Helen Forrester's Son Praises 'Wonderful' New Stage Version Of His Mother's Classic Tale

The son of much-loved Liverpool author Helen Forrester has given an emotional thumbs-up to a new stage sequel to her best-selling tale Twopence To Cross The Mersey.

Robert Bhatia flew in from Canada to see the premiere of By The Waters Of Liverpool at the Liverpool Empire this weekend.

And he was full of praise for the production and its stars, describing it as "a dramatic story, well told, and balanced superbly with many funny moments."

Speaking after he watched the show with his wife Dianne at the Empire yesterday, he said: "Rob Fennah and his team have triumphed once again in bringing the life and indomitable spirit of Helen Forrester, my mother, to the stage in the brand-new production of By The Waters Of Liverpool.

"The fine cast, led by Maria Lovelady as my mother, transported us through a full range of emotions - from abject frustration and sadness to great anticipation and joy.

"Most of the actors play multiple characters, and were extremely credible as my family and as a myriad of deftly presented supporting characters.

"The wonderful staging was beautifully presented and highly effective. It is a dramatic story, well told, and balanced superbly with many funny moments. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening."

By The Waters Of Liverpool runs at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday 13 October.

The play follows the smash-hit success of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and has been brought to audiences by the team behind both the musical and stage play versions of the award-winning true story.

By the age of 17, Helen had fought and won two bitter battles with her parents - the first to educate herself, the second for the right to go out to work. Her parents are as financially irresponsible as ever, wasting money while their children still lack adequate food and clothing. But for Helen, things are looking up as she begins to make new friends and develop some social life outside the home.

By The Waters Of Liverpool takes us to the next chapter in Helen's life. It's now 1939, Britain is on the brink of war, Helen is now aged 20 and has never been kissed by a man. That is until she meets a tall, strong seaman. And falls in love.

Rob Fennah has written both the stage play versions of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and By The Waters Of Liverpool. This next chapter in Helen Forrester's life story is once again produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms, and the play is directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

Its cast of 10 includes three much-loved actors who return to their roles with the Forrester family; Maria Lovelady as Helen, Emma Dears as Helen's Mother, and Mark Moraghan as Helen's Father.

Eric Potts, Stephanie Dooley, Lynn Francis, Roy Carruthers, Danny O'Brien - who all appeared in Pulse Records' recent production Lennon's Banjo - are also in the cast, along with 2018 Everyman Repertory Company members Emily Hughes as Fiona and Nathan McMullen as Alan.