Liverpool is brimming with culture and heritage. Whether it's the Biennial art festival, a must-see art exhibition at the Tate Gallery or a Shakespeare play at the Everyman theatre, it is a city with an enviable list of Theatres and Performing Arts venues.
THEATRES
Liverpool theatre has an incredibly strong reputation throughout the world, and has been the home and inspiration for a number of different playwrights including Willy Russell, Alan Beasdale and Carla Lane. There are six theatres located in the City Centre, including ourselves. The legendary Everyman and Playhouse theatres stage world premieres by local and international writers, and the two famous Liverpool theatres are responsible for launching the career of several celebrated actors (Bill Nighy, Julie Walters and Pete Postlethwaite all started out at one of them).
The Empireand Royal Court Theatre often show many of the popular West End touring productions, as well as productions of their own work, and The Unity Theatre is a great venue for those who are interested in seeing a wide range of contemporary drama.
FILM
Liverpool has a plethora of multiplexes, such as the huge Odeon located in LiverpoolONE and the fantastic 1940s Plaza Cinema in Waterloo which is run mostly by volunteers. If your tastes veer more towards the avant-garde, be sure to check out FACT the UK’s leading organisation for promoting, commissioning and exhibiting film, video and new and emerging art forms. FACT comprises cinema screens, gallery spaces, a media lounge, café and bar.
THE ARTS
Situated ten minutes away from Lime Street station, the Contemporary Urban Centre (CUC) is one of Liverpool’s most exciting creative spaces, and holds a wide range of events, from classic film nights and comedy performances to music events such as the Threshold festival.
A trip to Liverpool isn’t complete without paying a visit to The Philharmonic Hall, home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra led by the celebrated Vasily Petrenko. As well as fully orchestrated classical concerts, The Philharmonic Hall also stages all kinds of musical events, from jazz to contemporary music, and choral renditions of the full Beatles’ repertoire.
EVENTS
Innovative and inspiring events are to be found taking place across Liverpool. These include the Open Air cinema at St. Luke’s (the bombed out church) on Hardman Street, the Liverpool Biennial which is the largest contemporary art festival in the UK and the Annual Liverpool Shakespeare Festival which is held inside the Anglican Cathedral and its grounds.