Liverpool Everyman celebrates 60th year with Shirley Valentine revival

Shirley Valentine will return to the Liverpool Everyman as part of the theatre’s 60th birthday celebrations from March 1 to March 29 2025.  

Willy Russell’s one woman show was originally commissioned and staged by the Everyman in 1986 for the theatre’s 21st birthday, with Noreen Kershaw in the title role.

The revival, directed by Stephen Fletcher, will star Liverpool actor Helen Carter, who has recently appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff at Liverpool’s Royal Court.

Russell, who also wrote Blood Brothers and Educating Rita, said: “I’m delighted to be back at the Everyman, a theatre that holds a special place in my heart." 

Russell added: "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”.

Everyman chief executive Mark Da Vanzo said: “Bringing Willy’s celebrated Shirley home is the perfect end to our 60th birthday year. It’s huge honour for us all to be working again with Willy after our revival of Educating Rita in 2015, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not just the Everyman’s past but look confidently to its future as well”.

Tickets to Shirley Valentine will be on sale from midday on May 1.