A historic town going through a period of regeneration, with community and creativity at its heart
Shakespeare North Playhouse
There’s a buzz about the town surrounding this fabulous new, timber-framed Shakespearean theatre: a 470-seat playhouse which welcomed 7,300 people in its opening weekend last July.
Its story goes back to the 1590s, when the theatre – thought to be the only purpose-built indoor playhouse outside of London – hosted performances from playwright of the day William Shakespeare, made possible by Knowsley Estate’s Earl of Derby. Today the theatre, its exhibition gallery, studio and Sir Ken Dodd performance garden is home to a mix of vibrant performances, comedy, workshops, events and activities.
Creative director Laura Collier says: ‘Our first six months have been filled with joy, learning and community that all those involved in the artistic programme are so grateful for. And this is only the beginning. We have so many exciting plans bubbling away that we can’t wait to reveal.’
The line-up for 2023 includes two co-productions to mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s First Folio: The Comedy of Errors (more or less) and The Book of Will.
shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk
Borough of Culture
2022 was a busy year for the town, with Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture jazzing up the events calendar even more. The Serious Nonsense Festival – a three-day celebration of Edward Lear who wrote his infamous The Owl and The Pussy-Cat at nearby Knowsley Hall – featured writers including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sarah Asuquo and Lemn Sissay alongside fantastic street performances.
The Queen’s Baton Relay, part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, came through the town and most recently, Prescot hosted local bands Space and China Crisis at Shakespeare North Playhouse as part of Knowsley Music Festival, with pubs and bars in the town also holding fringe events.
Popular annual events returned to the town, too, with the Elizabethan Fayre celebrating Prescot’s rich heritage with free family-friendly summer fun including dance and theatre performances, circus skills and walks, and the 18th annual Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts showcasing the town’s impressive music scene with jazz music, choral ensembles and instrumentals.
Pinion
Pinion on Eccleston Street was the fifth of Gary Usher's restaurants to open within the Elite Bistro group, and the fourth to use crowdfunding via Kickstarter to bring it to life. With the help of the local community and its own restaurant community, the team raised a record £50,000 within 59 minutes.
It was a special opening for the team in 2018 – there had been no new independent restaurant in Prescot for 30 years – and they wanted to be a part of the buzz surrounding the impending arrival of the Shakespeare North Playhouse. Since the theatre's opening earlier this year, the bistro has been a pull to excited theatre-goers (it is just a few minutes walk away) with an impressive offering of a pre-theatre menu featuring restaurant favourites and seasonal mains.
Imaginarium Theatre & Bistro
The Imaginarium Theatre and its sister Imaginarium Bistro is an unusual yet quirky concept: the bistro, injecting life back into the old Market Place through good food, creative culture and community spirit with "events and good times", and the theatre, showcasing all-weather productions across its five venues: Cockpit House, the old Clock Museum; Shakespeare North Playhouse; the Prescot Woodland Theatre (behind Prescot Parish Church); the Imaginarium Bistro and Piazza’s outdoor event space; and The Roundhouse, its green and white big top tent.
The team there work on producing a year-round programme of events including its free youth theatre sessions, the Young Shakespeare Company (aged 11-18), Young Actors Company (aged 16-19) and Young Cultural Leaders (aged 16-21).
Knowsley Estate
As you drive through the gates and make your way up the long drive, the first siting of Knowsley Hall on the Knowsley Estate really takes your breath away.
It is a unique, private estate owned by the Earl and Countess of Derby: one which hosts events through invitation only and is open for hire, for weddings or corporate events.
The couple own Knowsley Safari, too – its five-mile safari drive the longest in the UK – and Stanley Grange Business Village, home to the award-winning Chill Out Spa and numerous other businesses.
The Estate is special in that it has been in the family for more than 600 years. It is a wonderful example of perfect English heritage: a hidden gem that feels tucked away in the countryside but with the perk of being a stone's throw away from Prescot and Liverpool.
