Line-up includes three shows fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The final programme for Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 has been revealed as organisers count down until the 12-day event returns with a packed programme of 17 productions. The festival boasts its biggest programme yet featuring a variety of cabaret, comedy, opera, drama, musicals, family shows, and drag acts.
From the very beginning, it was our mission to create a diverse festival to showcase new and developing works.
Taking place from Wednesday 31 August to Sunday 11 September 2022, daily shows will be performed outdoors within the walls of the historic St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre.
The line-up includes three shows which have already wowed audiences at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival - all three are coming to Liverpool for the very first time. I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical opens the festival on Wednesday 31 August, while Julie Madly Deeply and Looking For Me Friend - The Music Of Victoria Wood closes the event on Sunday 11 September. They will come direct from the Scottish capital to debut at Liverpool Theatre Festival.
Drunk But Not Disorderly returns after its successful premiere at Little LTF (Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works) earlier this year – organisers have now invited the production to be part of the main event. It joins 97+ – A Drama Based On The 1989 Hillsborough Disaster, which also premiered at Little LTF this year and is now included in the main programme. The Forgotten Forest makes a welcome return after a successful premiere at the inaugural Little LTF in 2021.
As part of the event, Liverpool Theatre Festival is launching a brand new night featuring the finest and quirkiest cabaret acts from across the region including comedy, burlesque, music, and circus. Holy Moly Cabaret is hosted by the super talented Nana Funk, and will feature Liverpool’s very own glamour queen Millie Dollar and award-winning comedy musicians Jollyboat.
Producer and artistic director Bill Elms said, “We’re excited and thrilled to announce the final programme for Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022. From the very beginning, it was our mission to create a diverse festival to showcase new and developing works on an exciting platform for the talent which thrives so strongly in our city and region.
"We are very proud of this year’s programme – and feel that the variety and cabaret elements will really strengthen our offer and appeal. So join us for 12 days of fun, laughter, drama, and uplifting live entertainment.”
Liverpool-based children’s charity KIND is this year’s official charity partner, which includes bucket collections at show performances. Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 is dedicated to the memory of Baby Michael James who would have been celebrating his 21st birthday this September.
Liverpool Theatre Festival - Full Listings
I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL
Date: Wednesday 31 August
Times: 6pm / 8pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: Musical | 12+
FEAR AND MISERY OF THE THIRD REICH
Date: Thursday 1 September
Times: 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Genre / Audience: Theatre | 12+
LAUGHTERHOUSE COMEDY
Date: Friday 2 September
Times: 6pm / 8.30pm
Tickets: £22
Genre / Audience: Comedy | 16+
NOT DRUNK BUT DISORDERLY
Date: Saturday 3 September
Times: 5pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: Comedy | 16+
HOLY MOLY CABARET
Date: Saturday 3 September
Times: 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Genre / Audience: Cabaret | 16+
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Date: Sunday 4 September
Times: 12pm
Tickets: £14 / Children £10
Genre / Audience: Family | 3+
MA JOYCE’S TALES FROM THE PARLOUR
Date: Sunday 4 September
Time: 3pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: Black Arts | 12+
VENUS RISING
Date: Monday 5 September
Times: 6pm / 8.30pm
Tickets: £22
Genre / Audience: Drama | 14+
THE CROWN DUELS – GANGS OF HOPE
Date: Tuesday 6 September
Times: 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: Interactive | 16+
STOP THE WORLD, WE’RE GETTING OFF
Date: Wednesday 7 September
Times: 8pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: Drama | 14+
OPERA BENEATH THE STARS
Date: Thursday 8 September
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £28
Genre / Audience: Music | 12+
97+ – A DRAMA BASED ON THE 1989 HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER
Date: Friday 9 September
Time: 6pm / 8.30pm
Tickets: £20
Genre / Audience: Drama | 16+
THE FORGOTTEN FOREST
Date: Saturday 10 September
Times: 12pm
Tickets: £12 / Children £10
Genre / Audience: Family | 3+
DAME FANNY & THE STARLETS – A FAMILY FRIENDLY DRAG SHOW
Date: Saturday 10 September
Time: 4pm
Tickets: £15 / Children £12.50
Genre / Audience: LGBT+ Arts Family | 8+
DRAG ME TO CHURCH – DAME FANNY DE FAUX’S DRAGSTRAVAGANZA
Date: Saturday 10 September
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £18
Genre / Audience: LGBT+ Arts | 18+
JULIE MADLY DEEPLY
Date: Sunday 11 September
Time: 3pm
Tickets: £20
Genre / Audience: Musical | 8+
LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND – THE MUSIC OF VICTORIA WOOD
Date: Sunday 11 September
Time: 7pm
Tickets: £20
Genre / Audience: Musical | 12+
Read next: Top things to do in Liverpool and beyond: August 2022
Read again: To the TARDIS! Doctor Who lands in Liverpool
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