subject: Musicals in Liverpool [print this page] A former European Capital of Culture, thanks to its impressive and diverse cultural and artistic heritage, Liverpool is home to many theatres playing host to everything from experimental drama to national stand-up tours. One genre that has enjoyed significant popularity in recent years is musicals, and Liverpool's impressive roster of shows could even be said to rival that of London's West End.
From time-honoured classic such as Liverpool's home-grown Blood Brothers, playing at the Empire Theatre in November, to modern hits such as Spamalot, running from 9th to 14th August, musicals are alive and well in Liverpool this year, and the diversity of shows ensures there's something to satisfy theatregoers of all backgrounds.
August's musicals at the Empire kick off modestly with an amateur performance by the Liverpool Empire Stage Experience of the classic dance musical Fame, from Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th. That's before Monty Python's Spamalot brings silliness and show girls fresh from the Manchester Opera House to the Liverpool stage for its week-long run.
Lovers of musicals from the 70s and 80s have much to look forward to later in the summer too, when Hairspray returns to the Empire from 17th August to 4th September, starring Michael Starke and Les Dennis, and is succeeded by Richard O'Brien's timeless transvestite classic, the Rocky Horror Show, in early September.
If the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp isn't to your taste, you can enjoy a more serene show from the golden age of musicals with The Sound of Music, from Tuesday 12th to Saturday 30th October. Starring the public's favourite Annie, Connie Fisher, the show was critically acclaimed at the London Palladium, and is one of many revivals by Andrew Lloyd Webber that's brought a new lease of life to musicals across the country in recent years.
The continuing success of Lloyd Webber's re-imagined theatrical classics, such as next year's eagerly-awaited The Wizard of Oz, also means theatregoers in Liverpool have much to look forward to in the time ahead. Those visiting with children can also find musicals perfect for younger audiences, such as Thomas & Friends Live, which heads to the Empire next February.
Whether you're looking for something to entertain all the family or are just keen to catch TV's biggest stars treading the boards for the first time, you're sure to find something that appeals when visiting Liverpool's theatres this year, in convenient central locations within easy reach of hotels in Liverpool.
