A BONANZA post today to mark the start of the new season...

 AS I mentioned in my previous blog post, I spent the weekend in Cyprus at an opera festival. There is no Liverpool connection whatsoever - yes I know, even though Scousers get everywhere - but as Pafos is so popular with British holidaymakers there's a chance some of you might be tempted to go out there next year.

No hang on, there is a slight link - Pafos is currently bidding to be Capital of Culture and it's Aphrodite Festival is a strong part of its bid. It's the 13th year of the opera festival and each time they build an outdoor auditorium next to the medieval castle in the harbour for just three performances.

JUST a very quick post from me today as I'm frantically trying to get all my work written before heading off to Cyprus tomorrow for an opera festival - don't worry, I'm not expecting any sympathy.

So today I'm cheating. Here's a piece by Sam Liu, one of the cast of PurpleCoat Productions' Titus Andronicus, which is at the Contemporary Urban Centre this week...

Titus Andronicus is perhaps Shakespeare's most underappreciated work. The Victorians hated it for its graphic depictions of rape and violence, and ever since it has been largely dismissed by the theatrical and literary establishment. But this tragedy was immensely popular during Shakespeare's own time. If the Globe was in need of a money-spinner to tide it over, it was Titus Andronicus to which Shakespeare and co. turned, such was its favour among Elizabethan audiences. And shortly, at the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool, we are going to try and recreate that forgotten magic.