Tuesday 21st January
the 78th etude (inc what's on in Merseyside that I think looks cool)
Hello everyone!
This edition is to give you an idea of what to expect from etude in 2025 as well as some irl, meat space theatre I think looks good around Merseyside over the next coming months.
etude for 2025
First of all, thanks for coming back. To be truthfully honest, I fell out of love with theatre. I was finding it harder and harder to access performances I enjoyed and I found that since taking a step away from being as present online as I was back in the day, I just had no idea what was on anymore. I also stopped making theatre as much but I feel like I’m part of a large majority that has also stopped creating theatre over the past few years so I won’t go into the wider context of reasons that may be. Not working in the field as much has left me not in the know as much. Rumblings of the next exciting show or things to watch out for on tour just don’t happen that much anymore when I’m out with friends or peers. That’s probably why I fell out of love with Theatre. It just wasn’t on my radar as much anymore.
So, why etude in 2025 then? Well, it’s going to feel more like a blog than the usual recommendations. There’s a few bits of writing I’ve been working on that need a platform and well, I have this one. These pieces of writing will centre around some research I’m doing at the moment around co-operatives, land ownership and governance models within the arts and what we can learn from other industries. I want to highlight exciting projects already happening and some proposals.
Which links in to managing this space so I can dream in. One of my all time favourite bits of writing I did is when I wrote about an imagined piece to be performed at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. I also think back to Sammy from Sleepwalk Collective’s imagined piece for ballet dancers and a roller coaster. The show is called Paradise. I think about this at least once a year.
There’s some other bits I want to do like interviews with people and maybe some theatre criticism here and there but that may not happen. I ain’t gonna promise that.
One big thing I want to do is highlight what’s going on in Liverpool performance wise. There will be a lot of things I miss but if and when I find things, I want to let you know.
In a way, this is a very roundabout way to tell you all I’ve set myself a few new years resolutions and you are all witnesses to it.
There will be a lot of inconsistency to etude and I want you all to be aware of that. Sometimes you may get one a week, on a set day and time, perfectly packaged in your mailbox. Most times it’ll be whenever I’ve finished a bit of writing or had some thoughts. Sorry if this is annoying in advance.
But lets start highlighting some shows! The reason you are more than likely here for.
What I Think Looks Intresting in Theatre/Performance in Merseyside 2025
I made a list of venues I’m aware of in the area and tried to find something I’m excited for at each one. Some haven’t announced much and are tying off a few loose festive threads so I have excluded them for now. If anything exciting does pop up I’ll let you know. I feel like there is a lot of indy or diy stuff missing from this list but I figured it’s more to do with it being January and no announcements have been made just yet.
Building of Spines by Quarantine
Haydock Library
20th-28th January
Quarantine Quarantine Quarantine Quarantine Quarantine yay Quarantine.
This was a deep dive to find and I can’t seem to find as much info as I’d like but whatever Quarantine do I know I’ll admire.
“Over 8 days in Haydock Library, Quarantine artist Kate Daley hand makes a book containing a work of collective fiction based on conversations with people in the library.
The text is shaped by local poet and writer Elizabeth Butler. The finished book then enters the library’s collection for future readers.
A beautiful object, carefully made, the book is an alternative portrait of the library, the people who use it and the knowledge it holds.”
FACT
26th Jan
I’m excited that there is some performance in Liverpool thats a “bit more out there” as a lot of the programming over the coming months does seem a bit “safe”. Cosmotechnics has gone down pretty well with mates going on countless visits so this should be a pretty special event with people creating an attachment to this exhibit the likes I’ve not seen before.
Scouse Super Trilogy
Everyman
1st March to 29th March
&
Empire
11th March to 22nd March
&
Empire
25th to 29th March
I think this is a bit inspired. Maybe a bit cynical possibly BUT I’m low key very excited about seeing three iconic Scouse stories being told in the span of two weeks. Although being in Liverpool for 3 years now, I have never seen a Willy Russel show and I missed Boys from the Blackstuff when it opened at the Royal Court, I’ve also never watched the tv show even though I’ve been told countless times to. I think this is a great opportunity to experience the foundations of Liverpool's cultural heritage and hopefully gives audiences the appetite to find some more obscure plays/tv shows written around the same time. There is a potential issue here though, we do need new scouse stories being written and presented in the city as we can’t keep looking back and pointing out the similarities to now. We are in the now, lets reflect that better. We can;t just bringing out Willy Russel’s past hits to try and get scousers into the theatre. New stuff is also good!
But, this as a nice triple bill is a pretty cool thing.
Shakespeare North Playhouse
27th March
I owe a lot to Dan. I first started seeing his shows when I was 21 and it shaped a lot of what I went on to do. This show describes itself as a “ wild hallucinatory ride through the looking glass of twenty-first century culture” which feels like a bit of a step in a different direction for Dan which is really exciting to see.
Floral Pavillion
8th April until 12th April
A big fringe hit a few years back comes to New Brighton which I had to do a double take to ensure that it was right. Coming off a run from the West End is a bit of a wild journey but fair play to the Floral Pavilion for getting this. A retelling of the Jane Austen classic that will be fascinating to see how it’s received by audiences in New Brighton.
Royal Court
18th July to 23rd August
Yo, what the fuck.
To me this feels peak Royal Court. An absurd retelling (Is it? i can’t even understand it) of a known story in the city which will be a good night out for those looking for a bit of escapism. The Royal Court is, potentially, my favourite theatre in Liverpool. Not only for how the space feels and looks, with their studio genuinely being one of the most gorgeous spaces I’ve seen, but for the vibes. The houses always feel packed and everyone there has gone with the intention to have fun. It has a grand sense of familiarity I think only a few regional theatres have achieved. It’s also a new piece of writing presented on a main stage in Liverpool and that can only be a net positive.
Honestly, I have no idea what to expect and I’ve talked to everyone about how excited I am about this. It’s been descbied as “the ultimate scouse sword and sorcery tale”. Mad. I want to go in knowing nothing else.
Thanks for reading! If you go see anything do let us know!
I never want to put etude behind a paywall as I do think this is a nice resource to have but if you do want to chuck a couple of quid in a bucket then drop us a bob in ko-fi
Thanks again
Josh