Channelling the spirit of football legend Bill Shankly

Apr 24 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Sandy West as Bill Shankly _320

ACTOR Sandy West stepped into the shoes of Liverpool FC legend Bill Shankly, ahead of his performance as the great man in a sold out, one-off show tonight.

West is the star of The Shankly Show, a one-man play about the career of the man widely revered as one of the greatest football managers of all time.

It receives its gala premiere this evening at the Liverpool Olympia, having been commissioned especially for 2008 by the Culture Company.

West has come late to the role, having been called to Liverpool to take the part just eight days ago.

Producers had held auditions in Liverpool and Glasgow in a bid to find someone who could truly embody the spirit of Shankly. The original choice for the role dropped out last week due to scheduling commitments.

West, a 56-year-old Scot, put everything on hold to immediately come to Merseyside to start rehearsing.

Liverpool FC fan Andrew Sherlock penned the show, which will be 45 minutes each half – the first in black and white and the second in colour.

Producers describe it as an “epic celebration of a Liverpool hero”.

* FOR Mike Chapple’s review of The Shankly Show, see tomorrow’s Daily Post.