THE new stage production of Helen Forrester’s “Twopence To Cross The Mersey” is embarking on its first major UK national tour this autumn, with Rhyl dates included.

“Twopence To Cross The Mersey” is a period drama set in the early 1930s, amid the Great Depression, and will be performed at Rhyl Pavilion from September 14 – 17, 2022.

The tour also visits venues in New Brighton, Stockport, Crewe, St Helens, Blackpool, Warrington, Darlington, Halifax, Croydon, Coventry, Bolton, and Southport, before closing in Liverpool.

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Millions of people around the world know Helen Forrester’s life story told through her best-selling volumes of autobiography, Twopence To Cross The Mersey, Liverpool Miss, By The Waters Of Liverpool, and Lime Street At Two.

In 1931, Helen's spendthrift father was declared bankrupt, forcing the family to leave behind the nannies, servants, and beautiful middle-class home in the gentler South West of England.

With nothing more than the clothes they stood up in, the family of nine took the train to Liverpool where they hoped to rebuild their shattered lives.

It came as a terrible shock to find the thriving, wealthy port Helen’s father remembered as a boy, the place his own father made his fortune, had long since gone.

While 12-year-old Helen’s inept parents searched unsuccessfully to find work, she was taken out of school to look after her six younger siblings and the full burden of keeping house fell on Helen’s young shoulders.

Having never had to manage a family budget in their previous life, the Forresters found themselves relying on meagre hand-outs from the local parish, charity organisations, and the kindness of strangers.

At 14, Helen had had enough of her miserable existence and began a bitter fight with her mother and father to attend evening school in an effort to educate herself and make her own way in the world.

But Helen’s parents had no intention of releasing their unpaid slave; They had other plans for their selfish daughter.

Helen’s literary achievements were celebrated in 2020 when an iconic Blue Plaque was unveiled at the late author’s family home in Hoylake, a place which featured heavily in her work.

A full cast is to be announced.

The new touring production of “Twopence To Cross The Mersey” is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited, in association with Bill Elms, and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.

Rob Fennah said: “In 2020, we embarked on a UK Tour of ‘By The Waters Of Liverpool’ – sister show to ‘Twopence’ – which was brilliantly received, but we were forced to cancel after just two weeks due to the pandemic.

“We tried to reschedule but COVID restrictions kept getting the better of us. It was during this period I decided to rework the ‘Twopence To Cross The Mersey’ script, include some new scenes and give it a fresh look.

“Helen’s army of loyal readers will be interested to know that, when she was still with us, Helen and I shared many letters and lengthy telephone conversations about her life story.

“There were some real gems in amongst those conversations which I have now written into the new scenes – fascinating memories of the late author that didn’t find their way into her books.”

For more information on the Rhyl shows, go to: www.rhylpavilion.co.uk.