World Premiere Of BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL Opens At Liverpool Empire

The world premiere of the new stage play By The Waters Of Liverpool opened at the Liverpool Empire on Wednesday night. The play is the long-awaited sequel to Helen Forrester's much-loved Twopence To Cross The Mersey - it is the first time the book has been brought to life on stage.

A cast of much-loved actors give outstanding performances. Some return to their roles with the Forrester family, Maria Lovelady as Helen, Emma Dears as Helen's Mother, and Mark Moraghan as Helen's Father.

Maria Lovelady received rave reviews for her portrayal in the lead role of Helen Forrester, she will resume the part having played the role three times. Emma Dears returned to play Helen's Mother, having performed alongside Maria in the new stage plays of Twopence since 2015. Mark Moraghan plays Helen's Father. He previously played the role in 2007 and 2009.

The cast also includes Eric Potts, Stephanie Dooley, Lynn Francis, Roy Carruthers, Danny O'Brien - who all appeared in Pulse Records' recent production, Lennon's Banjo. They are joined by Emily Hughes as Fiona and Nathan McMullen as Alan, both are previous members of the Liverpool Everyman Company and complete the Forrester family.

The play follows the smash-hit success of Helen Forrester's Twopence To Cross The Mersey and is being brought to audiences by the team behind both the musical and stage play versions of the award-winning true story.

More than 170,000 people have seen Twopence To Cross The Mersey since it was premiered, and now the long-awaited sequel visits the theatre where it all began at the Liverpool Empire.

By the age of 17, Helen had fought and won two bitter battles with her parents - the first to educate herself, the second for the right to go out to work. Her parents are as financially irresponsible as ever, wasting money while their children still lack adequate food and clothing. But for Helen, things are looking up as she begins to make new friends and develop some social life outside the home.

By The Waters Of Liverpool takes us to the next chapter in Helen's life. It's now 1939, Britain is on the brink of war, Helen is now aged 20 and has never been kissed by a man. That is until she meets a tall, strong seaman. And falls in love.

Rob Fennah has written both the stage play versions of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and By The Waters Of Liverpool. This next chapter in Helen Forrester's life story is once again produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms. The play will be directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

Director Gareth Tudor Price commented: "It is fascinating to see the next book in Helen's series brought to life by such a talented cast, who are truly passionate about Helen's story. We're excited to bring By The Waters Of Liverpool to the Liverpool Empire stage, where it all began for Twopence To Cross The Mersey more than 24 years ago. Helen Forrester still has a loyal fan base, so we're looking forward to welcoming avid readers of her books to join us for the premiere."

Writer Rob Fennah added: "This adaptation of By the Waters Of Liverpool also features a sizeable chunk from Liverpool Miss, Helen's second volume of autobiography, together with a few flashbacks to Twopence for those who didn't see the previous show."

Helen Forrester's son, Robert Bhatia, concluded: "My wife Dianne and I are very excited to be travelling from our home in Canada to see By the Waters of Liverpool on Sunday, 7 October, at the Liverpool Empire Theatre - a place very close to my mother's heart. Having attended Twopence To Cross The Mersey in 2015, I know this new production will prove to be a huge success. The partnership between Rob Fennah and my mother, Helen, and her legacy has been outstanding, and the fantastic cast of his new stage play adaptation will be both convincing and compelling as they take on the personas of my family."

By The Waters Of Liverpool by Helen Forrester has sold more than a million books. Now this is your chance to see it come to life on stage in this exciting new stage play adaptation.

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