Keith Saha’s drama for the Sgt Pepper anniversary expands on its domestic setting with puppetry and magical realism
The Beatles didn’t just come from Liverpool, they were made here. The tang& of the city flavours their songs. Their blend of absurdity, wry wit, cocky assurance and warm compassion is, perhaps, most succinctly sampled in the 13 tracks of the band’s eighth album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its recording, Liverpool decided to stage a three-week festival across the city: 13 events, each based on a track from the album. Which is how Phelim McDermott of Improbable theatre company and 20 Stories High – the decade-old company that creates theatre in collaboration with young Liverpudlians and world-class professionals – found themselves workshopping ideas around She’s Leaving Home. I confess that I imagined I’d be able to anticipate their conclusion (the song is, after all, a staple of youth drama improvisations). I was so wrong.
Related: Guaranteed to raise a smile! Our pop critic's verdict on Liverpool's Sgt Pepper celebrations
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