September Welcomes A Spectacular Season Of Entertainment At Liverpool's Epstein Theatre

The Epstein Theatre today reveals an exciting season of entertainment for autumn/winter 2017 - from thought-provoking drama to sing-along musicals, great music, hilarious comedy and fun for all the family.

The new season opens in starry fashion with the arrival of none other than Peter Andre on September 2. The Antipodean singer and TV star is inviting fans to join him for an 'evening with' at the theatre, with some lucky VIP ticket holders getting the chance to meet Peter and have their photographs taken.

The entertainment continues with Jamie Somers & Friends who present variety at its best when they join forces for a show on October 8. The evening follows a similar sold out event earlier this year and is sure to be just as popular.

And it may be cold outside but it will be hot, hot, hot in the auditorium when the hunky Dreamboys pay a visit to the theatre on November 24. The UK's top male strip show is perfect for a girls night out with all your friends.

Back to September and there's the wave of a magic wand over the stage. But no, it's not the arrival of a Fairy Godmother, but rather of the World Stars of Magic. The exciting and fast-moving family show, taking place on September 15-16, features some of the globe's best magicians including the UK's Paul Zenon, and Las Vegas headliners Nick Lewin and Armando Lucero.

It's a magical weekend all together, with Nick Barnes' family magic show Abracadabra on September 16 promising great fun for both the young and the young at heart.

Hot on the heels of magic is alchemy, with the madcap boffins of TV hit Brainiac Live arriving at the Epstein for an afternoon of wild, weird and wonderful experimental fun on October 26.

And there's magic and alchemy in the air throughout the Autumn season, with its busy mix of theatre, stand-up, concerts and not forgetting the Epstein's near-legendary Christmas panto.

Prepare to have your funny bone bumped and your ribs well and truly tickled with a top season of comedy talent that gets underway with Our Rita's on September 17-18. The confirmed line-up includes Joe Lycett, Gary Delaney (September 17 only) and TanyaLee Davis, and the event forms part of this year's Liverpool Comedy Festival.

The comedy continues on September 27 when Irish hip-hop comedy freestyle duo Abandoman bring their Life + Rhymes show to the city, following an acclaimed sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Veteran Liverpool comedian Stan Boardman shares his memories with Epstein audiences in An Audience With on September 29, and the outrageous American 'comedian, magician, psychopath' Jerry Sadowitz pays a visit to the theatre on October 5. Meanwhile former Never Mind the Buzzcocks chairman Simon Amstell is embarking on his fifth UK tour, What Is This, which promises to be a deeply personal, funny exploration of beauty, intimacy, freedom, sex and love. See him on November 2.

Gok Wan - Naked and Baring All, on November 15, sees the TV fashion guru revealing all about his life, from humble beginnings on a Leicester council estate, to becoming one of the country's most recognised faces.

And award-winning Jason Byrne returns to the Epstein on November 23 with his hilarious new show The Man With Three Brains. The fastest thinking comic around will not only trip himself up, but probably you too.

Music lovers are in for a treat this season with the Epstein's musical offering which has something for everyone - from Darkside Performing the Pink Floyd Show on October 7 and My Leonard Cohen, a tribute to the great singer-songwriter from October 13-15, to Wannabe - the Spice Girls Story (October 19).

There are also tributes to the late great Marc Bolan, 40 years after his death, with a visit from T.Rextasy on November 16, while the next evening the music of Swedish superstars Abba is celebrated in Gimmie Abba.

There are also a host of original artists making a date with the Epstein during the Autumn.

10CC's Graham Gouldman formed Heart Full of Songs six years ago, purely for the pleasure of playing his songs in the simplest form possible - acoustically. Now Liverpool audiences can hear him do just that, with his appearance at the Epstein on October 3.

You won't want to miss The Pies + Mark Roberts on October 20. Liverpool's legendary graffiti band will play a rare live set at the Epstein following up on the release of their Best of Pies album. And they will be supported by the world's greatest streaker, Mark Roberts, doing a stand-up spot.

Liverpool favourite Joe Longthorne appears at the theatre on November 3 in a show that was originally due to take place at the end of May. He will appear with his sensational live band and a special guest artist. And 80s singer Hazel O'Connor brings her big vocals to Liverpool on November 21, performing all the hits from her first three albums including Breaking Glass.

Back by popular demand, Last Train to Auschwitz returns to the Epstein for a run of shows from September 21-24. The poignant play, which stars Crissy Rock, promises to take its audience on a rollercoaster of emotions.

It's a hard knock life for LHK Youth Theatre which presents Annie the Musical from November 10-12, while The Heath Perform and LIPA 4:19 present a special schools edition of the iconic musical Les Miserables on November 18-19.

Young audiences are at the heart of much of the Epstein's Autumn programme.

Along with magic and science, young theatregoers are invited to click their heels and follow the yellow brick road to make a date for the hugely popular The Wizard of Oz, starring EastEnders' Cheryl Fergison as the Wicked Witch of the West, which comes to the theatre for three days from October 27-29.

Little ones will love The Night Pirates on November 4-5. Adapted from the best-selling children's book by Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright, it tells the tale of a group of little girl pirates who descend on a young boy called Tom at bedtime. Eager to join the pirate adventure, Tom uses his house as a pirate ship and sets sail to retrieve stolen treasure from Captain Patch and the bumbling grown-up pirates.

Finally, this year's fantastic festive show sees a return for the boy who never grew up. Families are invited to fly away on a flight of fancy and fun with Peter Pan.

The show features 90s boyband star Dane Bowers as Peter Pan's arch nemesis Captain Hook, 2016 Britain's Got Talent contestant Lewis Pryor flying across the stage as the titular Peter, and Radio City 2's Claire Simmo who will be adding lots of glitz and sparkle as Tinkerbell.

Theatre manager, Rebekah Pichilingi, said: "Yet again we've put together a brilliant line-up of shows for our autumn/winter season, with something to appeal to everyone, whatever your taste or budget, from comedy to family entertainment, and drama to some great musical tributes and original artists.

"The team and I are confident we will be welcoming you back once more to this delightful theatre in the heart of Liverpool."

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join our mailing list. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/EpsteinTheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.

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