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What A Swell Party
Posted by Deborah Aydon on 15th Nov 2011 at 14:52 | 0 comments
We wanted the Playhouse’s centenary to be more than a celebration of the past: we wanted also to look to the future and launch the old girl into her second century. So the day began at 11.11am with storytelling for young children in the cosy confines of the Stalls Bar, and ended with a fundraising Gala which raised £22,000 towards developing new talent and new productions for both the Playhouse’s stages.
And for every second of the day the theatre was bustling and tingling with celebration.
As part of the Everyword festival which has possessed the Playhouse for two weeks, High Hearted Theatre, with four of our writers, created a clever and moving promenade piece that roamed throughout the building mixing fact and fiction to beautiful effect.
Over tea and cakes, with many old friends and colleagues, we launched the new book – Liverpool Playhouse, A Theatre and its City – which is packed with personal recollections and wonderful photographs from the Playhouse’s busy first century.
For the Gala party, we couldn’t have wished for a better show than The Ladykillers – perfect in every way, from script to performances to direction to design – to celebrate what the Playhouse does best. And finally, The Cake – a glorious four-foot model of the Playhouse in sponge, cream and icing – which had caused more lost sleep than any other element of the celebrations and had a technical rehearsal all of its own.
As we headed into the night in the wee small hours, feet aching but hearts soaring, we knew the old girl had enjoyed her party and were deeply moved to know how much she’s loved.
Deborah
Deborah Aydon
Executive Director
See the day in pictures here.
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