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Commissioned and directed by Alan Dosser for Liverpool's Everyman Theatre where it opened in May 1974. The production transferred to the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London in August. The soundtrack with the London cast was released on album. 
 
The show was a major box office success for the Everyman Theatre. Nearly fifteen thousand people attended during it's eight week run. A record at the time. At the Lyric Theatre, it ran for a year and won both the Evening Standard and London Critics' awards for BEST NEW MUSICAL of 1974.
 
THE CAST:
Bert - George Costigan
John Lennon - Bernard Hill
Paul McCartney - Trevor Eve
George Harrison - Philip Joseph
Ringo Starr - Anthony Sher
Brian Epstein - Robin Hooper
Porter, Hitler & others - Nick Stringer
Teddy Boy & others - Barry Woolgar
Teddy Boy & others - Dick Haydon
Teddy Boy & others - Ian Jentle
Tiny Tina - Luan Peters
Titular1 & others - Elizabeth Estensen
Titular2 & others - Linda Beckett
Titular3 & others - Valerie Lilley
Those five boys from Liverpool - these characters and the cover of the album were designed by Anthony Sher - now Sir Antony Sher, RSC actor.
 
What a band - Bernard Hill, Trevor Eve, Philip Joseph & Antony Sher... Programme cover from the Liverpool Everyman George Costigan as Leroy Lover (Bert)
 
THE PERFORMERS:

Barbara Dickson - her first theatrical performanceSINGER & PIANIST
Barbara Dickson

 
MUSICIANS
Robert Ash
Terry Canning
One of Barbara's most vivid memories is auditioning for Willy Russell's Beatles musical 'John Paul George Ringo...& Bert'
 
"Alan Dossor, the Everyman director, was very sceptical about a folk singer doing Beatles numbers," she explained. "But Willy didn't want four blokes because there would be direct comparisons, so they got the piano from the bistro downstairs and put it on stage on a truck. It was so high, I had to sit on a bar stool to play it. I was nervous but the company were a fantastic support. They even came to see me do a gig at a club in Rock Ferry."
(Liverpool Echo)
 
MUSIC:
1. I Should Have Known Better
2. Your Mother Should Know
3. Ooee Boppa (W. Russell)
4. With A Little Help From My Friends
5. Penny Lane
6. In The Bleak Midwinter (Holst, Rosetti)
7. Here Comes The Sun (Harrison)
8. Long And Winding Road
9. Clap and Cheer
10. Help
11. Lucy In The Sky
12. You Never Give Me Money/Carry That Weight
13. We Can Work It Out
14. I Will Be Your Love (W. Russell)
15. A Day In The Life
All other compositions by Lennon & McCartney
The album from the first performance at the Lyric Theatre 1974 - released on RSO.
 
THE ALBUM:

The album, released on RSO in 1974, featured Dave Mattacks, Kevin Peak, Pete Zorn, Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty.

The cover was designed by Antony Sher.

AWARDS:
Programme cover from the Lyric TheatreIt ran for a year and won both the Evening Standard and London Critics' awards for
BEST NEW MUSICAL of 1974.
 
 
Two major tours followed the West End run.
The Lyric Theatre, London
 
CREATIVE VENUE:
Commissioned and directed by Alan Dosser for Liverpool's Everyman Theatre. The Liverpool Everyman was such creative powerhouse in the 1970s.
"Even at the time and without the benefit of hindsight one knew just what an extraordinary company of actors Alan Dossor had assembled. As well as Bernard Hill and Tony Sher there was Johnathan Price, Alison Steadman, George Costigan, Trevor Eve, Liz Estensen, Philip Joseph, Matthew Kelly, Pete Postlethwaite, Julie Walters, Bill Nighy ..... awesome really."

WILLY RUSSELL

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