This show, written by Adam McCoy and directed by Emma Bird, is a production which is all heart and combines unrequited aspirations, loneliness, marriage issues and community spirit wrapped around a love story in a kind of adult pantomime fashion where everything comes together and works out well in the end. It has the feel-good factor whilst being entertaining with lots of child-like humour and at the same time highlighting adult themes.
The stage set is constant, Shelly’s
kitchen in Liverpool’s County Road, where her family and best friends/neighbours
gather to chat and catch up with life events. Shelly’s marriage seems to have
hit the rocks and she is being threatened with redundancy from a job she
loves. At the same time her heart is elsewhere,
wanting to re-live her singing career and a prime opportunity arises in the
form of a TV talent contest, The Next Big Thing.
The cast is made up of five actors,
each bringing their own powerful, individual talents to the fore and worthy of
equal commendation. Helen Carter (Shelly) delivers effortless vocals and is
made for the role delivering fragility with determination and practicality, whilst
Adam McCoy plays Anthony, Shelly’s next-door neighbour, delivering heartwarming
camp humour with heartfelt warmth. Joan, Shelly’s mum played by Eithne Browne, a
Liverpool theatre stalwart, is recognisable as a typical Liverpudlian mum
looking out for her daughter and looking back at the relationship she had with
Shelley’s dad, whilst also bringing her singing talent to the stage. The main thrust of the comedy is provided by Keddy Sutton as
Margy. Keddy has a well-recorded history of providing humour to many local
productions and with just one look can have audiences crying with laughter. She
is adept in her craft with perfect timing and delivery bearing in mind her facial
expressions are worth pots of gold. She
is an added bonus to any production and her skills are to be admired. Shelly’s husband Mick, played by Lenny
Wood, takes on what seems like the ‘baddie’ role but no spoilers here, only
to say as his story unfolds, we see a different side to him and he delivers his role with sensitivity and understated accuracy.
The chemistry between the five
actors is plain to see, as is the enjoyment they exude whilst playing their
roles.
Adam McCoy’s talents are showcased
as writer and actor, this being his playwriting debut and he has managed to hit
the nail on the head with this heartwarming tale which will appeal to all.
Set and Costume Designer Alfie Heywood centres the narrative in the heart of the house, the kitchen, which is an excellent choice as characters can come and go from two doors in and out of the set and the kitchen window is put to good use by Margy. Additionally, audiences can relate to the kitchen as being the heart of the home creating a sense of familiarity and warmth, both in temperature and emotion.
Take Me Home County Road combines Scouse wit, which local audiences love, and family and relationship issues with well-loved country music foot-tappers. The story is relatable for audiences on many levels and along with lots of humour can also bring a tear to the eye. This is an extremely enjoyable jukebox musical combining country classics and a story about following your dreams at any age. Take Me Home County Road is well worth an outing for, it is a heartwarming production full of positivity and will lift the spirits of all. As expected the audience were on their feet dancing and singing during the encore and showed their appreciation throughout.
This production runs from 6th-29th August 2026.
Tickets available from https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/
Full cast, company and creatives information available at https://issuu.com/iainchristie/docs/take_me_home_county_road_show_programme?fr=sYWEzNjkyMzU1OTQ
Reviewer: Anne
Pritchard
On: 6th
August 2026
