ArtsGroupie CIC

31/08/2026

LAST FLIGHT of the Liver Bird Safari for 2026. SUNDAY 13th September at 11 am.

Join the Award Winning ArtsGroupie CIC on this interactive Heritage Walking Tour before it hibernates for the winter.

https://www.artsgroupie.org/the-liver-bird-safari-walking-tour/

28/08/2026

FINAL CHANCE to see our production of The Hammer & Helena after selling out Edinburgh Fringe last year - its back for just 2 nights in October at Shakespeare North Playhouse

We cannot wait to bring this tale back for one last outing.

Thu 15 – Fri 16 October

The Hammer and Helena is the true story of the most evil book ever written and its horrifying legacy.

Helena Scheuberin finds herself the unwitting muse of a religious zealot – the self-proclaimed Hammer of Witches. Her witch trial would raise the ire of the Hammer, its outcome dooming women for centuries after. Now, Helena confronts her accuser one final time with her soul on the line.

Written and directed by David Griffiths - Author & Director, creator of ArtsGroupie CIC’s chilling adaption of The Signalman and starring Samantha Alton (‘Kitty Queen of the Washhouse’) as Helena Scheuberin and John Maguire (‘A Portrait of William Roscoe’) as Heinrich Kramer. ArtsGroupie CIC blends its acclaimed portrayal of historical events with a dramatic and frightening narrative worthy of the annual sell out performances of Ghost Stories for Christmas, which have been featured in the New York Times.

ArtsGroupie CIC aims to promote and provide access to the arts, particularly in areas with limited access, and to champion North West talent.

https://shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk/event/the-hammer-and-helena-2/

27/08/2026

Good Luck to ArtsGroupie CIC's leading lady and the whole creative team on this next project.

Do support our local artists.

Liverpool is the pool of life
AND
the pool of talent.

CAST NEWS: Desperate Scousewives is back touring the Merseyside region in November with the next show in the series, Nessa's Story. Playing Nessa again is the hugely talented Samantha Alton.

Samantha is a Liverpudlian actress who’s been acting professionally since 2013. Though the majority of her credits come from stage work, she has also filmed TV commercials, corporate, short films & pilots, recorded voiceover work for Audio plays/ animation and more recently, started standup comedy.

Sam is delighted to be returning again to the stage, playing Nessa alongside co-star, writer and director Lynne Fitzgerald. Other notable recent credits include; One woman show Near Miss at the Unity (2026), leading lady ‘Annie’ in Irish Annie’s (UK Tour, 2025), ‘Louise’ in Under The Mersey Moon (2025), ‘Helena’ in Hammer & Helena (2024), Ruby in Buckled (2024), ‘Fiona’ in By The Waters Of Liverpool (UK Tour, 2023) and ‘Kitty’ (Catherine Wilkinson) in Kitty, Queen of the Washhouse (2019-2024). She is also set to return as Kitty Wilkinson in ArtsGroupie CIC's long running, one-woman spectacular ‘Kitty, Queen of the Washhouse’ in 2027.

For November tour dates visit www.scousewivesonstage.com

25/08/2026

Join the award-winning ArtsGroupie CIC on our last Mersey Music History Tour of the year, this Sunday 30th August.

Learn a comprehensive history of the city's music scene as we go beyond the Beatles, right back to the 19th century and forward on to today.

See a new side of the city on this two hour walk through forgotten sites.

See you there!

From music to sport, comedy to family shows, TicketQuarter sells tickets for the best events in Liverpool and the North West.

22/08/2026

ACT TWO - From Edward Lear & his cat Foss to Elizabethans. DARE YOU TRY OUR SHAKESPERIAN INSULTOMETER Shakespeare North Playhouse Culture Knowsley with Samantha Alton & John Maguire

22/08/2026

ACT ONE - Edward Lear & his cat Foss Shakespeare North Playhouse Culture Knowsley with Samantha Alton & John Maguire

20/08/2026

Today, we have taken the decision to ban smartglasses and computerised eyewear from any and all of our shows and events.

Privacy issues around smartglasses has been a growing concern for ArtsGroupie.

There are rising cases of women and young girls being filmed without their consent. That footage is being uploaded online so that their privacy can be further violated and so that the women can be objectified by online commenters. This is an unacceptable situation, and we would be horrified if this were to happen during any of our events.

We are taking direct action to protect our audiences, staff, partners, and performers, to ensure that anyone attending our events is not filmed without their express permission. This also protects our intellectual property and original works.

We will be holding discussions with partner venues about smartglasses and computerised eyewear, but our core policy today is that we will ask customers wearing this particular eyewear to remove them.

Thank you for your attention.

------------------------------------------------------------
Clarification on access:

A valuable point has been raised in the comments about assistive devices, and we want to address it directly.

Our policy is aimed at covert recording, not at the technology people rely on to access our events. We have been advocates for arts and heritage access since our inception and access exemptions have been on our minds in taking this decision.

We recognise that some blind and low-vision patrons use verified assistive eyewear to see performances, and this policy is not intended to prevent that.

We will build an access route into our booking procedure so that verified assistive devices are covered by an exception, handled through our existing access provisions. This should be as simple as checking a box to confirm you will be bringing a device with you, and this is what we will be advocating for. The aim is to prevent audiences being filmed without consent while ensuring assistive function continues uninterrupted.

Protecting our audiences' privacy and meeting access needs are not in competition, the access route is how we do both. We're grateful to those who raised this, and we'll keep refining the approach as we go.

17/08/2026

Life is NONSENSE! Meet MR LEAR & his trusty cat FOSS, on Saturday 21st August at Shakespeare North Playhouse, as part of the Serious Nonsense Festival!

Find out more about the originator of SHADE in this Uncover Liverpool feature: Buried Treasure by ArtsGroupie CIC

Read the full story here: https://uncoverliverpool.com/features/buried-treasure-edward-lear-knowsley-hall/

John Maguire uncovers Edward Lear’s Knowsley Hall years, where parrots, peculiar plants and trying guests inspired his celebrated nonsense verse.

13/08/2026

Thank you, Uncover Liverpool, for this wonderful profile of our work.

We're determined to shine a spotlight on these stories from the Liverpool City Region.

Since ArtsGroupie began in 2016, it has brought overlooked stories to life through theatre, heritage projects, walking tours and community work across the Liverpool City Region.

12/08/2026

Thank you to our good friends Uncover Liverpool, who interviewed us about the origins of ArtsGroupie CIC: Championing Overlooked Stories and Working-Class Voices.

Since ArtsGroupie began in 2016, it has brought overlooked stories to life through theatre, heritage projects and community work across the Liverpool City Region. At the heart of everything it does is the belief that arts and heritage should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income, background or previous cultural experience.

A huge thank you to our loyal local audiences, partners, funders, and friends who have helped shape our journey so far...

Read the full interview here: https://uncoverliverpool.com/features/artsgroupie-cic-championing-liverpools-overlooked-stories/

📢 What’s happening across the Liverpool city region’s arts and culture scene this week.

This week’s Uncover Arts Bulletin brings you Museum Sessions Live, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Bluecoat Family Weekend & more.

🗞 What’s On:

🎵 Museum Sessions Live - Museum of Liverpool (13 - 27 Aug)

Museum Sessions Live is back as part of Summer of Sound - a six week programme showcasing local, national and international artists. The live events give musicians an opportunity to perform in the iconic Museum of Liverpool.

🎭 Afternoon Special - Liverpool's Royal Court (12 / 19 Aug)

📚 Arthur Machen and The Angel of Mons – The Atkinson (12 Aug)

🎭 The (Almost) Complete History of Britain - Shakespeare North Playhouse (14 - 15 Aug)

🎉 Bluecoat Family Weekend – Bluecoat (15 - 16 Aug)

🎵 She Drew The Gun - All Dayer - Future Yard (15 Aug)

🎵 Nile Rogers & Chic - Salt and Tar (17 Aug)

🔔 Coming Up:

🎉 Wonder in the Streets 2026 – Church Square, St Helens - Wonder Arts (22 Aug)

Join Wonder Arts in Church Square, St Helens for Wonder in the Street 2026. A day of outdoor entertainment the whole family will love, featuring the rhythms of Katumba and Levantes Dance Theatre. All absolutely free and all absolutely wonderful! Image credit: Roswitha Chesher

✍️ Features:

🖊️ ArtsGroupie CIC: Championing Overlooked Stories and Working-Class Voices

Since ArtsGroupie began in 2016, it has brought overlooked stories to life through theatre, heritage projects and community work across the Liverpool City Region. At the heart of everything it does is the belief that arts and heritage should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income, background or previous cultural experience.

💌 Get the Uncover Arts Bulletin in your inbox every week. Sign up here: https://buff.ly/AFhZnlY

📩 Read the latest bulletin → https://buff.ly/q7HbWZi

📷 Photo: Image credit - Pete Carr