Liverpool Theatre Festival returns for third year alongside Little LTF New Works Fringe

Organisers of the award-winning Liverpool Theatre Festival have announced its return in Autumn 2022 to take place for a third consecutive year, with Little LTF (the festival’s sister event to showcase new works) also returning for a second year in Spring 2022. 

Liverpool Theatre Festival 2022 will take place between 31 August-11 September. It will be preceded by Little LTF (Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works) from 2-8 May. 

Both events will once again take place at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre, the marquee as the backdrop for Little LTF, with the main festival taking place outdoors. 

The festival has been praised for its diverse range and inclusive genre of live performance pieces, which each year have featured works of comedy, musicals, drama, opera, dance, LGBTQ, and children’s productions. 

Shows for the main Liverpool Theatre Festival will be announced in the coming months. 

Meanwhile, creatives are now invited to submit new works for Little LTF, the deadline is 18 March 2022. Full details can be found here.  

Submissions are especially welcomed from Liverpool’s diverse communities and arts organisations to fully represent the cityscape, and children’s productions are also encouraged to apply. Scripts must be complete or already in development. Creatives must be linked to Liverpool City Region or the wider North West area. A panel of industry professionals will select works, and media and theatre programmers will be invited to see the premieres first-hand at the festival. Accolades will also be given to outstanding productions in specific categories. 

The selection panel has been confirmed as LTF Festival Director Bill Elms; theatre director and producer James Baker; Francesca Peschier, Head of New Works at Everyman Playhouse; arts marketing professional Anthony Proctor; freelance arts consultant Sue Williams; and national theatre booker David Fry. 

Producer and artistic director Bill Elms said: “We are incredibly excited to announce the return of Liverpool Theatre Festival for a third consecutive year, and Little LTF is back for a second year. When the pandemic struck, the creative arts and live performance sector of Liverpool City Region was hit hard. Live theatre has been my passion for more than 30 years and I just had to do something to help. 

“Given the support we’ve received since we announced the first festival in August 2020, you can really feel just how much live performance and entertainment means to people. People were desperate to experience that thrill once again. And now we’re back with a main festival for established work and performers, and a fringe event to showcase and celebrate new work. 

“The festival has already established itself as a staple in the city’s annual theatre calendar. Success stories are now being created as a direct result of the festival, with a number of shows now going on to achieve greater success in regional venues and touring the UK. Theatre is back, join us on the next exciting adventure of Liverpool Theatre Festival.”