Acclaimed stage production set to return in 2021
Photos by Anthony Robling...

IF all goes to plan, the acclaimed stage production of Helen Forrester's, By The Waters Of Liverpool, will return after it's run was cut short in March 2021, after just 3 venues into a 17 venue tour of the UK, Writer and Co-producer Rob Fennah said:- "When we launched By The Waters Of Liverpool last year the response was so overwhelming we were determined not to let the Pandemic get the better of us. We have a mantra when things get tough, 'don't give up; don't give in!' By The Waters is not only returning to the stage in September, it is going to be bigger, bolder and more glorious than ever."

Co-producer Bill Elms added:- "With the vaccine roll out going so well, we can now see the light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Theatre industry and we just hope people will feel safe enough to come back in their droves; embracing theatre and live performance more than ever before."

The stellar cast featured star names from stage and screen, including:- Sian Reeves, Mark Moraghan, Parry Glasspool, Lucy Dixon, Eric Potts, Lynn Francis, Danny O'Brien, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald.

By The Waters Of Liverpool opened, on Tuesday, 3 March 2020, at the Floral Pavilion, in New Brighton; just a few miles from the Author's birthplace, in Hoylake. It was there a blue plaque was unveiled by actors Sian Reeves and Mark Moraghan to coincide with the opening of the tour which received a raft of 4 to 5 star reviews.

After an enforced 18 month break due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the tour will now continue to run from September 2021, opening in Lytham, then visiting towns and cities across the UK, including:- Lancaster, Darlington, St Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Stockport, Crewe, Halifax, Coventry, Winchester, Rhyl, Hayes, Chesterfield, Malvern, Southport and Wirral.

By The Waters Of Liverpool is a stunning period drama produced by the team that brought the smash hit Twopence To Cross The Mersey to the stage, produced by Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms, written by Rob Fennah and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

By The Waters Of Liverpool is set in the 1930's after Helen's father went bankrupt during the Depression. Her family were forced to leave behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle class life in the South West of England. The Forrester's chose Liverpool to rebuild their shattered lives, but they were in for a terrible shock. Taken out of School to look after her young siblings, Helen is treated as an unpaid slave. So begins a bitter fight with her parents for the right to go out to work and make her own way in life. But by 1939 and with Britain on the verge of war, Helen now aged 20, has still never been kissed by a man. But things start looking up for her when she meets a tall strong seaman and falls in love.

Helen Forrester's best selling volumes of autobiography include:- 'Twopence To Cross The Mersey,' 'Liverpool Miss,' 'By The Waters Of Liverpool,' and 'Lime Street At 2.'

The new production of:- 'By The Waters Of Liverpool' also features sizeable chunks from Helen Forrester's plays:- 'Liverpool Miss' and 'Lime Street At 2,' plus flashbacks to:- 'Twopence To Cross The Mersey.'

For more information please visit:- ByTheWatersOfLiverpool.com.

Liverpool City Region venues:-

►  On Wednesday, 22 September 2021, the show will visit the St Helens Theatre Royal. For more information please visit:- StHelensTheatreRoyal.Com or call:- 01744756000.

►  On Friday, 24 September 2021, the show will be hosted at the Warrington Parr Hall and ticket information and bookings can be done online at:- ParrHall.CultureWarrington.Org 

►  Then the show moves to The Atkinson, in Southport, over Tuesday, 9 November to Friday, 12 November 2021. You can book tic kets now online at:- TheAtkinson.Co.UK.

►  The last shows in our area are over Saturday, 13 November and Sunday, 14 November 2021, at the Floral Pavilion, on the Wirral. For more information and to book tickets please visit:- FloralPavilion.com.

Exciting plans for the future of Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre are now underway

THE Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has agreed to fund a significant investment of ₤3.1m to transform the facility, which on completion will provide a new and improved hospitality offer including enhanced wedding, conference, hotel, dining and bar facilities. A new residential bunkbarn will also be built, to provide overnight accommodation for groups.

This new investment will also allow Sefton Council to ensure delivery of the new hospitality offer, as it plans set up it a wholly owned company to manage these operations at the facility. Sefton Council's Cabinet Meeting of 4 February 2021 is expected to approve the incorporation of a new company that will manage the new food, beverage and accommodation offer being provided.

With the quality of customer service and experience at the foundation of the offer, the company will aim to be the:- 'employer of choice' locally in the sector, offering a fantastic work culture with industry leading terms and conditions for employees, and training programmes to support career development opportunities in the company and across the hospitality and leisure sectors. It is intended that the company will in turn attract, develop and retain the best workforce available in the sector, which will strengthen the offer to customers. Furthermore, the operating company will remove the subsidy currently provided to the venue, delivering a surplus to the Council over the next ten years and beyond.

Construction works will soon be underway on the ₤3.1m transformation of the Centre. Situated at the entrance to the beautiful Crosby Coastal Park and adjacent to Anthony Gormley's Another Place (the 'iron men'), the facility provides an:- events venue, food and drink, hotel accommodation, watersports, a gym and fitness studios and, for many years, has been a popular destination for Sefton residents, visitors from the Liverpool City Region and further afield.

Councillor Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said:- "I am delighted that works can soon begin to take place and we will start to see these exciting new plans develop. The establishment of a new Council owned company will allow us to implement a 1st class hospitality offer which will put the customer experience at the heart of everything we do, whilst creating positive outcomes for Sefton residents by generating quality employment and training opportunities within the borough. I understand that visitors may currently miss being able to take advantage of our bar and café facilities while works are ongoing, but I assure people that it will be worth the wait. This development means Crosby Lakeside can reach its full potential of being an impressive leisure and hospitality destination in a perfect location."

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:- "The Lakeside Adventure Centre is a fantastic facility, enjoyed by people not just from our Region but from all over. Sefton Council have some really exciting plans for the site, and we've invested ₤3.1m to ensure that it keeps improving and attracting more and more people. When its transformation is finished, Crosby will have another fantastic leisure and hospitality destination to add to the City Region's visitor economy."

In addition to the transformation of Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Sefton Council is also leading on improvements to the surrounding areas, to complement the project and to further fulfil the potential of this spectacular area of Crosby's coast. Improvements to lighting along cycle and pedestrian paths in the coastal park will also be delivered, along with the restoration of the lake water management system to enable easier on-going maintenance of the Lake. The construction project and external works are expected to be completed by the end of 2021.