Hunt for an actor who can fill Bill Shankly’s boots

Jan 16 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Bill Shankly - The man of the people (200)

HE REGULARLY tops polls of the greatest football managers and is revered more than 26 years after his death.

It’s a daunting task to fill the shoes of Bill Shankly – but now the hunt is on to find someone who can do just that.

The makers of a new one-man play about the life and times of the legendary manager want nominations for a lookalike and soundalike to take on the demanding role.

Liverpool FC fan Andrew Sherlock penned the show, which will be 45 minutes each half: the first in black and white with half time oranges, the second half in colour, and possibly set in Anfield’s boot room.

It will have its world premiere at Liverpool Olympia on April 24, with possibly a second show before going on tour.

The theatrical event will recreate the golden age of 1960s and 1970s football and is being developed in collaboration with ITV Granada.

For Wavertree-based theatre director Andrew, 43, bringing Shankly’s story to life has been a labour of love.

But he says the success or failure of the production will depend on who will portray the iconic figure.

“It’s got to be exactly right, which means a frighteningly real recreation of the man himself so people in the audience will think, ‘that’s him!,” Andrew said.

“It’s a phenomenal job to ask of someone to hold the stage at this 1,200-seat venue for the gala performance.

“They will need to be rock solid and to have that self-belief of a messianic, iconic figure.

“We need more than an impersonator - it’s got to be an actor who can embody the spirit of Shankly with his passion for Liverpool, the city, and its people. He was the city’s first great urban regenerator.”

The “interactive multimedia documentary theatre” will feature digital recording technology and giant projection screens.

An Audience with Bill Shankly is one of 14 commissions for 2008 from the Liverpool Culture Company’s Liverpool strand of commissions, exclusively to ensure small to medium-sized Merseyside-based companies are involved in the year’s events. Do you look and sound like Bill Shankly or do you know someone who does? Is there an actor or personality you would like to see in the role?

Contact 0845 833 2404 or info@footballinglegends.com, or write to: Footballing Legends Ltd. Liverpool Science Park, 131 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TF.

Tickets go on sale on Friday and will be available from www.ticketline.co.uk, or by contacting Liverpool Olympia on 0151 263 6633.

alanweston