Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles

Synopsis

Epstein is a long-awaited theatrical production celebrating the life of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein. It is a one man multi-media play with live music. Brian Epstein's short life was crammed with success and controversy; he was an intelligent man whose prescience, taste, vision and passion left a lifelong impact on the world. Born in Liverpool in 1934 of Jewish descent, he spent his early adult years working for the family business NEMS (North End Music Stores) before being drafted into the Royal Army Service Corps, after a brief stint in London joining RADA and living a more openly gay life he returned to Liverpool to manage the new NEMS city centre music store making it one of the biggest in the North. Not long after was the historic lunchtime visit to the famous Cavern Club to hear four Liverpool lads perform and the rest was history. Brian had a passion for classical music and theatre and even leased the Saville Theatre in London. Immense rapid success, busy schedules and constant touring took its toll on Brian and depression and recreational drugs set-in. Brian Epstein died of a sleeping pill overdose in August 1967, he was aged just 32. His death was immediately felt, while the Beatles continued to make magnificent music, their business affairs rapidly crumbled and by 1970 it was all over.

Our Review:

20 November 2012

It’s a small world and sometimes it feels particularly so when it comes to Liverpool, where everybody (and everybody else assumes) knew the Beatles, or at the very least, they know somebody who knew the Beatles.

But nobody really got to know Brian Epstein very well, and this is a play which tells of his brief glory years (just five; 1962-67), aiming to set the record straight during an evening in which he confides, confesses and at times, confuses, the lad he has picked up and brought home.

What is immediately established is that Epstein was an extremely smart man, for the two hander takes place in his elegant, monochrome and minimal apartment; it’s beautifully designed (or replicated?). And the events under discussion are often highlighted by multimedia, though sometimes a bit of a random take.

Both actors are exceptional, united by their passion for music. Newcomer (hard to believe) Will Finlason is down to earth and engaging, his portr...

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