Cherry Jezebel at Liverpool Everyman
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
With an outstanding creative team and an inspired cast, Liverpool Everyman hosts a dazzling world premiere of a hilarious and heartbreaking new play, Cherry Jezebel this March.
Written by Hollyoaks regular and long-time Everyman collaborator, Jonathan Larkin, the production will be directed by James Baker (Jerry Springer: The Opera, Parade and Yank!). Unapologetically Northern and queer, Cherry Jezebel puts Liverpool’s LGBTQIA scene under the spotlight. This witty and touching play uncovers the reality of growing up – and growing old – as a member of the LGBTQIA community in Liverpool. The play poses frank and authentic questions about why so many Queer people still fear for their safety in the city.
A dazzling world premiere of a hilarious and heartbreaking new play.
This eagerly anticipated play, which had three sold-out rehearsed readings in 2021, ahead of its full stage debut, centres around the glitter and grit of Liverpool’s gloriously gobby drag world.
Following a lifetime of abuse at the hands of family and bad relationships, legendary drag queen Cherry Brandy is terrified of being alone. So when she finds out that her closest pal, Heidi Handjob has fallen in love and is finally embracing her identity as a trans woman, she is scared she’ll become redundant. Meanwhile, there’s a new queen on the block. Enter Pearl Reckless, who explodes onto the scene and clashes with Cherry. But when Pearl is the victim of a homophobic attack, unlikely friends realise they have more in common than they initially thought.
A play with its heels firmly planted in the Liverpool of today.
A story about family, belonging and survival, the cast includes Mickey Jones, most recently seen in Our Lady of Blundellsands at the Everyman, as the legendary drag queen Cherry Brandy and Mariah Louca as best-friend Heidi Handjob. Stefan Race takes the role of new non-binary queen-on-the-scene, Pearl Reckless and George Jones plays lad-about-town Mo.
Cherry Jezebel promises a riotous, though moving, night at the theatre. With themes we can all relate to – connection, safety and acceptance – this is a play with its heels firmly planted in the Liverpool of today.
