Live Guide: Lives of Birkenhead teenagers portrayed on stage

Jun 30 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Live Guide: Lives of Birkenhead teenagers portrayed on stage

HE’S written about Cammell Laird, Flaybrick Cemetery, the history of Birkenhead and bullying.

Now, for his latest home-grown production, writer Brian McCann has turned his attention to the lives of young people in Birkenhead.

Musical comedy The Birkenhead Tale focuses on a group of teenagers and what they get up to both in and out of school.

The play, which will be brought to life by performers from Brian’s Active Drama Company, looks at issues like dating, what makes a good boyfriend and drinking in Birkenhead Park.

Expect love and laughter – and a big twist in the second act.

Brian worked alongside students from Park High School while writing the play, and says their advice on all things teen was invaluable.

He told Liveguide: “It’s based on an old touring play of mine called Emma. I wanted to update it and make it more relevant to today.

“It was a 40-minute piece and I wanted to develop it into a full length play.

“I worked with a great group of kids who suggested the right language and told me when my songs were too long!

“It’s amazing how things have changed since I wrote the play.”

Brian says his play looks at universal themes and could be performed anywhere with a change of name.

He won’t reveal the twist in the play apart from a cryptic hint that “Not everything in Birkenhead goes right”.