Good News Liverpool

09/04/2025

“This is heart-rending storytelling presented with immaculate stagecraft. The tragedy of the underlying narrative is never shied away from, but moments of wit and humour, along with the transcendent humanity of the principal characters and the loyalty of the horses elevate the mood turning it into a tremendously uplifting piece of theatre.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review by Nigel Smith
Liverpool Empire

WHEN director Marianne Elliott first presented Nick Stafford’s adaptation of War Horse on the stage of London’s Olivier Theatre eighteen years ago, it reminded us of why we have a National Theatre. It brought us storytelling of global importance, world-class staging, and groundbreaking theatrica...

08/04/2025

We’re a few days into the school hols with more than a week left and plans still need to be made! This is a perfect family outing St Helens Theatre Royal💫
Review by Nigel Smith

ST Helens Theatre Royal and Regal Entertainments are doing a grand job of proving that panto, just like puppies and kittens, is not just for Christmas. The venue now offers four opportunities a year to top up your batteries with a good dose of glitter, sequins and pun-laden scripts, and the Easter p...

03/04/2025

Liverpool City Council’s Film Office has called it a wrap on its 35th anniversary celebrations, with this celebratory showreel.

Produced by the award-winning, Liverpool based, LA Productions, and curated by creative director Chris Bernard, whose debut film Letter to Brezhnev was released the same year the Film Office was established, the showreel attempts to depict 35 years of the Liverpool City Region on film, in just two minutes.

Over the last five years the Film Office has been responsible for driving £168 million inward investment into the local economy by supporting 1,564 productions (equivalent to 6 a week since 2020) and generating more than 5,279 full time equivalent jobs.

The showreel has been launched as part of VisitLiverpool’s The Ultimate Setting campaign, in conjunction with VisitBritain’s Starring Great Britain campaign.

The slogan at the end of the video, the World in One City was first coined as part of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations back in 2008.

Produced by the award-winning, Liverpool based, LA Productions and lovingly curated by creative director Chris Bernard, whose debut film ‘Letter to Brezhnev’...

02/04/2025

“Breen’s most audacious step is putting over 50 performers on stage—12 professional actors and a community chorus making up the rest of the cast—but it pays off in spades by creating an electric atmosphere and allowing for much of his clever use of the allegory offered by Peace’s writing.”
Review by Nigel Smith

Liverpool's Royal Court

DAVID Peace’s 2013 novel Red or Dead, featuring his controversially repetitive writing style, may at first glance feel a risky choice for stage adaptation, but there is a successful precedent in the stage version of his earlier and similar novel The Damned Utd. In this new play written for Liverpo...

20/02/2025

“There is a great deal of magic on stage and some outstanding storytelling.”
Review by Nigel Smith
Liverpool Empire

IT is only fair to begin this review of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe with a weighty caveat, explaining that what will be seen through the rest of the show’s week in Liverpool, and indeed the remainder of its lengthy tour, may well not be the same as the performance reviewed below. On […]

17/02/2025

Pantomime is the perfect introduction to theatre for young ones, offering an experience filled with laughter for everyone in the audience.

IT takes a true skill to breathe fresh life into a classic tale, but the cast of the half-term pantomime Beauty and the Beast at St Helen’s Theatre Royal have done just that, delivering a performance that delights both children and adults alike.Non-festive pantomime has become a beloved tradition ...

13/02/2025

Ten family-friendly things to do in Liverpool City Centre this half term…

https://www.goodnewsliverpool.co.uk/2025/02/13/ten-family-things-to-do-in-liverpool-city-centre-this-half-term/

12/02/2025

The Parent Agency – The Musical is the new stage spectacular version of writer, comedian and presenter David Baddiel’s award-winning children’s bestseller.

EXCITEMENT is growing for family show The Parent Agency – The Musical, which opens at Chester Storyhouse on 15th February.The Parent Agency – The Musical is the new stage spectacular version of writer, comedian and presenter David Baddiel’s award-winning children’s bestseller.It comes to th....

11/02/2025

Plans will be submitted to create the UK’s first floating Padel Tennis courts and floating club house at Liverpool Waters.

The proposed facility will sit within Princes Dock at Liverpool Waters and will feature three floating Padel courts. The courts will be built on a special floating Padel platform from Finland, with the courts themselves manufactured in Spain.

Players and spectators will be able to socialise in a new floating clubhouse which is also included within the plans.
A bar and kitchen have also been included in the clubhouse designs, with a decked seating area offering views across the dock.

Planning for the floating Padel destination at Liverpool Waters will be submitted to Liverpool City Council with a decision expected in spring 2025 with an anticipated opening date late summer 2025.

11/02/2025

The new restaurant has created five new full and part time jobs in the local hospitality industry and more jobs will follow in the Summer.

A NEW Mediterranean dining experience has opened on Allerton Road with the arrival of Aron’s Place.Guests can enjoy all-day breakfasts, ranging from the classic full English to local favourites like brown on red ( brown toast, avocado, cherry tomato, asparagus, peppers, poached eggs ). The restaur...

11/02/2025

From 21 February, people can bring their broken items and work with experts to repair them for free. Ten workshops will take place between now and April and will focus on anything from electricals and jewellery, to upcycling furniture and DIY fixes.

ONEDAY is launching Fix It, a free repair workshop at Bowring Park and Huyton Village Green Café where people can get their household items repaired.From 21 February, people can bring their broken items and work with experts to repair them for free. Ten workshops will take place between now and Apr...

10/02/2025

The Art School’s fine-dining experience takes place in Topham House each day, where the city centre-based restaurant is created for the weekend, this year from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th April at Aintree racecourse.

CHEF Patron Paul Askew has announced he and his team at The Art School will be continuing their partnership with The Jockey Club and The Grand National for the next three years, starting from April 2025.The Art School’s fine-dining experience takes place in Topham House each day, where the city ce...

10/02/2025

The Royal Albert Dock is set to once again brighten up the winter nights with the return of the Fiesta of Fire, taking place across February half-term from 15th-22nd.

THE Royal Albert Dock is set to once again brighten up the winter nights with the return of the Fiesta of Fire, taking place across February half-term from 15th-22nd.Providing a family-friendly event, visitors can marvel at free fire shows, dazzling performances a fire walk.The festivities will take...

08/02/2025

This latest acquisition adds to their collection of venues that include Il Forno, Gran Caffe on Duke Street, Lark Lane and in the Italian Quarter in the city centre, Crust on Bold Street, the Italian Quarter’s Antonietta, Hey Farina and Brunchin’ and Botanico in Woolton Village.

ITALIAN brothers Paolo and Donato Cillo have taken over Panoramic 34.Known for their popular venues in Liverpool city centre and South Liverpool, the pair have taken over the city’s famous venue in collaboration with close friend and fellow hospitality business owner Sham Jagota.This latest acqu.....

07/02/2025

Owner Natasha Moran, 35 from Liverpool, has over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and wanted to create something unique in the area, offering something different to both locals and guests from further afield.

NEW restaurant-bar Kyma has opened one South Road in Crosby, promising a Mediterranean escape in the heart of North Liverpool.Replacing a former pub, the team behind Kyma has transformed the space, spending more than £1.2m to create a modern neutral theme with soft hues throughout, soft lighting an...

07/02/2025

Marian Keyes is one of the most successful Irish novelists of all time, and author of some of the most widely loved, genre-defying novels of the last 30 years including Rachel’s Holiday, Anybody Out There and Grown Ups.

SUPERSTAR novelist Marian Keyes comes to Liverpool for a special event at St George’s Hall on 17th February.The much-loved Irish author will appear at the Lime Street landmark in an ‘evening with’ to celebrate the paperback release of her latest book, the heartwarming and hilarious Sunday Time...

06/02/2025

A rare five-star review from our Nigel Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ADAPTED and/or abridged versions of Shakespeare can often raise eyebrows amongst purists, but the current touring production of The Merchant of Venice amply demonstrates that a well-considered reimagining of the play can genuinely elevate it and give it added weight and meaning for a modern audience...

28/01/2025

The main Chinese New Year city centre celebrations will be held on Sunday February 2 in and around Europe’s oldest Chinatown.

LIVERPOOL is set to welcome the Lunar New Year in ssstyle, with a series of free events and activities taking place to mark the Year of the Snake.The main Chinese New Year city centre celebrations will be held on Sunday February 2 in and around Europe’s oldest Chinatown.The festivities will featur...