Phil Hearne and Tom Cawte Join TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY Autumn 2016 Tour

The cast for the highly anticipated Autumn 2016 tour of Helen Forrester's TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY has been announced.

There are just two changes to the line-up who generated rave reviews when the show enjoyed a successful six-week tour in Spring 2015. The cast now features actors Phil Hearne and Tom Cawte.

Due to popular demand, the new stage play version of TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY will again take to the road and will tour seven venues across the North West of England and North Wales.

The play returns to entertain larger audiences in Liverpool for three weeks at the popular Royal Court, which has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment. It opens on 20 September and runs until 8 October.

TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY will then continue to six venues in Rhyl, Preston, Southport, Warrington, Stockport and St Helens throughout October and November.

The new stage play version of Helen Forrester's TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY wowed audiences in Liverpool, Southport, St Helens and Wirral during a six-week tour in Spring 2015.

Helen Forrester's TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY tells the true story of a young girl and her formerly wealthy family as they are suddenly thrown into poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Leaving behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the South West of England, they uproot their shattered lives and choose Liverpool as the place to start again to rebuild their dreams and fortune. Unbeknown to them however, a terrible shock awaits them.

The new version is again staged by Pulse Records Ltd in collaboration with producer and stage writer Rob Fennah and producer Bill Elms. They are joined by director Bob Eaton.

This stage adaptation is fully authorised by the Helen Forrester estate.

Phil Hearne and Tom Cawte are now part of the 8-strong ensemble cast.

Phil Hearne will play a variety of roles in Twopence and is looking forward to treading the familiar boards of Royal Court Liverpool, where he has regularly entertained audiences in shows including Good Golly Miss Molly and the Council Depot Blues. He was part of the West End cast for Blood Brothers, and his television credits include Coronation Street.

Tom Cawte brings a wealth of experience to the role of Alan, Helen's younger brother. His theatre credits include the 2015 national tour of The Lone Pine Club and Boys of the Empire Production Sandel at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013. Film and television credits include the upcoming BBC series Witless and London Fields.

The line-up sees the return of Emma Dears (Judy & Liza, Les Miserables) as Mother; Christopher Jordan (Moving On, Coronation Street) as Father; Maria Lovelady as Helen; and together with Tom Cawte as Alan, they make up the Forrester family.

Eithne Browne (Brookside, Brick Up The Mersey Tunnel); Jake Abraham (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Game of Thrones); Roy Carruthers (Night Collar, Tales from Haunted Liverpool); and Phil Hearne all take on lead roles, as well as supplementary characters throughout.

Co-producer and stage writer Rob Fennah, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that we can welcome the return of almost the same cast for our biggest ever tour of the Twopence play - it's fantastic news and is something we have worked hard to achieve.

"Helen's story is such a special one and is one which so many people can relate to - but you need an extremely strong cast who can embrace just what it was like for Helen and her family and are able to portray their lives with passion and dignity.

"Our cast won the hearts of audiences and also the Forrester family which is absolute testament to their creative talent. We are delighted to welcome Phil and Tom to the team, they will bring their own interpretation to the roles and we are excited to have them on-board."

Producers Pulse Records in association with Bill Elms, recently announced a partnership with church and charity, The Salvation Army. Audiences will be able to donate to The Salvation Army at every performance during the North West and North Wales tour. All monies raised will help to fund the work of the church and charity, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

FULL TOUR LISTING:

TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY - The Stage Play

LIVERPOOL
Royal Court Theatre
20 September - 8 October 2016
0151 709 4321
www.royalcourtliverpool.com

RHYL
Pavilion Theatre
12 - 15 October 2016
01745 330000
www.rhylpavilion.co.uk

PRESTON
Charter Theatre
19 - 22 October 2016
01772 804444
www.prestonguildhall.com

SOUTHPORT
Theatre and Convention Centre
24 - 27 October 2016
0844 871 3021
www.atgtickets.com/southport

WARRINGTON
Pyramid & Parr Hall
28 - 29 October 2016
01925 442345
www.pyramidparrhall.com

STOCKPORT
Plaza Theatre
1 - 4 November 2016
0161 477 7779
www.stockportplaza.co.uk

ST HELENS
Theatre Royal
7 - 12 November 2016
01704 756000
www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com