Friday 10 June 2022

For this year’s iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll panto, we’re on the look-out for fresh new talent. If you’re a brilliant actor, vocalist or musician from or working in Liverpool City Region then we’d love to hear from you!

Since it began in the 1980s, the Everyman’s celebrated rock ‘n’ roll panto has been packed with musical hits performed by a company of supremely talented actor musicians. This year Suba Das, our new Creative Director, will be directing a new version of Red Riding Hood written by Peter Rowe, former Everyman Artistic Director and writer of numerous Rock 'n' Roll pantos. Together with Musical Director Rob Green they’re looking for vocalists and musicians to bring their musical skills to this year’s show.
 
As Suba explains:
“It’s important to me that people of all backgrounds and lived experiences in Liverpool see themselves represented on our stages; and that's especially important at Christmas time. We're very aware at the Everyman of the elitism that still exists in traditional theatre training routes and so this year and going forwards we want to find new ways to reach out to talented people in Liverpool who may not realise they absolutely have what it takes to be part of our rock'n'roll panto company. I'm really proud to have assembled a truly world-class creative team - many of whom have trained and made work in Liverpool over the past twenty years before careers in the West End and beyond. Our team love this city, and we're all up for working closely and collaboratively with any incredible music-makers we find through our open call who have the stage presence and silliness to help us create a magical Christmas.”
 
MD Rob Green added:
“We’re looking for the usual core ensemble of keys, drums, guitar, bass guitar, but keen to meet performers who play a range of alternative instruments too; including Cajon and Djembe drums, clarinet and sax, plus beat boxers, loopers and violin. You would ideally have live gigging experience and/or be comfortable learning parts through lead sheets/chord charts and listening to guides and recordings.”

 
If you don’t have an agent and think you’ve got what it takes musically, then you can register your interest and send a self-tape via everymanplayhouse/panto-open-call where there’s more information.

The multi-award-winning Creative Team assembled for Red Riding Hood blends together the brilliance of past Rock 'n' Roll pantos with inventive new voices.  Writer Peter Rowe has written eleven record-breaking Rock 'n' Roll pantos and makes a welcome to Liverpool after 25 years having previously been Artistic Director at the Everyman and most recently at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich. Lucy Cullingford was Choreographer for the Rock 'n' Roll panto back in 2001 and 2002 and has since worked extensively for the RSC, National Theatre and on numerous West End and Broadway shows, including Constellations. Regulars of numerous past pantos, the theatres’ resident Sound Designer Ian Davies and Costume Supervisor Jacquie Davies, together with actor Adam Keast also make a welcome return. 
 
Suba Das is the new Creative Director at the Everyman & Playhouse and this will be the first production he directs in his new role. Designing Red Riding Hood is LIPA Graduate Grace Smart, whose credits include work at The Globe, Curve Leicester, Nottingham Playhouse and Donmar Warehouse. Musical Director and Arranger Rob Green is a singer, songwriter, performer and musical director from Nottingham based in Leeds who has toured the UK and Europe performing as a solo artist and supporting the Whitney Houston Hologram Arena Tour and Earth, Wind and Fire on their UK and France Arena Tour. For the first time the Rock 'n' Roll panto will have a dedicated Circus Director in Jack Horner, who has worked with Cirque Du Soleil and Disney, as well as Moulin Rouge! The Musical in London’s West End.
 
Red Riding Hood opens at the Everyman on 25 November until 14 January and as ever you can expect anarchic adventures, plenty of pop classics, a little bit of naughtiness and lots of glitter.
Tickets priced from £15 to £40 with discounts (subject to availability) The Rock 'n' Roll panto is always a sparkling sell-out, so book early to avoid disappointment.