By Jennifer Corcoran
The Little Theatre on Hoghton Street is home to the Southport Dramatic Club who currently produce eleven shows a season as well as welcoming other societies.
So far this season, we have witnessed the salvation of Toad Hall, been taken back to the 1920s with Blithe Spirit, whipped our funny bones into shape with Gym & Tonic then been lured to a Deathtrap.
Sleeping Beauty woke once more over Christmas and New Year and the curtain has just come down on the modern tale of sisterhood and solidarity: The Boadicea of Britannia Street.
There is fabulous fun and friendship at the heart of our next production, but with a little more nostalgia.
From 10th-18th February you can come and visit The Liver Birds, which is sponsored by Fletchers Group.
Some of our audiences will remember the popular sitcom that ran from 1969 to 1979. It was originally written by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor, two Liverpudlian housewives who met at a writers group and were commissioned by the BBC. The concept was a female version of The Likely Lads and the first episode was shown as part of the Comedy Playhouse.
Although there were four Liver Birds over the course of the series, the enduring pairing is that of Beryl Hennessey of Bootle and Sandra Hutchinson of Hunts Cross.
The stage version weaves together various storylines from the television show that are sure to delight fond fans and new audiences alike.
In the play we spend a couple of days with Sandra Hutchinson (Natasha Athey) and Beryl Hennessey (Jen Corcoran) in their Liverpool flat. Beryl’s boyfriend Robert (Rikki Spofforth) is coming up from London, and she is hoping that Sandra’s mother (Karen Parkinson) can ‘elocute’ her in time. Beryl’s mother (Sam Roberts) is busy with bingo and darting injuries so lands the lasses with babysitting their soon-to-be godson.
Paul (Richard Michell) from upstairs wants to romance Sandra, but she finds she is also taken by the young vicar (Paul James Green) who calls upon the flatmates to ensure they are prepared. Amongst all this is a caretaker neighbour (Ronnie Orr) who is having trouble with all manner of things from his chihuahuas to his souffle and Mr Hutchinson (Ed Davies) who has fallen for his wife’s ploy to make him jealous and trusts none of these men!
Kate Miles-Roberts is back in the director’s seat for this energetic ensemble piece and is thrilled with how it is all coming together as well as the fashion finds that the cast will be sporting. When asked what she would say if someone asked why you should book to see the play, she said “It is SO good, and it is the perfect antidote for a cold and damp evening or even afternoon. It is a great script, brought to life by a talented cast.”
For this production, the Southport Dramatic Club also have a matinee performance at 2:30pm on Saturday 18th February. This is already proving very popular, and is something the club are hoping to be able to offer more regularly to ensure as many patrons as possible can visit this wonderful theatre.
To book for Southport Dramatic Club, visit our website – or call/visit box office. The numbers you need are 01704 530521 and 01704 530460. Trained volunteers are happy to assist between 11am and 1pm, or for two hours before any performance.
You can be well refreshed when you visit too – the first floor foyer servery sells hot and cold drinks as well as sweets and programmes before the show, then adds ice creams to their repertoire at the interval.
The ground level bar is open before the show, during the interval and again after the show. As you arrive it can be accessed via Box Office if you continue past the sweeping staircase and turn left. After curtain up, and until the bar closes, the bar door is also accessible.
For more information about Southport Dramatic Club, visit our website.
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