Writer: Frank Clarke
Director: Nicole Behan
A delightful nostalgic evening with the staging of this iconic mid 80s tale of love at first sight. A must see for fans, and even if you haven’t watched the cult film, then the stage version will no doubt firmly place it on your must watch list.
An unlikely romance is framed by the gritty political, social and cultural realities of mid-1980s Britain and the lives of two ordinary girls from Kirkby who dare to want something more. Set against unemployment, economic hardship and the Cold War, Letter to Brezhnev is full of dreams, escapism and the pursuit of love. Yet its real strength lies with its women.
Ellie Clayton as Elaine and Angela Simms as Teresa make the roles their own without losing the charm of the characters immortalised on screen by Alexandra Pigg and Margi Clarke. As do visiting Soviet sailors Peter and Sergei, brought to life by Thomas Cotran and Liam Powell-Berry. The longing gaze between Elaine and Peter on the dancefloor is enough to cement their love connection.
When Peter has to leave, Elaine is heartbroken and ecstatic in equal measure, a young woman who believes in romance and is brave enough to follow her heart and relocate to Russia. Whilst Teresa is the sassy, loud and brash counterpoint, she is also the one who quietly breaks your heart. Beneath that tough exterior are glimpses of a sensitive young woman with little faith in how brilliant she actually is, her sense of worth measured through men, vodka and stuffing chickens.
Their friendship is as important as the romance. Writer Frank Clarke describes the story as an exploration and celebration of the friendship between the two women, as well as Liverpool and Kirkby almost becoming characters themselves.
Letter to Brezhnev is more or less verbatim to the film and fans will recognise its key moments, and hilarious one liners, which have stood the test of time. The gusto and humour is inspired by the young women and factory workers in Kirkby where Clarke grew up.
There are also wonderful physical connections to the film. Original costumes and accessories have been incorporated into the production, including Elaine’s iconic red-and-black checked jacket, loaned by Alexandra Pigg.
The staging is equally clever. An abstract set of wonderfully 80s brown wooden cupboards and drawers open and close, smoothly transforming into different locations, allowing the transitions to mirror the pace of the film. It is inventive without distracting from the story, with director Nicole Behan moving us effortlessly through Kirkby, Liverpool, buses, homes, clubs and chippies.
There are plenty of belly laughs – Michelle Butterly gets some of the biggest – alongside moments of surprisingly strong emotion as these two immensely likeable friends navigate love, disappointment and the possibility of a different life.
Letter to Brezhnev remains an iconic piece of Liverpool culture because beneath all the politics and 80s nostalgia is something timeless. It is a fairytale love story splashed with realism, and it is the warmth, humour and sheer Scouseness of its characters that give it its enduring charm.
This stage version more than holds its own – a funny, moving and lovingly created celebration of a brilliant Liverpool story.
Runs until 17th October 2026.
