REVIEW: Shake It Up Baby! At The Epstein Theatre — 'Telling These Magical Stories Is What The Stage Is For'

THE EPSTEIN THEATRE, ROPEWALKS, CITY OF LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL CITY REGION.

REVIEW: Shake It Up Baby! Tells The Story Of The Beatles' Early Days From The Perspective Of Allan Williams, At The Epstein Theatre

(Credit: David Munn Photography/Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Telling the story of The Beatles' early days from beginning to end with Allan Williams is an exciting premise, and its delivery is even more special.

Allan Williams was The Beatles' first manager, he is also known as the founder of The Jacaranda Club on Slater Street, and The Blue Angel nightclub on Seel Street.

Whilst Shake It Up Baby! is a fast-paced, energetic musical that pulls the audience into the late 50s and early swinging 60s, the show isn't afraid to lean into its stageplay elements. Telling a brilliant story of love, loss, ego and tenderness, all in two captivating hours. Telling these magical stories is what the stage is for.

Tickets are now on sale priced from £22.50. To book ticket you can visit the Epstein Theatre website, it is currently in its final week of the run.

The play did not shy away from telling the stark truth of some of the events that happened in the band's early days. With the blunt reactions to these cheeky and outlandish events from Andrew Schofield's appearance as Allan Williams being utterly brilliant.

With plenty of comedic elements and effortless delivery of lines it offered a well-rounded theatrical experience. The show's sense of pace and timing was excellent, with considerable storytelling despite a minimalist approach to a set, which I often find is the case as the story and cast have to be impeccable as there are no distractions from their craft.

“Theatre is educational, and the stories that The Epstein Theatre schedules are not just important for the public, they are especially important for Liverpudlians to understand the very city they live in better. Liverpool and the Beatles are not just local history, they are world history.”

This production is valuable, not only for those that adore The Beatles and their lesser-known contributors who physically drove them to kickstart their careers in Hamburg and don't always make the headlines.

Their first manager, Allan Williams, and his wife, Beryl Chang, were the key figures in this story, as it was told through their perspectives. Predominantly Allan's point of view, with regular reminders from Beryl about other people's contributions if he got too focused on himself — you can't forget all that Mona did!

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The show also tells the story of someone who was a mentor figure to the boys, and an influential proponent in their understanding of Blues, Lord Woodbine (also known by his real name as Harold Phillips), played by Andrew Copperthwaite. He was a Trinidadian music promoter based in Liverpool and went with them, alongside Allan and Beryl, on their first trip to Hamburg.

There were plenty of mentions of Mona Best's impact on the band (Pete Best's Mum). In addition to the prominent role of Astrid Kirchherr, her adoration for Stuart, the importance of her stylistic influences on the boys, and her integral photography work that has served as a beautiful archive of their early days.

Telling these magical stories is what the stage is for.

Shake It Up Baby! also works as a story independent of their music, and is important for those that might not necessarily go to watch or listen to something regarding the Fab Four (and the many more that made them so fab). This is a story about the social fabric of Liverpool and the crucial Liverpudlians who helped support the group of lads from Liverpool: John, Paul, George, Ringo, Pete & Stuart, and will surprise many with the stories it explores. Not to mention the integral part that Hamburg in Germany played in forging their sense of selves and the comedic ridiculousness that happened there, which this musical brilliantly encapsulates.

Theatre is educational, and the stories that The Epstein Theatre schedules are not just important for the general theatregoing audience, they are especially important for Liverpudlians to understand the very city they live in better. Liverpool and The Beatles are not just local history, they are world history.

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The show dealt with deeply sensitive issues that Allan, the boys and their close family and friends had to deal with at the time. One of the most notable experiences was the loss of Stuart Sutcliffe and the distress felt by both John Lennon and Stuart's fiancée, Astrid Kirchherr when he died of a cerebral haemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm.

Kieran Andrew's dual performance as two of the most important yet often overlooked people in the world of The Beatles, both Stuart Sutcliffe, alongside playing the part of the band's second manager, Brian Epstein. He captured Stuart's gentle soul, and Brian's sophisticated entrepreneurial spirit.

The passing of Stuart was dealt with the sincerity and gravity that he deserved, so much so it brought tears to my eyes on two separate occasions during the play.

(Credit: Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

Shake It Up Baby! earns itself a rock'n'rollin' 5 Liver Birds in a musical so good, it's worth seeing twice. Sharing this review on what would have been John Lennon's 85th Birthday feels special in and of itself, as this story is so important to the people, and the band, they became.

Shake It Up Baby! is directed by Stephen Fletcher. Andrew Schofield plays the band’s first manager, Allan Williams. Accompanied by actor-musicians including Michael Hawkins as John Lennon, Guy Freeman as Paul McCartney, James Jackson as George Harrison, Nick Sheedy who will appear as both Pete Best & Ringo Starr, Kieran Andrew as Stuart Sutcliffe & Brian Epstein, Andrew Copperthwaite as Lord Woodbine & others, Grace Galloway as Rosi, Astrid & others, Connor Simkins as George Martin, Bruno Koschmider, Klaus Voorman, Howie Casey & others, and Jess Smith as Beryl, Bettina & Ringo’s Mum.