Everyman Theatre, Liverpool facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Everyman Theatre

Liverpool Everyman
Everyman Facade
Address	5–11 Hope Street
Location	Liverpool, England
Coordinates	53°24′11″N 2°58′10″W / 53.403094°N 2.969395°W / 53.403094; -2.969395
Owner	Liverpool Merseyside Theatres Trust (LMTT)
Designation	2014 RIBA Stirling Prize Winner
Type	Theatre, Bar, Restaurant, Café
Capacity	400
Current use	Theatre
Construction
Opened	1964; 61 years ago (1964)
Rebuilt	2011–2014
Years active	1964 – present
Architect	Haworth Tompkins (2014)

The Everyman Theatre is a famous theatre located on Hope Street in Liverpool, England. It first opened its doors in 1964. The building used to be a chapel and then a cinema before it became a theatre. The Everyman quickly became known for showing new and exciting plays. The theatre was completely rebuilt between 2011 and 2014 to make it even better.

History of the Everyman Theatre

From Chapel to Cinema

The building where the Everyman Theatre now stands has a long history. It was first built in 1837 as a special church called a "dissenters' chapel." In 1841, it became a church named after Saint John the Evangelist. Later, in 1853, it changed again and became a public concert hall where people could enjoy music.

In 1912, the hall was turned into the Hope Hall Cinema. It showed movies for many years until it closed in 1963.

The Birth of the Theatre

Before the cinema closed, the building became a popular meeting spot. Local artists, poets, and musicians would gather there. This group included famous people like Roger McGough and Adrian Henri. They were part of what was known as the "Liverpool Scene."

These creative people thought the building would be perfect for a theatre. So, in September 1964, the Everyman Theatre officially opened. It was started by Martin Jenkins, Peter James, Michael Freeman, and Terry Hands.

The theatre before it was rebuilt in 2011–2014

Famous Plays and Actors

In 1975, the theatre closed for a short time to be rebuilt. During this period, the theatre company continued to perform by touring around. It reopened in September 1977.

In the 1970s and 1980s, under the director Alan Dossor, the Everyman Theatre became famous for showing new plays by Liverpool writers. These included works by Willy Russell and Alan Bleasdale. Some well-known plays that started here include Shirley Valentine and John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert.

Besides plays, the theatre has also put on musicals, concerts, and a fun rock-n-roll pantomime every Christmas. Many famous actors have been involved with the Everyman Theatre early in their careers. These include Dame Julie Walters, Stephen Graham, Jonathan Pryce, Pete Postlethwaite, and Bill Nighy.

Managing the Theatres

Since 2004, the Everyman Theatre has been managed together with the Liverpool Playhouse. They are both run by the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust. This trust is a registered charity. The two theatres work together to offer a wide range of shows and performances.

Rebuilding the Everyman Theatre

Temporary Closure and Reopening

In July 2011, the Everyman Theatre closed its doors for a big project: a complete rebuilding. The last major play performed there was Macbeth, starring David Morrissey and Julia Ford. After that, there were special performances by poets Roger McGough and Brian Patten, and a local band called Deaf School. The theatre's final closing event happened on July 2.

After the closure, parts of the old theatre were sold at an auction. This included seats, benches, and even pillars from the original Hope Hall building. The new and improved Everyman Theatre officially reopened in February 2014.

Award-Winning Design

In October 2014, the new Everyman Theatre received a very important award. It won the Stirling Prize from the Royal Institute of British Architects. This award is given to the best British building of the year. The architects, Haworth Tompkins, were recognized for their amazing work on the new Everyman.

• Everyman Theatre, Liverpool
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  January 2006

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  November 2009

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  December 2009

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  October 2014

Dining at the Everyman

The Everyman Bistro

In 1970, a popular restaurant called the Liverpool Everyman Bistro opened in the basement of the theatre. It was started by Paddy Byrne and Dave Scott and became a favorite place to eat in the city. When the Everyman closed for rebuilding in 2011, they retired for a while. Later, they opened a new restaurant nearby called The Pen Factory.

Current Food Options

There were plans for a new restaurant to be part of the rebuilt theatre, but with different management. By 2019, the basement space was being used for special events instead of a bistro. Today, there is a Street Cafe at ground level where visitors can grab a bite to eat.

See also

In Spanish: Everyman Theatre para niños

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