YNWA – Let’s Talk About Six… Baby! – Royal Court, Liverpool

Writer: Nicky Allt

Director: Howard Gray

“Walk on, with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone”- a line that some football fans love while others hate, but one that provides the underlying theme in YNWA – Let’s Talk About Six…Baby! (Nicky Allt’s latest update to the You Never Walk Alone franchise.) For some the show will take you on a trip down memory lane, while for others it’s an education, a chance to learn about Liverpool Football Club’s history, in a comical and at times emotional way.

When you walk into the theatre you are automatically drawn to the incredible set. A big screen at the back shows a slow-motion football game, while the steps in front are reminiscent of the old Kop at Anfield stadium before it became a seated stand in 1994. To the right of the stage is The 12th Man pub and to the left is an amazing on-stage band, who not only provide the music throughout but are also ensemble and play several different roles in the show.

This isn’t just a history lesson though. It is a story about family and friends and the bonds and memories that this beautiful game can create. We meet the Kelly family who are mourning the loss of their father/grandfather and it is at the wake that the stories of days gone by are told!

Parents Tommy (Mark Moraghan) and Paula (Lindzi Germain) are avid Liverpool supporters as are their children, son Kenny (Lenny Wood) named after the legendary Sir Kenny Dalglish and daughter Tia (Lydia Morales-Scully) who was named after the renowned “This Is Anfield” sign! Morales-Scully and Wood play the perfect scouse siblings, constantly arguing over who is right and winding each other up at every opportunity, much to the annoyance of their parents!

After what has been a spectacular week for women’s football it was nice to see Germain and Morales-Scully taking on a lot of the narration and dishing out the facts about Liverpool FC. Anyone who goes to The Royal Court regularly knows Germain is hilarious, but her stand-out moment here reduces the audience to tears. When speaking as a mother who lost her son at the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989, she is genuine and sincere and it’s heart wrenching to watch. It is surprising to find that this is Morales-Scully’s first professional production as she oozes confidence and has great stage presence. She is also incredible vocally.

Wood is great in the role of Kenny and is “that” member of the family who believes they know it all. He is endearing and you warm to him straight away, his comic timing is perfect. He is also great vocally and has a lovely duet with the Busker/Kopite (Daniel Ross). Ross who is onstage for the majority of the show has some great stand-out moments, most notably his song about Bill Shankly. His diction when singing was perfect and he has a beautiful voice.

Throughout the show we see the trips Tommy made to different LFC games with best friend Gerry (Jake Abraham). The two have great chemistry and provide the audience with lots of laughs throughout. They also show how the sense of fashion has evolved in Liverpool over the years – bringing to the stage their shell suit tracksuits and Kevin Keegan Perms!

This production is filled with comedy moments, with an Everton fan singing about Liverpool being relegated to the second division to the hilarious portrayal of the Poor Scouser Tommy, but it is also tinged with sadness when talks of the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters and the beautiful tribute at the end of the show to all the Liverpool greats who are no longer with us. This show highlights how times have changed, but how the heart of Liverpool FC is still very much the same!

Unfortunately, we can’t give a star for every European cup so instead, we will take it back to the famous night in Instanbul where Liverpool took it to 5!

Runs until 3 September 2022