Shakespeare North Playhouse will host an open day to mark the end of a year-long project exploring local dialects.

The playhouse, in Prescot, will celebrate the culmination of the Our Town’s Sound Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), with a free, family-friendly open day on Saturday, November 2, from 11am to 4pm.

Working with schools, community groups, artists, and historians to delve into the evolution of local languages and dialects, the project has been inspired by Shakespeare's legacy of adding over 750 words and phrases to the English language.

The playhouse will celebrate the culmination of the Our Town’s Sound Project (Image: Kristian Lawrence) The open day will offer a full schedule of creative activities, performances, and workshops, all celebrating the culture of Prescot, Knowsley, and Merseyside.

Among the highlights of the day are pre-bookable workshops, including spoken word with Blue Saint, storytelling with Og the Giant, and drama games.

For those who prefer a more spontaneous approach, there will be drop-in activities throughout the day, such as arts and crafts, writing sessions, interactive games, and audio recording sessions.

The day will celebrate the culture of Prescot, Knowsley, and Merseyside (Image: Kristian Lawrence) Special exhibitions will include interactive installations from Focal Studios, art and audio-visual installations by Emmer Winder and Dave Bixter, short films created by local youth exploring language heritage, and an illustration showcase by Toni-Louise Carter, documenting the Our Town’s Sound project.

Live performances will feature short theatre pieces from Act for Action and Buzz Hub, inspired by local language.

The open day also provides an opportunity for guests to take behind-the-scenes tours of the playhouse, including the Cockpit Theatre.

There will be drop-in activities throughout the day, such as arts and crafts (Image: Kristian Lawrence) The open day is a celebration of the achievements of the Our Town’s Sound project, highlighting the significance of local culture and its influence on language.

It also underscores the role of cultural projects in uniting communities and preserving regional history.

For more information, or to pre-book the free workshops and tours, visit their website or contact the front desk via 0151 433 7156.