Lizzie Nunnery

Lizzie has a long and rich history with our theatres. As an early graduate of the YEP Writers programme and one of the three Henry Cotton Writers on Attachment, she encapsulates our commitment to nurturing new talent.

Her previous productions with us include The Sum and Intemperance at the Everyman and Narvik and The Swallowing Dark at the Playhouse Studio. Over the years, Lizzie has also contributed many short sharings, works in progress and rehearsed readings at our Everyword new writing festivals.

In 2009, Lizzie became Co-Artistic Director of the female-led theatre company Almanac Arts. Her company has worked with musicians, writers, actors and visual artists across Merseyside and beyond, to create music and live literature events that blur the boundaries between theatre, concert, performance poetry and visual art.

We love her work.

w: almanacarts.wordpress.com
t: @lizzienunnery | @AlmanacArts
i: almanacarts

Archive //

★★★★★ 
“Magnificent” 
Northern Soul on The Sum

★★★★ 
“Another winner for the Everyman’s new company” 
Liverpool ECHO on The Sum

★★★★ 
“It's classic Everyman”
 What'sOnStage on The Sum

Reviews // Trailer // Production gallery // Rehearsal gallery

Cast
Patrick Brennan as Alan McClasker, George Caple as Paul Walsh, Pauline Daniels as Iris Brennan, Laura Dos Santos as Eve Brennan, Emily Hughes as Lisa Brennan, Tom Kanji as Ismael Tengku, Asha Kingsley as Faisa Ahmed, Melanie La Barrie as Theresa Tago, Dean Nolan as Bryn Hughes, Zelina Rebeiro as Gabi Kalnietis, Keddy Sutton as Steph O’Sullivan, Liam Tobin as Danny Scott

★★★★★
"The Everyman's new writing programme has unearthed a talent worth celebrating - I can only urge you to get thee to a Nunnery"
The Guardian on Intemperance

★★★★
"There is much to recommend this piece of theatre that demands you pause for breath, particularly at a time of such rapid change"
Metro on Intemperance

"Lizzie Nunnery has written a play filled with a depth and poignancy"
The Stage on Intemperance

“It is a very beautiful play that questions our own attitudes towards the dehumanising impact of extreme poverty in an aggressively aspirational and class-bound society. In 1854 Liverpool was spending thousands of pounds on completing this glorious hall on St George’s Plateau, while in the adjoining streets thousands of people were dying from Cholera in the poor conditions of the cellar slums. Yet, who today would be without the magnificent St George’s Hall?” Director Gemma Bodinetz on Intemperance

Other reviews //

“Nunnery’s dialogue is robust, her eye for detail is keen and her ear is attuned to the elasticity of language”
The Independent

To Have to Shoot Irishmen
Trailer // Reviews // Rehearsal photographs // Production photographs

★★★★
"Compelling, at times almost poetic, storytelling"
Liverpool ECHO on Narvik

★★★★
"A thrillingly theatrical encapsulation of a little-known theatre of war"
The Guardian on Narvik

"An excellent piece of work"
Liverpool Sound and Vision on Narvik

Narvik was a Box of Tricks production in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse. It was developed with support from the Everyman & Playhouse Talent Fund.
WINNER Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards 2016

★★★★
“One still suspects that Nunnery has larger plays bubbling up inside her”
The Guardian on The Swallowing Dark

★★★★
“Her ever-emerging skill as a writer is fast seeing Nunnery develop as one of the finest dramatist this city has produced for a generation”
Liverpool Daily Post on The Swallowing Dark

★★★★
“Lizzie Nunnery’s taut and terse two-hander defies black and white thinking”
What’sOnStage on The Swallowing Dark

The première of The Swallowing Dark marked the first time that the Studio space had been used for performances at the Playhouse since 1996. Originally opened in 1969, the Playhouse Studio has acted as a crucible for creativity alongside the programme of the main house. Over the years it has been a platform for a host of directors, actors and writers including Ramin Gray, Pip Broughton, Ian Hart, Andrew Schofield, Heidi Thomas, Jonathan Harvey and Alan Bleasdale.

★★★★
"A very fine example of how theatre can top journalism as a means of raising debate"
The Guardian on Unprotected

“An unmissable theatre experience and a tremendous achievement"
The Stage on Unprotected

“A gripping and …illuminating piece of theatre”
Liverpool Daily Post on Unprotected

Unprotected had its world première at the Everyman in March 2006. A deeply moving and resonant piece of theatre that tackled the contentious issue of Liverpool’s plans for a managed zone for street sex workers. Such was the local and national acclaim, it demanded a wider audience and transferred to the Edinburgh Festival in August the same year, appearing at the Traverse theatre.