By The Waters of Liverpool to be staged at Parr Hall

Following its run at the Liverpool Empire, By The Waters Of Liverpool, will be staged in theatres around the country from spring 2020, including Warrington’s Parr Hall on March 14 and 15.

The production follows the late author’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey and is being brought to audiences by the team behind both the musical and stage play versions of the award-winning true story. The tale is set against the backdrop the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Helen’s father lost his fortune when the stock market crashed and the family were suddenly thrown into poverty.

Leaving behind the nannies, servants and comfortable middle-class life in the south west of England, the Forresters chose Liverpool as the place to start over. They were in for a terrible shock. Taken out of school to care for her younger brothers and sisters while her parents struggled to re-build their shattered lives, Helen is treated as an unpaid slave and is desperate to escape.

This part of the story opens in 1935 when she was 16 and was fighting a bitter battle with her parents for the right to educate herself and go out to work.

By 1939, with Britain on the brink of war, things look even more bleak.

But Helen’s prospects improve when she meets a seaman and falls in love. In celebration of what would have been Helen’s 100th birthday, the 11-week tour will open at Wirral’s New Brighton Floral Pavilion from March 3 to 8, just a few miles from where she was born.

Millions of people know Helen Forrester’s life story told through the best-selling volumes of her autobiography, Twopence to Cross the Mersey, Liverpool Miss and By The Waters Of Liverpool.

Writer and friend of Helen Forrester, Rob Fennah has written both the stage play versions of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and By The Waters Of Liverpool.

By The Waters Of Liverpool has alone sold more than a million books.

The new touring production – endorsed by the Helen Forrester estate – is again produced by Pulse Records in association with Bill Elms, and is directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

Rob Fennah said: “We had an amazing response when we premiered By The Waters Of Liverpool last autumn.

“Helen Forrester’s books resonate with millions of people across the UK and many more around the world.

“This adaptation of By The Waters Of Liverpool features a sizeable chunk from Liverpool Miss, Helen’s second volume of autobiography, together with flashbacks to Twopence To Cross The Mersey, so newcomers to Helen’s story will get a complete picture of her life.

“This June marks the centenary of Helen’s birth and, although she is no longer with us, she’ll be in our thoughts at this very special time.

“Last year her son Robert Bhatia made the journey from Canada to see the production at the Liverpool Empire and loved it. Now, with Robert’s full backing, we can’t wait to share his mother’s story with audiences across the UK.”

For more information visit bythewatersofliverpool.com. For Warrington tickets go to pyramidparrhall.com