Liverpool Everyman's 60th anniversary celebrations will include the homecoming of Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine, which premièred at the Everyman in 1986, commissioned for the theatre's 21st birthday starring Noreen Kershaw with Glen Walford directing.
The revival, running from 1 to 29 March 2025, will star Helen Carter as Shirley and be directed by Stephen Fletcher. Shirley once had a zest for life, but at 42 is left with an empty nest, an emotionally distant husband and only ‘the wall’ for company. When her best friend offers the trip of a lifetime to Greece, can Shirley’s dreams of a life less ordinary finally come true?
Russell's association with the Everyman began in 1974 with John Paul George Ringo… & Bert, which transferred to the West End and won numerous awards, followed by Breezeblock Park (1975) and Stags and Hens (1978).
He said, “I’m delighted to be back at the Everyman, a theatre that holds a special place in my heart. As it has done for so many writers, actors and directors in its 60-year history, the Everyman gave me my first opportunities as a writer. I can’t wait to work with Helen and Stephen on bringing the play back home and seeing Shirley strut her stuff across the boards on which she was born.”
Shirley Valentine will be on general sale from midday on Wednesday 1 May (priority booking from midday on Friday 26 April).