Audiences are being given the chance to enjoy two brilliant new plays on one evening at the Epstein Theatre this month.
Skullhouse Productions in association with Dogtale Theatre presents Boxing and Clowns at the Hanover Street theatre on Friday 24 July and Saturday 25 July 2026. Tickets are on sale now costing £28.
Both plays are written and directed by rising star theatre and filmmaker Charlie Prothero.
Boxing is a hilarious and moving show about community, hope and small joys. It was originally staged, to acclaim, as part of the Creative Corner Festival at the Hanover Street theatre earlier this year.
The story follows Father Garvey, a deeply miserable priest who has almost lost faith in the people he’s meant to help, and Michael – a troubled young man whose innocence and boundless energy could test anyone’s patience.
After Fr Garvey takes revenge on his vile neighbour Beryl, it’s up to Michael to get them both out of the sticky situation they find themselves in. What unfolds is a darkly comic and heartfelt exploration of connection, redemption and unexpected friendship.
Adam Gannon plays Michael and Paul Phillip Ryan is Father Garvey.
Meanwhile Clowns is an uproarious new dark comedy for fans of Martin McDonough, the Coen Brothers and all those who have wondered what a siege in a circus would look like.
Mittens is an old clown who is not particularly funny – and particularly fed up. So fed up, in fact, that he decides to commit and armed burglary. It doesn’t go well and he ends up fleeing back to his travelling circus with the goods.
Unluckily for him, two other clowns – a young couple called Jessie and Bill – are in the tent when he arrives. Unluckily for them, Mittens decides to tie them up. Then the police arrive and things get progressively worse.
Clowns is full of twists and turns, clowns and cops – although sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s who.
The cast includes Matthew Swinnerton as Mittens, Maisie Blake as Jessie and Daniel Roberts as Bill. Rebekah Jayne Moreland is Sgt Cynthia Pepper, Louis Farrell plays John, Jack Gallagher is Paul, Shaun Winship is George, Rio Palavissini plays Kevin and Edward James is PC Butterman.
Skullhouse Productions is a newly created film and television production company that is focused on providing a platform for new and emerging talent. Several projects are currently in development including Stan’s Letters (Laurel and Hardy) and the Greatest Gift adaptation due to be performed in 2027.
Charlie Prothero is a writer, director and filmmaker. He started his career in the North East with theatres like Live and Alphabetti before moving home to Liverpool and setting up Dogtale Productions. He is a graduate of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Playwrights Programme and was a finalist in the Epstein’s 2026 Creative Corner Festival. Past work includes Britannia Waves the Rules (Off the Ground Theatre), Boxes and Flying (both Unity Theatre).
Skullhouse Productions’ Paul Bandell says: “Skullhouse Productions is delighted to be collaborating with the iconic Epstein Theatre in Liverpool and promoting its first production, a double bill of Boxing and Clowns, two plays from the talented writer and director Charlie Prothero of Dogtale Theatre.”
Dogtale Theatre Artistic Director Charlie Prothero adds: “Dogtale Theatre is a Merseyside-based company specialising in new writing, new talent and exciting storytelling. If you’re a performer, writer or just have a story to tell, get in touch.”
SHOW LISTING
BOXING AND CLOWNS
Date: Friday 24 July – Saturday 25 July 2026.
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £28
*All tickets are subject to a booking fee
EPSTEIN THEATRE BOOKING DETAILS
Book online at www.epsteintheatre.com
Book in person at the box office on the ground floor daily from 10am-6pm
Address: 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ
Box office also opens one hour before a performance
Schools & Group bookings please email boxoffice@epsteintheatre.com
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