Shankly show set for comeback

One of the highlights of Capital of Culture is on its way back to mark the 50th anniversary of football legend Bill Shankly's arrival at Liverpool.

The Shankly Show will be the first production to play at the 1,350-seater auditorium at the BT Convention Centre next month.
 
The one-man show, which wowed more than 10,000 theatregoers during 2008, will return for two nights only in what writer Andrew Sherlock is calling a "pre-match warm up" to the date - December 19 - that Shankly became manager at Anfield. 
 
"Glaswegian actor Sandy West will reprise the role of "Shanks" in the boot room-set look back at the great manager's career.
 
He famously stepped in at short notice to take the Shankly role after a previous actor pulled out.
 
Mr Sherlock said today: "It's not simply football, Shankly lifts the city.
 
"I've been inundated with requests wherever I go since '08 from people who didn't get a chance to see the show, and I thought it was ideal to put it on to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
 
"Shankly's first game was on December 19 1959.
 
"Sandy has turned down Christmas shows to do this. He fell in love with Liverpool and he got a great reception from the fans everywhere he went. He really loves playing the part."
 
The show will be performed on December 17 and 18 in the Convention Centre next door to the ECHO arena.
 
"It's a fantastic modern theatre - the poshest I've ever been in! And it's got a state-of-the-art surround sound system and digital projection built in."
 
The play is described as one actor, 45 minutes each way with the first half in black and white and the second in colour.
 
Sandy West's performance is accompanied by big screen action featuring original footage, photos and graphics to create a unique piece of documentary-theatre.
 
A DVD of the show is also set to be released before Christmas, with extra features including Mr West's audition where he first showed his uncanny similarity to Bill Shankly.

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