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New production of Helen Forrester’s ‘Twopence To Cross The Mersey’ embarks on UK tour in four weeks

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twopence to cross the mersey

National UK Premiere Tour opens at New Brighton Floral Pavilion 

Exciting new cast features Mark Moraghan, Lynn Francis, Parry Glasspool, Jenny Murphy and Daniel Taylor 

Show will visit 15 venues between September and November 2022

The first UK national tour of Helen Forrester’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey opens in four weeks in Wirral – a place which features heavily in Helen’s million-selling books and where the celebrated author spent some of her childhood.

Twopence To Cross The Mersey UK Premiere Tour 2022 opens this September in Wirral, running throughout the Autumn until mid-November. The hit stage drama has been revamped and updated as it gears up to visit 15 venues nationwide. 

The tour opens on Tuesday 6 September at the New Brighton Floral Pavilion in Wirral, before visiting Rhyl, Stockport, Crewe, St Helens, Blackpool, Warrington, Darlington, Halifax, Croydon, Coventry, Lichfield, Bolton, and Southport. The tour closes in Liverpool. 

The new touring production of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms and directed by Gareth Tudor Price. 

The 9-strong cast will play more than 40 characters – they are Mark Moraghan, Daniel Taylor, Parry Glasspool, Jenny Murphy, Lynn Francis, Lynne Fitzgerald, Robert Hudson, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald.

Five of the cast members – Mark, Parry, Lynn, Roy and Chloe – have appeared in its sister show By The Waters Of Liverpool. 

Millions of people around the world know Helen Forrester’s life story told through her best-selling volumes of autobiography, Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Liverpool Miss, By The Waters Of Liverpool, and Lime Street At Two. 

Helen’s literary achievements were further celebrated in 2020 when an iconic Blue Plaque was unveiled at the late author’s family home in Hoylake on the Wirral, a place which featured heavily in her work. 

The popular stage adaptation of Twopence To Cross The Mersey has been updated by writer Rob Fennah, who enjoyed a long friendship with Helen Forrester. Through their meeting of creative minds, Rob adapted Helen’s book into a stage musical in 1994 which was premiered at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Helen travelled from her home in Edmonton, Canada, to see her story brought to life on stage.

Rob went on to develop Twopence into a straight stage play which premiered in Liverpool in 2015, before touring England’s North West in 2016. Helen died in Edmonton in 2011.

This year’s nationwide tour of Twopence To Cross The Mersey will be followed by a tour of By The Waters Of Liverpool in Spring 2023, the next instalment in Helen’s life story.

Playwright and producer Rob Fennah explained: “We first announced this UK Premiere Tour for the new stage adaptation back in January – now the scripts have been handed to the cast and creative teams and we’re just four weeks away from opening. As soon as we go into rehearsals, we’ll all be counting down the days until we can get back on stage and bring Helen’s wonderful words to life once more. 

“Like so many other touring productions, lockdown closed By The Waters Of Liverpool shortly after opening. It was a huge blow to the team and audiences alike. So we have taken the opportunity to update the stage production of Twopence and take the play on its first national UK Tour. Helen has fans worldwide, and this way we can take Helen’s story a little closer to them. It’s going to be a very special experience for everyone involved – we’re all custodians of her incredibly honest writing that everyone can relate to, especially given today’s difficult economic climate.” 

Mark Moraghan will play John Forrester (Helen’s father). Mark previously played ‘Father’ in the 2007 and 2009 adaptations of Twopence To Cross The Mersey, and reprised the role in the follow-up stage drama of Helen’s book By The Waters Of Liverpool in 2018 and 2020. Mark is best known for his roles in Holby CityCoronation Street and Brookside.

Daniel Taylor plays Mr Ferris and is also part of the Ensemble. He is an award-winning actor, producer and director, and was most recently seen on stage in Blood Brothers. Daniel appeared at Liverpool Theatre Festival 2020 in his show The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper, and returned the following year in Something About George – The George Harrison Story.

Parry Glasspool will play Helen’s brother Alan. He is best known for playing Harry Thompson in Hollyoaks. He was born and raised in the Midlands, before moving to London to study for his BA Hons in Acting for Stage and Media at the University of West London. After five years, Parry made a dramatic exit from Hollyoaks in 2020 when he was murdered.

After an open call for auditions to find Helen, Jenny Murphy was awarded the role. Jenny wowed the panel and now joins the touring production. She trained at Mount view Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre credits include Oliver Twist, Pride & Prejudice, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Jungle Book, Cilla – The Musical, Julius Caesar, The Little Match Girl, and The Decameron.

Lynn Francis plays Helen’s mother Celia Forrester, Roy Carruthers (Ensemble), and Chloe McDonald (Ensemble) – and all return having appeared in previous stage productions of Helen Forrester books presented by Pulse Records Limited. 

Lynne Fitzgerald plays Mrs Foster and (Ensemble), and Robert Hudson (Ensemble) complete the cast. Both are appearing for the first time in a Helen Forrester adaptation. 

This year’s nationwide tour of Twopence To Cross The Mersey will be followed by a tour of By The Waters Of Liverpool in Spring 2023. 

Adapted by Rob Fennah   ·   Directed by Gareth Tudor Price

Produced by Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms

Fully endorsed by the Helen Forrester Estate

 

Website:         www.twopencetocrossthemersey.com

Facebook:       www.facebook.com/TwopenceThePlay

 

LISTING INFORMATION

 

HELEN FORRESTER’S TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY

 

FLORAL PAVILION

Tuesday 6 September – Sunday 11 September 2022

Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 2JS

Website:         www.floralpavilion.com

Box Office:      0151 666 0000

 

RHYL PAVILION

Wednesday 14 September – Friday 17 September 2022

East Parade, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3AQ

Website:         www.rhylpavilion.co.uk

Box Office:      01745 330000

 

STOCKPORT PLAZA

Monday 19 September – Tuesday 20 September 2022

Mersey Square, Stockport, SK1 1SP

Website:         www.stockportplaza.co.uk

Box Office:      0161 477 7779

 

CREWE LYCEUM

Wednesday 21 September – Saturday 24September 2022

Heath Street, Crewe, CW1 2DA

Website:         www.crewelyceum.co.uk

Box Office:      0343 310 0050

 

ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL

Tuesday 27 September – Saturday 1 October 2022

Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1LQ

Website:         www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

Box Office:      01744 756000

 

GRAND THEATRE BLACKPOOL

Tuesday 4 October – Thursday 6 October 2022

33 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HT

Website:         www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Box Office:      01253 290190

 

WARRINGTON PARR HALL

Saturday 8 October – Sunday 9 October 2022

Palmyra Square, Warrington, WA1 1BL

Website:         parrhall.culturewarrington.org/whats-on

Box Office:      01925 442345

 

DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Tuesday 11 October – Wednesday 12 October 2022

Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RR

Website:         www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Box Office:      01325 405405

 

HALIFAX VICTORIA

Thursday 13 October – Friday 14 October 2022

Fountain Street, Halifax, HX1 1BP

Website:         www.victoriatheatre.co.uk

Box Office:      01422 351158

 

CROYDON FAIRFIELD HALLS

Monday 17 October – Tuesday 18 October 2022

Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG

Website:         www.bhlivetickets.co.uk

Box Office:      0300 500 0595

 

COVENTRY ALBANY

Wednesday 19 October – Friday 21 October 2022

Albany Road, Coventry, CV5 6JQ

Website:         www.albanytheatre.co.uk

Box Office:      024 7699 8964

 

LICHFIELD GARRICK

Saturday 22 October – Sunday 23 October 2022

Castle Dyke, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6HR

Website:         www.lichfieldgarrick.com

Box Office:      01543 412121

 

BOLTON ALBERT HALLS

Tuesday 25 October – Thursday 27 October 2022

Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU

Website:         www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk

Box Office:      0343 208 0500

 

SOUTHPORT ATKINSON

Tuesday 1 November – Friday 4 November 2022

Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB

Website:         www.theatkinson.co.uk

Box Office:      01704 533333

 

EPSTEIN THEATRE LIVERPOOL

Saturday 5 November – Saturday 12 November 2022

85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Website:         www.epsteintheatre.co.uk

Box Office:      0844 888 9991

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