Twopence to Cross the Mersey returns to Liverpool as a play, 10 March

Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey returns to the region in a new format of a straight Stage Play. Based on Forrester’s best-selling memoir, the new stage play version will open at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in March 2015 for a two-week run.

It tells the true story of a young girl and her formerly wealthy family as they are suddenly thrown into poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

Leaving behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the South West of England, they uproot their shattered lives and choose Liverpool as the city to restart and rebuild their dreams and fortune. Unbeknown to them however, they are in for a terrible shock.

In its earlier format, the musical version of the show had four hugely successful runs at the city’s Empire Theatre, firstly in 2004 and then returning in 2005, 2007 and 2009 under the helm of Rob Fennah and production company Pulse Records. Now Pulse will collaborate with new producer Bill Elms and there are plans to tour the production.

Producer and stage writer Rob Fennah said "Over the years I discovered that not all Helen Forrester’s readers were fans of musical theatre and so decided to adapt Twopence To Cross The Mersey into a straight stage play. This production will be a much more intimate affair and, as such, the Epstein Theatre is the perfect venue to launch this new show."

Twopence to Cross the Mersey is at the Epstein Theatre from 10 – 21 March 2015 with casting announced soon.