Liverpool

Liverpool’s Write Now One Act Play Festival was an idea which had been slowly reaching germination for more than five years and is back for its second year.

Mention of Edinburgh, Brighton, Buxton even Manchester’s 24:7 are fairly frequent within playwright circles yet it seemed unusual for a city which gave the world Willy Russell, Jimmy McGovern and more had limited occasion for new writing to be aired outside of the Everyman Playhouse Everyword Festival. Thus 2010 saw the inaugural Write Now Festival, eight days of eight one-act plays at Liverpool Actors’ Studio on Seel Street in the city-centre and Write Now 2011 promises more of the same and more! As well as eight world premiere plays, Write Now 2011, has exciting new events including Monologue Slam, a chance to showcase new acting talent in front of industry professionals and Ten Tall Tower Tales, set in an apartment block it tells 10 stories from 10 storeys, each five minutes long. Write Now also has a fantastic writing forum event supported by The Liverpool Everyman Playhouse Literary Department which is free of charge.

“2010 was a huge success” admits Festival Director Ian Moore, “and Easter 2011 will see the second Write Now Festival, another eight new one-act plays, all hoping to build upon the astonishing achievement of last year.

Liverpool playwrights are well represented in Write Now 2011 with three pieces, including Craig Brennan’s exploration of the contrasts between events on the Kop at Anfield and the Boer War event of the same name in The Place Where We Stand, Spion Kop.

In Excess Baggage by David P Griffiths, a farcical comedy set in John Lennon Airport two newly-weds are asked to look after an old man’s suitcase with comic results.

Huyton-born Stephanie Blakeborough’s unconventional rom-com, promises to delight. Mrs Bojangles, the story of a retired showgirl who takes on the role of matchmaker.

Liverpoolcentric but not Liverpool exclusive seems to be the overwhelming feel of this festival, with submissions coming from as far away from Jersey.

Write Now is also proud to announce Liverpool born playwright Neil Walden’s Striker – a play especially for the Family Audience. Black Box Creative Communities, which runs the Write Now Festival, is renowned for its youth orientated work and is proud to bring this expertise to the 2011 festival. So be prepared for a comedy adventure for everyone aged 4 and above; expect spaceships, pirates, mysterious going-ons and a werewolf!

The aim of Write Now is to create a lasting impression and support network for new theatre talent across the North West – and the legacy of the festival is already starting to show. Following the success of I’m Ed Caesar in Write Now 2010 Nick Brelsford returns with a new production set in the Walker Art Gallery, The Bridge is an intriguing look at how art mirrors life.

Other productions also include Rocker of Ages by Kate Shaw, It Works For Us by Dick Curran, whose play Islanders recently won the MEN Best Fringe Production 2010 and Warrington-based Natalie Hickman’s comedy Monkey Nuts.

The Festival is again supported by actress Pauline Daniels, BBC correspondent Roger Phillips and Liverpool Echo Editor Alastair Machray with new patron Dean Sullivan joining the growing band of supporters.

Dean admits, “New writing is the lifeblood of the industry. It’s great that writers will get the chance to showcase their work as there are fewer and fewer opportunities to take risks and discover fresh talent.”

Buy tickets at the Liverpool Philharmonic website https://boxoffice.liverpoolphil.com or by calling on 0151 709 3789.

Find out more at: www.writenowfestival.co.uk

The Museum of Liverpool will launch 100 years to the very day that its iconic neighbour the Royal Liver Building opened its doors.

The largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than a century, the new Museum of Liverpool, will open to the public for the first time on Tuesday 19 July.

One of the world’s leading history museums and a stunning new addition to the city’s famous waterfront, the Museum of Liverpool is the first national museum anywhere in the world that is devoted to the history of a regional city.

Demonstrating Liverpool’s extraordinary contribution to the world, it will showcase popular culture and tackle the social, historical and contemporary issues of the city.

Professor Phil Redmond CBE, chairman of National Museums Liverpool said:

“Liverpool’s waterfront is known the world over, and we are pleased that we will soon be welcoming visitors to what is undoubtedly a stunning addition to that World Heritage Site.

“Liverpool’s role in history is also known the world over, as is its iconic symbol, the Liver Bird. It is fitting then that the first purpose-built museum to examine a city’s role in world history, is opening its doors 100 years to the day that the Liver Building itself opened for business.”

Until now, people have found it difficult to grasp the sheer size of the birds that perch on top of what was once the tallest building in Britain. Now visitors to the new Museum in July will be able see for themselves the magnificence of an 18ft life-size Liver Bird, overlooking the Three Graces.

Both the Liver Building and Museum of Liverpool are considered cutting edge architectural designs in their own right. The Museum is the newest symbol of Liverpool’s confidence as a great 21st century city.

Housing more than 6,000 objects, many which have never been on public display before, visitors can unearth an array of stories spanning the Ice Age to the present day.

People will be able to see the stage where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met, witness the city’s growth into the world’s greatest port, see first hand the last remaining carriage from the famous Liverpool Overhead Railway, and immerse themselves in the city’s rich sporting and creative history.

David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool said:

“The Museum of Liverpool is all about telling the stories of the city and its people. This includes the times of struggle such as the Toxteth riots, the triumphs of our musical exports including The Beatles, and the dramatic histories of our football teams.

“Every single event has helped shape this city’s personality. The Museum of Liverpool is here to tell the tale, and like the Liver Building, will be around for many years to come.”

The £72m project is continuing apace, and internal fit-out of the major galleries is taking shape to such an extent that the three-phased opening of the Museum has been reduced to just two, with the second phase opening later this year. Discussions regarding plans for the launch day are currently taking place, and will be announced nearer the date.

We can reveal the line up for this year’s award winning Creamfields festival will be exclusively announced on BBC Radio 1 from 7pm on Friday 4th March www.bbc.co.uk/radio1.

The event which sold out in record time last year also scooped the award for ‘Best Dance Event’ for the 2nd year running in the UK Festival Awards. Standard Camping tickets are on sale now at the Early Bird price of £100+BF, this offer ends at 7pm on Friday 4th March.

Creamfields returns to Daresbury in Cheshire on August Bank Holiday weekend. Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the festivals new look website www.creamfields.com

Early Bird camping tickets on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

As the doors of 2011 burst open, so do those of an exciting new theatre company in Liverpool; Tell Tale Theatre Company.

Tell Tale Theatre has been created by drama specialists Emma Smith and Leanne Jones who first met whilst studying Theatre, and instantly shared a dream of starting a Community Theatre Company. And their dream is now set to become a reality, with their first ever production planned for March 2011.

But firstly and to herald this exciting new beginning, on Saturday January 15th 2011, Tell Tale Theatre are holding their official Launch Party 8pm-2am at The Masque on Seel Street and you’re all invited. It promises to be a night not to be missed with performances from the ever brilliant Loose Moose String Band, Kaya, Dave and Paul plus DJ sets from CantMixWontMixShdntMixDontMix and much more.

Plus it’ll be the perfect opportunity to find out more about Tell Tale Theatre Company and the forthcoming production, so why not join us to jive the night away, tell some tales and slowly loose the plot.

Emma Smith, Tell Tale Director said ’we have a wonderful group of talented, creative and committed adults from Merseyside. It is a delight to work with them and watch them grow – they have come so far in just a few short months.’

‘The forthcoming fundraiser is an amazing opportunity for us to let more people know about what we’re doing and raise the profile of our work. I am unbelievably excited for the future and can’t wait to see our company go from strength to strength.’

Launch Party Details
Saturday 15th January 2011, 8pm-2am
The Masque, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool
Tickets: £5.00*

On sale now: www.masque-liverpool.com or arrive early and pay on the door
*All proceeds from the sale of the tickets support the March production

The inaugural Liverpool Boat Show takes place from 29 April to 8 May 2011 in the historic setting of the city’s Albert, Canning and Salthouse Docks and is expected to attract around 400,000 visitors.

It has already attracted scores of exhibitors including big brand names such as Sunseeker, Princess Motor Yachts and Fairline, as well as a host of legend yachts including the Americas Cup Challenger Sceptre and Liverpool’s favourite Tall Ships.

Liverpool Boat Show is a must-attend event, not just for dedicated sailors and water sports enthusiasts, but for anyone looking for a good day out with friends and family.

The programme of entertainment includes yacht and powerboat master-classes, wake-boarding, power boat racing, water-skiing, championship sailing and much more.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.liverpoolboatshow.com.

One of the UK’s biggest maritime festivals is to return to Liverpool in 2011.

The new-look Mersey River Festival will return for the first time since 2005 to be part of the city’s spectacular On The Waterfront celebrations.

This year’s On The Waterfront series of events brought in more than £1.2 million to the city’s economy, and it’s hoped that by adding the River Festival next year, this figure will rocket.

This celebratory event will take place from the 8 – 16 September 2011 and will feature a royal naval visit, historic Tall Ships and Cunard Cruise Liners including the new Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary 2.

The Waterfront will come alive with aerobatic displays, stunning street theatre, a bistro village, colourful bunting, and rustic farmers market, and swing and jazz sounds from the 1930′s will belt out from the Big Band stage – all adding to the bustling atmosphere across the Albert Dock, Pier Head and the Cruise Liner Terminal, bringing a taste of New York to the third On The Waterfront programme.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said: “The Mersey River Festival was always hugely popular, and attracted hundreds of thousands of people every year. That’s why I made it a priority to bring it back.

“Events like this are vital for our economy, generating millions as visitors flock to the city spending money in our restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels. Since the last festival took place, our iconic waterfront has been transformed and is now looking more majestic than ever and I’ll proud to showcase it to visitors from all over the world.

“We’re at the early stages of putting the event together but I’m positive it will be a huge success and a welcome addition to the city’s cultural calendar, and it will boost the local economy.”

The last Mersey River Festival took place in 2005 and attracted more than 300,000 people.

A new exhibition which looks at domestic slavery has opened at Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum.

Home Alone: End Domestic Slavery – will be the first exhibition in the new Campaign Zone at the venue.

Run in partnership with Anti-Slavery International, the exhibition contains images and stories from child and adult domestic workers.

Domestic workers in private households perform tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry and taking care of children, the sick and the elderly. For many, daily chores stretch over excessively long hours, without breaks, days off or holidays.

Those who live with their employers are often considered ‘on call’ to undertake work 24/7. The pay is often very low. Some domestic workers may not be paid at all or only receive ‘payment in kind’ such as food or accommodation.

This ‘hidden industry’ is poorly regulated, undervalued, and many workers are subject to serious abuses, including slavery.

Anti-Slavery International is calling for the International Labour Organization (ILO) to adopt a new convention which would protect the rights of domestic workers worldwide and ensure they are treated equally and fairly.

Dr Richard Benjamin, Head of the International Slavery Museum, said: “This is the very first exhibition in our new campaign zone and we are proud to work with Anti-Slavery International to highlight the plight of this hidden workforce who have little or no employment rights.

“Home alone, invisible to society and lacking legal protection, many domestic workers are in slavery. We hope people who visit the exhibition will feel strongly enough to get involved and join calls to give domestic workers the basic human rights afforded to other workers.”

The exhibition at the International Slavery Museum opens this week and runs until Spring 2011.

Hope Street, Liverpool – Sunday 19th September 2010, 10.30am – 5pm

Open Culture is bringing together over 40 local artists and designers for the Piazza Art Market at this Sunday’s 5th family-friendly Hope Street Feast. The annual street party is packed with music, art markets, theatre, dance, great food, drink and produce, all along the Hope Street from the Metropolitan Cathedral to LIPA between 10.30am-5pm.

The Piazza Art Market at the Metropolitan Cathedral is a great opportunity to buy unique creations made by the hands of local artists and designers, your chance to shop local and avoid mass produced items.

Amongst the huge amount on offer at Hope Street Feast are four free concerts by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, open air music stages, street theatre, and free open days at the Metropolitan Cathedral Lutyens Crypt, the Unity and Everyman Theatres and many other buildings around Hope Street. And don’t miss the Can Cook Domes at Blackburne House plus the great outdoor dining areas and bars.

Hope Street is a very special part of Liverpool and the Hope Street Feast is a great day out for all ages – plus entry is free!

£25,000 winner announcement to be streamed online

For the first time in the history of the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize, the winner and runner-up announcements will be broadcast live.

This exciting online event will take place on Thursday 16 September 2010 at: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmooreslive. The announcement will take place at 6.30 pm but the broadcast will begin earlier.

Those tuning in will be amongst the very first to find out who has scooped UK’s biggest painting prize, along with artists, guests, critics, and associates attending the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool for the private view and prize ceremony.

The John Moores Painting Prize 2010 live broadcast will give viewers a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at one of the biggest events on the art calendar on the eve of Liverpool Biennial’s launch. Just add canapés and friends to throw your own ‘private view’ from the comfort of your home!

45 shortlisted artists from 3000 entrants are to be included in the exhibition, each with a chance of winning the £25,000 first prize or 4 runner-up prizes of £2,500 each. The paintings will be on display at the Walker Art Gallery from 18 September 2010 to 3 January 2011.

The long-running competition forms a key strand of the Liverpool Biennial and is always a hot topic conversation amongst art lovers visiting the city for the festival, both online and offline.

Join in with the discussion on Twitter using the #JM2010 hashtag. ‘Tweets’ will form part of a stream of conversation published on the broadcast page in the run up to and during the live broadcast. You can follow John Moores Painting Prize 2010 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JohnMoores2010.

A number of behind the scenes videos following the judging process are also available on the website.

John Moores Painting Prize facts:

• The jury: This judging panel for 2010 is made up of artists Gary Hume, Alison Watt, Ged Quinn, Goshka Macuga and curator / critic Sir Norman Rosenthal.
• The painters: The John Moores Painting Prize attracts a broad spectrum of artists and no preference is given to levels of experience or particular practices of painting. The works are selected anonymously.
• The winners: The competition has a reputation for identifying talented new painters on their way to finding fame and artistic acclaim. Former winners have included David Hockney, Richard Hamilton and Peter Doig.
• The exhibition: is at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool from 18 September 2010 to 3 January 2011.

LEFTFIELD / CHASE & STATUS / EFTERKLANG /
DAN LE SAC vs SCROOBIUS PIP / BEARDYMAN / HADOUKEN / K’NAAN

The first acts for this year’s Liverpool Music Week festival, which runs from the 29th October through November, have been announced.

One of the headline acts for this year’s Liverpool Music Week, is one of the world’s most iconic electronic acts LEFTFIELD who close the 2010 festival at Liverpool University. After a series of outstanding summer festival performances Neil Barnes returns with a new live show. The band who trailblazed their unique sound in the early 90’s and took John Lydon back to the top of the charts, are back after over a decade. Leftfield’s debut album ‘Leftfism’ was voted ‘one of the greatest albums of all time’ by Q Magazine, and their follow up album ‘Rhythm & Stealth’ went to Number 1 spawning the techno anthem ‘Phat Planet’.

Another of this year’s headline acts will be CHASE & STATUS, after a hugely successful outing at this year’s summer festivals. Currently celebrating the release of their latest hit single “Let You Go”, from their forthcoming (and yet to be titled) 3rd album, they headline the o2 Academy on Saturday 13th November.

Another act confirmed for LMW 2010 is the highly acclaimed EFTERKLANG who have recently released their third album entitled Magic Chairs on 4AD. This will be the bands Liverpool debut, and will be flying in from Copenhagen especially to perform during LMW at o2 Academy on Sunday 7th November.

DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP is the next act to be announced for this year’s festival. Since their Liverpool debut at Liverpool Music Week 2007, they have gone on to become one of the best known names in revolutionary new music. On the back of a blistering festival run and their second critically acclaimed album, ‘Le Sac v Pip’ will take on their biggest Liverpool show yet at o2 Academy on Wednesday 3rd November.

Further hip hop & electronic beats will come in the form of improvisation sensation BEARDYMAN. Having won the UK beatboxing championships twice in a row, winning best MC at the Breakspoll awards, will make his LMW debut on the opening night of this year’s festival at the Stanley Theatre on Friday 29th October.

Two other acts to play shows at the Stanley Theatre are HADOUKEN and K’NAAN. A huge favourite in the city, dance-rock-ravers Hadouken will follow on from their second album ‘For the Masses’, and make their LMW debut on the Saturday 30th October.

Somali poet & rapper K’naan will make his much anticipated city debut following his huge summer hit Waving Flag, (the official song of the 2010 World Cup) and is touring his new groundbreaking album Troubador, hitting Liverpool on Saturday 13th November.

Liverpool Music Week began in 2003 and over the last 8 years has gone onto become a nationally recognised event and highlight of the music calendar. Resulting in Liverpool Music Week becoming the UK’s biggest indoor winter music festival, a musical showcase that features big name acts and gives a performance platform for fresh emerging talent, a number of which have gone on to reach nationwide success. Last years event attracted a record breaking 65,000 people to the city and is a combination of free and ticketed shows. The winning format returns in 2010 to stage over 80 events and play host to over 400 live bands.

LMW Director and founder Mike Deane said: “As we head into our 8th festival, there have been several landmark announcements, but in particular it’s been a serious long-term ambition for me to see Leftfield on the line-up for Liverpool Music Week. We’re also really pleased to have persuaded Efterklang to make their Liverpool debut. They will be flying in especially to play the festival. These are just the first of several exciting announcements for Liverpool Music Week 2010.”

DATES ANNOUNCED SO FAR:-

Leftfield
Thursday 25th November
Liverpool University (Mountford Hall)
£24+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.00pm

Chase & Status
Saturday 13th November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£14+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Efterklang
Sunday 7th November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£10.00+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 8.00pm

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Wednesday 3rd November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£14.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Beardyman
Friday 29th October
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£10.00+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Hadouken
Saturday 30th October
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£12.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

K’naan
Saturday 13th November
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£12.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets available from www.ticketline.co.uk / Tel: 0844 888 4401. More acts to be announced over the coming months.

Info: www.liverpoolmusicweek.com / www.myspace.com/liverpoolmusicweek