The full celebrity cast for the first major UK tour of Helen Forrester’s stunning period drama Twopence to Cross the Mersey has been announced and will visit Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 October!

This fully revamped stage production of Forrester’s famous work will feature TV favourites Mark Moraghan (Brookside, Coronation St) and Parry Glasspool (Hollyoaks)alongside talented theatre stars Lynn Francis (Two, Desperate Scousewives), Jenny Murphy (Oliver Twist, Pride & Prejudice) and Daniel Taylor (Blood Brothers) in the gifted nine-strong cast who will play over 40 unforgettable characters each night!

Twopence to Cross the Mersey is set in the early 1930s in the midst of the Great Depression and tells the captivating biographical story of Helen’s difficult early years and was published in 1974 to critical acclaim, later becoming a bestseller and establishing her as a major writer.

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 Southwest 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. 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 handouts from the local parish, charity organisations and the kindness of strangers.

By the age of 14, Helen had finally 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…

This enthralling new stage adaptation of Twopence to Cross the Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms, directed by Gareth Tudor Price and is fully endorsed by the Helen Forrester Estate.

Mark Moraghan will play Helen’s father John Forrester – a role he previously played in the 2007 and 2009 adaptations of Twopence to Cross the Mersey and reprised the role in the follow-up stage drama of Helen’s book By The Waters Of Liverpool in 2018 and 2020. Mark will be joined by Daniel Taylor as Mr Ferris, Parry Glasspool as Helen’s brother Alan, Jenny Murphy as Helen and Lynn Francis as Helen’s mother Celia Forrester. They will be joined by the talented ensemble cast Lynne Fitzgerald, Robert Hudson, Roy Carruthers and Chloe McDonald.

Playwright and show producer Rob Fennah said: “Twopence to Cross the Mersey is such a poignant true story and, although based in the 1930s, it tackles many scenarios people can still relate to today. It’s the main reason why it has remained so popular across the UK and around the world. Now we have our cast in place we can actually start believing we are taking the production on its first major tour after such a challenging few years for live theatre and entertainment.

“Helen Forrester was an incredible woman, and we are proud to continue to be custodians of her fascinating stories. Some years ago Helen and I grew to be good friends, and we 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 this new adaptation – fascinating memories of the late author that didn’t find their way into her books.”

Director Gareth Tudor Price added: “We’d not long opened By the Waters of Liverpool – sister show to Twopence – when the pandemic brought everything to a standstill. But I now have the privilege to direct the first instalment which sets the scene for Helen’s life. The cast is strong, and a few already have special links with Helen’s work, so anticipation is high. We’re now counting down the months until we all gather in the rehearsal room and once again bring Helen’s work to life on stage.”

Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 October starring Mark Moraghan (Brookside, Coronation St, Parry Glasspool (Hollyoaks, Lynn Francis (Two, Desperate Scousewives), Jenny Murphy (Oliver Twist, Pride & Prejudice) and Daniel Taylor (Blood Brothers). Matinee and evening performances

Click HERE to book tickets to Twopence to cross the Mersey, alternativly you can call the Box Office on 01253 290190