What's on stage in Liverpool during May 2025

The merry month of May is upon us and while the days are getting warmer and the nights lighter, there’s still plenty to enjoy indoors at theatres across Liverpool and beyond.

Creative director Nathan Powell’s new play Takeaway continues its run at the Liverpool Everyman where the production is on stage until May 17.

Down the road at the Royal Court, Cath Rice and writer-director Stephen Fletcher’s Making It – featuring Rice’s character Bev - makes the move from downstairs in the Studio to become the main auditorium draw from May 1-17.

Andrew Schofield co-stars, and also provides additional material as singer, actress and cabaret diva Bev shares the story of her showbiz life.

May 1 also sees Menopause the Musical 2 - Cruising Through Menopause sail into the Empire. On board are Maureen Nolan, Rebecca Wheatley, Carli Norris and Daniele Coombe.

Leap dance festival visits the Unity Theatre on May 3 with three shows on the same day.

One of the hot tickets of the year, Hamilton, arrives at the Empire on May 6 as part of a UK tour.

Lin Manuel Miranda’s multi-award-winning musical tells the story of revolutionary and statesman Alexander Hamilton from his hard childhood on the Caribbean island of Nevis to his part in the American War of Independence, his marriage to Elizabeth Schuyler, and career as a lawyer and secretary of the treasury of the newly formed United States to his fatal duel with fellow Founding Father Aaron Burr.

It runs at the Empire until June 7 and there are still some tickets available.

Above: Hamilton comes to the Liverpool Empire in May. Photo by Danny Kaan.

Meanwhile the Unity also hosts Sand on May 8, a performance piece presented by Kook Ensemble and Physical Fest.

And Leap returns to the Hope Place theatre on May 9 with new work created by Liverpool-based artists from the African diaspora including Ithalia Johnson, Afro Dance Academy and Ruvimbo Bliss Munodawafa.

In Comfortably Numb, at the Hope Street Theatre on May 10, meet Callum - a young lad who is really struggling with his problems and who is introduced to a life of crime, drugs, and gangs.

The play aims to spread awareness of the danger of County Lines, and how we should do anything in our power to keep youth safe.

The stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ gripping thriller The Girl on the Train returns to the Liverpool Playhouse from May 13-17. Louisa Lytton appears as Rachel, the ‘girl’ of the title, while Jason Merrells plays her ex-husband Tom.

Then it’s a hop from trains to planes at the Playhouse as Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest is given a riotously funny reworking in this Wise Children touring production which is at the Williamson Square theatre from May 20-24.

The Everyman and Playhouse is a co-producer.

Above: North by Northwest. Photo by Steve Tanner.

Asylum Link Merseyside is also on tour in May with Afloat, created alongside Phoebe McSweeney and Dora Colquhoun, which comes to the Unity Theatre on May 23-24.

Afloat follows individuals living in England who are forced to flee when the dream to make Britain Great turns into a living nightmare. The show is based on real stories collected by members of Asylum Link, putting the audience in the position of seeking asylum and facing the daily struggles.

Meanwhile May 23-24 also sees one man dynamo Paul Duckworth taking on a plethora of characters as Beating Berlusconi! returns to the Liverpool stage.

The hit comedy will be at the Dome at Grand Central Hall on May 23 and the next evening audiences can catch it at the Epstein Theatre.

Pirates Love Underpants (well of course they do!) at the Playhouse from May 28-31.

What We Did Next theatre presents the outrageous musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Hope Street Theatre from May 29-31.

And then on May 30, the most famous underpants wearer of them all – although technically they’re swimming trunks – is celebrated in a new show, receiving its world premiere at the Royal Court.

Speedo Mick – the Musical stars Paul Duckworth (who is having a busy May) as the heroic, die-hard Evertonian fundraiser.

The show is written by John Fay, with music by Chumbawumba’s Boff Whalley – who also penned the songs for Homebaked the Musical - and is directed by Conrad Nelson. It runs until July 5.

And also on May 30, Elaine Collins performed Static at the Unity Theatre.

Performer Ruby is cleaning out her dad’s static caravan following his death, and the decisions of what to keep and what to chuck are triggers for memories – some good, some bad.

Further afield

Among a busy month on stage at Shakespeare North Playhouse there’s a chance to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with Sense and Sensibility playing the Cockpit Theatre from May 15-17.

Pantaloons Theatre Company’s production promises romance, heartbreak, music and live audience interaction.

And Peter James’s Picture You Dead visits the Floral Pavilion at New Brighton from May 20-24. Casualty actor George Rainsford takes on detective duties as Superintendent Roy Grace.

For more details and booking any of the shows visit the individual venue’s website.