Liverpool Playhour began life as the Star Music Hall in 1866, and was converted to its current building in 1911 when the Liverpool Repertory Company formed, one of the first and soon one of the most prestigious reps in the country. In 1999, the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust was formed to create a joint management for the city's two major producing theatres both the Liverpool Playhouse and also the Liverpool Everyman. Since then, the theatres have been on a remarkable journey, described as "a theatrical renaissance on Merseyside" (Observer). At the Playhouse, the focus is on bold, theatrical productions of classic plays. Last year, as part of our celebrations as European Capital of Culture, we transferred a new version of Tartuffe by Roger McGough to The Rose in Kingston, co-produced Boeing-Boeing for a national tour and produced a major new musical Once Upon a Time At The Adelphi. Of our 10 new productions, two new musicals and four are transferring to London and beyond. In 2009 at the Playhouse we welcome some of the countries greatest touring work as well as a co-production of Arthur Miller's The Price.
