Commemorative War-Time Musical LIVER BIRDSONG Headed to Liverpool This Autumn

The four-week countdown is now on until a new commemorative war-time musical is given its world premiere in Liverpool. Liver Birdsong - The Liverpool Blitz Musical commemorates the 75th anniversary of The Blitz, and is brought to the stage by Birdsong Live Productions CIC. The show opens at Liverpool's historic Epstein Theatre on Tuesday 29 November and runs until Saturday 3 December, with eight performances across the five days.

The show is produced by Birdsong Live Productions CIC, who are father and daughter team Tony Bradley and Rebecca Myers. Liver Birdsong is their first joint venture into professional musical theatre, although each has a background in theatre, music or television.

The story of Liver Birdsong remembers The Blitz, when Liverpool was bombarded by the German Luftwaffe during World War II.

An emotionally charged and heart-warming musical, the production is packed with 18 brand new songs, delivered by a professional musical theatre company and a live band.

A talented cast and creative team have been brought together by Tony and Rebecca following months of auditions and searching for the right crew.

Liver Birdsong is written and produced by Tony Bradley, co-written by Rebecca Myers, directed by Jodie Marshall (A Mind Apart, Sheffield), with Epstein Theatre regular Alan Moore as musical director, and choreographed by Natalie Dignam.

The musical is set on the night of 28/29 November 1940, in the early phase of the Liverpool Blitz. The events of that night were, later described by Winston Churchill as "the worst single (civilian) incident of the war". It involved a direct hit by a parachute bomb on Durning Road Air Raid Shelter near Edge Lane, which killed 180 people.

Although the production is entirely a work of fiction, it is based on the facts of that night and the first-hand experiences of women - much like the four 'Liver birds' in the show - from one of Britain's largest wartime munitions factories.

Join the 'Liver birds' - Maggs Williams, Carla Evans, Daisy Mae Beech and 'Cockney' Lil Ford from Kirkby Munitions Factory - as they battle not only the Nazis but also their own threats, fears and jealousies. Will they overcome their troubles and find hope?

The cast features Kate McHenry (Maggs), Sophie Gaudie (Carla), Katie Burke (Daisy Mae) and Rachel Jones (Cockney' Lil), with Corey Rumble (Hal Brandon), Tom Sentia (Chad Tyler), Michael Bailey ('Red Ted' Forsythe), Miles Walker (Lawrence Gale), Chloe Fay (Ira Jones), and Mia Molloy (Mrs Williams). They are joined by Natalie Dignam as the contemporary dancer, and Ben Keith as the narrator.

Tony Bradley, Writer and Producer of Liver Birdsong, commented: "After years in the planning and months of hard work, the countdown is now on until we premiere in Liverpool. The calibre of the cast and creative team is second to none, they are an incredibly talented group of individuals who are an absolute joy to work in bringing the musical to life.

"Liver Birdsong combines broad comedy, poignant tragedy and the musical styles of 1940, all staged in a compelling mix that will have the audience roaring with laughter one minute and searching for their hankies the next. This is a very poignant story and we feel very privileged to take audiences on a special journey."

To book tickets call 0844 888 4411, visit www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk or book in person at the Epstein Theatre box office (open Monday to Thursday from 2pm to 6pm, or Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 6pm).

IF YOU GO:

LIVER BIRDSONG

Tuesday 29 November - 7.30pm

At The Epstein Theatre, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool L1 3DZ

Wednesday 30 November - 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Thursday 1 December - 2.30pm / 7.30pm

Friday 2 December - 7.30pm

Saturday 3 December - 2.30pm / 7.30pm

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets from £15.00 - £24.00*

Opening night all seats £18.00. Midweek Mats all seats £15.00

Group Rates available

Book tickets by calling 0844 888 4411

Book tickets online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Book in person at the theatre box office (open 2pm-6pm Monday-Thursday / 12pm-6pm Friday-Saturday)

*plus 50p restoration levy per booking

Birdsong Live Productions CIC is a new social enterprise, which has been established to support the development of community-based musical theatre in Merseyside and beyond. All profits from the company's productions are re-invested to fund future developments. Tony Bradley and Rebecca Myers are committed to the principles of community development and personal therapy, through music, drama, dance and the arts. The company's second production - to be funded from the surplus generated by Liver Birdsong: The Liverpool Blitz Musical - is already in early development, as a mixed professional and amateur community-generated piece, and will tell the story behind the Toxteth Riots in 1981.

Tony Bradley is a university lecturer in social enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship at Liverpool Hope Business School, and has also had a lifelong involvement in media, theatre, music and the arts. He was Development Director of Forward Vision Communications, a multi-media TV Production Company, for 10 years and later a producer/director with Sky. Music and the arts is in Tony's lifeblood - he started as a boy chorister at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral; ran his own theatre company in Essex during the 1980s; and has written/produced for TV and stage. Liver Birdsong: The Liverpool Blitz Musical is Tony's first full musical theatre book and lyrics.

Rebecca Myers graduated from the University of Hull in Music & Drama in 2012. She now specialises in music composition and music therapy. Liver Birdsong: The Liverpool Blitz Musical is Rebecca's first full musical composition.