Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
There are several good reasons to want to see Anthony and Cleopatra at the Liverpool Playhouse this month. The one the press like is Kim Cattrall of ‘Sex and the City’ fame as Cleopatra. While I’ve never watched the television show I am aware of the shoes associated with it and have more recently been impressed by Cattrall constantly reminding people that she’s from Liverpool, and yes I am both that shallow and that parochial. However the real draws for me are director Janet Suzman and actor Jefferey Kissoon as Anthony. Jefferey Kissoon was last (as far as I know) in Liverpool in Talawa Theatre’s The Gods Are Not to Blame at the Everyman. I was working there at the time and his performance was arresting to say the least; he was a powerful yet elegant actor who was a pleasure to watch each of the several times I saw the show. And he was a handsome man; all of us box office girls (and one of us was a boy) appreciated that; just to pass his dressing room added a frisson to our day. Perhaps more importantly (but only perhaps!), he has worked with Peter Brook, Robert Lepage, and Complicité, so don’t take my word for his prowess. Putting him together with Cattrall directed by the great Janet Suzman was surely going to produce special theatre.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Anthology when I approached the Everyman last night.
What I did know was that there were several different plays by several different authors being simultaneously performed offsite. I wasn’t sure how that would work, but was pretty keen on seeing how it turned out – plus, I really wanted to see Jeff Young’s piece. It turned out there are seven pieces in all, and choice is by random selection, either by throwing a seven-sided die (‘die’ is singular for ‘dice’, my Dad told me) or by selecting one of seven objects, among them a party popper, a feather, a letter and so on. My choice was a milk bottle with a flier in the top. This turned out to be play number 2, and I was given headphones and a receiver on a lanyard tuned to the appropriate station. All very exciting. However this was not Jeff’s piece, and I was not allowed to swap as it was already oversubscribed. I imagine not all audients are going to be open to this, at least some presumably choosing to come to the theatre because they like a particular playwright, actor or theme; and it certainly added an element of potential chaos that made me glad I was no longer a Front of House Manager. I think on the whole though that this potluck is a good thing; it adds to the sense of adventure, plus I saw a show by a writer I wasn’t aware of and probably wouldn’t have selected given a free choice, and that has to be good.
The most awesome of Music events is on now in Manchester and if you have the time this weekend I suggest you get over there - not only for this National Unconvention but also for the mad AND Fest - which presents art, creativity and technology merged into one amorphous mass of flashing lights and screechy noises.
But to return to our subject matter - this year’s national Un-Convention event promises to be the biggest and best yet. Taking influence from Un-Convention events around the world and inviting some of the most inspirational and influential figures from the global grassroots music scene – this year will use Un-Conventional spaces – including a barge, Salford Lads Club, Chapel Street venues - Sacred Trinity Church, Islington Mill, Salford Central Station; and explore new and cutting edge issues around music, technology and creativity. It's on now till Sunday 3rd Oct….
No musical experience necessary! A perfect opportunity to make that screechy sound when you rub your fingers over electrical contacts. Yep you can get a chance and making music with your favourite Liverpool bands as Soundnetwork announces it's DIY Music Day.
14th August 10-5pm FREE World Museum
William Brown Street
Liverpool
From Beyond Iron Mountain, is a brand new piece of Science Fiction Theatre by a brand new Theatre - that's Bonk St Theatre. Plus it premiers next week.
Liverpool writer Frank Clarke will be screening his acclaimed feature film The Fruit Machine as part of a Clapperboard presents... event on Sunday 8 August at Fact, Liverpool.
North West Vision and Media present - Visionary Sessions: Experimenting with New Business Models. Parr Street Studios, Liverpool, Thursday 8th July. 5.30 - 8.00pm.
The second in their series of 10 future focused events explores the need for creative companies to change the way they work in order to survive in the digital age. The harsh reality is that if you’re not embracing new business models then you probably won’t be in business in 5 years time!
The award winning Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival (LAAF), sponsored by UNISON North West, opens its doors yesterday with a weekend of activities spanning the visual arts, literature, dance, film, food and music. The ever popular Family Day hosted at the Bluecoat building and gardens on 3 July brings the full flavour of the orient to Liverpool city centre.
The Next Liverpool Cafe Scientifique Meeting takes place on Tuesday 13th July, 7.30, at the Hope Street Hotel and covers The Challenges of Successful Ageing.