On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Shakespeare North Playhouse’s 2025 festive Cinderella brings Merseyside magic with director Nicole Behan and local star Tia Larsen, promising a heartwarming, talent-filled production.
Prescot’s award-winning Shakespeare North Playhouse is set to enchant audiences this Christmas 2025 with its vibrant production of Cinderella, featuring two Merseyside talents at the helm. The theatre has announced Nicole Behan as Director and Tia Larsen as the titular Cinderella, both returning after their standout contributions to the venue’s acclaimed 2024/25 production of Alice in Wonderland.
Nicole Behan: A Visionary Director
Nicole Behan, a Liverpool native and Artistic Director of Paperwork Theatre, brings her dynamic storytelling to Cinderella. Having served as Associate Director for Alice in Wonderland at Shakespeare North, Behan’s promotion to Director signals her growing influence in the region’s theatre scene. Known for crafting bold, contemporary narratives, her recent credits include the immersive Lovestruck, which toured to Liverpool Everyman, Storyhouse, and Shakespeare North, as well as My Beautiful Laundrette (Leicester Curve & National Theatre’s Theatre Nation tour) and Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Liverpool Everyman). Behan’s extensive experience, including assistant directing for Headlong and the National Theatre, and her training at Liverpool Hope University, ensures a fresh and engaging take on this classic fairy tale.
Tia Larsen: From Front of House to Centre Stage
Stepping into the glass slippers of Cinderella is Tia Larsen, a rising star whose journey embodies Shakespeare North’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. Larsen, a graduate of Rose Bruford College Wigan, previously shone as Swing in Alice in Wonderland, seamlessly covering multiple roles during a period of cast illness. Offstage, she is a cherished member of the Playhouse’s front-of-house team, making her transition to leading lady a testament to the venue’s ethos of opportunity and growth. Larsen’s theatre credits include Vignettes (Hope Mill Theatre and Contact Theatre Manchester), Approved (STJ Theatre), Den Festival Manchester (Royal Exchange Theatre), and The Incident (M6 Theatre). Her versatility and local roots promise a heartfelt performance that will resonate with audiences.
A Venue Rooted in Community and Innovation
Opened in July 2022, Shakespeare North Playhouse has quickly become a cultural beacon in Prescot, Merseyside. Named Theatre Building of the Year 2023 by The Stage Awards, the venue boasts a unique 17th-century-style timber “Cockpit” theatre, the only one of its kind outside London, designed by Helm Architecture with support from Austin-Smith:Lord. Built during the pandemic with public funds and donations, the energy-efficient building also features an accessible outdoor performance garden, a 60-seater studio theatre, an exhibition gallery, a learning centre, and a café with an outdoor piazza. Attracting over 140,000 visitors annually, the Playhouse is a vital part of Knowsley’s regeneration, fostering jobs, skills, and community well-being.
Funded by Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Arts Council England, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Shakespeare North Playhouse continues to champion local talent and bold storytelling. This Cinderella promises to be a magical celebration of Merseyside’s creative spirit, running as the venue’s festive highlight for 2025.
Find more now:
Cinderella
Produced by Shakespeare North Playhouse
Friday 21 November 2025 – Saturday 10 January 2026
Previews: 21, 22, 24 November 2025
Press Night: Tuesday 25 November, 7pm
Website: Cinderella | Shakespeare North Playhouse
Shakespeare North Playhouse
Shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk
Twitter: @ShakespeareNP
Instagram: @shakespearenorthplayhouse
Facebook: Shakespeare North Playhouse
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