THE LAST FIVE YEARS Coming to The Epstein Theatre This Month

Excitement is building as it is now only two weeks until the smash-hit Broadway musical The Last Five Years opens at The Epstein Theatre from Thursday 15 - Saturday 17 June.

The Epstein Theatre has joined forces with Liverpool theatre company Tread Productions to present this in-house production.

Directed by Iestyn Arwel, the musical stars real life couple Graham Tudor and Helen Noble who run Tread, the theatre company which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

West End leading actor, Graham's credits include playing the title role of Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mamma Mia and Grease. Meanwhile, his partner, Helen, is most recognised as Abby Davies from Channel 4's Hollyoaks.

Director Iestyn Arwel trained at Drama Centre London and holds a BA Hons in Acting and Directing. Iestyn has performed extensively on stage and screen throughout the UK and regularly appears on S4C Welsh soap Rownd a Rownd. He is currently in development with a series he's written and will direct for Welsh television.

This heart-breaking and hilarious musical tells the story of two New Yorkers, Cathy and Jamie, who fall in and out of love over the course of five years together.

Using a unique narrative style, the story moves in two different directions, Cathy's story begins at the relationship's tragic end and then works its way backwards towards happier times, whereas Jamie goes forward in time, with all the pain and heartache to come.

These two tales play out on stage to give a complete picture of the relationship from both sides, and show, in a breathtakingly honest fashion, why love blossomed and why it faded.

Follow the two of them as their stories move in opposite directions, one from heartbreak to hope and the other from hope to heartbreak and see both sides of their last five years.

Written by Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World, Parade), The Last Five Years premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002 before touring the world to critical acclaim. It has since been adapted into a film starring Anna Kendrick and is quickly becoming a beloved classic.

Be sure not to miss out on one of the biggest shows of the summer and book your tickets now.

Theatre manager, Rebekah Pichilingi, added: "With just two weeks to go until these performances, everyone at The Epstein can't wait! We're so excited to see Graham and Helen onstage performing The Last Five Years, which promises to be an emotional and captivating production. Audiences will love it!"

Tickets for this poignant production are now on sale so book now to avoid disappointment. In the meantime, you can enjoy a sneak preview of the musical below!

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IF YOU GO:

The Last Five Years

Written and composed by Jason Robert Brown

Originally Produced for the New York stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell

Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre, Chicago, USA

Dates: Thursday 15th - Saturday 17th June

Times: 7.30pm

Tickets: From £19 to £22

To book tickets, call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk* or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 2pm - 6pm Monday - Thursday and 12pm-6pm Friday - Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket venue restoration levy

Tickets are also available to book via TicketQuarter at www.ticketquarter.co.uk or call 0844 800 0410.

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.

Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited

The Epstein Theatre (formerly known as The Neptune) was originally opened as Crane's Music Hall in 1911, and was a popular location for recitals and performances. It was renamed Crane Theatre in 1938. In 1967 the theatre was purchased from the Cranes by Liverpool Corporation, who decided that the theatre should be run by local people for local people and was named The Neptune Theatre. The Neptune also became a Comedy Club and after many years of uncertainty about the future of the theatre, it eventually closed in 2005. In July 2011, a £1million refurbishment of the theatre was completed which saw the Hanover Street venue brought up to 21st century standards and renamed 'The Epstein Theatre' in honour of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who guided the Fab Four from popular cellar act to global superstardom. The management contract was up for tender and was won by the well-established team behind Liverpool's annual Sound City Music Festival. The Theatre was officially opened on Wed 9th May 2012. Now an independent company Epstein Theatre Ltd, the venue has grown to become of the key venues for arts and live entertainment in the city with a strong programme of comedy, plays, live music and children's productions. The venue can also be hired out for private functions, weddings and conferences.

At the age of 18, Graham was offered a place at the prestigious National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, where he performed in, "40 Years Young" at the Piccadilly Theatre, West End; and "Othello" at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London. Graham is best known for his performances as Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for Bill Kenwright (UK Tour). Other theatre credits include: 'Doody' in "Grease" (UK Tour); 'Rocky' in "The Rocky Horror Show 30th Anniversary' UK tour and West End); "The Witches of Eastwick" playing Toby and Understudying Michael (Original Cast-Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Lead Production Singer onboard the QE2; "Hair" Playing George Bush!!!!(2005 Revival Show, Gate Theatre-Notting Hill), 'Jack' in "Jack & the Beanstalk" (Theatre Royal, Plymouth),'Eddie' in "Mamma Mia"(Prince of Wales Theatre-West End); West End Story (UK & India) and more recently as 'Buttons' in Cinderella (Rugeley Rose Theatre in 2011) and 'Fleshcreep' in Jack and the Beanstalk (Rugeley Rose Theatre & Lakes Leisure, Kendal in 2012) both for Tread Productions. Graham has also appeared as 'Dev' in "Cutting It" for BBC1 and has extensive recording and live performing credits including the original cast recording of "The Witches of Eastwick". As a Director, Choreographer and Producer, Graham's credits include; 'West End Story' (UK/Mexico/India), 'Hard to Swallow' (Wolverhampton College), '5 Years Young' (Manchester Palace Theatre);'Cinderella' (The Rugeley Rose Theatre) and 'Jack and the Beanstalk' (Rugeley Rose Theatre & Lakes Leisure, Kendal). Graham has also recently written, devised and directed the world premiere of 'Prince of Poisoner's' - the story of Dr William Palmer, which was shown at The Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent earlier this year. Since launching Tread in Liverpool in 2007 along with his wife Helen, Graham has worked with hundreds of people across the UK, delivering very diverse workshops and courses in all aspects of the Performing Arts, but most importantly, the valuable 'life skills' that can be achieved using drama. Graham has delivered everything from; musical theatre master-classes in India to working with 'at risk' groups and people with severe learning difficulties. As Artistic Director of Tread, Graham's aim is to ensure that Tread offers the best service possible and that Tread's work is accessible to as many people as possible across the whole of the UK.

Helen was born and grew up in Lancashire. She started acting from an early age and gained her first professional acting job in the ITV drama Rhinoceros. This was followed by numerous small TV and theatre roles before she became most recognised for playing the role of Abby Davies in Channel 4's hit soap Hollyoaks from 2000-2005. Since her time at the Oaks, Helen went on to play the lead role of Maddie in the film Time Out and presented 'Friends re-united Dating' for Sky TV. Helen's theatre credits include: playing the role of Bridget in the highly acclaimed UK tour of Tim Firth's Safari Party; Alice Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington (Manchester Opera House); Princess Apricot in Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal Plymouth); Princess Apricot in Jack and the Beanstalk (Winsford Civic Theatre); Back to Broadway (UK Tour & Mexico); West End Story (UK Tour), the title role in Cinderella (Rose Theatre, Rugeley) and last year saw her play for the third time, yes you guessed it, Princess Apricot in Jack and the Beanstalk (Rose Theatre, Rugeley and Lakes Leisure, Kendal) for Tread Productions.

Before launching Tread with her husband, Graham Tudor, Helen decided to undertake further actor training in California and became a successful member of the TVI Actors Studio, Los Angeles. She also made time to make some ridiculous celebrity appearances by winning a plate on Ready Steady Cook (BBC) and singing to Ann Robinson as a contestant on the pantomime special of The Weakest Link (BBC). Helen likes to think of herself as an 'adopted scouser' having lived in Liverpool since the age of 17. In 2008, she was delighted to be invited to perform at Liverpool's Capital of Culture Opening week ceremony at the Liverpool Echo Arena in front of 10,000 people. Her passion for the city has also led her to enjoy work as a featured writer for The Mersey Partnership, VisitLiverpool and Liverpool's exclusive 'Waterfront' Magazine.

Helen's varied experience as a performer since a young age has always inspired her to encourage other young people to achieve their ambitions. Since the Tread Schools launched in 2007, Helen has loved every second of helping to nurture and develop students from the age of 5 to 21 and having recognised their increasing potential, Helen launched Tread Management in 2012 - an exclusive agency for Tread students, which has already achieved success in gaining professional engagements for many young actors.

Iestyn trained at Drama Centre London. Born into a Welsh speaking family in rural West Wales, Iestyn spent his childhood performing and competing in local and National Eisteddfods. At the age of 14 he became a member of Dawns Dyfed (a physical theatre company in Wales) which led to his first professional roles as an actor, going on to perform two tours with The National Youth Theatre of Wales (NYTW). Since graduating Iestyn has appeared in 'The List' (Rungano Nyoni's BAFTA Cymru winning short film) at The Arcola; The Old Vic Tunnels; The Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple; The Octagon, Bolton; The Lion and The Unicorn, Kentish Town, The King's Head, Islington and Wales Millennium Centre. Iestyn also had the pleasure of working with the original Pythons on Monty Python Live at The O2. In 2014, Iestyn moved into television and film and can be seen on S4C as David in Rownd a Rownd and on Netflix in the feature film, Burn, Burn, Burn. Recently, he has capitalised on his experience and moved into directing, developing a self-written TV series for Welsh television with Rondo Media. This is Iestyn's first time working in Liverpool, and is delighted for that chance to be at the Epstein.

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