Lovehistory Ltd, the producers of the popular ’Catacombs of Liverpool’s Dark History’ series and the city’s most animated storytellers, are once again set to delve deeper into Liverpool’s gruesome history to bring its criminal past to a stage setting in the second of the series of ‘Lovehistory Loves’ events.

St George’s Hall’s famous Concert Room will play host to an evening of crime, murder and mystery on Friday 8th April with Lovehistory Loves…Crime! re-enacting four of Liverpool’s most notorious crimes.  A team of versatile actors in period costume, along with effective lighting and sound effects will transport you back to the gruesome setting of the past with the infamous criminal stories.

The slums of Victorian Liverpool were a breeding ground for the criminal underworld, vice, fraud, violence and murder, a place where the morally corrupt would prey upon their victims and spread terror throughout the city.

The Trial of Elizabeth Kirkbride in 1877 was one that caused distress and shock amongst all who heard the case. A widowed school-teacher living in Tuebrook, Elizabeth Kirkbride was arrested following the discovery of the three bodies of infant children in her previous address. When the police investigated further, what was to unfold caused outrage and anger and calls for justice against the baby-killer, Elizabeth Kirkbride. Her silence and reluctance to give any explanation as to circumstances surrounding the deaths has baffled many and remains a mystery to this day.

The Liverpool Bank Robbery of 1878 relives the tale of a shrewd and calculated plan where a young bank clerk, William Ohlman almost got away with the sum of £15,000 as he tried to escape the city with his mistress, Miss Mclean who subsequently vanished without trace. This infamous bank robbery stunned the well-to-do of the city, who perceived bank robbers to be violent, hooded men with guns or knives. This was clean, well planned but unfortunately for Ohlman, it was found out.

The Case of the Burning Woman exposes the alcohol fuelled rage when in 1884 a young prostitute, Mary McNamara, was burned alive during a horrific domestic dispute that left many questioning the savagery that existed in some of the poorest areas of the city.

The inexplicable and shocking Redcross Street Murder, created a media sensation around the country in 1895 and would be treated as a hate crime in 2016. On the 19th of February 1895 a young and bloodied man, George Needham, screamed his way through the streets of Liverpool reporting a murder had occurred… “A man did it!” he shouted as by passers tried to assist him. The trial of William Miller, the ex-lodger of the murdered Edward Moyse, heard how Miller began an unprovoked and frenzied attack upon Moyse that left him dead and Needham fighting for his life.

Judy McLean, Creative Director of Lovehistory, said:

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Concert Room for our second theatrical production of the series.  This time we are creating theatre in-the-round making the audience feel much closer to the action and the four stories that will take them on a terrifying journey. We are delighted to be co-producing with Bill Elms again.”

Bill Elms added:

“The first production in the Lovehistory Loves series went down incredibly well last autumn, now we move away from the murderous theme to the most criminal in our city’s history. If you are a lover of Liverpool’s darkened past, then it will be a crime to miss the second in this popular season of events in the historic St George’s Concert Room.”

With four stories, audiences will encounter a vicious and savage underworld of murder, theft and violence, these shocking tales are guaranteed to chill you to the bone.

For further information, please visit www.lovehistory.co.uk or www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk

Performance details

Lovehistory Loves… Crime!

St George’s Concert Room

Friday, 8th April 2016

Time: 8pm

Tickets: £15 (Plus £1.50 booking fee)

Purchase in person at TicketQuarter, Queen Square, Liverpool / online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk / telephone 0844 800 0410.