Welcome To
Hi and welcome to Liverpool’s Royal Court and this production of Making It.
In case you didn’t know. The Royal Court is the largest producer of theatre work in the North West, and possibly the country. Not bad since we have a focus on Liverpool stories and using Liverpool actors.
Since 2017 all our productions have been new work. Shows created and written for primarily a Liverpool audience. This new work can be a brand new show premiering in the Main House or it can be a piece of new writing first seeing the light of day in our Studio.
If the Main House could be described as the beating heart of the theatre, The Studio could be described as its lungs. It’s where we can try out new work without as much worry about the size of audience it can attract. It’s where writers from our Stage Write programme first get their work on stage. If you haven’t seen one of our Christmas Stocking Fillers shows in the Studio you should. It’s everything about Christmas in one night. And all the 10 minute playlets are written by writers who have progressed through Stage Write.
And it is in the Studio that Stephen Fletcher and Cath Rice created Making It with Andrew Schofield. It was so popular we presented it twice and now it is here in the main house.
This is an ace team. All three have been involved in numerous shows over the Royal Court’s past 20 years of producing theatre and it’s great to see how they have worked together to create this show.
Set design is by Katie Scott and it’s her first show with us. She’s an ambitious designer and we’re looking forward to working with her in the future. Lighting is by Doug Kuhrt and as ever he has lit the show with sensitivity.
The intricate sound design is by our ever-present and awardwinning Kate ‘Ray’ Harvey.
Thank you everybody. A great job.
So, sit back and enjoy the show. And let’s see if Bev makes it.
Kevin Fearon Executive Producer
Liverpool’s Royal Court
Liverpool’s Royal Court presents Making It
Written by Stephen Fletcher and Cath Rice with additional material from Andrew Schofield
Starring Cath Rice and Andrew Schofield
Directed by Stephen Fletcher • Designed by Katie Scott
Lighting Design by Doug Kuhrt • Sound Design by Kate Harvey
Royal Court Supporters
The Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust
The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust
The John Rayner Charitable Trust
Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation
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Talent Development
Liverpool’s Royal Court continues on its journey to work towards talent development across the city
There is no doubt Liverpool is renowned for its wealth of talent but we, along with the rest of our city’s theatre organisations and institutions, recognise we need to do more to ensure we are accessible, engaging and aspirational if we are to be truly representative and inclusive of the communities we serve. It is a long-term continuing process and funding is key as is working together with the theatres across the region.
Over the past three years we have laid down the foundations, initiating our plans for meaningful and real change. This includes the theatre’s programming, engagement, accessibility and relationships with artistes, communities, creatives, individuals, institutions, organisations, Schools/FE. We are working towards ensuring our talent development programmes are applicable, realistic and robust.
Listening and engaging in the first instance to a wide cross section of creatives and communities – recognising and taking ownership of our failure to be fully inclusive and to take a proactive approach to ensure there is inclusivity and diversity across the sector
A brief look at a few of our talent development projects so far:
Community
Music AAA (Access All Areas) is a partnership project together with three grassroots organisations: Positive Impact, Capoeira For All, and Catalyst performing arts supported by funding from Youth Music. Children and young people aged 6 – 25 can access free musical instruments, musical theatre, hip hop, dance, singing, drama and performance
Raw Talent
Young people from our youth theatre continue to have access to auditions and employment opportunities – during the past 3 years, 6 young people have been cast in Terriers, written by Maurice Bessman touring to schools and venues across the country.
More recently working with Fury films, 120 young people aged 15 – 25 from across the city took part in audition workshops for the film of Terriers at Fire Fit in South Liverpool, MYA’s Space in Bootle and The Vibe in Huyton. 8 young people will be working with the Director to support the script development.
New Mentor Creatives Scheme
Building on our pilot Mentoring Programme, the new Mentor Creatives Scheme from Liverpool’s Royal Court – in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse, Everyman & Playhouse Theatres and Curious Minds seeks to help develop and nurture Global Majority Creatives working right across the artistic sector.
• Mentor Creatives offers
• One-on-One Mentorship
• Goal Setting and Achievement
• Skill Development
• Regular Networking Opportunities
• Continuous Support
The project is supported by PH Holt Charitable Trust and Liverpool BID, find out more on our website
Boisterous Stage Write
Music Access All Areas
Maurice Bessman
Directors Note
Programme Note by Director Stephen
Fletcher
One night, after performing in The Royal Court Christmas show, myself and the whole cast sat at a table in the bar next door. Full of the usual post-show buzz, we pieced together the performance, replayed the highs and lows, who forgot what line and when, and enjoyed a well-earned drink.
This was after a two-show day. Both performances were sold out. The place was packed and the atmosphere was amazing.
A woman came over to the table to congratulate us. She couldn’t have been happier. She finished with the niceties and with her arms draped over the shoulders of two of the cast members, said, “Oh, isn’t it a shame, hey? You lot could’ve made it.”
And off she went.
There was a compliment in there somewhere but as she disappeared, we all looked at each other open
mouthed with some of our stuffing knocked out and grabbed another drink.
There we were, in a sold-out venue, entertaining tens of thousands of people, at home, and yet, to this woman, in her home city, having told us what a great night she’d had, believed we could’ve (or should’ve) been somewhere else- or assumed that we’d want to.
The next night we were five minutes into the show and a wall of laughter hit the stage. I was listening to it from the wings, and turned to my brother who was also in the show.
Quoting the woman in the bar and referring to how much the audience were enjoying themselves, I said, “Mikey, listen to that. Who hasn’t made it, hey!?”, and with that, he bent double with laughter, pointing at me.
I realised I was trying to make my point while stood on tiptoes, dressed in a red sequin-covered boiler suit, wearing a wig, and with my hand stuffed up the
backside of a puppet hamster through a hole in the set.
We all fell about laughing. Maybe the woman in the bar had a point after all.
To ‘make it’ in any aspect of life is subjective.
To make peace with your achievements or what you do with them is totally in your own hands and those who look on.
MAKING IT is about the pitfalls of reaching for ‘fame’ and notoriety before happiness and joy, and how to find peace and acceptance in doing what makes you happy - not just what others expect of you- wherever and whatever that may be.
Like ‘Harry’s Social Club’ in this production, The Royal Court has created a space and opportunity for many people to work in the performing arts, as well as entertain thousands of people along the way. It’s difficult to imagine the theatre landscape in the city without this venue, and while the woman in the bar
after the Christmas show had her opinion about what we should have all been doing with our careers that might have impressed her, I’m proud to entertain the people in this theatre and champion the performers in this city.
Having created this with piece with Cath; first as an award-winning one-woman comedy, then developing it as a two-hander in the downstairs studio with Andrew Schofield as part of the team, we’re excited to be in the main house with more than the two chairs and table in our last production.
Some might say, we’ve made it.
Thank for you coming to see us, and enjoy the show.
Stephen stephenfletcheruk.com
Photographs by Liverpool’s Royal Court
Cath Rice
Workshop Manager
John Kavanagh
Scenic Art Manager
Jen Baron
Andrew Schofield Bev Multi Role
Stephen Fletcher
Cath Rice
Stephen Fletcher
Katie Scott
Doug Kuhrt
Kate Harvey
Marie Jones
Sean Gannon
Stephen Petit
Andrew Lock
Roxanne Vella
Dan Clarkson
Miriam Bell
Phil Dickinson
Jack Walsh
Gary at Envision
Writer
Writer
Cast Company Workshop
Director
Set Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Wardrobe Supervisor
Production Manager
Production Assistant
Technical Stage Manager
Deputy Stage Manager
Chief LX
LX No 1
AV Programmer
Sound No 1
Scenic Artists
Abbie Jones
Chris McCourt
Thanks to
Carpenters
Dave Davies
Mike Gray
Shaun Gillespie
Connor McLeod
Barry at Colourcreate
Cast Biographies
Cath Rice Bev
Catherine Rice is a Liverpool-based actress, comedian and writer. She has performed in many Theatres Nationwide with numerous Performances here at the brilliant Royal Court Theatre. She has also appeared in feature film, TV and commercials. Last year Cath starred as Annie in the U.K sell out tour of Irish Annie’s alongside Ricky Tomlinson. Recently Cath performed with Andrew Schofield. Written by Cath & Stephen Fletcher a spin-off from their award winning one woman show and web series Our Bev.
Cath also played Pat last summer in Dave Kirby’s Lost Soul 2.
To packed houses downstairs at the Royal Court Studio. Due to its success more dates to be announced.
As well as this, Cath also regularly performs on the Stand-up comedy circuit so keep a look out.
Andrew Schofield Multi Role
Andrew has appeared in Blood Brothers in 1983 at the Liverpool Playhouse and in the subsequent transfer to the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End. He also appeared as George in Of Mice and Men at the Old Vic, London in 2005.
Theatre credits include: Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels as Dickie Lewis; Smigger in Lost Soul in 2007 and 2008; Brian in Good Golly Miss Molly; Moey in the Alan Bleasdale comedy On The Ledge; Paul Sheldon in Misery; the Traveller in Eight Miles High; Danny in Council Depot Blues; Joe in Night Collar; JJ in The Flags and Mr Briggs in Our Day Out - The Musical. He performed all of these roles at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. Since then he has appeared in A Life In The Theatre, The Sunshine Boys and Mam I’m ‘Ere (Life in Theatre Productions); Dreaming of a Barry White Christmas (Echo Arena) Royal Court Selection Box, Ellen & Rigby, Making It (with Cath Rice) and Boys From The Blackstuff (Liverpool’s Royal Court).
Film credits include: Sid and Nancy, Distant Voices, Still Lives, Three Businessmen, Hamlet, Revengers Tragedy, Under The Mud and The Partisan.
TV credits include: Scully in Alan Bleasdale’s Scully. He has also appeared in three more Bleasdale series, as Peter Grenville in GBH in 1991, Jake’s Progress in 1995 and in Melissa in 1997. Other TV credits include Maisie Raine; Sharpe; Murphy’s Law; Boys from the Blackstuff; Liverpool Nativity for BBC Three; Fifteen Minutes That Shook The World; Cilla; Moving On; Loco; Tin Star, Help.
This is for Terry O’Connel.
Company Biographies
Stephen Fletcher Writer/Director
Stephen Fletcher is a Director and Writer from Liverpool, UK. He is represented by Jamie Hendry at Creative House Management.
Stephen is Associate Writer on The Hook for Spiegelword in Atlantic City USA, and Associate Director to Cal McCrystal on A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum at The Lido2, Paris.
He recently directed the UK Tour of popular comedy show, Irish Annie’s, as well as co-writing and directing the sell-out and award-winning comedy, Making It. He is currently developing a new musical about the early life of The Beatles this 2025.
He directed the world premiere of Jonathan Harvey’s newest musical-comedy, A Thong For Europe, and also directed Harvey’s 2024 Summer comedy for The Royal Court, Sisters Of Mersey.
In 2025, he directed Shirley Valentine for the 60th anniversary celebration of Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre, working alongside WILLY RUSSELL. It is the first time the production has been seen here since its premiere in 1986.
He is an Artistic Advisor for The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres and a Dramaturg for a number of new plays and musicals, most notably at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre, and is also producer of the award-winning production company, Life in Theatre Productions Ltd + CIC- creating new work and entertaining tens of thousands of people since 2012.
Other credits include NHS The Musical for Plymouth Theatre Royal, Rent The Musical at LIPA, and some of The Royal Court most successful and popular Christmas shows, including Scouse Jack And The Beanstalk.
Stephen has worked in the Performing Arts since 2002graduating from LIPA (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) with a First-Class BA Honours Degree in Acting. Since then he has worked extensively in Theatre, Radio, TV and Voiceovers.
As a performer he has appeared on TV and in numerous stage plays across the UK and the West End.
He has worked alongside Phyllida Lloyd, Jamie Lloyd, Gemma Bodinetz, Mark Da Vanzo, Kevin Fearion, Peter Kosminsky, Jonathan Harvey, Noreen Kershaw, Willy Russell, Ian Talbot, Thelma Holt, Adrian Vinken and more. He is one of the original members of The Old Vic’s New Voices Company, a regular voice on Radio 4 Drama productions and commercial voiceovers.
DIRECTOR / WRITER AWARDS:
WINNER - Theatre Culture Award - Our Bev, The Liverpool Echo
WINNER- Best Comedy, The Sunshine Boys - Liverpool Post Culture Awards
WINNER- Best Comedy Musical- The Last 5 Years - Liverpool Post Culture Awards.
Katie Scott Set & Costume Designer
Katie is an award-winning Designer based in the North West. She is proud to be an Associate Artist at Box of Tricks Theatre Company and dedicates time to championing local and national design talent as a Co-Founder of the North West Design Allotment and a Director of the Society of British Theatre Designers.
Katie’s credits include: Shirley Valentine, Tell Me How It Ends (Liverpool Everyman); Wrestleladswrestle, Work It Out (HOME Manchester). Around The World in 80 Days, Spring & Port Wine, A Christmas Carol, One Man Two Guvnors and Seagulls (Bolton Octagon). Too Much World At Once, Spark Plug and Narvik (Box Of Tricks Theatre Company). Astronauts; (Royal Exchange Studio). Here and Curious Caravan (Curious Monkey). A Skull In Connemara and Jungle Book (Oldham Coliseum). Grimms Tales (Williamson Park). Freedom Project, Fairy Poppins and The Naughty Winter Ghost, Searching For The Heart of Leeds (Leeds Playhouse). Beauty & The Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Blackout (The Dukes Lancaster). Under The Three Moons (The Lowry & National Tour).
Doug Kuhrt Lighting Designer
Douglas has recently lit: Unfortunate (We Are Fat Rascal); Is This Thing On (Contact Theatre); Strange Tale (Imaginarium, Shakespeare North); Masquerade (Epstien); Peter Pan (Eden Court, Inverness); Greeks (Unicorn).
For Liverpool’s Royal Court Doug has lit: Bingo Star, The Netherely Hillbillies and Lost Soul 2
Other credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Puss in Boots (CBeebies); The Pitmen Painters (The Duchess Theatre, National Theatre and Broadway); Cinderella (Eden Court, Inverness); A Christmas Carol (Liverpool Playhouse); The Importance of Being Earnest (Lawrence Batley Theatre); Stiletto Beach (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch); Two Pence to Cross The Mersey, Lennons Banjo (Epstein); They Don’t Pay, We Won’t Pay (Northern Broadsides); I Told My Mum I Was Going On An R.E. Trip (20 Stories High); The Broke N Beat Collective (Theatre Rites/20 Stories High); 19 × Rock N Roll pantos (Liverpool Everyman); 7 × Pantos (Oldham Coliseum); Last Of The Duty Free, Black Coffee (Bill Kenwright Ltd); Black, Whole (20 Stories High); The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice (Hull Truck Theatre); Pinocchio (Polka Theatre); Road Movie (Starving Artists), Educating Rita (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow); Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale (Live Theatre, Newcastle); Depth Charge (Gecko Theatre); The Deranged Marriage (Rifco); Tom, Dick and Harry (Duke of York’s Theatre, London); Zipp! (Duchess Theatre, London);
Company Biographies
Fascinating Aida (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Home and Beauty (Lyric Theatre, London); Dreaming (Queen’s Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, London) and Naked Justice (West Yorkshire Playhouse).
Kate Harvey Sound Designer
A list of sound credits include: Corporate/Outdoor: Labour, Conservative, NUT, TUC. Symphony in the Park (Hoghton Tower) Liverpool Theatre Festival (Bill Elms Productions), Grimm Tales, Jungle Book, 80 Days Around the World, Alice in Wonderland (Williamson Park, Lancaster)
TV: Stan James World Match Dartsplay (Sky Sports), Strictly Ballroom (ITV), Danny La Rue (BBC) Spirit of Shankly (Granada DVD)
Cruises: P&O World Cruises, Island Cruises, Celebrity. Arena: Hot Ice (Stageworks Worldwide Productions) You’ll Never Walk Alone (Alterean Media and Liverpool FC)
Music: The Christians, Chesney Hawkes, Sinita, Slade, Bad Manners, Toyah, Limahl, Cream UK Tour, Petula Clarke, Bobby Crush, East 17, Liberty X, Jane McDonald.
Comedy: Jason Mansford, Peter Kay, Roy Walker, Norman Wisdom, Jim Bowen, Brian Conley, Brendan O’Carroll, Paddy McGuiness.
Live Theatre: Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty (King Georges Hall) Mystique (Stageworks) Original TV Comedians (Blackpool Opera House) Paul Zerdin (Paradise Room Blackpool) Flags (Royal Exchange, Manchester) Mam I’m Ere (Life in Theatre) Eight Miles High, Council Depot Blues, Bouncers, Night Collar, Our Day Out, Shirley Valentine, Reds and Blues, Lennon, Noises Off, Canoeing for Beginners, Lost Soul 1&2, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Golden Oldies, Come Together, Vernons Girls (Royal Court Liverpool) Twopence to cross the Mersey, Lennons Banjo and By The Waters of Liverpool (Pulse Records) SHOUT! (Max Emmerson Productions) Out of Order and It runs in the family (Ray Cooney Comedy Company) Bang Bang (A production for John Cleese at Mercury Theatre, Colchester) Omnibus (Unity Theatre) Judy and Liza National Tour (Produced by Royal Court Liverpool) Midsummer Nights Dream (Filter Theatre Company/ Lyric Hammersmith) Homebaked (Red Ladder Theatre Company) Something about George (Something About Productions) Insane Animals (HOME MCR) Cinderella (Imagine Theatre, Beck Theatre-Hayes) Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood, A Christmas Carol (Dukes Playhouse, Lancaster) Cinderella (Imagine Theatre, Crewe Lyceum).
Marie Jones
Wardrobe Supervisor
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.
She has worked extensively at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and has recently been employed as full time Wardrobe Supervisor at the Royal Court. 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, Ladies Day, Bouncers, Scouse Of The Antarctic, Pharaoh ‘Cross The Mersey and Down The Dock Road 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.
Royal Court Staff
Executive Producer Kevin Fearon
Chief Executive Gillian Miller
Head of Finance & Administration Gary O’Connor
Creative Producer Jess Bolger
Head of Marketing Kofi Ohene-Djan
Head of Operations Ailsa Morris
Executive Chef David Assall
HR & Finance Manager Alison Ward
Graphic Designer & Brand Manager Jamie Jenkin
Assistant Producer Clare Carlucci
Marketing Manager Iain Christie
Workshop Manager John Kavanagh
Social Media Manager Clara Mbirimi
Head of Technical & Production Sean Gannon
Resident Stage Manager Andrew Lock
Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron
Box Office & Sales Manager Lauren Macauley
Assistant Box Office Manager Laura Lees
Head of Community Engagement Miriam Mussa
Well Being Training Manager Maria Schumann
Costume Supervisor Marie Jones
Finance Administrator Izzie Litwin
Venue Administrator Phil McLoughlin
Assistant Producer - Talent Development Harvey Robinson
Daytime Technician Gary Currin
Studio Technician Phil Dickinson
LX Technician Martyn Case
HR & Payroll Administrator Gilly Taylor
Executive Assistant Joe Morris
Building Maintenance Technician Bob Smith
Box Office Assistants
Erica Drummond, Finn Goulden-Jennings, Carl Lees, Scarlet Lees, Anna Miller, Pat O’Neill, Susan Segar, and Angela Simms
Fire Officer Sam Massen
Stage Door Allan Dodd, Sven Key and Izzie Litwin
Kitchen
Chefs Thomas Alexander, Keane Pritchard, Jay Quinn, Josh Eglin, Jack While and Nick Watson
Kitchen Porters Hezekiah Abramson, Debbie Chisam, Louise Dodd and Luke Dunn
Front of House
FOH Manager Kathy Hutson
Assistant FOH Managers Paul Imrie and Brendan Wright
Shift Supervisors Sammie Hunter
Bar Supervisors Jordan Barkely
Floor Supervisors Michael Hall and Katie Sherman
Front of House Staff Hebron Abraha, Beth Baccino, Jordan Barkley, Hazel Bawden, Cameron Brown, Azize Dia, Holly Evans, Charlotte Freyne, Michael Hall, Samantha Hunter, Lily Hutson, Callum Johnstone, Elizabeth Kendrick, Michael James, Charlotte Kendrick Jones, Raia Kiernan, Jackie Kirton, Cherry Kim, Takunda Kudzunga, Hansol Lee, Phil Lyne, Sam Massen, Lukas Matuzevicius, Joseph McGee, Isabella Renshaw, Theo Stock-Best, Joseph O’Neil, Christiano Samuel, Katie Sherman and Mohan Welstand-Keryk.
Cleaners
Cleaning Supervisor: Debbie Chisam, Billie Chisam, Joanne Kinsella, Claire Wilson and Julie Wright.
And a big thank you to all of our freelance and security staff for their hard work throughout the year.