The UK tour of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is set to land in Stockport next month, with further dates including Bolton Albert Halls.
Twopence To Cross The Mersey will also take in Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre and Warrington’s Parr Hall.
The tour is set to open at the Floral Pavilion in Wirral, a place which features heavily in writer Helen Forrester’s million-selling books.
The production is set to open in September, running throughout the Autumn until mid-November, taking in 15 venues nationwide.
The new touring production of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.
The 9-strong cast will play more than 40 characters – they are Mark Moraghan, Daniel Taylor, Parry Glasspool, Jenny Murphy, Lynn Francis, Lynne Fitzgerald, Robert Hudson, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald. Five of the cast members – Mark, Parry, Lynn, Roy and Chloe – have appeared in its sister show By The Waters Of Liverpool.
This year’s nationwide tour of Twopence To Cross The Mersey will be followed by a tour of By The Waters Of Liverpool in Spring 2023, the next instalment in Helen’s life story. Playwright and producer Rob Fennah explained: “We first announced this UK Premiere Tour for the new stage adaptation back in January – now the scripts have been handed to the cast and creative teams and we’re just four weeks away from opening. As soon as we go into rehearsals, we’ll all be counting down the days until we can get back on stage and bring Helen’s wonderful words to life once more.
“Like so many other touring productions, lockdown closed By The Waters Of Liverpool shortly after opening. It was a huge blow to the team and audiences alike. So we have taken the opportunity to update the stage production of Twopence and take the play on its first national UK Tour. Helen has fans worldwide, and this way we can take Helen’s story a little closer to them. It’s going to be a very special experience for everyone involved – we’re all custodians of her incredibly honest writing that everyone can relate to, especially given today’s difficult economic climate.”
When does Twopence To Cross The Mersey come to Stockport Plaza?
Twopence To Cross The Mersey runs at Stockport Plaza from 19-20 September 2022. The Stockport run is one of 15 venues the production will take in:
6-11 September – Wirral, Floral Pavilion
14-17 September – Rhyl, Pavilion
19-20 September – Stockport, Plaza
21-24 September – Crewe, Lyceum
27 September – 1 October – St Helens, Theatre Royal
4-6 October – Blackpool, Grand Theatre
8-9 October – Warrington, Parr Hall
11-12 October – Darlington, Hippodrome
13-14 October – Halifax, Victoria
17-18 October – Croydon, Fairfield Halls
19-21 October – Coventry, Albany
22-23 October – Lichfield, Garrick
25-27 October – Bolton, Albert Halls
1-4 November – Southport, Atkinson
5-12 November – Liverpool, Epstein Theatre