The Scouse Christmas Carol Programme

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Welcome To

Hi and welcome to Liverpool’s Royal Court and this production of The Scouse Christmas Carol.

The Royal Court Christmas show has grown to be the most important show we produce each year. It’s popular. I think this is for a number of reasons. We provide something for the Liverpool audience you can’t get anywhere else. It’s made for Liverpool people. It’s made for adults, an oasis in the middle of the commercial monster that is Christmas. Many of you have told us that visiting the Court is how you start Christmas, it’s become part of your tradition. We are honoured to play such an important part in your lives.

Our show is proudly made by Liverpool people and you couldn’t find a more Scouse cast anywhere else. And our cast are something special. They get the Royal Court. They get Liverpool and our sense of humour. They get you the audience. I believe the relationship between our cast and you the audience is unique in theatre. So unique and special we have Christmas regulars coming from the Lake District, mid-Wales, the South Coast and… Canada. So if you are in a queue to leave St John’s car park don’t let it spoil your visit. There are others who have got it harder.

This year’s cast is a mix of regulars from last year and some regulars from a few years ago. Lenny is back after A Nightmare On Lime Street (2012), Helen is spending her first Christmas with us since being a polar bear in Scouse of The Antarctic (2014) and Paul who has been our understudy for the last 3 years is back having last been a Sister in Cinderella (2018). New to Christmas are Jhanaica who wowed us in Red Or Dead earlier this year and the brand newbie is JP. Welcome to Christmas at the Court you two.

Howard Gray has been our musical director since we started doing theatre again back in 2006 with Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels. That’s nearly 20 years. Unfortunately he had to step back from rehearsals in the first week. He’s been an important part of the success of the Royal Court and our Christmas shows and we’ve missed him. We wish him and Nicola a speedy recovery.

Ben Gladwin who has been our bouncing keyboard player since 2016 has stepped up in Howard’s place at short notice.

Great job Ben. Our Christmas show is also our most important in terms of box office. We expect over 55,000 people too see what we’ve done to Charles Dickens’ classic. Box office income is important to us. Just 5% of our £6.5m annual turnover is through public funding including just £27,000 from Liverpool City Council. Unlike other producing theatres we depend on selling tickets. We depend on you our audience to keep us going. So thank you for supporting us.

That’s enough from me.

And as Noddy said ‘So here it is, Merry Christmas!’

Kevin Fearon Executive Producer Liverpool’s Royal Court

Liverpool’s Royal Court presents The Scouse Christmas Carol Written by Kevin Fearon Starring John-Paul Birss, Helen Carter, Paul Duckworth, Lindzi Germain, Adam McCoy, Lydia Rosa Morales Scully, Jhanaica van Mook, Keddy Sutton and Lenny Wood Directed by Mark Chatterton • Designed by Ellie Light • Musical Supervisor Howard Gray • Musical Director Ben Gladwin Music Co-ordinator Greg Joy • Movement Director Beverley Norris-Edmunds • Lighting Design by Ian Scott • Sound Design by Kate Harvey

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Lindzi Germain’s Christmas Message Would it even be Christmas without Lindzi Germain?

Our Grand Dame has been in 14 festive shows. The Scouse Christmas Carol marks her 15th at Liverpool’s Royal Court. So this year, forget the Queen, forget whatever alternative they’ve got on Channel 4. Here’s the real Christmas message that matters!

I love it. I love doing the Christmas show. I love Christmas anyway so it’s become a tradition.

All the family come from Sunderland, and London. “We’re going to see our Lindz in the Christmas show”. There’s some family I don’t see until the Christmas show.

I think it’s because it’s an escape. Life is hard and, for one night, the people who come to see this show, whether it’s the first night, middle of the run, or the last night, you deserve the same show. Full of light, lots of laughs and the same energy. Some people save all year to buy a ticket for a show. Going to the theatre can be an expensive night out, There’s a real rapport we’ve built with the but with Christmas you know it’s coming. audiences over the years, they’ve become part We meet people out and about and they’ll of the Royal Court family. Plus, up on stage, I introduce us and say “this is Mary, she collects basically get to play out with my mates every the ticket money every week”.

Christmas.

It’s a big show, and it’s getting bigger every year.

All we want is for people to be able to escape, let them laugh and see themselves on stage.

It’s about tapping into those Christmases

when we were kids, the live band and the singing. When I was little, I remember going to the Empire to see Cilla Black and I heard the orchestra tuning up under the stage. I knew that something exciting was going to happen.

The live band is such a huge part of it, they’re part of the cast along with the crew. We’re all thrown together for four months and everyone gets on. And it’s lovely.

It’s important that this is a Scouse Christmas show. We’re all living and working in Liverpool.

We need to see ourselves. As a kid going to the theatre, I’d see people with my accent on stage and on TV and I thought “I can absolutely do this”. It’s so vital we continue

that. For young people who come in, it’s so important they see that being in the theatre is something they can do. I get older women coming up to me saying “Oh I wish I’d done this when I was younger”. And I just say “Are you messing, get to a drama group. Now!” It’s important to see Scousers on stage.

The Royal Court, it’s the place where you come. This is the People’s Theatre. It doesn’t belong to anyone except our audience and they know what they like.

The audience knows it’s their show, this is for you.

Rehearsal Photos

Photographs by Liverpool’s Royal Court

Cast Ensemble/Swing Emily Scratchitt Scrooge Barbara Feddie Ensemble/Swing Clara Town Crier/Pat The Butcher/ Housekeeper/Mayor Joe/Judge Bob Scratchitt

John-Paul Birss Helen Carter Paul Duckworth Lindzi Germain Adam McCoy Lydia Rosa Morales Scully Jhanaica van Mook Keddy Sutton Lenny Wood

Band James Breckon Greg Joy Chris Nicholls Mike Woodvine

Keys Drums Bass Guitar

Company Kevin Fearon Mark Chatterton Ellie Light Howard Gray Ben Gladwin Ian Scott Beverley Norris-Edmunds Kate Harvey Greg Joy Mitch Fujii-Williams Marie Jones Sean Gannon Jimmi Richardson Danny Haydock

Writer Director Set & Costume Designer Musical Supervisor Musical Director Lighting Designer Movement Director Sound Designer Music Co-ordinator Head of Wardrobe Wardrobe Supervisor Production Manager Head of Lighting Senior Sound Technician

Lizzie O’Sullivan Steph Carter Snowzie Rose Dan Taylor Phil Dickinson Mark Ellis Frasier Craig Holly Freeman Jonathan Tringham Danny Haydock Will Shacklady Joe Baron Caz Davies Katie Hinson

Company Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Technical Manager Deputy Technical Manager Senior Stage Technician LX Programmer LX No 1 Sound No 1 Sound No 2 Production Electrician Crew Crew Dresser

Workshop Workshop Manager John Kavanagh / Dave Davies Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron

Scenic Artists Abbie Jones Chris McCourt Caz Davies Puppets Abbie Jones

Carpenters Steven Eccleson Mike Gray Shaun Gillespie Connor McLeod

Thanks to Gary at Envision

Barry at Colourcreate

Cast Biographies

John-Paul Birss Ensemble/Swing Training: The Hammond School.

Credits Include: 25th Anniversary Cast of MAMMA MIA! (Novello Theatre, London).

UK premiere of The Musical of Musicals…The Musical (Laffan Productions - Hope Street Theatre), MAMMA MIA! (Royal Caribbean) - Bill, MAMMA MIA! (Royal Caribbean) Ensemble/Dads Understudy, Disney in Concert (European Tour), Principal Singer - (Norwegian Cruise Line).

Film & Television Credits include: Clayface (DC Comics), House of Guinness (Netflix), Peaky Blinders (BBC & Netflix), Munich: Edge of War (Netflix), King Arthur: Knights Of the Round Table (Warner Bros Pictures), Dark Shadows (Warner Bros Pictures).

John-Paul is beyond thrilled to be making his debut with the Liverpool’s Royal Court. He would like to thank his family, friends, & his agents, for their never-ending support and belief. But most of all his wife Ashley for well…everything!

Helen Carter Emily Scratchitt Helen trained at LAMDA. Her theatre credits include: Bingo Star, The Scousetrap, Boys From The Blackstuff and Haunted Scouse (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool) Offered Up (Liverpool Royal Court Studio), Shirley Valentine (Liverpool Everyman) Love Liverpool, A Christmas Carol (Liverpool Playhouse Theatre) Merry Christmas, Carol (Royal Court Liverpool Studio) My Fairfield Lady (Royal Court Liverpool); The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca (Hull Truck Theatre) The Star (The Liverpool Playhouse Theatre); Father O’Flaherty Save Our Souls (Royal Court Liverpool); Mam I’m ‘Ere (Royal Court Liverpool); The Sunshine Boys (Epstein Theatre;/Life in Theatre Productions); Word:Play Tour (Box of Tricks Theatre Company); The Last 5 Years (Life in Theatre Productions); The Gatekeeper (The Royal Exchange Theatre); Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman); No Wise Men (Liverpool Playhouse); Hatch (Bolton Octogon/24:7 Theatre Festival); Dad’s Army Marches On (Calibre Productions Tour); Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi (Liverpool Playhouse); The Flint Street Nativity (Liverpool Playhouse) Top Girls

(Royal Court Theatre London 50th Anniversary performance); The Honest Whore (William Poel Prize; The Globe Theatre; London).

TV Credits include: G’wed (ITV) Ruby Speaking (BBC Television),The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca (BBC Television); Wallander (Left Bank Pictures); Doctors (BBC Television);Beaten (Coastal Productions);Judge John Deed (BBC Television); A470 (S4C) Film: Through the Dunes (Empire Street Productions), 96 Ways to Say I Love You (Daisy Aitkens and Georgia Moffet).

Paul Duckworth Scrooge 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).

Lindzi Germain

Adam McCoy

Barbara

Freddie

Lindzi is one of our city’s well known character actors and is one of the Royal Court’s regulars - so much so she doesn’t even take her stuff home any more!

Theatre credits include: The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, Lost Soul 2, Sisters Of Mersey, The Scouse Dick Whittington, A Greasy Spoon, A Thong For Europe, Ellen & Rigby, Royal Court Selection Box, Night Collar, Council Depot Blues, Lost Soul, Down Our Street, The Royal, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Alehouse, The Entertainer, Bon Voyage, Beserker Boys, Virgin Express, Desperate Scousewives, Merry Ding Dong, Scouse Pacific, Scouse of the Antarctic, Scouse of the Rising Sun, Pharoah ‘Cross The Mersey, Scouse Nativity, Mam I’m ‘Ere, Sex In Suburbia (tour), YNWA (Royal Court and tour), A Fistful of Collars, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Her Benny, The King & I, King Lear, Our Bessie, Reds & Blues, Scouse Cinderella, Lost Soul 2 and Achy Breaky Bride. Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, Robin Hood and Babes In The Wood.

TV and film credits include: Tin Star with Tim Roth. Bella in Clink (5Star), The Way We Are (Feature film), Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion (ITV), Les’ Liverpool (BBC), Bodies II (ITV), Common As Muck (ITV), Emmerdale (Yorkshire TV), Prime Suspect (ITV), Dave Kirby’s 15 Minutes That Shook The World, Gwladys in Reds & Blues: The Ballad of Dixie & Kenny, Adam (Short film) and Shooting Fish (short).

Writing credits include: The Royal, Mother’s Pride, Lindzi Germain Merseymouth stand up show, Women With Balls.

Also penned a new musical for 2024.

Voiceover work includes: Lindzi is the voice of Atomic Olga in the computer game Evil Geniuses 2 and has her own vlog page Mersey Mouth.

Last year Lindzi also set up a private wall on Facebook called Peri/Meno Queens - it’s a place for women to learn, educate, laugh and cry to love and to support each other while going through what can be the most horrendous time of there lives The Menopause. To date she has over 7.7k members!

Lindzi and her husband Darren are the founders of CNC Nutrition building a happier, healthier community. For more information check out their Facebook and Insta @CNCnutritionliverpool.

Training: LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) Theatre: The Legend of Rooney’s Ring, Scouse Red Riding Hood, Scouse Dick Whittington, A Greasy Spoon, Masquerade (Liverpool’s Royal Court), The Snow Queen (The Dukes, Lancaster), Peter Pan (Crossroads Entertainment, Liverpool Empire), Boom Bang-a-Bang (Above the Stag, London), Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco (Liverpool Everyman), Lonely Hearts Club (Unity Theatre), Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin (Hope Street Theatre), The King & I (UK Tour, David Ian Productions), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire/Royal Court Liverpool).

Television: Doctor Who (BBC), Mobile (ITV), Casualty (BBC), Holby City (BBC), House of Anubis (Nickelodeon), Merseybeat (BBC), Brookside (Mersey TV).

Voiceover/Audio: Ramsey Campbell’s Think Yourself Lucky (Audible), Help (Channel 4), Dragonslayers (Xbox Live).

Adam has also worked as a guest vocalist on board P&O Cruises, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, and appeared as a “Veganbulance” driver in a KFC commercial.

He would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and dedicates his performance to his cousin, Matthew.

Lydia Rosa Morales Scully Ensemble/Swing Lydia first hit the Royal Court stage in You’ll Never Walk Alone (playing as TIA) in her second year of training at (The Arden School of Theatre) and well, she’s been hooked ever since! A proud Scouse-Hispanic, The Court is her family, the audience are her people, and as the onstage swing this Christmas— she’s ready to have a proper laugh with you lot!

Stage and Television Credits include: Cinderella (Everyman Theatre, Off Stage Swing), Vernon’s Girls (Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre, Jean Ryder, Liverpool Football Club x UPS (Voiceover / Featured Actress); The Gathering (Channel 4 / ITV World Productions) Showcase (Soho Theatre London, Vocalist) Scouse Little Red Riding Hood and Stage Write (Liverpool’s Royal Court, Red Riding Hood / multiple roles) The Proposal (Moore Productions, Katherine); Training film; Vulnerability in Midwifery (Calico Group, Mira); and Tailgate (PINS Limited, Featured Model).

Cast Biographies

Jhanaica van Mook Clara Trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

Theatre credits: Miss Kat in Stratford Easts Pinocchio, Red Or Dead at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre and Button in 101 Dalmations at the Eventim Apollo

Radio/Audio credits: Patterdale (BBC Radio 4), April Ashley Project (Liverpool Museum), Narrator (Chester College), 1000 Feet Deep (Periplum & Culture Knowsley) and Redwall (Brian Jacques).

Keddy has also been a proud member of her choir ‘Handbag of Harmonies’ for 24 years, a lifelong team of great friends.

Keddy appeared in her own driving documentary - Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre.

Writing credits: Tabbard The Musical.

Co-Writing credits: Caz ‘N’ Britney Present Scottie Road The Musical (From Primark to Prison) and Mis Les (A Revolution In Rollers).

Keddy Sutton Town Crier/Pat The Butcher Housekeeper/Mayor Joe/Judge Keddy trained at The Everyman Youth Theatre, Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and with Ken Campbell’s Improvisational Company - The School of Night.

Royal Court Theatre credits include: A Thong For Europe, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, The Scouse Dick Whittington, The Scouse Jack and The Beanstalk, The Scouse Snow White, The Scouse Cinderella, The Scouse Sleeping Beauty, The Scouse Nativity, Scouse Of The Rising Sun, Scousetrap, Bingo Star, Pete Price Is Dead, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, Stags And Hens (Directed by Willy Russell and Bob Eaton For Capital Of Culture), Slappers And Slapheads, Terry Titters Summer Special, Selection Box and Mam I’m Ere. Other theatre credits include: Shirley Valentine (Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds); Keddy was in the Liverpool Everyman Rep theatre 2017/2018, performing in Fiddler On The Roof, Paint Your Wagon, The Big I Am, A Clockwork Orange, The Sum and Conquest Of The South.

Further credits: Dreaming Of A Barry White Xmas (Liverpool M&S Banks Arena), The Queens Knickers (Southbank Centre/ Theatre Royal Bath), Beauty And The Beast (Theatre Royal Wakefield), Robinson Crusoe (Theatre Royal Winchester), Singa-Longa-Eurovision (AJN Productions) That Sketchy Show (The Edge), All The Joy Can Bring (Shakespeare North & Slung Low), 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton), Ken Campbells Improvisational School Of Night (The Globe, Royal Court London, Edinburgh Fringe, Jeremy Beadles Library, National Theatre Everyman).

Television credits: Hollyoaks (Channel 4), Good Cop and Nice Guy Eddie (BBC), Fated (Ace Films). Pot Noodle Advert and Studio One Advert.

Lenny Wood Bob Scratchitt 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.

James Breckon

Chris Nicholls

Keys

Bass

James is thrilled to be back at the Royal Court for Scouse Christmas Carol, having previously been Musical Director for The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring and Sisters of Mersey.

Based in Liverpool, James is a keyboard player and musical director. His music has taken him all over the world, playing live with artists like Lucy Thomas, China Crisis, Ray Quinn, The Real People, and Natalie McCool. He has also recorded in studios around Europe for artists in the UK, Norway, and Spain.

James graduated with a first-class degree in Music from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. His session and composing work has taken him around the UK and onto national TV sets, including composing for Britain’s Got Talent and appearing on BBC Sessions.

Greg Joy Drums & Musical Co-ordinator Greg is delighted to be back for his 10th consecutive year at the court this Christmas, as Musical Co-ordinator.

After graduating from the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Founded by Sir Paul McCartney, with a BA Hons in Music.

Greg has worked extensively in the performing arts industry, from touring as a session drummer for various artists such as XAMVOLO, The Farm, China Crisis and more.

Greg has also featured as a solo artist with Live performances at the UK Drum show.

In additions as an Actor-Musician and Pit Drummer in many theatres.

Theatre credits at the The Royal Court include: Scouse of the Rising sun, The Scouse Nativity, Royal Court’s 80th Anniversary, The Scouse Cinderella, The Scouse Pacific, The Scouse Snow White, The Royal Court Selection Box, Homebaked, The Scouse Sleeping Beauty, Mam I’m Ere, The Scouse Jack And The Beanstalk, Two Of Us, The Scouse Dick Whittington, Come together.

Happy to be back at The Royal Court, Chris is a musician and lecturer whose performances have taken him to theatres, venues and festivals around the globe.

Mike Woodvine Guitar Graduating from Lipa in 2018, Mike made his Royal Court Debut, joining us for Scouse Pacific in 2019. Back for his 6th Year running, can’t wait!

Company Biographies Mark Chatterton Director Mark works as an actor, writer and director. His big love is panto and he has performed in, co-written and directed many pantos.

He and his partner Sarah have written and directed 19 Rock and Roll Pantos for the Liverpool Everyman. Other pantos include Wakefield Theatre Royal, Oldham, Derby and Buxton Opera House. Darlington Majestic and the New Brindley. Mark has directed shows at Oldham Coliseum, Cheltenham Everyman, Derby Playhouse, Derby Arena, New Victoria, Bolton and many shows for LipService Theatre Company. His work as an actor includes work at the Royal Exchange, Library Theatre and Greenwich Theatre.

TV includes: Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, The Cops, Scott and Bailey, All Creatures Great and Small. Foyles War, Last Of the Summer Wine and My Parents Are Aliens. Films include: Millions and the horror film Christmas Presence.

Howard Gray Musical Supervisor For the Royal Court, Howard was the Musical Arranger and Musical Director for, Come Together and Girls Don’t Play Guitars, this year, as well as the Christmas shows, Scouse Dick Whittington and Scouse Red Riding Hood.

Other work here includes: Lennon, Homebaked, (Co pro with Red Ladder) You’ll Never Walk Alone, Brick up the Mersey Tunnels, Our Day Out, Council Depot Blues, Eight Miles High, Sons of The Desert, Maggie May, Reds and Blues, The Scouse Nativity, Scouse Sleeping Beauty, Golden Oldies, Nightmare on Lime Street, Merry Ding Dong, Little Scouse on the Prairie, Hitch Hikers Guide to Fazackerley, Scouse Jack and the Beanstalk and Selection Box. He also directed two Royal Court Christmas shows, Scouse of the Antarctic and Pharoah Cross the Mersey.

He is the Creative Director of Alterean Media and has directed productions of, The Sunderland Story (Sunderland Empire) One Night in Istanbul(M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, plus a tour of Ireland); Celtic, The Musical (Pavillion Theatre and the SEC Armadillo Glasgow plus tour of Ireland) and You’ll Never Walk Alone (Royal Court Theatre Liverpool) He was previously an Associate Artist of the Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Shows include, The Blonde Bombshells of 1943, which won the Manchester Evening News award for Best Production.

The show transferred to Hampstead theatre and subsequently toured for several years both Nationally and Internationally.

He was also involved with the original production at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Other work at the Octagon includes,

Song of Singapore, Oh What a Lovely War, (Nominated for the Manchester Evening News Best production), Looking for Buddy(Co production with Live Theatre, Newcastle), Little Voice, Once Upon a Time in Wigan, I just stopped by to see the Man, Eight Miles High and composer for, Danny, The Champion of the World.

He was the Resident Musical Director of the Oldham Coliseum Theatre and worked on numerous productions there including, Close the Coalhouse Door, Bread and Roses, Dick Barton, (which all received award nominations). Our Gracie, Curtain Up, Sweet Charity, Good Golly Miss Molly, The Ladykillers, Union Street, Women on the Verge of HRT, Private Lives, Feed, The Road to Nab End, Brassed off, From a Jack to a King and Return to the Forbidden Planet, plus a hatful of Coliseum Pantos.

At the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme: The Admiral Crichton, Spring and Port Wine, A Taste of Honey, The Magic Flute, The Mikado, (co-production with the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough) and several seasons under Peter Cheeseman.

For the Liverpool Everyman Theatre he co-wrote and Musically Directed, Alice in Boogie Wonderland, Puss in Blue Suede Boots and as a performer, Dick Whittington, Cinderella and Aladdin.

For Harrogate Theatre, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Of Mice and Men, Macbeth and others.

Howard has also worked at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.

Coventry Belgrade, Worcester Swan, York Theatre Royal, Lancaster Dukes, Bristol Old Vic, Theatr Clwyd and Opera North TV work includes, Johnny and the Bomb, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Family Affairs.

Ben Gladwin Musical Director Ben is a pianist, arranger and musical director. He’s been with the Royal Court for the last 10 years as part of the musical magic of the Christmas Shows, and this year he steps off-stage and returns to make his debut as the show’s Musical Director.

Credits include: Come Together, You’ll Never Walk Alone, The Scouse Nativity, Celtic The Musical, Something About George, The Scouse Cinderella, Scouse of the Rising Sun.

Company Biographies 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, Speedo Mick - The Musical (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).

Beverly Norris-Edmunds Movement Director For the Royal Court: The 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 ( New Vic Theatre), The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice (Story house Chester) 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 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: 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.

Company Biographies 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.

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.

13 Mar - 28 Mar 2026 Tickets from £17

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17 Apr - 09 May 2026 Tickets from £17

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22 6 June 13 May Marto - 28 Mar2026 2026 Tickets Ticketsfrom from£17 £17

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Royal Court Staff Executive Producer Kevin Fearon Chief Executive Gillian Miller Head of Finance & Administration Gary O’Connor Head of Producing & Programming 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 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 Technical Manager Dan Taylor Deputy Technical Manager Phil Dickinson Head of Lighting Jimmi Richardson Lighting Technician Holly Freeman Senior Sound Technician Danny Haydock Senior Stage Technician Mark Ellis 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 Head of Wardrobe Mitch Fujii-Williams Wardrobe Supervisor Marie Jones Finance & Payroll Assistant Izzie Litwin Venue Administrator Phil McLoughlin Assistant Producer - Talent Development Harvey Robinson Stores & Maintenace Technician Gary Currin HR 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 D’Arcy, Allan Dodd, Sven Key and Izzie Litwin

Kitchen Chefs Thomas Alexander, Maciej Gumieniuk, Keane Pritchard, Jay Quinn and Jack While Kitchen Porters Hezekiah Abramson, Dillion Bagley, Billie Chisam, Louise Dodd, Ezhra Hayden, Harry Lawlor, Emmeline Linforth, Dean Robinson, Azeema Sheriff, Luke Sweeney and Lewis While Front Of House FOH Manager Kathy Hutson Assistant FOH Manager Paul Imrie and Brendon Wright FOH Supervisors Jordan Barkley, Sammie Hunter and Katie Sherman Café 38 Supervisor Beth Baccino Front of House Staff Kane Bagnall, Hazel Bawden, Rhianna Beesley, Cameron Brown, Mustafa Bshaena, Sam Byrne, Louis Carney-Smith, Emily Cook, John Donachie-Ashcroft, Summer Duckworth, Holly Evans, Charlotte Freyne, Lily Hutson, Michael James, Callum Johnstone, Thomas Kent, Raia Kiernan, Jackie Kirton, Abby Livingstone, Phil Lyne, Sahara Makavitage, Sam Massen, Lukas Matuzevicius, Amy McCormick, Faye McCutcheon, Joseph McGee, Joseph O’Neill, Niamh Powers, Anila Rais, Isabella Renshaw, Aaron Scarth, Aiva Tambourini, Ben Verdin, Ellie Weaver, Mohan Welstand-Keryk, Ellie Wilcox, Abbie Williams and Samantha Woolley.

New CourtYard New CourtYard Manager Emily Devlin New CourtYard Chef Harrison McLaughlin New CourtYard Bar Team Supervisors Alison Connolly and Theo Stock-Best New CourtYard Bar Staff Kane Bagnall, Jason Crowden, Grace Henderson, Hannah Nugent and Maya Zacarias Cleaning & KP Supervisor Debbie Chisam Cleaners 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.