Liverpool fans should Kop this play at the Citadel (From St Helens Star)

Liverpool fans should Kop this play at the Citadel

8:49am Thursday 21st May 2009

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THE actor who recently portrayed St Helens-born George Groves, who went on the become a Hollywood studio legend, is back in town this weekend.

Paul Duckworth will be seeing red playing a Liverpool fan who has a bit of an adventure in Italy!

Paul stars in Beating Berlusconi, a play by John Graham Davies, at The Citadel this Saturday, 23 May at 7.30pm.

A spokesman for the production said: “It's a true and funny story of hope and triumph.

This is a Liverpool-themed comedy drama based on a true story, starring well-known Liverpool actor Paul Duckworth (Brookie, Ringo in Backbeat) as Kenny, the key cutter from Allerton who in real life, by bizarre accident, watched the 2005 European Cup Final sitting next to Italy's Prime Minister!

He blundered into the AC Milan Exec Suite at half time when it was 0-3 and the Italians all said (In Italian, obviously) "here y're lad - 'ave a beer and watch the game"). He nearly ended up in a punch up with Berlusconi.

Here's what Paul Duckworth has to say about playing at The Citadel;

"I knew little about St Helens until I was given the honour of playing George Groves, the local lad from St Helens who went on to invent talking movies.

“It was a fantastic role to play and I am such an admirer of his work and have always wanted to get to know more about his origins. I know that a special screening of the world's first talkie The Jazz Singer was shown at The Citadel some years ago in the presence of George's remaining sister and senior execs from Hollywood.

“To play the ordinary lad Kenny who is the main character in Beating Berlusconi! in the theatre where George Groves was celebrated and probably played the cornet for the St Helens Town Band, is a privilege and honour - I think I'll have George in mind when I'm playing this theatre.

“The play I'm doing is about a likely lad made good which is what I think George was. Whilst there is strong language in the play it is something any Liverpool FC fan would love to see and I look forward to playing The Citadel with a special nod to St Helens's most worthy son, George Groves! He immersed me when I played him and now I hope to absorb a little more of what he was all about.

(tickets £10 full £7 concession. Citadel Box Office 01744 735436).

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