Hidden cathedral sights to take up centre stage

Apr 7 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Hidden cathedral sights to take up centre stage

A DRAMATIC performance with a difference gets under way at Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral from today, with the world premiere of a major artistic commission for Capital of Culture year.

The production, One Step Forward One Step Back, will take small groups on an atmospheric journey to areas of the cathedral previously unseen by the public, including the rarely visited rooftop.

The show was devised by the internationally acclaimed theatre company dreamthinkspeak, which uses real locations as a vital part of the experience.

One Step Forward One Step Back uses models, film, music and live action, and draws together a company of 60 professional performers, local students, designers and technicians.

Chris Tomlinson, a Liverpool-based freelance actor and director, who is the assistant director of the new production, said: “The company specialises in work in specific locations on a worldwide basis.”

Mr Tomlinson said the production was inspired by the hymn Jerusalem, and by Dante’s Divine Comedy.

He added: “The performance has been designed as a journey for the audience, as opposed to something you might see in the Everyman or Unity theatre, and 95% of that journey is in parts of the cathedral that are normally out of access to the public.

“There are refer- ences to Liverpool all the way through.”

Performances take place every day until May 10, except Sun- days and on April 30 and May 1. The production lasts about an hour, and admission is by timed entries in small groups.

Tickets are available from the 08 Place Whitechapel, or by calling 0844 8000 410 or visiting the website acc liverpool.com

alanweston