17th October
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Due to overwhelming ticket demand, Willy Russell's lecture appearance at Liverpool University has been altered. His 'IN HIS OWN WORDS' appearance will now take place on two nights at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Monday 1st December and Tuesday 2nd December. For ticket information please contact 0151 794 2650.

3rd September
GEORGE ALDEN August 4, 1940 – August 27, 2008 
Willy says:   " George was enormously influential in creating a platform for my work.   Initially it was through my involvement with folk music that I met George - at that time an enthusiastic and impressive singer himself -  it was he who first suggested that I do something at the Fringe, expecting that this would be in a solo capacity as a singer/songwriter.   Read more here:

18th August
Liverpool on the Box
BBC television has begun screening it's Liverpool on the Box series, and as well as a new showing of OUR DAY OUT, Willy Russell's work will feature several times, including interviews with him and other Liverpool playwrights. On BBC7, Willy Russell will also feature reading Shirley Valentine. The programme will include an interview with Willy and fellow Liverpool writer Roger McGough.

6th August
OUR DAY OUT
BBC television will show OUR DAY OUT as part of a special screening of Liverpool themed programmes. The film, which was shot in 1976, is still shown and the play performed in almost every school in the country. Play For Today - OUR DAY OUT, will be broadcast on Friday 22nd August at 11pm on BBC4.

23rd July
AN EVENING WITH....
Willy Russell will be appearing as part of the Barmouth Arts Festival this year at the Dragon Theatre, Barmouth. He will present An Evening With Willy Russell on Thursday 11th September at 7.30pm. Tickets can be booked via the theatre's Box Office on 01341 281697.

24th May
NEW WEBSITE
We hope you like the new website. We've worked on improving the layout and have also added lots of new content not previously seen. Over the coming months we will include film of interviews Willy has given and add snippets of his earlier work... and as well as the regular and very popular newsletters, Willy Russell.com will offer podcasts with unique content. We hope you will enjoy your visit and come back soon.

8th February
STAGS & HENS
The reviews are flowing in for STAGS & HENS - The Remix, which is running until the beginning of March at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. You can read some of the reviews, including one from THE STAGE on the STAGS & HENS page.

1st February
STAGS & HENS
Willy Russell's STAGS & HENS - The Remix opens tonight (Friday 1st Feb) at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. First produced 30 years ago, the play tells of a couple who, by coincidence, spend the night before their wedding in the same Liverpool venue. You can read some of the interviews Willy has given in the build-up to STAGS & HENS here...

The production which runs from 1st February to the 1st March 2008 is directed by Bob Eaton with Eithne Brown as Assistant Director. You can book STAGS & HENS on 0870 787 1866.

28th January
FRONT ROW - RADIO 4
Willy will be interviewed tonight (Monday 28th Jan) by Mark Lawson on Radio 4s Arts Programme FRONT ROW. The programme begins at 7.15pm and you can 'listen again' for the next week via the BBCs website.

23rd January
HOOVERING THE MOON
Pure Records is relaunching Willy Russell's CD HOOVERING THE MOON (WR1-PRCD24) and you can now buy on-line from it's website <purerecords.net>. The CD contains 14 original compositions and features Kate Rusby, Barbara Dickson, Iain Mathews, Tim Firth plus Andy Roberts who co-produced the album with Willy. Mike Harding described Willy Russell as "one of the country's great songwriters". The album is also available as an iTunes download from Apple.com ©.
Hear a handful of songs on the 'SONGWRITER' PAGE.

18th January
Courting favour with Willy Russell
Philip Key also chatted to Willy Russell prior to STAG & HENS (... a Comedy Classic) opening at Liverpool's Royal Court theatre at the beginning of February. STAGS & HENS runs from 1st February to the 1st March. You can book on 0870 787 1866.

15th January
STAGS & HENS
Willy took time out from rehearsals for STAGS & HENS to chat to Joe Riley, Liverpool Echo reporter, about Liverpool's 08 Capital of Culture and his hopes for a permanent acting company in Liverpool.

4th January
BLOOD BROTHERS
As BLOOD BROTHERS kicks off Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, the musical - first performed a quarter of a century ago, is gathering great reviews. The stars, Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone, Sean Jones, Mark Hutchinson, Keith Burns and Vivienne Carlyle all receive praise for their performance.

19th December
STAGS & HENS - 30th EDITION!
The dates and cast for next year's production of STAGS & HENS at the Liverpool Royal Court is complete and includes, for the Hens - Rachel Rae (Linda), Gillian Hardie (Bernie) [Gillian has previously played Linda in Blood Brothers], Suzanne Collins (Carol), Laura Dos Santos (Francis) and Keddy Sutton (Maureen). The Stags include Stephen Fletcher (Peter), James Spofforth (Eddie), Kevin Harvey (Robbie) [Kevin can be seen in Dancin' Thru The Dark], Danny O'Brien (Kav), Lenny Wood (Billy) and as the Roadie, Shaun Mason.
The production which runs from 1st February to the 1st March 2008 is directed by Bob Eaton with Eithne Brown as Assistant Director. You can book STAGS & HENS on 0870 787 1866.

31st October
WILLY RUSSELL INTERVIEW
In the build up to his 'An Evening With Willy Russell at the Lowry, Willy Russell has given an interview to WHAT'S ON STAGE.COM in which he talks about BLOOD BROTHERS… The Movie, Liverpool and the capital of culture celebrations, his love of Slava’s Snow Show and his future plans, including his forthcoming date in Manchester.

21st October
THE WRONG BOY
THE WRONG BOY is, once again, being serialised on "OneWord", Channel 4's digital radio. You can hear Willy Russell reading his first novel twice each day on DAB digital radio, and on Sky, Freeview, Virgin Media cable or the internet - www.oneword.co.uk.

21st October
STAGS & HENS UPDATE
Willy is delighted to report that auditions for Stage & Hens continue to reveal an astonishing wealth of young acting talent. "From the two auditions we've already held, we could put two quite separate superb casts together - and we've still got more to see." Stags & Hens will open at the Royal Court Theatre in February 2008.

20th October
WRITING LIVERPOOL
Just published by Liverpool University Press is Writing Liverpool: Essays & Interviews edited by Deryn Rees-Jones and Michael Murthy. This collection of essays and interviews addresses the wide range of writing that has emerged from Liverpool and includes an a piece on Willy Russell, interviewed by John Bennett. Writing Liverpool: Essays & Interviews is available from Liverpool University Press; ISBN 9781846310744.

16th October
STAGS & HENS
The production of Stags & Hens at the Royal Court will rehearse in January and open in February. We don't have the exact dates yet but will post them here as soon as they are confirmed. Bob Eaton will be directing and he and Willy are currently casting for the show. The first auditions took place last week with another round of auditions later this week. Both Willy and Bob Eaton have seen some really exciting young actors which is an excellent start. Contact the Royal Court theatre if you want to audition.

9th October
STAGS & HENS
Open auditions for the Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre's opening Capital of Culture year show were announced recently. Would-be stage stars can showcase their acting skills in front of Willy Russell. His comedy STAGS & HENS launches the theatre's 2008 programme. Royal Court manager Kevin Fearon said today: "The auditions for Stags and Hens will be for anyone, whatever their experience. Willy wants to see new blood. "Willy will be involved in the auditioning, design and marketing of the play. This season is our gift to Liverpool." Many of the theatre's regular repertory troupe, such as Andrew Schofield and Eithne Browne, will also be involved. Willy Russell said: "A theatre once on the brink of oblivion is now bursting with vitality. "I'm delighted Stags and Hens will be part of the season."

24th September
EDUCATING RITA
A new student edition of EDUCATING RITA has just been published by Methuen Drama. For anyone studying the play or simply interested in background, origins etc., it's a really excellent edition with notes and commentary from Steve Lewis. More details from www.acblack.com

Archive news items - coming soon...