boat out (or should that be spaceship?) with its brilliant use of computer graphics and video.

And let’s not forget to mention the sound and lighting designers and the technical and backstage crew who run the show daily for us. I’d also like to thank the marketing and back office staff at the theatre who promote the show, and also the front of house team who look after everyone so well.

As with my last four Christmas shows we’ve managed to recruit a fantastically talented team of actors and musicians who have all worked tremendously hard in rehearsals to ensure ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fazakerley’ is enjoyed by our audiences as much as ‘Merry Ding Dong’, ‘Scouse Pacific’, ‘Little Scouse On The Prairie’ and ‘A Nightmare On Lime Street’ were.

I’d like to dedicate this year’s show to my two biggest supporters (and fans!), my mum Maria Lawless who sadly passed away earlier this year, and my wife Tilly, who despite having an extremely difficult year has still managed to be my (unpaid) script consultant, counsellor, therapist and best mate! Finally, as always, I’d like to wish all Royal Court patrons a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

And now it’s time to strap yourselves in, start the blastoff countdown, watch out for Klingons on the starboard bow, set your phasers to ‘laughter phase’ and enjoy the show! May the force be with you Nanu-Nanu!

Fred Lawless

THE FUTURE

ROYAL COURT TRUST

W

elcome back to the Royal Court. If you have not been here since we renovated the theatre, we hope you like it! We have the Heritage Lottery Fund to thank for enabling us to spend £1.2 million to renovate the auditorium and make it more comfortable for you to enjoy.

We have now finished Act 1 of our £11.9 million production to transform the theatre. Now we need to concentrate our efforts to raise funds to begin Act 2.

Act 2 – The Entrance

£3 million

Act 3 – Internal Improvements

£2.3 million

Act 4 – Finale

£5.5 million

We are extremely grateful for all the support you have given us so far. £1 from every ticket you buy to see a show here goes towards the capital campaign. You have helped us to raise over £200,000 to date which is fantastic.

There are more ways you can help us if you are able to. You can: •

Adopt A Seat in the Grand Circle (£250)

•

Join the Corporate Club (from £1000)

•

Join the Club (from £35) Gillian Miller Chief Executive, Founder Royal Court Liverpool Trust

You can find out more about the Trust at www.royalcourttrust.org and you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook too. Thanks again for your support and we hope you enjoy the show and the building!

The Zochonis Charitable Trust

Ravensdale Charitable Trust

Hemby Trust

ADOPT A SEAT T

he Royal Court Theatre Liverpool has a £11.9m plan to renovate the magnificent grade II listed theatre for future generations and to improve access and comfort for current audiences.

You can help us to renovate the theatre in Act 2 by adopting a seat in the Royal Court.

You may want to adopt a seat to:

When you adopt a seat, you will:

• •

•

• • •

Acknowledge a special date or other occasion Dedicate in memoriam to a friend, colleague or family member Be a part of the renovation Raise awareness of your community group or business To leave a legacy

• •

Have your name and message on a seat for 10 years Be acknowledged on the Royal Court Trust website and plasma screens in the auditorium Receive priority booking opportunities for shows at the Royal Court

SEAT ADOPTEES Alan and Julia Bleasdale Andrew Beeston Anfield Infant School Archbishop Blanch C.E Voluntary Aided High School Bryan and Lillias Miller Dame Heather Beattie Denise Cosgrove Elaine Taylor Evertaut Seating Fred Lawless Geni-i Creations Gillian Miller & Kevin Fearon Graham Gavin Heather Hoy Her Honour Elizabeth Steel DL Heritage Lottery Fund Joanna Hargreaves Elizabeth Kenworthy Ken & Fiona Miller Ken Dodd OBE & Anne Jones LIPA Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants Lousie Ellman MP Mark Featherstone-Witty

Martyn Best Modero Limited Mr J.D Mitchell Esq. Nicholas & Sheena Barber Nobles Construction Ltd Paul Day Raeanne Miller Rice Lane Infant & Nursery School Richard McCullagh Robb Miller & Ryan Carey Robert Nadler Stacey Lavery & Eddie Smithwick Sue & Jurgen Fenney The Earl of Derby West Derby Boys School Sir Richard Stilgoe Dame Judi Dench CH, DBE Andrew Pearce Alison Steadman Ann Jones Elizabeth Kenworthy John Entwistle Sylvia Lewis Andrew Pearce Cost

To Adopt A Seat of your own please visit www. royalcourttrust.org and click on ‘donate’ or call 0870 787 1866

Individuals / Schools and Community Groups

£250

Businesses

£500

COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION Royal Court Variety Lunch Club Provides high quality, accessible, daytime activities for people aged 60+.

Ticket prices are subsidized with support from HLF, trust funds and foundations and Liverpool City Council. Since these events began in 2010 over 7000 people have taken part in activities and related workshop events.

Access All Areas Provides opportunities for young people and schools to perform on stage and work with the professional technical team from the theatre.

Over 250 young people have taken part and over 1200 young people have watched Access All Area performances since the project began.

Tours & Talks The Royal Court is a unique resource for the local community with a rich history and heritage. The Trust runs heritage tours on a regular basis for groups and individuals. Full details of tours can be found on the website.

Royal Court Youth Theatre supporting and nurturing the next generation of Liverpool Artistes The Trust started the first Royal Court Youth Theatre, which is open to all young people 11–25, in January 2011. There are weekly workshops in all aspects of musical theatre as well as opportunities to learn from the professionals who work in the theatre, both technical staff and actors, writers and directors. The Youth Theatre has been free to join from it’s formation. Currently the youth theatre are working on developing their show for performance on the main stage later in the year.. Look out for their show on the royal court website. For further information about the Youth Theatre visit www.royalcourttrust.org or call 0151 702 5892.

Open Forum All of the Trust’s Community & Education programmes are developed in consultation with young people, community partners, funders and other key stakeholders. If you would like to be part of our Open Forum events, please contact us at www.royalcourttrust.org.

ROYAL COURT STAFF Kevin Fearon Ken Alexander Kevin Dunn Jess Bolger Iain Christie David Gordon Simon Collard Alison Ward Steve Smith Jamie Jenkin Louise Hurd Marie Jones Mick Bawden

Chief Executive Artistic Director Finance Director Assistant Producer Marketing Manager Technical Director Head Chef Finance Officer Front Of House Manager Sales Manager Box Office Manager Costume Supervisor Resident Stage Manager

Box Office Assistants Rachel Delaney, Stephen Gent, Laura Lees, John Mather, Sarah Randle and Rebecca Smith Front of House Stephen Briggs, Collette Burgess, James Dacey, Jack Denton, Lewis Edwards, Melissa Gorman, Kathryn Heffron, Jake Jones, Christopher Kidd, Ricci Kinsella, Charlene Lim, Melanie Lovett, Siobahn Spear, Jack Sweeney, Adam Thompson, Jessica Vale, Sophy Vicary, Boston Walsh and Thomas Wright Stage Door John Evans Cleaners Billie Chisam, Debbie Chisam And a big thank you to all of our security staff for their hard work throughout the year

CAST Lynn Francis Lindzi Germain Jack Rigby Angela Simms Michael Starke

Sandra Thong Billy Thing Marty

SPACEGIRLS Charlotte Dalton Stephanie Miles Emily Trebicki

band Howard Gray Ross Higginson Emily Linden Alex Smith

COMPANY Ken Alexander Howard Gray Nigel Hook Ian Scott Kate Harvey Nicola Bolton Jamie Jenkin Marie Jones Dave Gordon Helen Lainsbury Elizabeth O’Sullivan Sean Gannon James Haining Matt Weeks Mick Bawden Andrew Lock, Mick Gunnigle, Barney Riley

Director Musical Director Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Movement Director AV Designer Costume Supervisor Production Manager Compnay Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Chief Technician Technician Workshop Manager Stage Crew

THANK YOU! Nomad Associates Odeon Cinemas

CAST LYNN FRANCIS Liverpool born Lynn trained at Sandown College.

Since leaving college she has worked continually in theatre, television and film.

Theatre credits include: Desperate Scousewives (Theatre Royal St Helens), The Salon (Royal Court), Four Girls In A Caravan (Theatre Royal St Helens), Waiting For Gateaux (touring), Tuppence to Cross the Mersey (Liverpool Empire, 2005 and 2007), What Was it Like in the War Nan? (Unity Theatre), Oliver (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Ebony’s Album (Neptune Theatre Liverpool), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Bluecoat Theatre), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire), Midsummer Nights Dream (touring), My Fair Lady (touring), Reds And Blues - The Musical and Ladies Day (Royal Court Liverpool).

Television and Film credits include: Reds And Blues, Colour Blind, a film directed by Lenny Henry, Charlie Noades RIP (film), The Lie is Dead (feature film), One Fine Sunday (short film), Dead Drunk (short film), Dave Dot, Demo Man (BBC), No Marks (Channel 4).

Lynn has appeared in various pantos across the country including Empress of China: Aladdin (Southampton and Runcorn), Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (Southport), Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin (York), and this year the Wicked Queen in Snow White (Torquay and Runcorn).

LINDZI GERMAIN A native of Liverpool, Lindzi’s career began at an early age at the Everyman Youth Theatre. She then went on to study here in Liverpool. Lindzi is a very well established cabaret entertainer singing everywhere from your local to the Philharmonic Hall for the Duchess of Kent. In 2004 Lindzi won Merseyside’s funniest woman for stand-up comedy and has appeared on Radio 1, BBC Les’s Liverpool and has opened the Liverpool Comedy Festival here at the Court!

Lindzi is one of the Royal Court’s regulars, the theatre is becoming like a home from home!

Night Collar, Council Depot Blues, Lost Soul, A Midsummer’s Nights Dream, Two Pence To Cross The Mersey, Ale House, The Entertainer, Bon Voyage, Berserker Boys, Virgin Express, Beauty and The Beast, Merry Ding Dong, A Fistful Of Collars, Her Benny, The King and I, King Lear, Scouse Pacific, Our Bessie playing Bessie Braddock, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Reds And Blues - The Musical and A Nightmare On Lime St. Lindzi’s TV credits include: Above Suspicion by Lynda le Plante (ITV), Les’s Liverpool (BBC), Bodies II (ITV), Common as Muck (ITV), Emmerdale (Yorkshire), Prime Suspect (ITV), and The Barrymore Show (ITV). Lindzi also plays “Gwladys” in Dave Kirby’s 15 Minutes That Shook The World, Gwladys in Reds Ands Blues: The Ballad Of Dixie And Kenny and Tamla Rose in a Liverpool based Motown film, Adam, a short film with Dave Hart and Ged Hunter.

Lindzi has also worked in panto for Pele Productions in Cinderella (Lowry Theatre, Theatre Royal), Peter Pan (Lowry Theatre), Snow White (Neptune Theatre), Robin Hood (Guild Theatre).

Lindzi has also just played a WAG in the new England song England 7th Best Team In The World.

Lindzi also co-owns Totally U Dance & Drama School in Netherley.

JACK RIGBY My first acting performance was in the Neptune theatre aged eleven in a production of Our Day out soon followed by musicals such as the Vackees and back to the 80’s.

More recently I have appeared in TV roles for the BBC series Waterloo Road and the ITV drama Mobile and also in the David Morrissey film don’t worry about me and the film Nowhere fast by Martin Wallace, Novas films.

Other work includes short educational films, Senseless and Teen spirit covering issues such as sexual health and racism.

I am currently training at LIPA and have completed my first year acting degree.

ANGELA SIMMS Angela began her Christmas show career at the tender age of three, when she was chosen from no less than five auditionees to play the prestigious role of ‘The Christmas Pudding that Father Christmas Picked’ - in which she shone. From there came several years of disappointing Christmas roles such as ‘Maid’ - which she found oppressive, ‘Shepherd no.1’ - which was confusing, as she had to wear a beard, ‘Star’ - which was alright and ‘Angel’.

Unfortunately Angela was never cast as ‘Mary’ - she believes it is because she would have outshone baby Jesus. Disheartened, Angela took a 17 year break from Christmas shows but is thrilled to be making a glorious comeback as ‘Thing’ in Hitchhikers Guide To Fazakerley.

In a non-festive capacity, Angela has been performing for several years, starting with the New Everyman Youth Theatre; she then went on to train in The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. Angela recently played ‘Linda’ in Ladies Day at The Royal Court. Other work includes playing ‘Sally’ in If The Shoe Fits on The Epstein Theatre. Also, she played the character ‘Shelly’ in the play Rainbow Connection written by Joanne Sherryden.Angela played ‘Sue’ in Rita Sue and Bob Too at the Theatre Royal St Helens where received good notices. She has recently had a radio credit playing ‘Cheryl’ in Tontine for BBC Radio Four, which was written by Karen Brown that starred Alison Steadman. Angela devised her own sketch comedy, in her recent work for the character ‘Beverly Bogg’ inThe Ransom Family.

Angela is thrilled to be back at The Royal Court and would like to wish the audience a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

P.s if you would like to get me a Christmas present you can, just leave it with John at Stage Door.

MICHAEL STARKE Michael began his professional career at Liverpool Playhouse in the 1984 production of Cavern of Dreams by Carol Ann Duffy. The next few years saw him appearing almost exclusively at the Everyman in Liverpool, where he appeared in such shows as The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui, Hamlet, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, She Stoops to Conquer, Three Sisters, and No Holds Bard. Michael was the first ‘guest star’ in the Olivier Award winning The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Other theatre work includes Be Bop A Lula, Blood Brothers (Leicester Haymarket) Anything Goes (National Tour). Film work includes: No Surrender by Alan Bleasdale, Distant Voices, written and directed by Terrence Davies, The 51st State directed by Ronny Yu and starring Samuel L Jackson. Michael is probably best known to TV viewers as Sinbad, a role he played for fifteen years in Channel 4’s Brookside. He then spent six years playing Ken Hopkirk in Yorkshire TV’s The Royal, and was most recently Jerry Morton in Coronation Street. Michael also played Howard in the Manchester 24/7 Festival production of Dancing To The Sound Of Crunching Snails by Joe Graham and directed by Joyce Branagh.

In 2010 Michael was one of the three Edna Turnblads in the national tour of Hairspray with Michael Ball and Brian Conley. He followed that with the role of Monsignor O’Hara in the Whoopie Goldberg produced national tour of Sister Act. Since his last appearance here in Sons Of The Desert, Michael has completed two films: Jack Ryan directed by Kenneth Branagh and a British film, Longtails, produced and directed by Elizabeth Arends. This Christmas he can be seen in the BBC production Four O’Clock Club as a camp baker.

Michael is a founder member of the Bombay Mix Theatre Company.

SPACE GIRLS CHARLOTTE DALTON Charlotte was born in Reading. Yes she is technically a Southerner, BUT moved to a village near Blackpool at the grand old age of 5. Having originally trained in dance she travelled the world ‘twirling’. However she decided to become a serious actress and graduated from Guildford School of Acting in 2010.

She is now playing an Alien!!

Previous roles include Rosalind in ‘As you like it’, Angie Best in the world premier of Jack Rosenthal’s ‘The Best’ at Bolton Octagon Studio, Laura in Joe Penhall’s ‘Some Voices’, and to lighten the mood Mrs Potiphar in the 2005 Bill Kenwright tour of ‘ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat amidst MDF sheep and polystyrene palm trees.

Charlotte is used to singing a range of ABBA/Party tunes to inebriated Christmas party goers so is absolutely delighted to be making her debut at the Royal Court sporting a green hair and pointy ears.

May the force be with you. Enjoy.

STEPHANIE MILES Steph graduated from Liverpool Theatre School in July after studying for three years in professional musical theatre. Whilst training she played a mouse, a deadly sin and now she is delighted to be playing an Alien! Only the most serious of parts for this Wirral wool!

Previous Credits: “The Ken Dodd Happiness show” & “The Ken Dodd Christmas show”, Liverpool Philharmonic, “Viva las Xmas” Liverpool Echo Arena, Snow White in “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs” LHK Productions, Maureen in “Rent” Chocolate Theatre Company. Credits Whilst Training: Maida Vale / Judy in “Is there life after High school?”, Lust / Girlmouse in “The Ashgirl”

EMILY TREBICKI Emily grew up in Lancashire where she terrorised her older brother with very loud singing, very irritating American accents (whilst filming imaginary television shows ) and VERY annoying dance sessions routinely reminding him how he should be very nice to her if he wanted his Ferrari when she

got big and famous! Well many years on there has been no sign of any Ferari’s , in fact Emily herself is driving a Skoda but Dad says said Skoda is a mean machine and worthy of any budding starlet!

On graduating Laine Theatre Arts Emily went to very cold Perth rep to play a Boylen sister in Annie before going to hang out with Micky Mouse and friends aboard The Disney Wonder, playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast (now THAT was a beautiful dress!) and Megorah in Hercules (now THAT was a VERY FIT FELLA!) where she basked in the Floridian (is that a word?) heat and played with dolphins in the Bahamas. Life was good!

Disney also took Emily to Japan where she played various lead roles in The Broadway Review Show ‘Encore’ .Her favourite role was Grizabella because she got to dress as a cat and fly onto the stage on a giant Tyre which was very exciting… until the regular earth quakes turned said tyre into a giant terrifying swing and made her screech the high notes but definitely not in a good way!

Emily has toured the Uk in many farcical comedies sharing the stage with some real legends and was super-excited to be working with Micky again having filmed ‘Clown Time’ Short film with him and the Hollyoaks team a couple of years ago. Commercials include DFS, Bargain Booze and Stokers.

Recently Emily won cool points from her diddyest’ friends when she Voiced a personal trainer for the Nintendo Wii Game ‘New U’. Other voice over work for Disney, two musicals for Thomas Cooke playing ‘Dizzy the Dolphin’ and her first cartoon ‘Times Table Adventure’ playing Lady Helen a boggley eyed, shoe-loving, bright green Giraffe!

With 13 brill years of panto under her belt Emily relished the idea of a change and putting the princess gowns and principal boy boots aside in favour of the spoc ears and third eye to reach the ultimate peaks of intergalactic glamour.

Emily played Lilly last year in the Asian tour of Annie and has worked all over the world as a singer but is never as happy as when she is back up North so is over the Venusian Moon to be performing at the Royal Court!

COMPANY KEN ALEXANDER DIRECTOR

Ken Alexander was appointed as the Royal Court Theatre’s first Artistic Director earlier this year and Sons Of The Desert is his second production, the first being Ladies Day back in June. His recent work includes the premiere of Clinton The Musical (King’s Head Theatre, London), Hormonal Housewives (National Tour starring Toyah Willcox, Julie Coombe and Sarah Jane Buckley) and Two (Pitlochry Festival Theatre).

Other work includes Dr Angelus and the premiere of Whisky Galore – A Musical! (nominated as ‘Best Director’ in the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland - Pitlochry Festival Theatre), tours of The Odd Couple, Parking Lot In Pittsburgh, Tally’s Blood, Ae Fond Kiss, and Bondagers. Ken also directed the premiere of Follow (Finborough Theatre, London), Lucky Numbers starring Sheila Reid and Michael Starke, and Dirty Dusting (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool), Outlying Islands, Passing Places, Noises Off, Bus Stop and Stepping Out (Pitlochry Festival Theatre). He has been Artistic Director at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews and at Perth Repertory Theatre, where his work included the Scottish premieres of Into The Woods, A Passionate Woman, Master Class and The Secret Garden, new productions of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Oliver! (nominated for ‘Best Ensemble’ CATS Awards), Educating Rita, The Glass Menagerie, Our Day Out, Romeo And Juliet, Macbeth, Shirley Valentine, Mary Queen Of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, the premiere of A Sense Of Justice starring Rula Lenska and Nicholas Bailey, and the Scottish premieres of Little Shop Of Horrors and Peace Child (Winner of the DK Thomson Award for Services to the Community).

Forthcoming productions include The Steamie (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Fazakerley

by Fred Lawless (Royal Court Theatre) and Snow White with Craig Revel Horwood and Lisa Reilly (Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea).

FRED LAWLESS WRITER

Fred’s previous theatre work includes BEST! a musical about sacked Beatles drummer Pete Best at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre and the Players Theatre Dublin, Sleeping Cities, Distant Dreams at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre module, Educating Peter and Beyond Benidorm at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio, Slappers

and Slapheads (co-written) at the Royal Court, Liverpool Empire and Manchester Opera House and A Fistful of Collars at the Royal Court. This is Fred’s fifth Christmas show for the Royal Court, having previously written Merry Ding Dong in 2009, Scouse Pacific in 2010, Little Scouse on the Prairie in 2011 and A Nightmare on Lime Street in 2012.

Radio work includes Close Enough To Touch - a dramatisation of the 1939 HMS Thetis submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay for Radio 4, Radio Merseyside and the BBC World Service, and Paradise People (co-written) a 23 part comedy series for Radio Merseyside.

TV work includes Eastenders, Family Affairs and Crossroads (2001).

HOWARD GRAY

MUSICAL DIRECTOR For the Royal Court, Howard has been the Musical Director of Our Day Out - The Musical, Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels for all five outings, as well as Council Depot Blues in which he also played the part of Norman, Eight Miles High, Cinderella, Merry Ding Dong, both runs of Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone Little Scouse On The Prairie and Reds And Blues The Musical.

He has been an associate artist at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and was MD on Blonde Bombshells of 1943 which was a co-production with Hampstead Theatre and awarded the Manchester Evening News Best Production for 2006. It has toured nationally and internationally.

Other work for the Octagon includes Looking For Buddy, Once Upon A Time In Wigan, Danny, The Champion of the World, Oh, What a Lovely War (nominated for MEN Best Production 2008), Song of Singapore, Eight Miles High, and I Just Stopped By to See the Man. At the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham his work includes Up On The Roof, Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Quartet, Dick Barton Special Agent (nominated for MEN Best Production 2008), Union Street, Women On the Verge Of HRT, Feed, Good Golly Miss Molly, Feels Like the First Time, Return to the Forbidden Planet, From A Jack To A King, Sweet Charity, Wake Up Little Susie, Brassed Off, Up On The Roof, The Road To Nab End, and a hatful of pantomimes. At Harrogate Theatre shows include Tears of a Clown, Up on the Roof, Of Mice And Men, Uncle Vanya and yet more pantomimes. Other work includes Alice in Boogie Wonderland and Puss in Blue Suede Boots at the Liverpool Everyman, which he also co-wrote

and A Taste of Honey at the New Vic, Stoke.

He is particularly proud of playing piano on the end of Dave Kirby’s film 15 Minutes That Shook The World!

IAN SCOTT

LIGHTING DESIGN Ian has designed the lighting for many shows at the Royal Court including A Nightmare on Lime Street, Our Day Out, Scouse Pacific, On The Ledge, Eight Miles High and Council Depot Blues. In 2012 he designed the set and lighting for the Lodestar/Royal Court co-productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Other recent projects: Marco Polo (Bergen National Opera), Where The Wild Things Are/Higgelty Piggelty Pop (Aldeburgh Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic & Barbican), The Victorian in the Wall (Will Adamsdale/ Fuel), The Ugly Spirit (Fittings/South Bank), Touch Me (Coisceim Dance Theatre), Blok/Eko (The Wrestling School), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre) and Reasons To Be Cheerful (Graeae).

As an Associate Artist with the experimental theatre company Suspect Culture Ian designed the set and lighting for much of the company’s work including Timeless, Mainstream and Lament.

NICOLA BOLTON

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Nicky is pleased to be back at the Court. She was last seen as Dawn in, Ladies Night.

Choreography credits include: The Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Oldham Coliseum and New Vic, Stoke) C Beebies Panto (BBC) Curtain Up at the Coliseum, (Oldham Coliseum) Ballroom Blitz (Hull Truck theatre), Inspector Norse (Lip-service theatre) Looking for Buddy (Bolton Octagon and Live theatre, Newcastle), Desperate to be Doris (Lip-Service UK tour nominated for a M.E.N award), Aladdin, (Stafford Gatehouse), Saving Charlotte (Bridewell theatre, London) and My Sister in this House (Union Street theatre, London).

Acting credits: Oh What a Lovely war and Steel Magnolias (Bolton Octagon, MEN nomination), Stepping Out, The Wizard of Oz and Sweet Charity (Oldham Coliseum) Alice, Tears of a Clown, Macbeth and Return to the Forbidden Planet (Harrogate theatre), From a Jack to a King (New Vic, Stoke),The Sound of Music (Perth rep),Cinderella, (Liverpool Everyman and Theatre Clwyd), Fame , the Musical (original west –end cast, Cambridge theatre) Return to the Forbidden Planet (UK Tour) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour).

TV appearences include: Waterloo road, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Fat Friends, The Royal, Heartbeat, City Central and The Life and Crimes of William Palmer.

Films include A Muppet Christmas Carol, Julie and the Cadillacs, Room 42 and Honeycomb Lodge.

KATE HARVEY SOUND DESIGN

Kate was born in Blackpool and at the age of 15 went on work experience at Blackpool Opera House.

At 16 she was offered the job of lighting operator on Danny La Rue’s summer season show and has enjoyed a career in technical theatre ever since. Shows worked there include Blood Brothers, Dr. Dolittle, Grease, Sunset Boulevard and Boogie Nights. She then spent two years at Stageworks Worldwide Productions designing and operating two pantomimes and working many corporate and conference events.

Six months at Butlins in sunny Skegness saw her sound engineer for famous acts such as Slade, Bad Manners, Chesney Hawkes, Sinitta, Right Said Fred and many more. A move to the ocean waves to work as a production technician for Island Cruises let her enjoy four months in Brazil and six months in the Mediterranean before securing a job as production manager for P&O cruises.

Mixing sound to the stars all over the world including Jane McDonald, Brian Conley and Petula Clark she then felt it was time to come home.

In June 2008 dry land was calling and Kate is now delighted to be working at Royal Court Liverpool where she recently designed Night Collar, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, both the 2010 abd 2013 runs of Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Reds And Blues - The Musical, Ladies Day.

JAMIE JENKIN

MARIE JONES

Jamie was born in Hertfordshire and moved to Liverpool to study in 2001.

Marie studied fashion and then moved on to theatre costume interpretation at Mabel Fletcher College.

Marie’s work as a freelance costumier has included costumes for Oldham Coliseum, The Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Jimmy McGovern’s film Liam, Beyond Friendship for Mersey Television and the many pantomime dames who have appeared on the Everyman stage.

AV DESIGNER

He has designed AV for both the Royal Court’s original production and the 2013 reboot of Lennon, A Fistful Of Collars, the second run of Willy Russell’s Our Day Out, Ladies Night, Nicky Allt’s You’ll Never Walk Alone, the Lodestar Theatre Company productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Nightmare On Lime Street, and Down Our Street, all at Royal Court Liverpool.

Other work includes promotional films for shows at the Royal Court Liverpool including Bouncers, Ladies Day, Macbeth and A Nightmare On Lime Street, and working with the Royal Court Liverpool Trust on various promotional materials. He is also a freelance graphic and motion designer working with many companies in Liverpool and the UK. His greatest claim to fame is having appeared as one of the balaclava’d Scouse troublemakers on the original artwork for Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels.

COSTUME SUPERVISOR

She has worked extensively at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and has recently been employed as full time Wardrobe Supervisor. Most recently Marie’s work at the Everyman and Playhouse has included: Much Ado About Nothing, The Electric Hills, The Flint Street Nativity, The Tempest, Unprotected, Billy Liar, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Urban Legend, Fly, Breezeblock Park, The Entertainer, Still Life And The Astonished Heart, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Anniversary, Dr Faustus, The May Queen, Cruel Sea and All My Sons.

Marie’s other credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, Lost Soul, Good Golly Miss Molly, Stags and Hens - The Remix, On The Ledge, Misery, Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Night Collar, Dirty Dusting, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out - The Musical, The Salon, Funny Money, Merry Ding Dong, A Fistul Of Collars, Lucky Numbers, Lennon, Scouse Pacific, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Reds And Blues - The Musical and Ladies Day for Royal Court Liverpool, Brouhaha International Street Festival, Working Class Hero on the recent Imagine DVD, Costume Supervisor for many shows at LIPA, The Splash Project at MYPT and Twopence To Cross The Mersey at the Liverpool Empire.

L I V E R P O O L

YNWA AD YNWA

The Official History of

LIvERPooL FooTbALL CLub

by Nicky Allt

Friday 7 to Saturday 29 March 2014

royalcourtliverpool.com 0870 787 1866