Culture explosion Liverpool on a world stage

Jul 2 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Five million people have joined in 08 events which have put Liverpool on a world stage. Vicky Anderson reports

LIVERPOOL’S place on the national and international stage is being cemented by the phenomenal success of its theatres, galleries and museums this year.

By the weekend, more than five million people will have taken part in a cultural event since the start of the year.

And the greatly anticipated Clipper Race coming into the Mersey at the weekend, and Tall Ships following later in the month, are sure to provide a significant boost.

Culture Company director Kris Donaldson said: "If you asked me a few years ago if we’d be getting this sort of attention – I wouldn’t have even thought this six months ago.

"The national and international reaction is everything we wanted and has gone way beyond my expectations, and there’s still a lot ahead, still a lot of exciting events."

Working with tourist organisation Visit Britain and the expansion of air links across Europe thanks to budget airlines Ryanair and Easyjet have helped to raise Liverpool’s profile – and the help of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and support of the families of George Harrison and John Lennon couldn’t have hurt either.

Mr Donaldson adds: "The opening event was a global showcase, but we didn’t count on the sort of exposure we got – we had a spectacular start to the year.

"We’re not going to rest on our laurels. This is a moment in time for the city and we have really got to make the most out of it.

"Liverpool has really had a tough 40 years and it’s about time people really got that confidence again."

Some of the theatrical highlights of 2008 have come courtesy of the Everyman and Playhouse theatres, whose successes so far include the Chekhov adaptation Three Sisters on Hope Street and Roger McGough’s reworking of French classic Tartuffe.

Currently, the Playhouse is staging its first musical, Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi, and the coming autumn season will bring Pete Postlethwaite back to the Everyman, where he began his career, to take on the role of King Lear.

Like Tate Liverpool (see side panel), organisers say the programme would not have been possible without Capital of Culture status – and not necessarily because of increased budgets.

Deborah Aydon, executive director of the Everyman and Playhouse, explains: "For us, 2008 has been the opportunity for us to take what we do to another level. We’re not doing something radically different, but just on a bigger scale, with more chutzpah.

"It absolutely would not have happened without Capital of Culture status. Certainly because there was a little extra investment, but also it has been about that imaginative spark.

"For example, Roger McGough had never adapted a play for the stage and was apprehensive about Tartuffe, but wanted to be a part of Capital of Culture, so he dared himself to go that little bit further and give it a whirl.

"This year we have been able to produce a musical, which is such an expensive endeavour and not something we’ve ever been able to do. It is exciting for us and great for our audience."

National Museums Liverpool (NML) has had over a million visitors so far this year across its eight venues including World Museum Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum and the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.

Visitors to the Maritime Museum have increased the most significantly, by more than 60% on the same time frame last year.

The Walker’s two current exhibitions, Ben Johnson’s Liverpool Cityscape and Art in the Age of Steam, are popular with Merseysiders and tourists alike.

NML director David Fleming, said: "From our specific point of view things are going very well in that more people are coming and visiting museums and art galleries than ever before.

"This year is doing two things so far – more local people are getting involved in activities, and there is a lot of discussion about Liverpool nationally and internationally, which all helps improve the image of the place and in turn makes it more likely people will want to visit."

The rest of the year’s programme for NML includes The Beat Goes on, which opens this month and spans 60 years of Liverpool music.

"The biggest thing for us coming up is the new Museum of Liverpool, which we hope will be open by 2010 and will transform the cultural landscape," Dr Fleming continued.

"Liverpool can become a major European player as a result of 2008. It would have taken a lot longer had it not been for Capital of Culture."

July is set to be the city’s busiest month yet, with attractions including the Open at Royal Birkdale, the continuing Summer Pops and Go Superlambananas festivities, the UK's only annual Arabic Arts Festival and the Brouhaha Street Festival all taking place.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk