Epstein - A New Play About The Man Who Made The Beatles

Bill Elms & Jen Heyes Productions Ltd

Present

EPSTEIN

Created by Jen Heyes &  Andrew Sherlock

(Sponsored by Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors)

A new play about the man who made The Beatles

A brand new play about one of Liverpool’s favourite sons and one of the world’s most successful music entrepreneurs is to premiere in Liverpool, in a year that celebrates 50 years since The Beatles came together and will be the first major production at the new Epstein Theatre. Students who have taken online college classes in
music may want to check out this production.

EPSTEIN is a long-awaited theatrical production celebrating the life of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein.  It is a one man multi-media play with live music, created by Jen Heyes and Andrew Sherlock, written by Andrew Sherlock, directed by Jen Heyes and runs from 15 November to 1 December 2012.

Brian Epstein was best known as a music entrepreneur and legendary manager of The Beatles and was the person responsible for their rise to mega-stardom all over the world. He also managed other popular artists such as Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer, The Foremost, The Dakotas and Cilla Black. 

Brian Epstein recalled meeting The Beatles: "I hadn't had anything to do with management of pop artists before that day that I went down to the Cavern Club and heard the Beatles playing... I was immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humour on stage - and even afterwards when I met them I was struck again by their personal charm. And it was there, that really, it all started."

Brian Epstein’s short life was crammed with success and controversy; he was an intelligent man whose prescience, taste, vision and passion left a lifelong impact on the world.  Born in Liverpool in 1934 to Jewish descent, he spent his early adult years working for the family business NEMS (North End Music Stores) before being drafted into the Royal Army Service Corps, after a brief stint in London joining RADA and living a more openly gay life he returned to Liverpool to manage the new NEMS city centre music store making it one of the biggest in the North. Not long after was the historic lunchtime visit to the famous Cavern Club to hear four Liverpool lads perform and the rest was history.  Brian had a passion for classical music and theatre and even leased the Saville Theatre in London.  Immense rapid success, busy schedules and constant touring took its toll on Brian and depression and recreational drugs set-in.  Brian Epstein died of a sleeping pill overdose in August 1967, he was aged just 32.  His death was immediately felt, while the Beatles continued to make magnificent music, their business affairs rapidly crumbled and by 1970 it was all over.

EPSTEIN is brought to you by the newly formed Bill Elms & Jen Heyes Productions Ltd (Tales from Haunted Liverpool, Tales From Charles Dickens), written by Andrew Sherlock (Wall Talks and The Shankly Show) and directed by Jen Heyes (Blood Wedding, I love Vinegar Vera and Wall Talks).

Co-Producer Bill Elms said “This production has been two years in the planning and it’s now time for Brian’s story to be told on stage, especially being the first main production at The Epstein Theatre and in the 50^th anniversary year of the Beatles. EPSTEIN will be a celebration and an education of one of Liverpool’s favourite sons. ”

Co-Producer and Director Jen Heyes added “EPSTEIN will transport our audiences back to the swinging sixties, a time when Liverpool was bursting with the Merseybeat, it’s a musical and visual journey through Brian’s life and told by the man himself.  As a director it has been exciting and creative to work with the brilliant writer Andrew Sherlock again, Andrew possesses a real skill for writing plays that bring to life strong, enigmatic characters  from the past by recreating the world in which they lived. ” 

Dave Pichilingi, CEO at The Epstein Theatre said “We are delighted to be hosting the world premiere of EPSTEIN (The Play).  Central to our core values at Epstein Theatre is delivering new and exciting work from creative and innovative writers and artists.  This fits our vision perfectly.  A piece of work that focuses on the story of Brian Epstein is long overdue.  We are proud to be the host and what better home than in the theatre where his journey began.”

The search is now on to find the finest actor to perform the role of Brian Epstein and auditions will also be held for a musician to perform many of the hits from bands/artists managed by Brian.

EPSTEIN is sponsored by Gregory Abrams Davidson solicitors (Matthew Street and Penny Lane) and generously supported by The Cavern.

LISTING INFORMATION

EPSTEIN

The Epstein Theatre

Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DY

Thu 15 November – Sat 1 December 2012

Preview Performances: 15-17 November 2012

Thu and Sat Matinees:  2.30pm | Mon – Sat Evenings: 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £10-£24 (Concessions Available)

Tickets on Sale: Friday 24 February at 9am.

How to Book:

Box Office: 0844 8000 400* Online at www.echoarena.com*

or in person at the Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool*

*Subject to booking fee. 

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Paul McCartney Announces Two Special Homecoming Shows

Have A Wonderful Christmas Time With Macca

Paul McCartney Announces Two Special Homecoming Shows

Saturday December 18^th – Live at the Apollo

HMV Apollo, Hammersmith, London

Monday December 20^th – Live at the Academy

O2 Academy, Liverpool

Tickets go on sale Wednesday December 8^th at 10am.

Tickets limited to four tickets per person.

National 24hr ticket hotline 08442 48 50 77 or online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

December 7^th 2010

Following a year of massive international-headline-grabbing sellout stadium shows, Paul McCartney today announces he will bring 2010 to a close with two very special intimate and personal homecoming shows. Paul and his band are planning two spectacular nights of celebrating and rock n’ roll in London and Liverpool to end the year on a massive high just as they did with their only UK show of 2009 last December at London’s O2 Arena.

The first of these two concerts will see Paul return to London’s Hammersmith Apollo for his first full solo show there in 35 years, his last appearance being with Wings in September 1975; Paul first appeared there with The Beatles on December 24^th, 1964 for The Beatles Christmas Show. The second concert will see Paul return to his roots as he travels home to Liverpool to play the 02 Academy for the first time in his unrivalled career. Paul’s last appearance in Liverpool was in June 2008 at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium as part of the cities celebration for their year as European Capital of Culture.

Speaking about the forthcoming shows Paul said:

“I always love playing to a home audience and for me it’s the perfect way to end the year. We’ve had great fun with the stadium shows this year and we’re looking forward to the more intimate vibe of these ones. Christmas is the perfect excuse for everyone to let their hair down and rock out. We are looking forward to celebrating with the good people of London and Liverpool”.

2010 has been another whirlwind of a year for Paul McCartney and if you thought he’d had done it all before, you’d be wrong! 2010 saw many career firsts for music’s most treasured icon including rocking The White House in front of President Barack Obama and his family in June when Paul was awarded with the prestigious Gershwin Prize For Popular Song (he was the first ever UK recipient). In January Paul announced plans for his all new ‘Up and Coming Tour’ which has taken Paul across America, the UK, Canada and more recently South America, breaking box office records along the way and winning incredible reviews from both fans and media. On Paul’s recent South American tour fans set up makeshift ‘McCartney Villages’ outside the stadiums in order to get themselves at the front of the crowds when the venues opened.

Paul played a handful of shows to quarter of a million people in the UK and Ireland this summer when his ‘Up and Coming Tour’ came to Dublin’s RDS, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, the Isle of Wight Festival, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and London’s Hyde Park.

Paul’s end of year shows will feature a typically diverse set list, drawing on nearly three hours of the world’s most loved music. Paul’s concert will include songs spanning his entire career, from The Beatles, Wings, solo material and tracks from The Fireman’s 2008 album ‘Electric Arguments’.

McCartney’s live shows have reached a new level of status in recent years, garnering unprecedented reviews from fans and critics alike. He’s pushed boundaries, performed to millions and made global news with monumental shows including performances in Moscow’s Red Square, outside of the Coliseum in Rome, the largest outdoor show ever in the Ukraine, his first performance in Tel Aviv, a live performance transmitted to a NASA space station, first ever festival appearances at Glastonbury and Coachella, traffic stopping roof top performances in New York, the inaugural run of shows at New York’s CitiField Stadium, the site of the former Shea Stadium where The Beatles played the 1965 concert that set the precedent for the modern-day stadium rock show, rocking The White House and the list goes on!

www.paulmccartney.com

Full ticket details:

Saturday December 18^th – Live at the Apollo

HMV Apollo, Hammersmith, London

Tickets priced: stalls standing £60.00; circle reserved seat £125.00 & £100.00; rear circle standing £50.00

London 24hr ticket hotline 08432 21 01 00

Monday December 20^th – Live at the Academy

O2 Academy, Liverpool

Tickets priced: standing £50.00

National 24hr ticket hotline 08442 48 50 77 or online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Tickets limited to four tickets per person and are subject to booking fees.

For further information on Hot Sound packages contact 08444 72 52 25

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LENNON REMEMBERED - The life and works - Echo Arena

Celebrating the Life and Works of John Lennon 9/10/40 – 9/12/80



Friends and artists unite to remember Liverpool’s most famous son.



Friends and artists who worked with the late, great John Lennon will come together for the first time in a historic memorial concert to commemorate 30 years since his untimely death. The one off concert entitled ‘LENNON REMEMBERED – The 9 Faces of John’ is being held at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Thursday 9th December at 8pm. It will present artists and friends who span the whole life and career of the ex-Beatle from Liverpool to New York.



The CMP Entertainment and Cavern Club production will focus on the significance that Lennon believed the number 9 had on his life. It will see 9 periods of John’s life represented by those who were there, including John’s first band The Quarrymen, the Beatles fellow Hamburg musician and lead vocalist on ‘My Bonnie’ Tony Sheridan, art school friend and editor of Mersey Beat Bill Harry and Beatles Press Officer, close friend and ex CEO of Apple Tony Bramwell. Also appearing are Joey Molland, guitarist with Apple signed Badfinger who played on Lennon’s Imagine, Grammy award winning sound engineer Dennis Ferrante who worked on a plethora of Lennon’s albums during his New York years, as well as Liverpool born actor Mark McGann who is famed for his honest and powerful portrayal of John both on stage and film. He will present a special performance of his award winning stage show, John Lennon – In My Life.



Co-event organiser and Cavern Club owner Bill Heckle says “Anyone who loves the music of John Lennon and The Beatles should not miss this night. You will be witnessing history with contributions from those who helped John create it.”



With more very special guests to be announced, one artist who will be stepping up to the stage to perform and share anecdotes on the night is Plastic Ono Band member Alan White who played drums on Lennon’s classic hits including ‘Instant Karma’ and ‘Imagine’.



Alan White says “working with John was truly one of the highpoints of my career. The world lost not only an amazing musician but a great man when he died and I’m honoured to be involved in such a fitting tribute to a dear friend.”



And if that wasn’t enough – US Beatles artist Shannon and artist to Hollywood stars has been drafted in to produce an exclusive piece of art entitled ‘The Nine Faces of John’. The professionally crafted piece will be used in the show to depict the stages of John’s life from Liverpool to his final days in New York.



Profits from the entire night are going to local charities Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, Radio City’s Cash For Kids and the Mathew Street Festival.



John’s sister Julia Lennon says “John would be very proud that the concert was bringing together so many of his friends and colleagues. I am delighted that ‘Lennon Remembered’ is such an historic and relevant tribute to my brother’s life and career. It’s wonderful that the proceeds for such a celebration can also give a little back to the city that he loved.”



Director of “LENNON REMEMBERED” Jon Keats said “We are pleased to be announcing the first guests for Lennon Remembered. Talks are ongoing with many more of John’s friends and fellow musicians so watch this space as it promises to be a memorable evening.”



PERFORMANCE DETAILS



LENNON REMEMBERED - The Nine Faces of John

Liverpool Echo Arena

Thursday 9 December,

Doors open 6:30pm, show starts 8pm.

Tickets: £27.50 (plus a limited number of higher priced gold circle tickets)

A limited number of Gold Circle tickets and VIP tickets are available. For VIP packages, including food, beverages and after-show hospitality please contact Jan Owen (0151 708 6050 / 07932 763107 janowen@cmplive.com)



LENNON REMEMBERED tickets are on sale now from:

Echo Arena (0844 8000 400) www.echoarena.com

Ticketmaster (0844 844 0444) www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Ticketline (0151 256 5555) www.ticketline.co.uk

See Tickets (0871 220 0260) www.seetickets.com

Gigantic (0115 959 7908) www.gigantic.com

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