From 7.30am to midday on Friday 9 June, surprise performances and cultural treats will be taking place across the city centre, inspired by the Lennon-penned song.
There are a mix of free and ticketed events, and some of the activities taking place include:
- Acclaimed actor Paul McGann will read some of the works of author Herman Melville (Moby Dick, Redburn) at The Athenaeum from 8am. Melville visited the city in 1839 and was so inspired by Liverpool and its Docks that he wrote Redburn. Booking is essential and free tickets can be obtained via Eventbrite.
- Award-winning journalist Paul Howard and music journalist and author Steve Turner, both self-proclaimed Beatles fans, will take part in an ‘in conversation’ event at Tate Liverpool called He Blew his Mind Out in a Car. Chaired by the University of Liverpool’s Dr Mike Jones from the Institute of Popular Music, they will talk about the life of Tara Browne (the inspiration behind A Day in the Life) and the importance of that period of the Sixties for The Beatles, both musically and culturally. Booking is essential and free tickets can be obtained via Eventbrite.
- The Unity Theatre are staging a pub quiz with a difference in partnership with We The People (of Liverpool). Taking place at Ye Cracke on Rice Street from 8.15am, it’s about the times we’re living in and the habits we need to cultivate to make a better difference. It’s a quiz about the community, with questions set by the people of Liverpool with prizes to be won. Tickets are just £3 and can be bought at www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.
- The Unity Theatre are also opening their doors at 10am for an audience to experience a reading of Liverpool writer Luke Barnes’ new play Lonely Hearts Club, directed by Tony Lidington, in association with LIPA. Midday sees another rehearsed reading: a family run café fights the rising tides of change in Sour Cherries, Stuart Crowther’s adaptation of the Chekhov classic The Cherry Orchard. Tickets are £3 for each reading, although book tickets for both readings and the pub quiz and it will cost just £7.50. Full details can be found at www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.
- Baritone Marcus Farnsworth will sing songs by Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf and others, accompanied by highly acclaimed Roger Vignoles from 10.30am in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Music Room. Booking is essential and free tickets can be obtained from www.liverpoolphil.com.
- From 7.30am, the Bluecoat will be offering free yoga classes, Indian music courtesy of sitar and tabala players, a 1967 DJ set and the screening of a special animated film.
- From 8am Kazimier Gardens will host a ‘Breakfast to Lunch’ party including live DJ sets and performances, and the Hard Day’s Night Hotel will be home to live music from The Huckleberries from 9am.
From 8am, expect surprise performances to pop up on Church Street, around Central Station, near the Mersey Ferries terminal, at Lime Street and on Hope Street ranging from tai-chi demonstrations, dancing and music by artists from the Liverpool International Music Festival Academy and from LIPA.
And, as the song itself begins with the crow of a rooster, expect to meet some kazoo-wielding cultural cockerels who will perform a very special fanfare for passers-by.
Assistant City Mayor and cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:
“Whether you’re a morning person or not, we hope that people will embrace this unique morning offer and have a cultural kickstart to their day.
“There is a huge amount going on and it’s great to spread a bit of cultural love to commuters on their way to work, or visitors spending time in the city centre – it’s not every day you can say that you’ve been serenaded by a chicken with a kazoo!
“Our Sgt Pepper at 50 programme is an eclectic celebration paying homage to a seminal album, and the positive reaction we’ve had to the events so far has been incredibly overwhelming. There’s so much more to come, we hope people will continue to turn out and support this incredible festival.”
Good Morning Good Morning forms part of Sgt Pepper at 50 which will see each track on the iconic Beatles album inspire 13 brand new events. The world premiere commissions are a mixture of large and intimate events covering the worlds of art, dance, music, poetry and theatre.
Until 16 June there will be performances, installations, live spectacle and moments of surprise across the city, as the spotlight will fall on Liverpool to celebrate their most famous sons in a way befitting of a record which broke the mould and changed music forever.
For full details of the Sgt Pepper at 50 programme please visit www.sgtpepperat50.com, or follow itsliverpool on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
