It’s been a while since our last Newsletter, and so much has happened!
Daffodils are out, apparently there’s blossom to be seen, and maybe – whisper it – we can put our winter coats away…
But there’s more!
Our 5* production of Shirley Valentine has extended its run to meet audience demand, our phenomenally exciting co-production of Tambo & Bones is at the Playhouse for this week only (keep reading for your discount code! 😄) – AND there’s the small matter of Jodie Comer’s world famous monologue Prima Facie coming to us next year (tickets on general sale tomorrow)!
Not to mention that our Creative Director Nathan Powell’s funny, heartwarming new play Takeaway went into rehearsal on Monday, directed by the inimitable Amanda Huxtable.
I’m exhausted, and it’s only Wednesday…!
There’s more to come, though:
I’ve had loads of conversations recently with artists looking for community – a space to seek advice, solidarity, skills sharing, new collaborators, or just take a break from working at home – so we’re going to increase the number of opportunities for local artists to gather at the Everyman.
We’ll be hosting monthly Creative Co-working, regular workshops with our staff, and Open Houses for informal drop-ins with different teams. More on that below!
Finally, we’re currently hiring for several technical and production roles with our in-house team, plus an Assistant Director for Jack and the Beankstalk! So if you (or someone you know) might be interested, do take a look.
That’s it for now! Hope to see you soon.
Tommo
New Works Associate
Meeting points for local artists
Here you can find more information about all the regular ways you can meet us, and other artists, across the year.
We’re running:
- Creative co-working
- Open houses
- Workshops with Everyman & Playhouse staff
- Freelancers’ mixers
There’ll also be other one-off events throughout the year, and we’ll begin adding everything to the website soon – but I wanted you to hear first!
Creative Co-working
After the success of the Playwrights’ Flashmob last year, we’re going to host regular co-working days for local creatives, taking place on the first Thursday of the month.
We think it’s important for artists to have space for discussing the opportunities and challenges that are unique to their role, but also moments to come together with other creatives and forge new collaborations.
For now, these co-working days will cycle be on a four-month cycle:
- writers
- directors and makers
- producers
- everyone.
So grab a friend and come on down to the Writers’ Room at the Everyman to meet, chat, rant, plot and dream together.
We’ll kick off next week with co-working for writers – from 1pm on Thursday 3 April.
I’ll be there initially, but then will leave you to it!
Next dates will be:
- 1 May, from 11.30am. Directors and makers.
- 5 June, from 11.30am. Producers.
- 3 July, from 11.30am. All creatives welcome!
Open House
Every month, one of our in-house teams will set up and work in the Everyman Street Café – and you’re welcome to come in and chat!
These regular drop-ins are a nice, informal way to meet different members of the Everyman staff, introduce yourself and ask any questions you may have.
To kick off, members of the Artistic team will be available from 1-3pm on Tuesday 8 April.
The topics of conversation are totally up to you, but – for this team specifically – we’d be well-placed to discuss:
- you, your work and/or your career
- artist development
- new work
- programming and producing
- working with young people and community.
The following Open House will be with our Events team, who operate the Bistro space Downstairs at the Everyman.
Do also keep an eye out for our monthly workshops, which will offer some focussed opportunities to think about specific topics suggested by our freelance community. These might answer your questions.
Save the date for our next Mixer, which will be Tuesday 29 April, during previews for Takeaway.
As usual, we’ll try to wrangle a member of the creative team to come and chat, and there’ll be a discount for seeing the show that evening as well.
In particular, this’ll be a good one for anyone with an interest in new writing and local stories with national reach – plus all the usual joy of meeting new artists in Liverpool, having free wine, etc.
We’ll open sign-ups in the next Newsletter.
Workshops
Starting in April, we’re going to run monthly workshops with Everyman & Playhouse staff, looking at different areas of theatre-making.
Our first workshop will be:
Best Practice in Fringe Producing
with Helen Webster (Young People & Community Producer)
11.30am-1pm, Thursday 17 April.
Covering some key elements of independent producing on the fringe – from fundraising to contracting, access to scheduling – Helen will discuss how to make sure that low budgets never mean low care or professionalism.
There are up to 20 places, first come first served. Sign up here.
Future workshops will include:
- Tours and approaching programmers, with Ashlie Nelson (Head of Producing & Programming)
- Arts Council Funding (Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice), with Tommo Fowler (New Works Associate)
- Best practice in co-creation, with Hayley Lindley-Thornhill (Head of Young People & Community)
and more!
What's coming up for us
Our full programme is here – this is just a selection of upcoming shows that have particularly caught my eye:
Tambo & Bones
Playhouse
until Sat 29 March
A hilarious and provocative satire, it follows two people stuck in a minstrel show through a meta-theatrical romp across time and space, asking massive questions about race, entertainment and what the future might hold.
This went down an absolute storm at London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East, and we’re so excited to be bringing it to Liverpool (directed by our old Director in Residence, Matthew Xia).
There’s a trailer here, and you can get yourself a super special £10 ticket if you use the code ATC10 when booking.
Note that, given the themes of the play, Thursday’s performance is specially curated for audience members with lived experience of racism. You can read more about that here.
Shirley Valentine
Everyman
until Sat 5 April
Willy Russell’s gorgeous monologue of love and liberation has extended for another week! With a “majestic” (The Guardian) performance from Helen Carter – or indeed our exceptional understudy, Kathleen Collins – don’t miss this classic piece of Liverpool theatre.
Prima Facie
Playhouse
17-21 March 2026
Yes, Jodie Comer’s coming to Liverpool! She won pretty much every major prize going for her tour de force performance in Suzie Miller’s internationally acclaimed monologue, and this tour is finishing on home turf.
Tickets go on general sale tomorrow, and I think it’s fair to say they’ll be in pretty high demand…
On my radar
THEATRE
The House Party
HOME
until Sat 29 March
Headlong and Frantic Assembly have teamed up for Laura Lomas’ new and super fresh take on Strindberg’s Miss Julie – and it’s exactly as classy as you’d expect.
A dangerous, sexy dissection of privilege, power and desire – all playing out through an 18th birthday party that I think it’s fair to say goes off the rails somewhat.
Jobs and opportunities
We’re hiring for a bunch of roles at the moment!
Various technical roles
Everyman & Playhouse Theatres
Deadline: 10am, Mon 7 April
We’re hiring for four - yes four - different technical roles, and a Production Manager. If that’s you, we look forward to hearing from you – if it’s not, tell all your mates!
Assistant Director: Jack and the Beanstalk
Everyman Theatre
Deadline: 10am, Mon 28 April
Feels a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but here we are! If you want to assist Kash Arshad on our new panto by Chloë Moss, you’ve got a month to apply. Sparkles and cheap gags guaranteed.
You can also find loads of brilliant opportunities on:
- Uncover Liverpool’s monthly newsletter
- the Open Hire mailing list (where you can also post job opportunities)
- Linda Bloomfield’s Opportunity Tuesday Substack, and
- for writers specifically, London Playwrights newsletter (which, despite the name, includes opportunities all over the country)
Otherwise, here’s a few that have jumped out this month – which I’m afraid are all for writers (sorry to everyone else!):
The Writing Squad
Deadline: midnight, Mon 31 March
A multidisciplinary group of writers that offers workshop, mentoring, career support etc. - open to writers of all kinds (drama, poetry, prose etc), aged 16-22 and based anywhere in the North of England.
Have heard great things about this from writers who’ve been part of the Squad, so give it a look (or tell the young people in your life!).
Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize
Deadline: 11.59pm, Tues 1 April
There’s £1,000-3,000 on offer for submissions of plays that respond to the theme of fear. So if you’ve got a play of over 30mins ready to go that feels like it might be suitable, make sure you send it in!
LGBTQ+ New Stage Writing Competition
Green Carnation
Deadline: 5pm, Fri 11 April
To celebrate the paperback release of Alan Hollinghurst’s acclaimed seventh novel Our Evenings, Picador and Green Carnation Company invite emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights to submit bold and imaginative new monologues or duologues (max. length 10-12mins) exploring queerness, theatre, and memory. There’s £500 to be won!
Women’s Prize for Playwriting
Ellie Keel, Paines Plough and Sheffield Theatres
Deadline: 5pm, Mon 22 April
Look, I’m biased because I used to work for them, but I think this is a cracking prize, open to women and non-binary playwrights. And this year it’s bigger than ever – with a £20k prize! (Take that, gender pay gap).
So, if you’re eligible, I hugely recommend entering.
Divided Culture Playwriting Prize 2025
Deadline: 11.59pm, 30 April
As part of Divided Culture Co's commitment to generating original work and championing new artists in the North West, they’re offering a £1000 micro-commission to build relationships with local writers.
Ongoing offers at the Everyman
Writers’ Room
For those who haven’t spent time in it, the Writers’ Room is available for your use. With a library of fantastic scripts, it’s a great place to come and be inspired, do some co-working, or get round a table to read a new play.
You can either email me to book in advance, or just come to the Everyman and chance your luck! During open hours, the Writers’ Room is there for you to work in peace and quiet.
Street Café discounts
Did you know we have discounts for theatre professionals in the Everyman Street Café? Well, we do!
You can get 10% off food and non-alcoholic drinks if you’re a paid-up union member of BECTU, Equity, Independent Theatres Council, Musicians Union, Stage Directors UK or the Writers Guild.
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