MEMORIES and folklore, as told by Kirkby residents, are being woven into a play performed on the Everyman stage.

Spirits of the Stone, by Liverpool playwright Laurence Wilson, was formed from reminiscence sessions held last autumn with individuals and community groups from the area.

The fast-paced story follows three generations of the Glover family on a rollercoaster adventure from the Liverpool Blitz to the modern days of a strong community who stand tall and proud and ready for anything.

“I have immensely enjoyed working with the people of Kirkby, discovering their stories, mythical legends and rich history and weaving them into a play that I’m very proud of,” says Wilson.

“The cast are fantastic – they have given so much and made the play truly entertaining.

“It has been a joy to watch them work together and become a family.

“The play is ultimately about unity and they have demonstrated their unity from the outset.”

Following open auditions held in Knowsley last November, a cast of 20 people, aged 14 to 83, have been developing performance skills and rehearsing the play over the past 10 weeks.

They will perform it as a full production at the Everyman on Friday and Saturday.

The project is a partnership between Liverpool Everyman and Knowsley Arts and Heritage Service. Rebecca Ross-Williams, the theatre’s community director, says: “We have developed work everyone is excited about, instilling neighbourhood pride and community cohesion. We treasure the relationships we have made.”