Programme
Welcome To
Hi and welcome to Liverpool’s Royal Court and this production of Speedo Mick - The Musical.
Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot… We’re on the march with one of Liverpool’s favourite characters tonight for a brand new musical. I think that you’ll enjoy it.
Mick Cullen (that’s his “Clark Kent” name) has raised more than a million pounds for charities over the last fifteen years. We thought that the determination that he has shown in hitting that target should be celebrated, so we’ve turned his life into a show!
Every show begins with a script and John Fay is a writer that I’ve wanted to work here for a long time. He spent hours and hours chatting to Mick and digging deep into his past to find out what makes him tick. The end result was a script that we all loved.
Conrad Nelson was an easy choice to direct. You might remember him as an actor in Down The Dock Road a few years ago. We’ve stayed in touch because we don’t let the good ones go. Boff Whalley has provided the incredible soundtrack to the show. We had a great time working with him on Homebaked in 2020 and I knew that would be something that he could really get his teeth into.
Keeping everyone in time and sounding incredible we’ve got musical director Rebekah Hughes working her magic. The movement and choreography have been crafted by the creative Beverley Norris-Edmunds, who consistently delivers exceptional work.
Ellie Light has designed an incredible set and amazing costumes. How on earth can you fit three mountains, a football stadium and the English Channel onto the Royal Court stage? Jamie Jenkin has brought his AV wizardry to this one, Ian Scott has lit up Mick’s life and Kate, as ever, is sound.
And then there is the cast! What can I say about this extremely talented group of people who can play any instrument, dance like Nijinsky (the dancer, not the horse) and deliver lines bang on cue. They are a mix of old friends and new faces so welcome to: Paul, Jess, Maddie, Iris, Ewan, Polly, Ollie, Timothy, Steve, Declan and Lenny. Paul’s made up because we’ve finally let him play a Bluenose.
A show like this deserves to be seen. It’s a celebration of a life well lived that has led to some incredible feats and a whole lot of money raised for charities.
So, pop your Speedos on and enjoy it.
Kevin Fearon Executive Producer
Liverpool’s Royal Court
Liverpool’s Royal Court presents Speedo Mick - The Musical by John Fay
Starring Paul Duckworth, Jessica Dyas, Maddie Hansen, Iris Laverne, Ewan Ling, Polly Lister, Oliver Mawdsley, Timothy Roberts, Steve Simmonds, Declan Wilson and Lenny Wood
Directed by Conrad Nelson • Composed by Boff Whalley
Musical Director Rebekah Hughes • Movement Director Beverley Norris-Edmunds
Designed by Ellie Light • Lighting Design by Ian Scott • Sound Design by Kate Harvey • AV Design by Jamie Jenkin
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
The Big Interview
Not all superheroes wear capes - some of them wear Speedos!
And as Michael Cullen, better known as Speedo Mick, admits, the first time he put on the skimpy swimwear he did get a sense of what it might be like to feel invincible.
“No matter how many times you do it, you’re always putting yourself in a vulnerable position because you’ve got no clothes on,” he points out. “But when those Speedos go on there’s a change in my psyche. And I’ve got a tiny inkling of understanding of how Superman feels when he puts on his clobber!
“That’s my shield; I look like I’m more confident than I am when I’m in my pants.”
Actor Paul Duckworth must be heartened to hear that as he’s playing him in Speedo Mick – the Scouse
Stomper, the new musical based on the irrepressible fundraiser’s extraordinary real-life story which is receiving its world premiere here at the Royal Court.
Mick has dropped in to the Court’s rehearsal studios – aptly based in Everton – to join Paul for a chat about the show, written by John Fay and packed with original numbers from Boff Whalley (of Chumbawamba fame) who previously penned the tracks for the Royal Court’s Homebaked - The Musical.
“I shaved my head years ago for a part,” Paul himself recalls. “I was dead sensitive – I could feel the wind, I could feel temperature changes, and it was liberating.
“So, it’s like there’s an element of that to it. I’m completely vulnerable, but I’m also empowered.”
Despite both being diehard Bluenoses, it turns out the pair’s paths haven’t crossed until now.
Michael Cullen and Paul Duckworth have a chat with Catherine Jones about all things Speedo Mick and being proud Evertonians!
Paul Duckworth and Michael Cullen. Photo Credit: Arts City Liverpool.
“I remember thinking good luck to you,” Paul tells Mick of seeing his early fundraising efforts at Goodison. “You know, as an Evertonian, anything positive is always good. We’ve had great moments through our history, but in the last few years we haven’t been dealt a good hand.
“Terrible mate,” Mick says.
“Absolutely woeful, Paul sighs.
Mick grins: “Then I’m there, in me knickers, putting a smile on people’s faces. And I think Everton got on that because all there was frowns and disappointments and losses. And there’s this fella looking as cute as you like, gorgeous, sexy, beautiful peachy bum! And people were smiling and getting inspired.”
“That’s it mate,” Paul agrees. “You were a ray of sunshine la!”
Still, while there are plenty of rousing moments and big laughs in the musical, it’s not all sunshine and smiles, because Mick’s is a story of triumph over adversity, of terrible lows – addiction, homelessness, despair - as well as spirit-soaring highs, and there are some powerful and emotional scenes.
Mick says: “What I’m looking forward to most is the fact there’s going to be another conversation about addiction. And that’s going to be on the Royal Court theatre stage, people are going to be talking about that. Right now, that’s the goal for me.”
“And suicide prevention. Mental health,” Paul adds. “It’s all going to be brought out in the show. People are going to talking about it, and that’s what needs to happen doesn’t it?”
While Paul is taking on official Speedo-wearing duties here – carefully regulating his intake of carbs for the duration of the run – Mick won’t be a million miles away.
He admits he did have thoughts of playing himself on stage and even broached the idea to Royal Court executive producer Kevin Fearon.
“He said: ‘If you want, you can, but you’ll have to come in to audition to be you’,” Mick laughs. “That’s funny. Imagine if I never got it. ‘But I sound exactly like him!’”
Instead, he’ll be in the theatre, fully clothed, raising funds for the Speedo Mick Foundation.
Founded in 2019, the charity exists to support mental health, disadvantaged young people and the homeless via grants to small, grassroots organisations across the UK and Ireland – grants made from the £1million plus that Mick has raised through his Herculean fundraising challenges including his famous long-distance walks, along with bucket collections at games.
One of the many recipients is the Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund – a cause particularly close to the 60-year-old’s heart.
“I couldn’t go to Colomendy,” he explains of his own childhood. “It was £8, and my mum and dad couldn’t afford it. Then at the last moment the school stepped in and said: ‘we’ll subsidise him’.
“It was the best holiday I ever had - and I’ve been to the Maldives! I had so much fun. So, 60 kids going there fills my heart with hope.”
Sadly, it seems Paul never got to experience the delights of the North Wales outdoor activity centre.
He says: “I went to school in Skem, so I went to a nunnery in Parbold for the weekend! That was our Colomendy.”
But having most recently appeared in the Royal Court’s Red or Dead, and with a final performance of Beating Berlusconi under his belt to mark 20 years since Liverpool’s Istanbul triumph, he is at least finally getting the chance to celebrate his beloved Blues on stage.
“It’s great to be playing an Evertonian!” Paul smiles as he stands to answer the siren call of Johnny Todd ringing out from the rehearsal room.
And what an Evertonian.
Photographs by Liverpool’s Royal Court
Maddie Hansen
Ewan Ling
Iris Laverne
Polly Lister
Oliver Mawdsley
Timothy Roberts
Steve Simmonds
Declan Wilson
Lenny Wood
Multi Role
Multi Role
Multi Role
Mick’s Wife
Multi Role
Multi Role
Multi Role
Multi Role
Johnny
Company
John Fay
Boff Whalley
Conrad Nelson
Rebekah Hughes
Beverley Norris-Edmunds
Ellie Light
Ian Scott
Jamie Jenkin
Kate Harvey
Marie Jones
Sean Gannon
Writer
Composer Director
Musical Director
Movement Director/ Cheorgrapher
Set Designer
Lighting Designer
AV Designer
Sound Designer
Waredrobe Supervisor
Production Manager
Workshop Manager
John Kavanagh
Scenic Art Manager
Jen Baron
Workshop
Scenic Artists
Abbie Jones
Chris McCourt
Thanks to
Gary at Envision
Stephen Petit
Andrew Lock
Harriet Saffin
Steph Carter
Charlotte Jones
Dan Clarkson
Miriam Bell
Martyn Case
Jack Walsh
Helena Harvey
Joe Baron
Stephen Petit
Production Assistant
Technical Stage Manager
Company Stage Manager
Deputy Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Chief LX
LX No 1
AV Programmer
Sound No 1
Sound No 2
Crew
Crew
Carpenters
Joe Baron
Mike Gray
Shaun Gillespie
Connor McLeod
Barry at Colourcreate
Cast Biographies
Paul Duckworth Mick
Theatre credits include: Grand Old Lady (Epstein Theatre); The Big I Am, Othello, Paint Your Wagon (Everyman Rep Company); Beating Berlusconi, Twelfth Night, Bright Phoenix, The May Queen, Urban Legend, Sweeney Todd (Everyman Theatre Liverpool); A Barry White Christmas (Liverpool Echo Arena); Sink or Swim, Baron Munchhausen, Backwater, Jason & the Argonauts, The Man Who Cracked (Spike Theatre Company); Mam I’m Ere (Life in Theatre Productions); Reds And Blues The Musical, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Scouse Pacific, Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels, Down The Dock Road, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, The Lonesome West, The Scouse Nativity, The Scouse Cinderella, Yellow Breck Road, The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery, Bingo Star, Haunted Scouse, Lost Soul 2 and Red Or Dead (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Family Business (M6 Theatre Company); The Quiet Little Englishman (ZHO Productions); Microdots (Contact Theatre, Manchester); The Corrupted Angel, The Golden Boy (Base Chorus); River Fever (Unity Theatre Liverpool); My Bit of Sky (M.Y.P.T) and Horrible Histories (Christmas 2019, Blackpool Opera House). Television credits include: The Courtroom (Lime Pictures); Brookside (Mersey Television), The 4 O’Clock Club (CBBC). Film credits include: I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This, Donohue, Reds and Blues, Backbeat, To Know Him (short film).
Jessica Dyas
Multi Role
Maddie Hansen Multi Role
Maddie trained at the Guildford School of Acting and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Professional credits credits include Jack and The Beanstalk (Leeds City Varieties), Brassed Off (Gala Durham), The Witches of Eastwick (Sondheim Theatre, West End), BRASS (Hackney Empire).
Ewan Ling Multi Role
Training: Guildford School of Acting.
Credits include: The Borrowers (Hull Truck Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Florida, USA / NCL), Dick Whittington (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch), Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (UK Tour), Dick Whittington (Nottingham Playhouse), Summer Holiday (Sheringham Little Theatre, Norfolk), The Witches of Eastwick in Concert (Sondheim Theatre, West End), West End Does Hollywood (Cadogan Hall, London) West End Does Christmas (Cadogan Hall, London) and The Little Princess (The Other Palace, London).
Iris Laverne Multi Role
Iris Laverne is a Liverpool and Leeds based actor, musician and model. She has recently graduated from Leeds Conservatoire with a strong foundation of movement, acting and multi instrumental skill.
With a love for the story and music style of soul and SKA she is thrilled to be making her professional stage debut with Speedo Mick.
Represented by Nicola Bolton Management and is excited to continue to work as a versatile creative.
Polly Lister Mick’s Wife
Polly trained at Manchester Metropolitan University Theatre School and with The National Youth Theatre. Theatre Includes: A Matter Of Life And Death, Beauty and the Beast, Table, Votes For Women, Playhouse Creatures, The Snow Queen (UK Theatre Award Winner – Best Show for Children and Young People) The Borrowers, 101 Dalmatians and As You Like It. (New Vic Theatre, Stoke. Sleeping Beauty; Blue Stockings (Storyhouse Chester) Song Of The Sytch; Bright Lights Over Bentilee (Claybody Theatre) Animal Farm, Around The World In 80 Days, One Man Two Guv’nors, Hound Of The Baskerville’s (Bolton Octagon); Unexpected Twist (Royal & Derngate/CTP Tour), Jekyll & Hyde (Derby Theatre/Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch); The Snow Queen, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Di and Vi and Rose (Stephen Joseph Theatre); The Wizard Of Oz (Leeds Playhouse); The Worst Witch Live! (Olivier Award Winner for ‘Best Family Show’, West End/Theatre Royal Northampton/UK Tour); Great Expectations, Solace Of The Road, Cooking With Elvis (Derby Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Hul Truck), To Sir With Love, Transmissions (Birmingham Rep); I Was A Wife, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and The Beast (Dukes Theatre, Lancaster), Much Ado About Nothing (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Don’t Dress For Dinner, Private Lives, Boeing Boeing (Eastbourne Theatre/Harrogate Theatre); Abigail’s Party (UK Theatre Award Winner for Best Performer in a Play) Fallen Angels, Suddenly Last Summer, Dancing at Lughnasa, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Blue Room, Hayfever, Chorus Of Disapproval, Loot, After Miss Julie, The Recruiting Officer, Our Country’s Good, Private Lives, Cinderella (Theatre By The Lake, Keswick), Hayfever (Oldham Coliseum), The Heretic (Library Theatre, Manchester), Much Ado About Nothing, Dangerous Corner (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds)
Television includes: Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Martina Cole’s Ladykillers, Back Up and Casualty. Film includes: The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Polterheist, London Unplugged and RTFM
Radio includes: The Archers, Ladies’ Delight, Aromatherapy, Tree Splitting, Distance Between, Lulu, Something Blue (all for BBC Radio 4)
Polly also writes and her solo show I Was A Wife was commissioned by The Dukes Theatre Lancaster.
Oliver Mawdsley Multi Role
Oliver trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Theatre: Boys From The Blackstuff and Red Or Dead (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Little Shop of Horrors (UK Tour), The Comedy Of Errors – More Or Less (Shakespeare North Playhouse & SJT), A Christmas Carol (Derby Theatre), Around the World in 80s Days (Blackpool Grand), Beauty And The Beast (SJT), Astley’s Astounding Adventures, The Snow Queen, The 101 Dalmatians, & A Christmas Carol (New Vic Theatre), Miss Nightingale (Hippodrome, West End), Jack And The Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty & Peter Pan (Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds), Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell & The Cowardly Porter (Frinton Summer Theatre), Gatsby (Southwark Playhouse & Cadogan Hall: Live Stream), By Jeeves & Where is Peter Rabbit? (Old Laundry Theatre), The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre, West End), The Princess And The Pea (York Theatre Royal, UK and International Tour), Jack And The Beanstalk (South Mill Arts), Forever Oz & The Revellers’ Society (OSO Arts Centre), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Red Rose Chain).
Film: Mike Leigh’s Peterloo, L’annonce (BFT), Crossing the Line (LFS & National Portrait Gallery), Chancery Lot (Haligonian Films).
Radio: GF Newman’s The Corrupted for BBC Radio 4.
Timothy Roberts Multi Role
Timothy Roberts attended the University of Central Lancashire for three years studying Music Theatre.
After completing his degree, Tim continued his training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama studying for a master’s degree in musical theatre. Whilst on these courses, Tim has had the opportunity to perform for west end directors and also dedicate a concert to Dame Shirley Bassey herself.
Since leaving training, Tim has worked professionally in some off west end shows, pantomimes and several cruise ships as a lead vocalist. More recently, Tim has been performing in the UK tour of Jesus Christ Superstar where he played a high priest, covering the roles of Jesus, Pilate and Peter.
This is Tim’s first show at the Royal Court and he is extremely excited to be performing in his home town!
Steve Simmonds Multi Role
Steve is very happy to be at The Royal Court. His theatre credits includes: Rewind/Record in Alice In Wonderland (Liverpool Playhouse/Plymouth Theatre Royal) Operation Julie (Theatr na nog), George Mole in Adrian Mole (Queens Theatre Hornchurch), Belinda Bigtop In Goldilocks (New Wolsey Theatre), Samuel Byck in Assassins (Watermill Theatre/Nottingham Playhouse), Grandma in Grandma Saves The Day, The Snow Queen, Cinderella, Guys And Dolls, Aladdin, Never Lost At Home (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswichl, As You Like It Workshop (National Theatre), The Threepenny Opera (Bolton Octagon), The Lady in the Van (Theatre Royal Bath) The Who’s Tommy (New Wolsey Theatre/Ramps on the Moon), Made In Dagenham (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch/ New Wolsey Theatre), Return to the Forbidden Planet 25th Anniversary Tour (Forbidden Planet Musicals, directed by Bob Carlton), 20th Century Boy, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (West End/Chichester Festival Theatre), The Buddy Holly Story (Buddy Musical Productions), Aladdin and Cinderella (Stafford Gatehouse), Lend Me a Tenor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 12th Night, The Servant of Two Masters, Gaslight, Bouncers, It’s a Fine Life (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), The Comedy Of Babi Babbett, Noah Babel’s Ark (Rude Mechanicals), Mack and Mable (West End/Watermill) and Pinafore Swing (Watermill).
Declan Wilson Multi Role
Theatre roles include George in Paul Robeson Knew my Father (Hijinx Theatre, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and Tour), Lloyd Boating in One Man, Two Guvnors (New Vic Theatre), Lion and various in The Butterfly Lion, various in Bill’s New Frock (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and tour), Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), Stephen in Souls (Theatre Centre and tour), King in Sleeping Beauty (Cheltenham Everyman), Li Si in The Emperor and the Nightingale, various in Grimm Tales (Dukes Theatre, Lancaster), Ritta of the Beards in Merlin and the Cave of Dreams (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff), various in Holes (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), The Green Genie and various in Sinbad: The Untold Tale (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick), various in Lisa’s Sex Strike (Northern Broadsides and tour), Thummas and various in The Recruiting Officer, Black Caesar and Watkin Tench in Our Country’s Good, Rambashi and Razvani in The Firework Maker’s Daughter, (all for Theatre by the Lake, Keswick) and Bagheera in The Jungle Book (Birmingham Stage Company, National tour).
Television Roles include Paramedic in A&E, Rasta in To Play the King, Policeman in Mersey Beat, Policeman in Grease
Monkeys, Jasper in The Story Of Tracey Beaker, Patient in No Angels, Pepe in Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere, Waiter in Big Dippers, Desk Sergeant in Waterloo Road, STC Director in Coronation Street, Doctor in Last Tango In Halifax and Charity Worker in Shameless. Radio work includes Trinidad Sisters, The Past Is A Foreign Country, City Of Spades, A Parandero Is Missing, Hard Times, Cake, Yaa Asantewaa: Warrior Queen, Hadji Murat, Richard III, The Pilgrim’s Progress, The Ipcress File, The Pallisers, Dead Heading The Roses, Little Miss Chatterbox, Terry’s Amazing Day, A Day To Remember, Miguel Street, Dolphin Therapy, A Kind Of Home: James Baldwin In Paris, Mars Flight, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Moving And The Still, Pick Up, The Silver Pigs, Volpone, Shut Eye, Zakaat, The Don, They Say I Shot A Man And Killed Him, Mr. Puntilla And His Man Matti, In Our Strange Gardens, Safe As Houses, Death At The Bed End, Small Island, Carolina Here I Come, Oedipus Tyrannos, Oedipus At Colonus, Antigone, Buried, Wodehouse In Hollywood, Troilus And Criseyde, The Threepenny Opera, Yerma, Carmen And Gilda And her Daughters for BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service. Declan also appeared in numerous episodes of Westway BBC World Service and Silver Street for BBC Asian Network.
Lenny Wood
Johnny
Lenny is delighted to be back at the royal court, among old friends again. Lenny started his career as a stand up comedian. As part of the comedy duo “Lenny and his fat friend Mick” he toured the UK and US. He has since gone on to work extensively in theatre, television and film.
Other theatre work includes; Lost Soul, Lost Soul 2, Stags And Hens, The Peaceful Hour, On The Ledge, Nightcollar, The Chitz, Little Shop Of Horrors, Macbeth, A Nightmare On Lime Street, A Fistful Of Collars, Down Our Street, Life, A Midsummers Nights Dream, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, Terriers, The Audition, Suicide, Follow The Star, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Romeo And Juliet, The Mole, A Christmas Carol, Dreaming Of A Barry White Christmas, Bright Phoenix, Happy As Pie, Cheer Up, A Day In The Life, Wating For Godot and many others.
TV and film include; Anne, The Responder, Mummy’s Boy, Under The Mud, The Sinking Of The Laconia, The Be All And End All, Don’t Worry About Me, Eddie Took All The Pesci’s, Northern Cowboys, Violet City, Saffron, Birthday Boy, Being Eileen, Good Cop, Stolen, Dead Mans Cards and others including commercial work for Cadburys And Mcdonalds. Lenny is also an RTS award winning documentary maker.
Company Biographies
John Fay Writer
I wrote my first stage play for the Liverpool Playhouse Youth Theatre when I was a teenager. It led to my first commission: the Unity Theatre’s 1984 Christmas panto. I went on to become a founder member of Kirkby Response Theatre, and over the years wrote numerous plays, sketches and poems for them that were performed in many theatres, community centres, pubs, clubs, buses and streets all over Merseyside. But Speedo Mick is my debut at the Royal Court. It’s a place that is close to my heart, not least because my grandad was a carpenter who worked on the construction of the building in 1938, and it was also the venue for my first (and still favourite ever) gig. I have also written a bit for telly.
Conrad Nelson Director
Evening All. Thanks for coming. I was born in Bootle in another century. Last time I was here was as an actor in Alan’s Bleasdale play, Down The Dock Road. I’ve been fortunate to say a lot of lines in my time including playing Iago opposite Lenny Henry’s, Othello. I’m very happy for others to do that leg work now. I’ve been directing for over 20 years. Previous work includes Shakespearean classics like Hamlet, The Winters Tale and A Much Ado About Nothing, brilliant farces such as Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, wonderful romances and tear jerkers like, Cyrano de Bergerac and Brassed Off and many, many other plays and new dramas t’boot.
I’ve been lucky to have travelled all over the country with work and spent 25 years at Northern Broadsides as Resident and latterly, Artistic Director before I left in 2019. I now run my own company (Claybody Theatre) with writer and spouse, Deborah McAndrew. Some of you might remember her as Angie Freeman on Coronation Street. This is my first time at The Court as a Director and I’m dead happy to be here accompanied by a great team all in celebration of a great local hero, Mick Cullen. Enjoy yourselves, it’s later than you think…
Rebekah Hughes
Musical Director
Rebekah is thrilled to be making her MD debut at the lovely Royal Court in this great city. Recent Musical Director credits include: Jack & The Beanstalk, Robin Hood, Dick Whittington (Leeds City Of Varieties) One Man, Two Guvnors (New Vic Theatre); The Great Gatsby (Chester Storyhouse); The Card, (Claybody/ New Vic Theatre); Jack & The Beanstalk (New Wolsey Theatre); Pride & Prejudice, (Chester Storyhouse);
Brassed Off (New Vic Theatre); Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Jack And The Beanstalk, The Ruck, Cinderella (Lawrence Batley Theatre); Frankenstein (Living Spit/Salisbury Playhouse); Digging In (Claybody Theatre); Mother Goose, Dick Whittington (Salisbury Playhouse); Broken Time (Three Stones Media) and Oliver Twist (Bolton Octagon). She was MD for Northern Broadsides for 12 years. Shows include: Much Ado About Nothing, Hard Times, Cyrano, The Winter’s Tale, A Grand Gesture, The Government Inspector, Hamlet & The Canterbury Tales. Rebekah was also Resident Musical Director for Mikron Theatre Company 2001-2024. Alongside her theatre work she regularly gigs with ‘The Swing Commanders’, ‘The Gelatos’ and MD’s Manchester choir ‘Artful Voices’.
Beverley Norris-Edmunds
Movement Director/ Choreographer
For the Royal Court: The Peaceful Hour, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, Vernons Girls, Thong for Europe, Scouse Trap, YNWA, Scouse Sleeping Beauty, Selection Box, Maggie May, Scouse Snow White, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Scouse Pacific, Lost Soul 2, Scouse Nativity, Golden Oldies, The Royal, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, Sex in Suburbia, Canoeing for Beginners, Bouncers, Special Measures, Our Day Out The Musical by Willy Russell (premiered 2009 and 2010), Ladies Night, Good Golly Miss Molly, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Dirty Dustin’, Nightmare on Lime Street, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Brick up the Mersey Tunnels 1 and 2, Merry Ding Dong, Slappers and Slap Heads and Reds ‘n’ Blues.
Recent choreography includes: One Man Two Guvnor’s, A Leap in the Dark, The Nutcracker, Astley’s Astounding Adventures, The Card, A Matter of Life and Death (New Vic Theatre), The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice (Story house Chester) The Three Musketeers (New Vic Theatre) and Alice In Wonderland (Shakespeare North Playhouse).
Other Choreography includes: Marvelous (@Soho Place London and New Vic Theatre), Tom Dick and Harry (Alexandre Palace London and New Vic Theatre), The Worst Witch - Olivier Award winner 2020 for Best Family Show, (Vaudeville Theatre West End, UK Tour and Royal and Derngate Theatre Northampton), Around the World in 80 Days premiered at The New Victory Theatre on Broadway New York after It’s UK Tour starting at The New Vic Theatre (Newcastle -under-Lyme).
Over 50 productions for The New Vic. Including: Alice in Wonderland, The 39 Steps, The Borrowers, Coppellia A Mystery, Sweeney Todd, Oliver and Amadeus
For Northern Broadsides and Touring: Hard Times, For Love or Money, Loves Labours Lost, Much Ado about Nothing and Cyrano (co-production with New Vic)
Oldham Coliseum: Over 50 Productions including, Oh What
Company Biographies
A Lovely War, Chicago (MEN Theatre Award Winner for Best Ensemble) Stepping Out, Sweet Charity, Laurel and Hardy, Blues in the Night, From a Jack to a King Touring credits include: Return To The Forbidden Planet, Carmen.
TV credits include: The Reckoning, Disney’s The Evermoor Chronicles, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, CBeebie’s The Magic Door, Butterfly, Sunny D, Fernando Torres Nike Commercial, September Song, Brookside and the feature film O Jerusalem.
Beverley has also choreographed numerous productions for The Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres, Bolton Octagon, Hull Truck Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, Liverpool Empire Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, Haymarket Theatre Basingstoke, Harrogate Theatre, New Perspective Theatre company, Claybody Theatre Company, Imaginarium Theatre Company and for the award winning Tmesis Theatre.
Ellie Light Set & Costume Designer
Ellie is a designer for theatre and the arts. She trained at LIPA and is based in Liverpool.
Her professional credits include Lieutenant of Inishmore (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse); 8 Hours There and Back (All Things Considered); Silverwood (RNCM); Laramie (Grosvenor East Theatre, MMU); Haunted Scouse, The Scouse Red Riding Hood (Liverpool Royal Court); Light Falls (Grosvenor East Theatre, MMU); Beyond Caring (Durham Gala Theatre); Of All The Beautiful Things In The World (HOME Manchester); Top Girls (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse); Masquerade (Epstein Theatre/Bill Elms Productions); A Very Odd Birthday Party (Hawkseed Theatre/UK Tour); Dogs (New Step Theatre/ Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse); Cherry Jezebel (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse); Against (Grosvenor East Theatre, MMU); On The Shore of the Wide World (Grosvenor East Theatre, MMU); Pig (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio).
Ian Scott
Lighting Designer
Trained at Mountview.
Productions for the Royal Court include: Scouse Pacific, Maggie May, The Miracle of Great Homer Street, The Royal, The Scouse Nativity, Lonesome West, Down The Dock Road, Come Together, Two Of Us, Haunted Scouse, Boys From The Blackstuff, Red Or Dead and in co-production with Lodestar and the Liverpool Shakespeare Festival; Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Other theatre credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (Sheffield Crucible and Ramps On The Moon); ¡Carpa!, The Hooley and Xanadu (Giffords Circus); By The Waters of Liverpool (Pulse Records); Up ‘n’ Under and Frozen (fingersmiths); Reasons To Be Cheerful, Peeling and Blasted (Graeae); Duet for One (Birmingham Rep; Lee Dean & Daniel Schumann); A Skull in Connemara and All My Sons (Nottingham Playhouse); Marco Polo and Messiah (Bergen National Opera); Fish Eye (Theatre Alibi); The Solid Life of Sugar Water (Graeae; Theatre Royal, Plymouth; National Theatre); Owen Wingrave and Where The Wild Things Are (Aldeburgh Festival); Fawlty Towers Live (Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney); Flat Stanley (Polka; West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Drummer Boy of Waterloo and The Happy Prince (Jubilee Opera); The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre); Our Friends Up North (Northern Stage); The Joke, The Summer House and The Victorian in the Wall (Will Adamsdale; Fuel); My Name is… (Tamasha); Oh! What a Lovely War and Frogs (National Theatre); Curlew River (White Light Festival, New York; UCLA Berkeley; St. Giles, Barbican); Animal Farm (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Abbey Theatre, Dublin).
Jamie Jenkin AV Designer
Jamie is the in-house graphic and video designer at Liverpool’s Royal Court. Starting as marketing assistant at the theatre in 2005, he has been part of the Royal Court since it’s rebirth as a theatre in 2006. He now designs artwork for all Royal Court productions alongside working on video content for the Royal Court stage and beyond.
Video Designs for Theatre include:
Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff by James Graham (Liverpool’s Royal Court, National Theatre and Garrick Theatre London), A Thong For Europe, Willy Russell’s Our Day Out - The Musical, A Fistful Of Collars, Lennon, Ladies Day, Hitchhikers Guide to Fazakerley, Ladies Night, Canoeing for Beginners, The Scouse Nativity, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, A Miracle On Great Homer Street, Home, Going Halves, The Royal, The Scouse Cinderella, My Fairfield Lady, Bingo Star, Two Of Us, Royal Court Selection Box, Macca & Beth, The Scouse Sleeping Beauty, The Menlove Avenue Murder Mystery, The Scousetrap, The Scouse Jack & The Beanstalk, The Scouse Dick Whittington, Haunted Scouse, Sisters Of Mersey, The Netherely Hillbillies, Haunted Scouse, Come Together, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, The Peaceful Hour and Red Or Dead (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Masquerade, Knee Deep In Promises, Hey Bunny Get Loose, Stocking Fillers, Cosmic and Pass The Parcel (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio); Cured (Liverpool’s Royal Court in association with DaDaFest & Unlimited); The Dream Team and
VR Family (Liverpool’s Royal Court Youth Theatre); Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Shakespeare Festival); Judy & Liza (National Tour); YNWA (Alterean Productions, international tour); The Big I Am (Liverpool Everyman); Celtic The Musical (Alterean Productions, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow and SEC Glasgow); Sunderland The Musical (Alterean Productions, Empire Theatre Sunderland); Something About George (Something About Productions, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and national tour); The Salford Docker (Salford Community Theatre, Lighthouse Salford); Our Country’s Good (Hope St Theatre); and Peter Pan (Storyhouse Chester). Jamie was also Sound Designer on Hey Bunny Get Loose, Offered Up, Stocking Fillers and Cosmic (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio) and Our Country’s Good (Hope St Theatre).
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, Red Or Dead (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 Managers Iain Christie and Lily Hagan
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 Julia Darcy, 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 Brendon 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.