Reaping the benefit

Mar 27 2008 by Mark Thomas, Liverpool Daily Post

JUST three months into our year as Capital of Culture, and I think you will agree that we are already reaping the benefits.

After the spectacular launch in January, the arts programme really has been hotting up and highlights so far have included the staging of Emilia di Liverpool, the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibition at Tate Liverpool, and the city having the proud honour of hosting this year’s National Holocaust Memorial Day.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of announcing another culture year coup for Liverpool, with the news that the Globe Theatre of London would be coming to Liverpool to perform William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale in St James’ Gardens, in the shadow of the Anglican Cathedral.

It prompted Alice Kemp, of Woolton, to email us.

She says: “Of all the events that have happened in recent times, as part of Liverpool being the European Capital of culture, this seems to be the most important.

“Many think that the Globe Theatre is the best at performing Shakespeare’s work.

“To have both staged in Liverpool and in the gardens beneath the Anglican Cathedral, is wonderful.

“When we learned that Liverpool was to be the Capital of Culture, this was the sort of thing we hoped for.”

Elsewhere this week, and debate has been raging about the £12m refurbishment and relaunch of one of the city’s oldest establishments, the Bluecoat, which we previewed in the paper on March 13. Reader Simon Taylor wrote to us shortly afterwards to complain about the lack of warmth in the new centre, saying: “The internal space of the centre of the old building has been adapted for new uses in a way that does little to show off the style of the building.”

However, Jayne Garner, of Wavertree, firmly disagrees. She writes: “I attended the opening day events (at the Bluecoat) and thought the building looked absolutely stunning. The new reception area is stylish and welcoming, the extension is inspiring and the artist spaces are a great way to ensure the creative element of the Bluecoat is sustained. The new Bluecoat is a wonderful resource for Liverpool.”

We hit a couple of wrong notes in our coverage of the Buddy Holly tribute performance at the Philharmonic Hall. The article incorrectly stated that members of what would become the Searchers, the Swinging Blue Jeans and Bill Kenwright were among the audience for last week's shows; they were, of course, in the audience for the original performances in 1958. Regrettably, the name of Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly, was also mis-spelled in the article, due to an error in the pre-event press release.

Finally, in Tuesday’s Daily Post, in our special report into the forthcoming town hall elections headed “Council elections – battle lines drawn”, it stated that Fazakerley ward was currently held by the Liberal Democrats. However, Cllr Jack Spriggs contacted us to correct this. He writes: “The electors in Fazakerley Ward returned my colleague Cllr Steve Rotheram as their representative last year with an overwhelming majority, joining Labour colleagues Cllr Dave Hanratty and I.”