David Morrissey hoopla, and Liverpool for Japan

Today saw actor David Morrissey in town, alongside Jemma Redgrave, to start up the publicity machine for Macbeth, that will be the final production to be staged at the Everyman before its closure. It seemed a bit of a hectic schedule for all involved, but there was some time this afternoon to speak to him for some work I'm doing with the theatre. We sat in the Everyman's lobby on those low, comfy sofas, and there was a bit of the old deja vu - the last time I was sat in the exact same place, perching on the end with a notepad in hand talking to a world famous actor who'd grown a beard for a massive deal of a Shakespearean production, it was none other than Pete Postlethwaite, getting ready for his turn in Lear in 2008.

 Everyman theatre alumni both, Postlethwaite and Morrissey did get to know each other, even playing father and son in 1992's Waterland - those Scousers get everywhere. On the recommendation of a very nice taxi driver on Twitter, this evening I've got stuck into Morrissey's acting debut in Willy Russell's One Summer, which can be found in installments on YouTube and is proving to be a really good watch (thanks, @ondacobbles). There's a nice gallery of new pics from earlier today, here. Completely changing the subject, another thing worth mentioning today is the launch of a new website by Art in Liverpool's Minako and Ian Jackson. Do check out www.liverpoolforjapan.com, which is a nice, simple site for news on events and activities in the city in aid of the earthquake and tsunami relief and how people can help. Well done, guys.