Peter Mullan will be the beloved ex-Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in Red or Dead, adapted from David Peace's novel and directed by Philip Breen at Liverpool's Royal Court, with Les Dennis, Gordon Kennedy and Allison McKenzie also starring.
Brought to Liverpool from Preston to fire the red heat of a revolution, Bill Shankly had one aim: to build Liverpool Football Club up and up until they were invincible. Promotion, the first division title, the FA Cup and success in Europe all followed as Shankly defined what it was to be a Liverpool fan. He demanded total loyalty from his players and coaches, a loyalty that he hoped would be repaid when he retired.
The full cast will comprise George Jones (Eastenders, The Mousetrap, Homebaked: The Musical) as Ian St John, Matthew Devlin (Gwed, Little Boy Blue) as Kevin Keegan, Les Dennis (Coronation Street, Death in Paradise, Moving On) as various LFC Chairmen, Paul Duckworth (Backbeat, The Netherley Hillbillies) as Eamonn Andrews and Roy Plomley, Keith Fleming (Macbeth, Outlander, The Railway Man) as Jock Stein and Jimmy McInne, Gordon Kennedy (Robin Hood, The Halcyon, Final prayer) as Matt Busby, Oliver Mawdsley (Boys From the Blackstuff) as Joe Fagan, Emlyn Hughes and other players, Allison McKenzie (Line of Duty, the RSC) as Ness Shankly, Peter Mullan (Ozark, Rings of Power, Westworld) as Bill Shankly, Liam Powell-Berry (Boys From the Blackstuff, Moving On) as Phil Taylor and Ron Yeats, Dickon Tyrrell (Law & Order, The Trials of Tony Blair) as Bob Paisley and Jhanaica Van Mook (Sweet Charity, Carrie) as Cilla.
Other parts will be played by members of the cast, plus there will be a community company of people from Liverpool.
Red or Dead will run at Liverpool's Royal Court from 21 March to 19 April 2025.