{"id":64810,"date":"2025-05-01T05:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T05:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/64810\/"},"modified":"2025-05-01T05:06:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T05:06:09","slug":"nationwide-tour-of-local-production-irish-annies-kicks-off-at-liverpool-olympia-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/64810\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationwide tour of local production ‘Irish Annie’s’ kicks off at Liverpool Olympia this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

TV legend Ricky Tomlinson\u00a0<\/strong>heads a talented cast of performers in Irish Annie\u2019s,\u00a0which is due to travel across England, Scotland and Wales, playing at 30 venues over two months.<\/p>\n

The Irish Annie\u2019s tour will\u00a0open at the\u00a0Liverpool Olympia\u00a0on\u00a0Friday 2 May,\u00a0before travelling to locations including\u00a0Bradford \u2013 the UK City of Culture 2025, Buxton, Bridlington, Billingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dundee, Glasgow, Lincoln, Leeds, Wakefield and Cardiff,\u00a0ending at the Isle of Man\u2019s historic Matcham-designed Gaiety Theatre on Friday 4 July.<\/p>\n

Irish Annie\u2019s is an irresistible celebration of Irish culture. Join landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night of music, comedy and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including\u00a0The Black Velvet,\u00a0The Wild Rover, Dirty Old Town,\u00a0Danny Boy\u00a0and many more.<\/p>\n

The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing and dancing the night away.<\/p>\n

\"Irish<\/p>\n

Ricky Tomlinson\u00a0performs as himself, appearing as a celebrity guest in Annie\u2019s pub. The actor and comedian is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family. He also played the title character in Mike Bassett: England Manager, and more recently he has been seen on television alongside friend and former \u2018screen wife\u2019 Sue Johnston in Channel 4\u2019s Ricky, Sue and a Trip or Two, and in ITV\u2019s DNA Journey.<\/p>\n

Ricky will be joined by\u00a0Samantha Alton\u00a0as landlady Annie,\u00a0Lynne Fitzgerald\u00a0as Moira the Money Lender,\u00a0Leslie Longley\u00a0as Porky the Postman and\u00a0Richard Barry\u00a0who reprises the role of Noel Singen-Smithe \u2013 along with Irish Annie\u2019s creator\u00a0Asa Murphy\u00a0as Seamus Murphy and the toe-tapping, foot-stomping six-piece band\u00a0The Shenanigans\u00a0who perform live at every show.<\/p>\n

Actress, stand-up comedian and improviser Samantha Alton is the eponymous Annie.\u00a0Samantha\u2019s other stage credits include By the Waters of Liverpool, Buckled, Deathly Confessions, Helena in The Hammer and Helena, Nessa in the Desperate Scousewives series of comedy plays, Under the Mersey Moon and Kitty in Kitty Queen of the Washhouse.<\/p>\n

Lynne Fitzgerald\u00a0is Mona. An award-winning actor, director, comedian and playwright, Lynne\u2019s stage credits include Two \u2013 playing opposite Louis Emerick, Twopence to Cross the Mersey, By the Waters of Liverpool, Bunty the Bouncer, Mark Davies Markham\u2019s 2Gorgeous4U and Asa Murphy\u2019s The Monkey with No Bum. Her own plays include Psychic Sybil, Desperate Scousewives, 4 Girls and a Caravan and Show us your Tips.<\/p>\n

Leslie Longley\u00a0plays Porky the Postman. His other credits include Demetrius in A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream, Hillsborough play 97+, Imagine If\u2026., Lovesong, musicals Little White Feathers and Under the Mersey Moon and indie film Boarhog.<\/p>\n

And\u00a0Richard Barry\u00a0returns to Irish Annie\u2019s, having played bar regular Noel on tour in 2024. An acclaimed international vocalist with appearances in the Far East and Europe, his theatre credits include Bernadette, The Devil Rides Out, Her Benny, Sweet Charity, West Side Story and A Chorus Line. TV credits include The Bill.<\/p>\n

Irish Annie\u2019s\u00a0is brought to the stage by\u00a0Bill Elms\u00a0Productions\u00a0(Judy and Liza,\u00a0Swan Song,\u00a0Jerry Springer the Opera,\u00a0Something About Simon,\u00a0Something About George) and\u00a0Asa Murphy Productions\u00a0(Buddy Holly Lives,\u00a0The Bobby Darin Story,\u00a0New Generations,\u00a0The Monkey with\u00a0No Bum) and\u00a0directed by Emma Vaudrey and Asa Murphy.<\/p>\n

The 2025 dates follow a hugely successful tour of the UK and Ireland during spring 2024 where it played to thousands of people and won glowing reviews from critics who described it as \u201ca show with a huge heart and barrels of love\u201d and \u201ca joyous celebration of Irish culture\u201d.<\/p>\n

Irish Annie\u2019s writer\u00a0Asa Murphy\u00a0has been a successful entertainer for nearly 20 years, performing all over the world singing Big Band swing music and his own self-penned songs. He has sold out London\u2019s Ronny Scott\u2019s, topped the bill at the Liverpool Empire and has sung on some of the most beautiful liners in the world. He has also been on the airwaves for a decade and hosts a very popular radio show.<\/p>\n

In 2019 he turned his talents to writing stage musicals and has so far had three hit shows \u2013 Buddy Holly Lives, Mack the Knife and Irish Annie\u2019s, as well as two children\u2019s shows.<\/p>\n

\"Irish
\nAsa said:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m absolutely delighted we\u2019re going back on the road in 2025 with performances in 30 amazing venues across the country. I\u2019m also delighted that Ricky Tomlinson is joining us once again. Along with being a brilliant entertainer and storyteller he\u2019s great fun to work with, and the audience absolutely loves him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIrish Annie\u2019s is a celebration of Irish culture and what makes the people of Ireland so special; music, laughter, and dealing with adversity through friendship and community. I guarantee you\u2019ll leave the theatre with a spring in your step and a song on your lips.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Bill Elms adds:<\/p>\n

\u201cIrish Annie\u2019s is a big, warm-hearted, feelgood show which appeals to everyone whether they have Irish blood running through their veins or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cRehearsals are going great and I can\u2019t wait to take the show back on the road this May, complete with some new cast members joining the Irish Annie\u2019s \u2018family\u2019 and with even more dates planned than in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find out more about Irish Annie\u2019s or get tickets here.<\/a>
\nFind out more coming to the stage in Liverpool here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.\u00a0
\nFrom the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n