Writer: John Graham Davies
Director: Matt Rutter
If you don’t know your Champions League from your town’s amateur football, it doesn’t matter when being swept into the story of Beating Berlusconi. Staged at the charmingly atmospheric Dome in Liverpool’s Grand Central Hall, this 10-year revival of John Graham Davies’ one-man show is a fun night out, reminiscent of hearing a well-known story from an uncle over a pint at the local.
Paul Duckworth makes his return as the spirited Kenny Noonan, a Liverpool fan whose journey through the highs and lows of the club eventually lead him to Istanbul in 2005; an experience that’s surreal as it is politically charged.
Duckworth’s gift lies in his physicality. From the puff of his chest, the shrinking of his frame, flicking through voices, accents and stances to portray more than thirty characters. His ability to transform from Berlusconi to his long-time friend Minty makes the performance an easy watch, always able to keep up with the characters’ antics.
That said, there were moments where the flow faltered. Duckworth forgot his lines on more than one occasion and had to be prompted, but given it’s been over a decade since the piece was last performed, the audience was quick to forgive. In fact, laughter broke out, and he recovered smoothly with a few well-placed jokes.
What the show captures so well is that strange and special crossover between sport and passion. Wrapping the audience in a Liverpool-red scarf, hearing about the Hillsborough tragedy provided the premise that football was only ever a small part of the story. It’s about fighting back when everything seems rigged against you; the possibility of losing loved ones, the weight of political injustice, or even an Italian president prodding you in the back.
There are moments when the rhythm slips and you find yourself removed from the story for a moment, but the core of the play remains compelling. At its heart, this is about ordinary people dealing with life’s challenges, loyalty, and the fight to hold on to what matters; that everything will be alright.
While the production bore some marks of its age, Duckworth delivered a high-energy performance with the same conviction as in 2009. Beating Berlusconi invites reflection on what drives us, and the personal and political tragedies that shape our lives. If you’re nearby, it’s well worth a visit.
Reviewed on 23 May 2025. Runs until 24 May.
