by Joe Riley
 DO you have an all-time favourite Liverpool play? Perhaps an early Willy Russell or Alan Bleasdale comedy from the Everyman or Playhouse, or a much more recent production like David Kirby and Nicky Allt’s runaway success, Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels? And for those of a certain age mention could be made of Alun Owen’s slice-of-Liverpool-life drama No Trams to Lime Street (1959), originally written for TV, or of Ted Whitehead’s sexually-charged The Foursome (1972) set on Freshfield beach. The drama dragnet – going back a full 50 years – will be put to ECHO readers for the final vote. Then the production of choice will be given a four-week slot at the Royal Court Theatre in September under the umbrella title Play For the People. Most of the rest of the stage entertainment for Capital of Culture – covering lyric theatre, dance, opera and comedy, and even spreading out on to the streets for parades and processions, has been chosen by venue bosses. But one veteran very much in charge of his destiny is none other than the self-styled “Squire of Knotty Ash”. Ken Dodd will be giving his own behind-the-scenes masterclass on humour and Liverpool’s comedy heritage, from the days of Robb Wilton to the present, at St George’s Hall in March. There are already other declared highlights – like movie star Pete Postlethwaite returning to his Everyman roots to perform King Lear, and fellow Hope Street actor Matthew Kelly appearing with his son Matthew Rixon in Samuel Beckett’s dark masterpiece Endgame. But there has also been a conscious effort by Everyman Playhouse artistic director Gemma Bodinetz to reflect Liverpool heritage. Three Sisters on Hope Street is a new take on Chekhov’s classic drama Three Sisters, relocated to the post-war Liverpool Jewish community, a story which Bodinetz thinks has been largely overlooked. There are also plans for two new music theatre productions – one set against the backdrop of the city’s Adelphi Hotel – the other paralleled with the phenomenon of legendary late-70s Mathew Street Music club Eric’s. The Eric’s musical is by Bootle-raised Mark Davies Markham, who was also responsible for the recently televised Liverpool Nativity. Producer Bill Kenwright, who kick-started Capital of Culture with the return to the Empire of Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers, is promising “six or seven” more major productions for his home city in 2008. Among Empire shows already announced are feelgood musical Shout, starring Claire Sweeney, and Fiddler on the Roof with Joe McGann. Other musicals include Joseph, South Pacific and Aspects of Love, plus an unusual choice from the Birkenhead Operatic with The Scarlet Pimpernel. British Dance Edition will be showcasing later this month to hundreds of international promoters in search of new talent and ideas. The Empire’s always varied mix also includes the ballets Nutcracker, and two versions of Sleeping Beauty. Opera bookings include Madame Butterfly and La Traviata. The Leap Dance Festival, being staged at various venues and now in its 16th year, includes a premiere based on the ancient tale of Babel featuring the Akram Khan Company in collaboration with the National Ballet of China. Meanwhile the Beijing Modern Dance Company will be putting in an appearance at Southport Arts Centre in March. | 
