The Independent Socialist Republic Of The Upper End Of The Lower Breck Road Programme

LIVERPOOL’S ROYAL COURT

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.

Mentoring

This is a pilot programme supported by PH Holt Trust and Curious Minds – eight mentors from the creative industries have been paired with mentees – providing support, guidance and shadowing opportunities in acting, marketing, production, directing, writing, set design, and music skills. This talent development initiative will support eight young black, asian and minority artistes and creatives develop their skills as they progress through the industry.

Programming

Our Boisterous Theatre strand of programming brought us a main house production of Bouncers, in August and September introducing four new actors to the main house stage – and new audiences to the theatre.

The Alternative Black Cabaret Showcase – now a regular bi-monthly show presenting some of the best black comedians and singers on the circuit and with a platform to showcase emerging and existing local talent.

Co-production with Red Ladder in September/October, with a cast of professional actors and 20 members of our community choir.

Stagewrite – our new writing classes/workshops to encourage and support new writers to develop their work to full production.

We continue on our journey with a number of other talent development initiatives in progress as a matter of priority to ensure we remain accessible, adaptable and continually listen and learn. It will take time and investment and with your continuing support for all we do. We will make a difference.

Boisterous Stage Write

Music Access All Areas

Maurice Bessman

A fresh, new, innovative and relevant youth theatre company based at the iconic Royal Court Theatre designed by young people for young people.

The Royal Court Youth Theatre delivers a range of opportunities free of charge for young people aged 11 – 25 from every part of the City.

If you are interested in a career in the arts or just looking for something to do, come along to one of our sessions or workshops. You will learn about everything from acting to stage management; fundraising to writing scripts.

Do you know a young person who has a passion for theatre, acting, singing, dancing or writing? Tell them to complete an expression of interest form by visiting liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/youth-theatre

Alternatively you can call 0151 702 5892 or email vpark@liverpoolsroyalcoourt.com

Everybody is welcome at the Royal Court Youth Theatre, there are no auditions or waiting lists to join.

The Eleanor Rathbone Foundation

Cast & Company

Liverpool’s Royal Court presents

Cast

Lucy Bromilow

Kathleen Collins

Graham Elwell

Princess Khumalo

Zara

Cat

Peter Jane

Recorded Performances by

Roy Carruthers

Adam Keast Roger News Presenter

Company

Lawrence Quilty

Dan Jones

Christopher McCourt

Phil Dickinson

Jamie Jenkin

Marie Jones

Riona Gilliland

Writer Director

Set & Costume Design

Lighting/Sound Designer & Operator

Video Designer

Wardrobe Supervisor

Stage Manager

Set by Liverpool’s Royal Court

Sean Gannon

John Kavanagh

Jen Baron

Mick Gunnigle

Jonathan Defty

Mike Gray

Dave Davies

Head of Technical

Workshop Manager

Scenic Art Manager

Carpenter

Carpenter

Carpenter

Carpenter

Cast Biographies

Lucy Bromilow Zara

Lucy is thrilled to be making her Royal Court stage debut. She trained at Bristol Old Vic and having mainly worked in London is excited to be coming to her hometown with a terrific play and talented cast. Theatre includes: Unsettled (Stockroom); Watch on the Rhine (Donmar Warehouse); Karaoke Play (Bunker Theatre); Too Many Men (Tristan Bates); Anna of the Five Towns (New Vic Theatre); Playhouse Creatures, Swallow, The Trojan Women, (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School).

Television includes: Malpractice.

Short Film includes: Furloughed; A Horror Story; Isolated But Open; Cloud 9.

Feature Film includes: Adventures of a Mathematician.

Kathleen Collins Kat

Kathleen Collins is a scouse actor from Everton, made up to be making her professional debut at the Royal Court. Having trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, it’s a privilege to be back on home turf. Growing up round the corner from Breck Road makes this play all the more special for Kathleen.

Graham Elwell Peter

Graham is delighted to return to Liverpool after two stints at The Empire last year in The Bodyguard Musical, and is very excited to be making his debut at The Royal Court.

His other theatre work includes: Of Mice and Men (Birmingham Rep and UK tour), Last of the Duty Free (Windsor Theatre Royal and UK tour), The Elves and The Shoemaker (Norden farm Centre For The Arts), A Dog Called Redemption (Bolton Octagon), Rachael’s Cafe (UK and Ireland tour), Zoo Story (Pleasance Theatre), Taming of The Shrew (Bridewell Theatre).

TV and film includes: The Miniaturist (BBC), Trying (Apple TV), Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hulu), Mike Bassett (ITV), Song of Songs (Mercenary Films), Crimewatch Solved (BBC).

Princess Khumalo Jane

Princess Khumalo is a Zimbabwean-Britsh actor who grew up in the north of Yorkshire. She is a LIPA grad and is really looking forward to working with the Royal Court on this electric show!

Theatre credits include - We need New Names (Fifth Word, New Perspectives) The Ultimate Pickle (Paines Plough), Half Empty Glasses (Paines Plough), A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain (Paines Plough, The Gate Theatre), Sleepover (All Things Considered Theatre Company), Thats What She Said (Out The Attic), The Streets Where We Live (Falling Doors, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse)

Screen credits include - Asda Christmas (Rattling Stick), Holier Than Thou (DAVE), Doctors (BBC), So Awkward (CBBC).

Company Biographies

Lawrence Quilty

Writer

The Independent Socialist Republic of The Upper End of The Lower Breck Road is Lawrence’s debut play. Under the title ‘Peter Byrne is Standing Here’, the play won the 2022 Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize.

Lawrence completed The Other Room & Bad Wolf’s Emerging Writers Program in 2021. A short film, AI Think I Love You, is currently in production for BBC Wales with It’s My Shout.

Lawrence would like to thank Kevin, Jess, Clare and all the LRC team, Liverpool Hope University, Dan Jones at The Other Room, plus anybody who bought a ticket, for all the faith they’ve placed in him and his silly idea.

Dan Jones Director

Born and bred in Swansea, Dan is the current Artistic Director of The Other Room, Cardiff, where he previously worked as both Associate Director and Trainee Director.

Theatre Director credits include: An Audience with Milly-Liu (difficultlstage, Sherman Theatre, Pleasance, The Other Room); Idle They Yammer , Huno, Hela , The Awkward Years , The Effect , All But Gone , Constellation Street (The Other Room); Blink (Critical Ambition, The Other Room and Volcano Theatre); The Man , Romeo and Juliet , Julius Caesar , Song from a Forgotten City (Critical Ambition).

Dan has also directed within education: Loveplay , Richard III (UWTSD).

Associate and Assistant Director credits include St Nicholas , The Dying of Today (The Other Room); Alix in Wundergarten (difficult|stage and The Other Room); All My Sons (Theatr Clwyd); King of the Sky (Pontardawe Arts Centre).

Dan has worked on various rehearsed readings and scratch nights across South Wales, with companies such as NTW, BBC Wales, BBC Arts, Dirty Protest, Sherman Theatre, The Other Room, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Critical Ambition. Dan graduated from the University of Exeter, is a passionate Welsh speaker and a proud alumnus of the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company.

Christopher McCourt Set & Costume Design

Christopher McCourt is an innovative and creative designer based in the North West with a passion for new work and new ways of working. Specialising in Set Design and graduating from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in Theatre Performance Design with a first class honours in 2020.

He has previously worked with number of companies such as The Lowry for the National Theatre Connections Festival and spent some time out in Greece as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Christopher has designed a number of studio shows including Cosmic and Hey Bunny, Get Loose. His last production was Come Together in the main house at Liverpool’s Royal Court.

Christopher enjoys new work, he finds new work more compelling as stories yet to be told and is excited to be designing this new show.

Phil Dickinson Sound & Lighting Designer & Operator

Phil first started working at the Royal Court as a casual backstage worker on the crew of Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels in 2007 before becoming the technician of the weekly Rawhide comedy club. After a brief attempt at being a college teacher, then spending the next 15 years as an outdoor pursuits instructor in sunny West Yorkshire, Phil was happy to return to Liverpool and the Royal Court as the full-time technician for the renovated Studio venue. In this role Phil has supported all technical aspects of many shows in the Royal Court Studio, including the critically acclaimed shows Storm in a Teacup and The Incident Room , before taking on his first official sound designer credit for the 2023 Christmas show Stocking Fillers

Jamie Jenkin

Video 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:

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, Girls Don’t Play Guitars and Boys From The Blackstuff (Liverpool’s Royal Court); Masquerade, Knee Deep In Promises, Hey Bunny Get Loose, Stocking Fillers and Cosmic (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); Scouse: A Comedy Of Terrors (Dome Liverpool); 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); 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).

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. 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 Iain Christie

Executive Chef David Assall

Finance Officer Alison Ward

Graphic Designer & Brand Manager Jamie Jenkin

Assistant Producer Clare Carlucci

Marketing Manager Kofi Ohene-Djan

Workshop Manager John Kavanagh

Social Media Officer Clara Mbirimi

Head of Technical & Production Sean Gannon

Resident Stage Manager Andrew Lock

Scenic Art Manager Jen Baron

Chief LX Jamie Haining

Box Office & Sales Manager Lauren Macauley

Assistant Box Office Manager Laura Lees

Head of Theatre Engagement Miriam Mussa

HR & Wellness Officer Maria Schumann

Participation Project(s) Manager Uma Ramanathan

Costume Supervisor Marie Jones

Finance Administrator Izzie Litwin

Venue Administrator Phil McLoughlin

Production Assistant Stephen Petit

Youth Theatre Leader Zain Salim

Youth Theatre Coordinator Vannessa Park

Later Life Coordinator Jay McWinen

Assistant Producer - Talent Development Harvey Robinson

Daytime Technician Gary Currin

Studio Technician Phil Dickinson

LX Technician Martyn Case

HR & Payroll Administrator Abishek Devadas

Box Office Assistants

Erica Drummond, Finn Goulden-Jennings, Carl Lees, Scarlet Lees, Amelia Maguire, Anna Miller, Joe Morris, Pat O’Neill, Susan Segar, and Angela Simms

Fire Officer Sven Key

Stage Door Allan Dodd & John Evans

Royal Court Supporters

Kitchen

Head Chefs Kyle Wardale, Daniel Awotwi

Chefs Thomas Alexander, Daniel Ambrose, Billie Chisam, Jay Quinn, Josh Eglin, Harrison Mclaughlin, Jake Stephenson, Jack While and Nick Watson

Kitchen Porters Hezekiah Abramson, Ryan Charnock, Debbie Chisam, Louise Dodd, Luke Dunn, Jackie Kirton, Harry Lawlor and Ellis McNeil

Front of House

House Manager Kathryn Heffron

Assistant Manager Kathy Hutson

Supervisors Megan Franey and Calum Norbury

Bar Supervisor Joe Woods

Courtyard Manager Paul Imrie

Assistant Courtyard Manager Aimee Kelly

Front of House Staff Hebron Abraha, Beth Baccino, Nicola Barnes, Hazel Bawden, Jacob Bee, Salem Blata, Cameron Brown, Natalie Brown, Colette Burgess, Denise Byrne, Louis CarneySmith, Abbie Caskie, Madeline Cooper, Azize Dia, Paige Dunne, Holly Evans, Kieran Foster, Charlotte Freyne, Bethany Fry, Michael Hall, Michael Hardy, Jennifer Heffron, Lauren Heywood, Aisling Jenkin, Leighton Jenkins, Callum Johnstone, Dylan Jones, Jake Jones, Oliver Kelly, Elizabeth Kendrick, Charlotte Kendrick Jones, Abbie Kenworthy, Raia Kiernan, Cherry Kim, Takunda Kudzunga, Julia Kustosz, Phil Lyne, Amelia Maguire, Sam Massen, Amy McCutcheon, Faye McCutcheon, Phil McLoughlin, Eve Mobey, Alison Myers, Brea O’Donnell, Matthew O’Keefe, Joseph O’Neil, Kayleigh Oulton, Jamie Peacock, Jake Pendleton, Emma Phythian, Simone Reddington, Declan Redmond, Sally Robinson, Katie Sherman, Charis Stead, Millie Tucker, Annie Wardale, Leah WhittyMassey, Amy Wright and Hannah Wright

Courtyard Staff

Jordan Barkley, Challen Bellamey, Macy Burns, Sinead CullenBarret, Stephen Dixon, Faith Dawson, Olivia Harrison, Bradley Richards, Chloe Thorpe, Millie Quayle, Keira Tann and Jasmin

Ward

Cleaners

Cleaning Supervisor: Debbie Chisam, Billie Chisam and Joanne Kinsella

And a big thank you to all of our security staff for their hard work throughout the year.

The Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust

The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust

The John Rayner Charitable Trust

Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation