‘Twopence To Cross The Mersey’ stage show to visit Rhyl next month

“Twopence To Cross The Mersey” is a period drama set in the early 1930s, amid the Great Depression.

The new touring production of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited, in association with Bill Elms, and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

The nine-strong cast will play more than 40 characters – they are Mark Moraghan, Daniel Taylor, Parry Glasspool, Jenny Murphy, Lynn Francis, Lynne Fitzgerald, Robert Hudson, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald.

Five of the cast members – Mark, Parry, Lynn, Roy and Chloe – have appeared in its sister show, “By The Waters Of Liverpool”.

Millions of people around the world know Helen Forrester’s life story told through her best-selling volumes of autobiography, “Twopence To Cross The Mersey”, “Liverpool Miss”, “By The Waters Of Liverpool”, and “Lime Street At Two”.

In 1931, Helen's spendthrift father was declared bankrupt, forcing the family to leave behind the nannies, servants, and beautiful middle-class home in the gentler South West of England.

With nothing more than the clothes they stood up in, the family of nine took the train to Liverpool where they hoped to rebuild their shattered lives.

It came as a terrible shock to find the thriving, wealthy port Helen’s father remembered as a boy, the place his own father made his fortune, had long since gone.

While 12-year-old Helen’s inept parents searched unsuccessfully to find work, she was taken out of school to look after her six younger siblings and the full burden of keeping house fell on Helen’s young shoulders.

Having never had to manage a family budget in their previous life, the Forresters found themselves relying on meagre hand-outs from the local parish, charity organisations, and the kindness of strangers.

At 14, Helen had had enough of her miserable existence and began a bitter fight with her mother and father to attend evening school in an effort to educate herself and make her own way in the world.

But Helen’s parents had no intention of releasing their unpaid slave; They had other plans for their selfish daughter.

Helen’s literary achievements were celebrated in 2020 when a Blue Plaque was unveiled at the late author’s family home in Hoylake, a place which featured heavily in her work.

The popular stage adaptation of “Twopence To Cross The Mersey” has been updated by writer Rob Fennah, who enjoyed a long friendship with Helen Forrester.

Through their meeting of creative minds, Rob adapted Helen’s book into a stage musical in 1994 which was premiered at the Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Helen travelled from her home in Edmonton, Canada, to see her story brought to life on stage.

Rob went on to develop “Twopence” into a straight stage play which premiered in Liverpool in 2015, before touring England’s North West in 2016.

Helen died in Edmonton in 2011.

Rob Fennah said: “In 2020, we embarked on a UK Tour of ‘By The Waters Of Liverpool’ – sister show to ‘Twopence’ – which was brilliantly received, but we were forced to cancel after just two weeks due to the pandemic.

“We tried to reschedule but COVID restrictions kept getting the better of us. It was during this period I decided to rework the ‘Twopence To Cross The Mersey’ script, include some new scenes and give it a fresh look.

“Helen’s army of loyal readers will be interested to know that, when she was still with us, Helen and I shared many letters and lengthy telephone conversations about her life story.

“There were some real gems in amongst those conversations which I have now written into the new scenes – fascinating memories of the late author that didn’t find their way into her books.”

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Mark Moraghan will play John Forrester (Helen’s father).

Mark previously played “father” in the 2007 and 2009 adaptations of “Twopence To Cross The Mersey”.

And he reprised the role in the follow-up stage drama of Helen’s book, “By The Waters Of Liverpool”, in 2018 and 2020.

Mark is best known for his roles in Holby City, Coronation Street and Brookside.

Daniel Taylor plays Mr Ferris and is also part of the ensemble. He is an award-winning actor, producer and director, and was most recently seen on stage in Blood Brothers.

Daniel appeared at Liverpool Theatre Festival 2020 in his show, “The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper”, and returned the following year in “Something About George – The George Harrison Story”.

Parry Glasspool will play Helen’s brother, Alan. He is best known for playing Harry Thompson in Hollyoaks.

He was born and raised in the Midlands, before moving to London to study for his BA Hons in acting for stage and media at the University of West London.

After five years, Parry made a dramatic exit from Hollyoaks in 2020 when he was murdered.

After an open call for auditions to find Helen, Jenny Murphy was awarded the role. Jenny wowed the panel and now joins the touring production.

She trained at Mount View Academy of Theatre Arts.

Theatre credits include Oliver Twist, Pride and Prejudice, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Jungle Book, Cilla – The Musical, Julius Caesar, The Little Match Girl, and The Decameron.

Lynn Francis plays Helen’s mother, Celia Forrester, Roy Carruthers (ensemble), and Chloe McDonald (ensemble) – and all return having appeared in previous stage productions of Helen Forrester books presented by Pulse Records Limited.

Lynne Fitzgerald plays Mrs Foster (ensemble), and Robert Hudson (ensemble) completes the cast.

Both are appearing for the first time in a Helen Forrester adaptation.

This year’s nationwide tour of “Twopence To Cross The Mersey” will be followed by a tour of “By The Waters Of Liverpool” in the spring of 2023, the next instalment in Helen’s life story.

For more information on the Rhyl shows, go to: www.rhylpavilion.co.uk.