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4 to 30 December Tickets from £16
Downstairs at Liverpool’s Royal Court, 1 Roe St, Liverpool L1 1HL
Welcome To
Hi and welcome to Liverpool’s Royal Court, the home of 100%, made in Liverpool for Liverpool theatre. And welcome to this year’s Christmas offering – The Scouse Nativity. Having seen the vast array of pantos and Christmas ‘themed’ shows around town this year we felt it our duty to get back to basics and go back to the start (albeit in a Liverpool way). I suppose I’m saying that if Jesus was a Marvel Superhero, then this is his origin story. It’s not a naturally funny story but we’ve undertaken extensive research, consulted with National Museums Liverpool, made use of the Central Library and generally chatted with people who were around at the time. Thanks for that to Pete Price and Billy Butler. And I am pleased to confirm that the Scouse version of the Nativity is funnier than we have been led to believe and also contains a fair amount of popular music. Who would have thought it. So once we had the story we needed some folk who had nothing better to do to help tell it. We’ve brought back the team who had a brave go at Christmas Carol last year – to be honest, because we had their phone numbers. A couple of talented people who are experiencing the Royal Court’s audience reaction at Christmas for the first time are Jess Smith (Legend of Rooney’s Ring) giving us her Mary and Tim Roberts (Speedo Mick The Musical) as part of the band and potentially part of the cast if anyone gets stuck in traffic.
The creative team are led by director Nicole Behan. Nic is at risk of becoming part of the furniture having directed The Derby-Days last year and just recently Letter To Brezhnev to great acclaim. She is a home-grown talent with a bright future. Talking of talent she is supported by our regular Christmas lighting designer Ian Scott, Kate Harvey is sound, while Beverley Norris-Edmunds & Abigail Middleton make the cast move - some easier than others. Mark Walters designed the set just in time to go off and design the panto at the Palladium. In a time of cost-of-living crisis, wars for no reason and people being more and more divided we could do with some respite, something to make us feel more positive. Theatre isn’t going to change the world but to misquote that great prophet Belinda Carlisle, maybe here, in this theatre with our talented team and you our fabulous audience, who knows, just for these few hours, maybe Heaven Can Be A Place On Earth. Enjoy the show, and have a great Christmas.
Kevin Fearon Executive Producer Liverpool’s Royal Court
The Scouse Nativity A Liverpool's Royal Court Production Written by Kevin Fearon Starring Starring Helen Carter, Paul Duckworth, Lindzi Germain, Adam McCoy, Lydia Rose Morales Scully, Jess Smith, Tim Roberts, Keddy Sutton and Lenny Wood. Performed by James Breckon, Greg Joy, Chris Nicholls and Mike Woodwine. Directed by Nicole Behan • Musical Direction by Ben Gladwin • Set Design by Mark Walters Costume Design by Zoë Murdoch • Lighting Design by Ian Scott • Sound Design by Kate Harvey • AV Design by Jamie Jenkin Movement Direction by Beverley Norris-Edmunds and Abigail Middleton
Royal Court Supporters
Art Friends Merseyside The Pilkington Charitable Trust
Rushworth Trust
The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
Howard Gray A tribute to the Royal Court’s ‘resident’ musical director and a great friend, who has died at the age of 60. By Liverpool’s Royal Court Executive Producer Kevin Fearon
During rehearsals for The Scouse Nativity we were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Howard Gray. Howard was the original Musical Director when we first presented the show 9 years ago. But Howard’s connection to the theatre was so much more. He was an integral part of the fabric of Liverpool’s Royal Court for over 20 years. He worked on countless shows as our ‘resident’ Musical Director but his talent meant he was also a Composer, Musical Arranger, Actor and a Director. He brought countless memorable melodies, songs and moments to our stage and entertained Royal Court audiences for many years. He was indispensable to the Royal Court. From Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels in 2006 to Lennon and from Girls Don’t Play Guitars to Come Together Howard has been an essential part of the best of the Royal Court. From a personal perspective he was always my first pick in the creative corner. He got what the Royal Court is and would fiercely defend it against those that didn’t. The success of this theatre was genuinely important to him. But alongside the musical ability was Howard the man. He was respected and loved by everyone who worked with him. Which is a testament to his endearing personality because he did not suffer fools… at all. We now have to move forward without Howard but that has been made easier by the legacy he has left. He was a champion of new talent particularly if it was great talent, it excited him. He took many young musicians under his wing and it was a lovely thing to see them develop under his mentorship. In fact Ben Gladwin who last Christmas stepped up at the eleventh hour as Musical Director when Howard was first ill, began playing keyboards for Howard back in 2016 just a year after leaving college. Our hearts go out to Howard’s family, friends and all those that worked with him and loved him. He will be missed by us all. xx
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Cast Dolly / Midwife / Melchior Herod Angela Gabriel Joseph On Stage Swing On Stage Swing Mary Lil, Midwife, Robert De Niro, Jesus Alan, Midwife, Ernie Wise
Band Keys Drums Bass Guitar
Helen Carter Paul Duckworth Lindzi Germain Adam McCoy Lydia Morales-Scully Tim Roberts Jess Smith Keddy Sutton Lenny Wood
James Breckon Greg Joy Chris Nicholls Mike Woodvine
Company Writer Director Set Designer Costume Designer Musical Director Lighting Designer Sound Designer AV Designer Movement Director Associate Movement Director Production Manager Technical Manager Company Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager
Kevin Fearon Nicole Behan Mark Walters Zoë Murdoch Ben Gladwin Ian Scott Kate Harvey Jamie Jenkin Beverley Norris-Edmunds Abigail Middleton Sean Gannon Daniel Taylor Snowzie Rose Steph Carter Laura Spallen
LX Programmer LX1 LX2 Production Electricians
Sound No. 1 Sound No. 2 Stage Crew Dressers
Jimmi Richardson Holly Freeman Kaila Sharples Sam Smith Sam Bailey Will Shacklady Ged Campbell Phil Dickinson Danny Haydock Helena Harvey Joe Baron Jay Ehlen Cazs Davies Kat Raffle
Workshop Workshop Manager John Kavanagh Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron
Scenic Artists Abbie Jones Christopher McCourt
Thanks to Barry and Kevin at ColourCreate Gary at Envision
Carpenters Mike Gray David Davies Connor McLeod
So Bad He’s Good! Paul Duckworth tells Catherine Jones about why he loves being the ultimate Christmas baddie From Abanazer and Captain Hook to Fleshcreep and Carabosse, every festive show needs a baddie to boo. But surely the biggest villain of any Christmas story is the one in THE Christmas story? And he doesn’t come armed with a magic lamp, poison apple or evil spell. “He’s the ultimate baddie,” agrees Paul Duckworth who is reprising the role of Herod in The Scouse Nativity, returning to the Royal Court after nearly a decade. And Paul should know, because he’s mined a rich seam of rogues, rapscallions, scoundrels, miscreants, misers and all-round cads and bounders for the theatre over the years, and not just at Christmas. From a dastardly developer in Scouse Pacific and Bad Bart in Little Scouse on the Prairie to Scrooge in The Scouse Christmas Carol and, this summer, dodgy councillor Donald Storm in Taking the Piste, he’s played plenty of rotters. “When I do a baddie, especially at the Royal Court, I always think, well in a way he’s a cartoon baddie, but not TOO cartoon,” he explains of his approach. “You can get away with lots of things as a baddie, idiosyncrasies or little hang ups, what makes them ridiculous.” One inspiration, he reveals, is Mel Brooks’ satirical 1974 Western Blazing Saddles and its corrupt and xenophobic district attorney Hedley Lamarr, “a nasty man, but there was a certain panache and a ridiculous nature that I just thought was stunning. There’s the knife edge of being evil, and the purpose that drives him, but unbeknownst to him he’s also pathetic.” But what of the Biblical King of Judea who, thanks to the Gospel according to St Matthew, is remembered not for working to make his land more prosperous (and his presidency of the Olympic Games - who knew?), but for greeting news of the birth of Christ by massacring the innocents of Bethlehem? Unlike Scrooge, Herod is irredeemable. But for Paul, both roles give him the opportunity to showcase his skills. And, he admits, to show off a bit.
Paul Duckworth and Holly Mimi Bernice in Taking The Piste Credit AB Photography
“It’s how do I get all the little tricks of the trade that I’ve gathered over the last 38 years and squeeze them into one person?” he reveals. “When we first did this (in 2017) Cal McCrystal, who was directing, said to me: ‘Paul, you know when you come on? You don’t have to show us all your qualifications’. “What he meant was, don’t try and do every trick you know within the first three minutes you’re on stage. And he was right. I get excited and I’m enthusiastic because I love to play and I love to have fun – but I also love showing off and making people laugh. “And that’s an addiction. It’s also self-perpetuating, so if something lands, I’ll do it a little bit more and a little bit
more. It’s the Ken Dodd thing. I can understand why he went on stage, and why he stayed and people missed their buses.” This latest iteration of The Scouse Nativity stars a mixture of returning cast and new but familiar faces – people Paul says “you appreciate and respect as actors and performers, but also you know as friends” - and has a new director in Nicole Behan who comes to the production straight from Letter to Brezhnev. Paul worked with Nicole on Red or Dead, which he describes as “like putting on Ben Hur” due to the sheer numbers on stage, praising the work she did with community artists as “phenomenal”. Meanwhile the actor has rarely missed a Christmas on stage over the past three decades, starting with The Pied Piper at the Unity in 1993, although before The Scouse Christmas Carol he had two years ‘off’ – albeit still understudying Drew Schofield and Liam Tobin respectively. “I really enjoyed it,” he says. “But it was coming up to the third year not working Christmas and I thought, I need to play out with me mates, I need to do something – because there’s only so much cheese you can eat before you become an actual piece of cheese!”
Paul Duckworth - Centre in The Scouse Christmas Carol Credit AB Phtography
While he’s enjoyed festive seasons at many venues, it seems there’s still nothing quite like performing for a Royal Court audience – not least, it turns out, at a Saturday matinee. “It’s full, top to bottom,” he grins. “And everybody is absolutely ready and raging for it, they’re hungry, and they’re like – we want to be entertained, we know this is going to happen so come on, let’s get it on! “As soon as you’re on stage, no matter how you feel, you’ll be reinvigorated with the spirit of the theatre. That might sound a little pretentious, but it’s true!” And as for the return of The Scouse Nativity? “We’re still finding fun in it. We’re still laughing at each other, still making each other laugh with certain little nuances and details that we find hilarious - and we hope other people do too.”
Cast Biographies
Helen Carter
Dolly / Midwife / Melchior Helen trained at LAMDA. Her theatre credits include: Take Me Home County Road, Conteh, The Scouse Christmas Carol, Bingo Star, The Scousetrap, Boys From The Blackstuff and Haunted Scouse (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Offered Up (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio), Shirley Valentine (Liverpool Everyman) Love Liverpool, A Christmas Carol (Liverpool Playhouse Theatre) Merry Christmas, Carol (Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio) My Fairfield Lady (Liverpool’s Royal Court ); The Last Testament of Lillian Billoca (Hull Truck Theatre) The Star (The Liverpool Playhouse Theatre); Father O’Flaherty Save Our Souls (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Mam I’m ‘Ere (Liverpool’s Royal Court); 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 Herod
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, Red Or Dead, Speedo Mick, The Scouse Christmas Carol, and Taking The Piste (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
Dolly / Midwife / Melchior 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 Scouse Nativity, 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 (5 Star), 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. 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. 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. Lindzi and her husband Darren are the founders of CNC Nutrition building a happier, healthier community.
Adam McCoy Joseph
Training: BA (Hons) Acting at LIPA For Liverpool’s Royal Court: Take Me Home, County Road, Scouse Christmas Carol, The Legend of Rooney’s Ring, Scouse Red Riding Hood, Scouse Dick Whittington, A Greasy Spoon and Masquerade. Theatre: The Snow Queen (The Dukes, Lancaster), Peter Pan (Crossroads Live), Boom Bang-a-Bang (Above the Stag, London), Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco (Young Everyman & Playhouse), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire) and The King & I (UK Tour, David Ian Productions). Television: Doctor Who (BBC), Mobile (ITV), Casualty (BBC), Holby City (BBC), House of Anubis (Nickelodeon), Merseybeat (BBC) and Brookside (Mersey TV). Writing: Take Me Home, County Road (Liverpool’s Royal Court) and the upcoming Our Daily Bread (Shakespeare North Playhouse). Workshops: Savage (Leicester Curve), Lonely Hearts Club (Unity Theatre) and Bob the Artist (Liverpool Everyman). Other Credits: Think Yourself Lucky (Audible), Help (Channel 4), Dragonslayers (Xbox Live), KFC (Commercial) and guest vocalist for P&O Cruises, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Tim Roberts
On Stage Swing Tim trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. This is his second show at the Royal Court and he is very excited to be back! Theatre: Sunny Afternoon (UK tour), Speedo Mick (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Jack and the Beanstalk (Leeds City Varieties), Jesus Christ Superstar (UK tour), Head Over Heels (Hope Mill), Dick Whittington (Leeds City Varieties), Beauty and the Beast (Leeds City Varieties).
Jess Smith Mary
Jess is looking forward to her first Christmas at Liverpool’s Royal Court. She’s heard great things about the audiences, the writing and the production and is thrilled to be part of this years’ Christmas show. Credits: Blood Brothers (UK Tour 2023-2025), The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Shake It Up Baby (The Epstein Theatre), The Greatest Showman (Bristol Hippodrome), Grease Immersive (Battersea Evolution). Jess would like to thank her friends and family for their ongoing support in everything that she does.
Lydia Morales-Scully On Stage Swing
Lydia first hit the Royal Court stage in You’ll Never Walk Alone in 2023, playing Tia, and has been back gracing the stage in productions ever since. And well, she’s been hooked ever since! A proud Scouse-Hispanic, born and raised in Anfield, The Court is her family and the audience are her people. There’s nowhere she’d rather be than having a good laugh with you lot. As the onstage swing this Christmas, she’s made up to be back where she belongs and can’t wait to have a proper laugh with you all! Stage and Television Credits include: Wyld Things (Apple TV), Cinderella (Everyman Theatre), Vernon’s Girls (Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre), Liverpool Football Club x UPS; The Gathering (Channel 4 / ITV World Productions) Grosvenor Park Peter Pan (Storyhouse, Chester), Scouse Little Red Riding Hood and Stage Write (Liverpool’s Royal Court), The Proposal (Moore Productions) and Tailgate (PINS Limited).
Keddy Sutton
Lil, Midwife, Robert De Niro, Jesus Keddy trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and with Ken Campbell’s Improvisational Company - The School of Night. Royal Court Theatre credits include: Take Me Home County Road, The Legend of Rooney’s Ring, The Scouse Christmas Carol, Sisters of Mersey, 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), 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. Radio/Audio credits: The City is Ours (ADR), 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’, 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).
Lenny Wood
Alan, Midwife, Ernie Wise Lenny is delighted to be back at the Royal Court. Starting out as a comedian as part of the duo “Lenny and his father friend Mick”, he toured the UK and US. He has since gone on to work extensively in TV and theatre. Theatre credits include: Lost Soul, Stags And Hens, On The Ledge, Nightcollar, A Nightmare On Lime Street, Lost Soul 2, Speedo Mick, Romeo And Juliet, The Peaceful Hour, The Scouse Christmas Carol, A Fistful Of Collars, You’ll Never Walk Alone, The Salon, Little Shop Of Horrors, Bright Pheonix, Down Our Street, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Life, Dreaming Of A Barry White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast, The Peaceful Hour 2, The Brickie, Macbeth, The Mole, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, A Christmas Carol, A Day In The Life Of Mr Lanson, Happy As Pie, Waiting For Godot, Terriers, Cheer Up, The Chitz, The Audition, The Suicide and more. TV and film include: Birthday Boy, Under The Mud, Saffron, Northern Cowboys, Violet City, The Be All And End All, Anne, The Responder, Dead Mans Cards, Don’t Worry About Me, Being Eileen, Good Cop, The Sinking Of The Laconia, Stolen among others.
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
Greg is delighted to be back at the Court this Christmas. 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 Royal Court include: The Scouse Christmas Carol, 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.
Chris Nicholls Bass
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
James Breckon Keys
James is thrilled to be back at the Royal Court for The Scouse Nativity, having previously been Musical Director for Take Me Home County Road, 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
Graduating from LIPA in 2018, Mike made his Royal Court debut, joining us for Scouse Pacific in 2019. Back for his 7th year running, can’t wait!
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Company Biographies Nicole Behan Director
Nicole Behan is a Director from Liverpool and is delighted to be returning to Liverpool’s Royal Court to direct the big Christmas production this year, The Scouse Nativity. Previous theatre credits include: Letter To Brezhnev (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Cinderella (Shakespeare North Playhouse), The Derby-Days (Liverpool’s Royal Court), My Beautiful Laundrette (Leicester Curve and National Theatre’s Theatre Nations tour), Pass The Parcel (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Stocking Fillers (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Liverpool Everyman), Come Closer: Memories Of Partition (Royal Exchange), Qualified (Hope Mill), Northern Flight (Liverpool Everyman). As Artistic Director of Paperwork Theatre: Lovestruck (Liverpool Everyman, Storyhouse, Shakespeare North Playhouse), Deep Blue (Liverpool Everyman), You, Me & The Goalpost (Octagon) and Christmas Countdown; Twisted, Baltic Alight, I Spy A Yeti, How May I Direct Your Call? & Shortcut To Bliss. As Associate Director: Red or Dead (Liverpool’s Royal Court), Alice in Wonderland (Shakespeare North Playhouse, Ghost Caller (Headlong). As Assistant Director: Corrina, Corrina (Headlong/National Theatre workshop): Boys From The Blackstuff (Stockroom/ National Theatre workshop) and Tree (Manchester International Festival/Young Vic).
The Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool where he has designed over twenty productions to date. During his time here he worked closely with writer Willy Russell on his shows, Shirley Valentine, Stags and Hens the Re Mix, and a new version of Our Day Out the Musical. Other set and costume designs include, Hot Flush, (UK Tour), Our House (UK Tour), The Little Shop of Horrors, (Birmingham Rep). Hormonal Housewives, (Uk Tour). Twinkle Little Star, (York Theatre Royal, (UK Tour). At The Gates Of Gaza, (The Door Birmingham Rep, Uk Tour). Jack And The Beanstalk and Dick Whittington (Nottingham Playhouse). Little Shop of Horrors, Mods And Rox and Jack and the Beanstalk, (New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich). Straight And Narrow, Simply The Best and Aladdin,( Oldham Coliseum Theatre). Krapps Last Tape, (Uk Tour), Empty Bed Blues, (Uk Tour), A Different Way Home and A Visit From Miss Prothero ( Lakeside Theatre Nottingham). I Do, Blue Eyed Sole Dance Co , (UK Tour). Park Avenue Cat, (Arts Theatre London). Hound of the Baskervilles, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella (York Theatre Royal). Benidorm Live, (UK Tour), The Magical Musical Market, a new children TV show for Cheeky Chimps TV and also joined ITV and Lunar Cinema to Design Love Island the experience. Mark has designed the past four London Palladium pantomimes an is currently working on his fifth. Other recent designs include, Stratagem the Alan Partridge Arena Tour, and the UK Tour of Strictly Ballroom.
Zoë Murdoch
Costume Designer
Ben Gladwin
Musical Director It’s that time again. This is Ben’s 11th Royal Court Christmas, having played keys in the band since Scouse of the Rising Sun in 2016. You might have seen him ‘bouncing’. If you have - you’ll know what that means. Stepping in for his second year as the musical director, filling the large shoes of the wonderful Howard Gray, whose legacy shall be honoured with the most rock n roll music they can muster. May he rest in peace.
Mark Walters Set Designer
Mark was nominated for an Olivier award in 2023 for his designs on Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium. He also went on to win best set deign at the Great British Pantomime awards for his design of Beauty and the beast earlier in the year. In 2005 Mark was appointed Head of Design at the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch Working alongside Olivier Award winning Artistic Director Bob Carlton on over thirty productions, these included plays, musicals and the annual pantomime. During his time here he has also worked with writer and director Chris Bond on his play Sweeney Todd. The Heather Brothers on their new musical Camp Horror, and was nominated for best set design on a new actor musician version of The Rocky Horror Show with Richard O Brian. In 2008 Mark was also appointed Resident Designer at
Zoe trained at Edinburgh College of Art. Recent design credits include: Peter and the Starcatcher (Guildford School of Acting); Conteh (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Grimaldi Forum, Monaco and City Hall, Hamilton, Bermuda); Children of Eden, Alice by Heart, A Monster Calls, Dancing at Lughnasa, Middletown and Amelie (Guildford School of Acting). Other theatre credits include: Boys from the Blackstuff (Wardrobe Deputy, Garrick Theatre); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Wardrobe Assistant, Grand Opera House Belfast); Quality Street (Head of Wardrobe, Northern Broadsides); James IV: Queen of the Fight (Wardrobe Assistant, National Theatre of Scotland).
Ian Scott
Lighting Designer Trained at Mountview. Ian has designed the lighting for more than 50 productions at Liverpool’s Royal Court including: The Royal, Boys From The Blackstuff, A Scouse Nativity, The Legend Of Rooney’s Ring, Our Day Out, Red Or Dead, and You’ll Never Walk Alone. Other credits include: Trainspotting the Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket); The 39 Steps (UK Tour / Trafalgar Theatre); Already Perfect (Kings Head Theatre); Cinderella (Shakespeare North); Fawlty Towers (Apollo Theatre / Phil McIntyre / UK Tour); Reasons To Be Cheerful, Blasted (Graeae); All My Sons, A Skull In Connemara (Nottingham Playhouse); Only Fools And Horses the Musical (Phil McIntyre / UK Tour); Messiah, Marco Polo (Bergen National Opera); The Solid Life of Sugar Water (Graeae / Theatre Royal, Plymouth / National Theatre); Owen Wingrave, Where The Wild Things Are, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Aldeburgh Festival); Our Friends Up North (Northern Stage); Oh! What a Lovely War, Frogs (National Theatre); Curlew River (White Light Festival, New York / UCLA Berkeley / St. Giles, Barbican) and Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Abbey Theatre, Dublin).
Kate Harvey
Sound Designer and Engineer A list of sound credits include: Corporate/Outdoor: Labour, Conservative, NUT. Symphony in the Park (Hoghton Tower), Liverpool Theatre Festival (Bill Elms Productions), Grimm Tales, Jungle Book, 80 Days Around the World, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood (Dukes Theatre, 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, 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, Red or Dead, Lennon, Noises Off, Lost Soul 1&2, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Golden Oldies, Come Together, Vernons Girls, Take Me Home County Road (Liverpool’s Royal Court) 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 Liverpool’s Royal Court), Midsummer Nights Dream (Filter Theatre Company/Lyric Hammersmith), Homebaked (Red Ladder Theatre Company), Insane Animals (HOME MCR), Cinderella (Imagine, Beck Theatre-Hayes), Kinky Boots (Storyhouse, Chester), Shirley Valentine (Liverpool Everyman), Jack and the Beanstalk ( Watford Palace Theatre), Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood, A Christmas Carol (Dukes Playhouse, Lancaster), Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast (Imagine, Crewe Lyceum), Jungle Book (Bolton Octagon) Jack and the Beanstalk (Stafford Gatehouse, Imagine – UK PANTOMIME AWARD 2025 BEST SOUND DESIGN), Atlantis (Theatre Clywd).
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, national tour), Come Together: The Lennon & McCartney Songbook (Liverpool’s Royal Court, national tour); Red Or Dead, Cured (Liverpool’s Royal Court in association with Birds of Paradise, national tour); A Thong For Europe, Willy Russell’s Our Day Out - The Musical, Take Me Home County Road, 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, Haunted Scouse, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, The Peaceful Hour and The Peaceful Hour 2 (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); 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); Something About John (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).
Beverley Norris-Edmunds Movement Director
For Liverpool’s Royal Court: Take Me Home County Road, The Peaceful Hour and The Peaceful Hour 2, The Scouse Christmas Carol, The Derby-Days, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Speedo Mick, Vernons Girls, The Scouse Red Riding Hood, Thong for Europe, Scouse Trap, YNWA, The Scouse Sleeping Beauty, Selection Box, Maggie May, Scouse Pacific, Lost Soul 1 and 2, The Scouse Nativity, Golden Oldies, The Royal, Father O’Flaherty Saves Our Souls, Sex in Suburbia, Canoeing for Beginners, Bouncers, Council Depo Blues, Special Measures, Our Day Out The Musical, Ladies Night, Good Golly Miss Molly, 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. Theatre: The Grand Babylon Hotel, Christmas Carol, The Card, Bright Lights Over Bentley, The D Road (Claybody Theatre), The Hounds of The Baskervilles, Good Golly Miss Molly, The Little Mermaid, A Matter of Life and Death, The Three Musketeers, One Man, Two Guvnors, A Leap in the Dark, The Nutcracker: A Christmas Fairytale, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Coppelia - A Mystery, The 39 Steps, The Prince and The Pauper, Handbagged, Much Ado About Nothing and Cyrano (co-productions with Northern Broadsides), Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Playhouse Creatures, Treasure Island, The Snow Queen (UK Theatre Award winner), Peter Pan in Scarlet, Kiss Me Quickstep, I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Borrowers, A Christmas Carol, Where Have I Been All My Life, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Anna of the Five Towns, Laurel and Hardy, The Wizard of Oz, The Glee Club, Stones in His Pockets, Dancing at Lughnasa, Sweeney Todd, Oliver, Amadeus, Stepping Out, Privates on Parade, From a Jack to a King, Don Giovanni, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, Moll Flanders (New Vic Theatre), Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby (Storyhouse Chester), Hard Times, For Love or Money, A Winter’s Tale, Loves Labours Lost, Lisa’s Sex Strike (Northern Broadsides), Romeo and Juliet, Treasure Island, The Tempest, Strange Tale (Imaginarium Theatre Company in association with Shakespeare North Playhouse), The Man Without A Past (New Perspectives Theatre Company), Wolf Red (Tmesis Theatre Company), Blues in the Night, Laurel and Hardy, Stepping Out, Sweet Charity, Oh What a Lovely War, and the first actor/musician version of Chicago - MEN Theatre Award for Best Ensemble winner (Oldham Coliseum). Tours: The Worst Witch (Vaudeville Theatre West End and UK Olivier Award Winner 2020 Best Show), Around The World in 80 Days (UK Tour, Broadway, Florida, Royal Exchange and New Vic Theatre), Tom, Dick and Harry (Alexandre Palace and New Vic Theatre), Marvellous (SohoPlace and New Vic Theatre), Return to the Forbidden Planet, Carmen. Television: Disney’s The Evermoor Chronicles, The Reckoning, Coronation Street, Butterfly, Hollyoaks, CBeebies’ The Magic Door, Sunny D, Fernando Torres, Nike Commercial, September Song, and Across The Universe.
Beverley has also worked on many productions for the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Bolton Octagon, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Liverpool Empire, Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, Hull Truck, Haymarket Basingstoke and Harrogate Theatre.
Abigail Middleton
Associate Movement Director Her Recent Choreography Credits Include: Cinderella (The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster), Cinderella (Shakespeare North Playhouse), Pass the Parcel (Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (Shakespeare North Playhouse), The Pied Piper (The Secret Garden Series - Regents Park), The Misadventures of Pinocchio: The Radical Robot Girl! (The Bohemians Theatre Company/Welsh National Tour), Willow the Wisp (Imaginarium Theatre), 5ft Twelve (The Kings Head), Wondertown (The Bohemians Theatre Company - Ugly Duck Theatre), The Passion (Liverpool Cathedral) Assistant Choreography Credits Include: You’ll Never Walk Alone (Liverpools Royal Court), The Prince and the Pauper (New Vic Theatre Stoke), The Snow Queen (New Vic Theatre Stoke).
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Royal Court Staff Executive Producer Kevin Fearon Chief Executive Gillian Miller Head of Producing & Programming Jess Bolger Head of Marketing Kofi Ohene-Djan Head of Operations Ailsa Morris Executive Chef David Assall Graphic Designer & Brand Manager Jamie Jenkin Producer Clare Carlucci Assistant Producer Abigail Middleton Marketing Manager Lily Hagan PR Manager Laura Marie Brown Workshop Manager John Kavanagh Head of Technical & Production Sean Gannon Technical Manager Dan Taylor Head of Lighting Jimmi Richardson Senior Venue Technician Phil Dickinson Senior Sound Technician Danny Haydock Senior Stage Technician Mark Ellis Lighting Technician Holly Freeman Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron Assistant Box Office Manager Laura Lees Head of Wardrobe Mitch Fujii-Williams Management Accountant Marie Williams Purchase Ledger Izzie Litwin HR Generalist Abishek Devadas Venue Administrator Phil McLoughlin Executive Assistant Joe Morris Building Maintenance Technician Bob Smith Box Office Assistants Erika Drummond, Finn GouldenJennings, Carl Lees, Scarlet Lees, Lauren Macauley, Amy McCormick, Anna Miller, Pat O’Neill, Susan Segar and Angela Simms Fire Officer Louis Carney-Smith Stage Door Julia D’Arcy, Allan Dodd and Sven Key
Kitchen Head Chef Jack While Chefs Thomas Alexander, Billie Chisam, Maciej Gumieniuk, Harrison McLaughlin, Kieran O’Connor and Lewis While Kitchen Porters Hezekiah Abramson, Dillon Bagley, Louise Dodd, Rhiannon Griffiths, Harry Lawlor, Emmeline Linforth, Dean Robinson, Luke Sweeney and Melissa While Front Of House FOH Manager Kathy Hutson Assistant FOH Manager Paul Imrie FOH Supervisors Jordan Barkley, Sammie Hunter, Tom Patterson Jones and Katie Sherman Café 38 Supervisors Tom Patterson and Sammie Hunter Front of House Staff Kane Bagnall, Hazel Bawden, Rue Baxter, Rhianna Beesley, Mustafa Bshaena, Sam Byrne, Louis Carney-Smith, Jacob Colbeck, Emily Cook, John Donachie-Ashcroft, Holly Evans, John Paul Finnan, Georgia Fisher, George Hanley, Lily Hutson, Callum Johnstone, Oliver Kay, Raia Kiernan, Jackie Kirton, Dylan Liebnitz, Abby Livingstone, Phil Lyne, Lukas Matuzevicius, Connor McCourt Joseph O’Neill, Harry Newstead Niamh Powers, Anila Rais, Isabella Renshaw, Esme Roche, Sam Sheridan, Florence Smith, Theo Stock-Best, Shauna Tully, Ben Verdin, Ellie Wilcox and Samantha Woolley Cleaning Manager Debbie Chisam Cleaners Joanne Kinsella, Claire Wilson and Julie Wright
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