Take a look inside the new Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot near Liverpool, ahead of its grand opening this month.
The venue is home to the only 17th-century style, timber-built 'cockpit' theatre outside London, able to seat 450. Built entirely during the pandemic thanks to public funds and donations, the new venue hopes to attract more than 140,000 visitors a year to the region.
Shakespeare North Playhouse will open its doors to the public with a weekend of free festivities July 15–17, forming part of Knowsley’s Borough of Culture celebrations.
Housed inside the energy-efficient building, the venue is also home to a fully-accessible outdoor performance garden funded by the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, exhibition gallery, 60-seater studio theatre, learning centre, events spaces and a café and bar with outdoor piazza.
It’s all inspired by Prescot’s "historic connections" to William Shakespeare and a love of storytelling. In the 1590s, a theatre stood in the town and hosted performances made possible by the Earl of Derby, at nearby Knowsley Hall. It is thought by some that it was the only purpose-built indoor playhouse outside London, and players brought with them new shows from a popular playwright of the day...