Livepool Everyman & Playhouse Announce New Season

Set in late-Victorian London, Holmes and Watson leave the familiar halls of 221B Baker Street to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville and a sighting of a "black beast" on the moors. Written by Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig the much acclaimed play heads to the UK following huge success in the United States. Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (8 Dec - 13 Jan 2018) directed by Loveday Ingram features a cast of just five actors playing over 40 characters, injecting energy, comedy and a little organised chaos to the classic Sherlock Holmes tale.

As part of an exciting programme of companies visiting the Playhouse and making their first visit to Liverpool, world-renowned Market Theatre Johannesburg bring the very best in world theatre to the Playhouse as they present The Suitcase (4-7 Oct). Set to the music of legendary South African musician and composer Hugh Masekela, The Suitcase focuses on the journey of a young couple looking to change their fortunes. Leaving their home and moving to the bustling city of Durban for a brighter future they find different challenges to contend with in the city.

Market Theatre Johannesburg, whose work during Apartheid era South Africa shaped the theatre landscape, have earned a global reputation for creating plays that challenge structure and injustices of society in a thoughtful and beautiful way. This UK tour is an ambitious collaboration between five theatre companies across the North of England.

Considered to be one of the plays of 2016, the visceral and funny People, Places and Things by Headlong (14-18 Nov) comes to the Playhouse one year after a sold-out run at the National Theatre and the West End. The story of Emma, an addict in denial and the challenge to face up to her problems, was nominated for the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Play.

Rita, Sue and Bob Too (10-14 Oct) comes to the Playhouse with the story of two babysitters Rita and Sue and their promiscuous employer Bob. Max Stafford-Clark and Out Of Joint Theatre Company return to this cult classic, following its original co-production at the Everyman in 1982.

Theatre favourites Northern Broadsides and their vivacious northern style head to the Playhouse with comedy romp For Love or Money (21-25 Nov), as a beautiful widow chooses between two suitors...and love or wealth.

Breaking the boundaries of contemporary theatre at the Playhouse and new to Liverpool this year, 1927's production of Golem (18-21 Oct) is a performance that takes audiences on a mind-blowing spectacle of projections and images that push the limits of theatre and has to be seen to be believed.

A West End hit, the re-imagination of family classic Around the World in 80 Days (Kenny Wax productions) flies through the Playhouse (27 & 28 Oct) bringing an enchanting tale to life, as the story of Phileas Fogg's epic race against the clock is told by just eight actors performing over 125 characters.

Kneehigh return with a bang

Following the success of Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) in 2014, Kneehigh Theatre Company return to the Everyman with an exciting new production of The Tin Drum (28 Sept - 14 Oct).

This adaptation of Günter Grass' epic story - often hailed as one of the greatest novels ever written - reunites the same stellar creative team that produced Dead Dog in a Suitcase: writer Carl Grose, director Mike Shepherd and composer Charles Hazlewood.

A 20th Century masterpiece, The Tin Drum is a riotous folktale for troubled times. Continuing the company's blossoming love affair with Liverpool and the Everyman, this co-production between Kneehigh, the Everyman & Playhouse and West Yorkshire Playhouse will be made in Liverpool.

A busy programme of exciting, anarchic and often radical performances heads to the Everyman this autumn. First up, the theatre plays host to deaf and disabled theatre company Graeae with Reasons to be Cheerful (17-21 Oct) - the story of legendary rocker Ian Dury and a group of fans' desperate journey to see their idol. Keeping the fight going is a night of music and comedy as Josie Long (8 Out of 10 Cats) headlines Lefty Scum (9 Nov), celebrating the struggles of life on the left wing.

As gig-theatre continues to attract a new generation of theatre-goers, musician and theatre maker Dom Coyote (Kneehigh) brings the raucous and award-winning show Songs for the End of the World (Tue 31 Oct & Wed 1 Nov) to the Everyman for two nights.

Welcoming a good friend back to the stage the Everyman host Shôn Dale-Jones (Hoi Polloi) and his one-man show Me & Robin Hood (2-4 Nov), an affectionate look at his boyhood relationship with the fictional renegade. Shôn will donate proceeds of the show towards Street Child United World Cup 2018 in true Robin Hood fashion.

The work of Conquest of the South Pole writer Manfred Karge returns to the Everyman stage with Man to Man (25-28 Oct) - a one-woman play set in Nazi Germany. Co-directed by Frantic Assembly's Scott Graham, Man to Man offers a unique look at the Second World War through a powerful performance of physical theatre.

The legendary Rock 'n' Roll Panto returns to the Everyman bringing with it some 'sole' to proceedings. Regular writers Sarah A Nixon and Mark Chatterton take us on a journey under the sea with the classic 'tail' The Little Mermaid (25 Nov-20 Jan 2018). It's guaranteed fin (...fun)!

Gemma Bodinetz, artistic director at the Everyman & Playhouse said:

"As we take a breath between the freneticism and wonder of our repertory company seasons, it is with huge excitement that we welcome so many remarkable world-class companies and artists to the Everyman and Playhouse.

"As well hosting these exciting visiting companies and collaborations, no autumn season would be complete without our ever popular and critically-acclaimed Rock 'n' Roll Panto at the Everyman and our alternative Christmas offering at the Playhouse.

"This year our regular panto team turn their many talents to The Little Mermaid and we are delighted to have Loveday Ingram directing the UK première of Baskerville by Ken Ludwig at the Playhouse.

"Join us for a season of old friends and new relationships, the traditional and the game-changing, the home-grown and the international, all chosen to dazzle and thrill our audiences."

General sale for all shows in the Everyman & Playhouse Autumn/Winter 2017 Programme will be available from Monday 19 June. More information is available at: https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on.

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