Show Archive

Fresh from ecstatic reviews, a great female following and huge word-of-mouth touring Britain and Ireland this spring, Paul Duckworth brings his forty characters to London in this “mesmerizing”, lump-in-your throat political comedy.

“Beating Berlusconi is an inoculation. Even if you don't buy into the hype yourself, it might help you understand why the game means so much to so many people. Like most things worth getting excited about, theatre included, it's ‘a chance to escape all the shite’.” THE BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

“Beating Berlusconi is a sublime piece of theatre.” THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

“You don’t have to love football to love this play ...... It's not a play about football, it's a play about the heart of a city and how and why it beats.”   9/10  LIVERPOOL ECHO 10/4/10

“Paul Duckworth’s solo performance is truly a tour de force.” THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

“A must for anyone, theatre fan, LFC fan or otherwise. Any play that can genuinely bring out the laughter and tears in equal measure is worthy of any stage.”  5 STARS - LIVERPOOL DAILY POST   9/4/10

"Writer John Graham Davies can certainly hit a punch line. This play isn’t just based on a true story. It’s based on thousands." LIVERPOOL POST

"…brilliantly conceived and executed…" NOTTINGHAM POST

“Each character is distinct and beautifully drawn, and Duckworth evinces true emotion when talking about the disasters that is both moving and 100% genuine.” THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

" …a great, celebratory, working class, bash the rich piece of theatre which plays firmly to a football crowd - but also does enough to make itself relevant beyond. Thoughtful stuff with plenty to laugh about." THE STAGE

“John Graham Davies’ script is flawless: supremely funny throughout but peppered with sadness and sincerity.” THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

Beating Berlusconi!                                       

by John Graham Davies                                                 June 8^th-July 4^th                                

Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm. 

Saturdays and Sundays at 2.30pm

NOTE: Performance times on Sat 26^th, Sun 27^th, Fri 2^nd and Sat 3^rd are dependent on England’s progress in World Cup finals – please check with box office.

THE PERFORMANCE ON SUN, 27th JUNE HAS BEEN CANCELLED!!!

Approx Running Time: 1hr 45minutes, with an interval

Tickets: 

£20 reserved seating

£13.50 general seating

£10 (concession – general seating)

Despite threats from his wife and bank manager, in May 2005 middle-aged Kenny Noonan travels to Istanbul to watch Liverpool play AC Milan in the Champions’ League final. He carries the scars of thirty years as a Red - Heysel, Hillsborough, Alex Ferguson - and of living in a city which has been demonised.

What happened to Liverpool FC in the second half is legend. What happened to Kenny in the AC Milan directors’ box is stranger than fiction.

BEATING BERLUSCONI! is based on the now famous true story of a scouser  who ended up sitting next to Silvio Berlusconi at the Attaturk Stadium and when Liverpool equalized and the Italian babe magnet lost his sense of humour, almost had a fight with the Italian PM.

Note: Contains strong language  Age: 14+

Running time 2h 5 mins (including interval)

PAUL DUCKWORTH (Actor) played Ringo in the Beatles biopic, 'Backbeat', and is a well known face in the north-west comedy and theatre scene.

JOHN GRAHAM DAVIES (Writer) has had a thirty year career as an actor and writer, working for the Canadian National Theater, appearing in the original production of 'Bouncers' and on a number of well known TV series. Amongst his work for radio, his play about Bosnia was adapted for BBC World Service and he has written for a number of theatre companies, including Leeds Playhouse.

MATT RUTTER (Director) is co-founder of Big Wow, the celebrated comedy physical theatre company, which is currently working on a Radio 4 comedy commission.

MIKE WIGHT (Designer) has worked for Liverpool Everyman theatre and for The Right Size, Rejects Revenge,  Spike,  Ceol Chiarri Irish Dance,  Prague Festival Ballet,  Kaboodle and  Lip Service.

Please book online / 0844 209 0326 (booking fee applies)
Alternatively book in person at the Kings Head from 4pm onwards (no booking fee)

Click here for more information:       www.beatingberlusconi.com