Brian Epstein Play to Open in Liverpool

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Brian Epstein Play to Open in Liverpool
A play about the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein will open in Liverpool this November.

By Emily Handley

27 Aug 2012

A new play about Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who died 35 years ago today, will open in Liverpool this November to celebrate the life of one of the city’s best-loved sons.

He played a big part in the early success of the band and Sir Paul McCartney said of him: "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian." He died of an overdose of barbiturates in his Belgravia bedroom, on 27 August 1967, at the age of 32 and was buried in Liverpool.

Epstein will open at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre on November 15th, running until 1st December 2012. The multimedia play was created by Andrew Sherlock and Jen Heyes, with the duo in charge of the script and direction respectively. The production will also play a part in Liverpool’s celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the Beatles, with attractions such as the Cavern, the Hard Day’s Night Hotel and The Beatles Story marking the occasion.

Bill Elms, co-producer of the play, said: “We are delighted to have the support of these iconic Beatles organisations for the play; it shows how Liverpool businesses work together to enhance the city’s tourism and cultural experience.”

Epstein was born into a working-class Jewish family in Liverpool in 1934. After initially working for his family’s furniture business, he took on a series of jobs in the army and as a data entry clerk before eventually meeting the Beatles. He became their manager in January 1962, and they recorded several chart-topping albums and singles before his untimely death.

Photo: DAVID MAGNUS/Rex Features