The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Prescot on Monday 6 October 2025 to attend a performance of The Tempest at the Shakespeare North Playhouse.
The Duke of Edinburgh formally opened Shakespeare North Playhouse in May 2023, when His Royal Highness toured the building and met local dignitaries, representatives of Knowsley Council and children participating in the theatre’s learning programme. On this forthcoming visit, The Duke of Edinburgh will return with The Duchess of Edinburgh and together they will experience a Shakespeare North-produced performance (The Tempest) in the Cockpit Theatre.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council added: “I was delighted that The Duke of Edinburgh was able to officially open the Playhouse back in 2023 and that he will be returning once more. This time His Royal Highness will be accompanied by The Duchess of Edinburgh and will have the opportunity to experience a performance here – which will be wonderful. There is such a unique atmosphere in the cockpit and it will be an honour to share that experience with The Duke and Duchess and other invited guests. It is particularly special for Knowsley to host such a visit and for us to be able to highlight this wonderful community asset.”
Max Steinberg CBE DL, Chair of Shakespeare North Trust commented: “We are honoured to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Shakespeare North Playhouse. We are thrilled that Their Royal Highnesses will once again see the extraordinary impact this venue is having on our communities.”
Lisa Allen, Chief Executive and Creative Director of Shakespeare North Playhouse added: “We are delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh can return to experience a performance first-hand, following The Duke’s previous visit where His Royal Highness learned about our work. This co-production of The Tempest with The HandleBards exemplifies our commitment to bold, imaginative, and sustainable theatre-making. Their Royal Highnesses will witness the exceptional work of our creative teams, including local artists, and see the enjoyment of audiences both young and old. It is particularly fitting that they will see future generations inspired by the magic of live performance.”
The Tempest marks the first co-production between Shakespeare North Playhouse and The HandleBards. This innovative staging reflects both companies’ commitment to bold storytelling and sustainable practice.