Big Bike Revival is back to help people in Liverpool and Chester get pedalling this summer

IT'S summer and the perfect time of year to get on a bike to save money, help the environment, and enjoy feeling fitter and healthier. Charity Cycling UK has launched Big Bike Revival 2023 to support new and returning cyclists across England through a programme of free events delivered locally by community groups and not for profit organisations. Anyone interested can bring their bike along to the sessions. These include Dr Bike events providing a free basic service; maintenance workshops teaching essential repair skills, learn to ride sessions for beginners and led rides supporting people to feel more confident cycling.

In the Liverpool area, the following delivery partners are taking part in the Big Bike Revival:-

Liverpool Cycle Tours Ltd.
The Bicycle Workshop and Training Ltd.
Aigburth Community Cycle Club.
Chester Cycle Tours Ltd.
Liverpool University Hospitals.
Chester Cycling Campaign.

With more being added all the time, the most up to date information can be found at:- CyclingUK.Org.

Cycling UK hopes that the Big Bike Revival can offer a lifeline to those concerned about the cost of living crisis. With energy, food and travel costs remaining high, the programme offers practical help and support to people who are considering a switch to cycling, as a more affordable and sustainable means of transport.

The Big Bike Revival is funded by Active Travel England. It's now in its 9th year and has so far reached over 700,000 people. The most recent report shows that over a third of those taking part reported that they had started cycling 50% of the journeys they previously drove.

Cycling UK head of behaviour change and development Andy Cremin said:- "I'm delighted that Big Bike Revival has launched for 2023, to help people drive less and cycle more. In a cost-of-living crisis, it's more important than ever to encourage and support people to make the most cost effective choices for travelling shorter distances. Through this project we're helping people to ride who don't fit the usual cycling stereotype of athletes on racing bikes in lycra, which is really important. The Big Bike Revival is about helping everyone to cycle for their everyday journeys. You don't need to have special equipment or clothing to be able to ride a bicycle."

The Big Bike Revival has been transformational for Sumayra Ahmad from Manchester. Sumayra, 41, took part in a women's cycle maintenance course at Station South last summer, which was funded by Big Bike Revival. Attending the course gave her the confidence to develop from an occasional leisure cyclist to riding for every day journeys several times a week and even qualifying as a cycle instructor to help others develop cycling skills.

Sumayra said:- "The Big Bike Revival has been fantastic for me. Attending the workshops was a massive confidence boost; it enabled me to connect with the bike and I know that if something goes wrong, I can often fix it myself. My skills were put to the test right away; after learning to fix a puncture, a week later I had 3!"

Sumayra has now become part of the women's cycling community in Manchester, helping to inspire and support more people from under represented groups to try cycling.

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:- "Active travel is convenient, cheap, healthy and good for the environment. That's why we want to ensure it is an option available to everyone. By offering cycle repairs and delivering helpful training sessions across the country, Big Bike Revival will give many more people the tools and confidence they need to get around under their own steam."

Countdown Is On With 2 Weeks To Liverpool Theatre Festival 2023
Photo by David Munn...

THE countdown is on to this year's 11 day Liverpool Theatre Festival which opens in 2 weeks with a brand new Summer date. The full programme features 18 shows spanning 24 performances throughout the festival, with genres including:- comedy, drama, music, opera, musical theatre, drag; and the strongest family line up to date since the festival was launched in 2020.

The 4th annual Liverpool Theatre Festival takes place between:- Thursday, 20 July and Sunday, 30 July 2023. Once again, it will take place outdoors at:- St Luke's Bombed Out Church, in Liverpool City Centre.

This year's Liverpool Theatre Festival is being dedicated to Liverpool playwright Mark Davies Markham, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Mark premiered his 1 woman play:- 2Gorgeous4U at last year's LTF. This year the show is being staged once more in memory of Mark. Funds from the performance will be donated to charity.

Three shows have been specially commissioned and will premiere, at:- Liverpool Theatre Festival. Sober Companion starring Joe McGann and Jake Norton; and children's shows:- The Oogy Boogy Man and Fred The Musical.

9 family shows will be staged during the festival, which coincides with the School Summer holidays for the very 1st time.

Alongside brand new commissions:- The Oogy Boogy Man and Fred The Musical, the children's shows are:- The Magic Bookmark With Mama G, Magic Gareth: Level Up!, Rubbish Romeo And Juliet, The Monkey With No Bum, Shout! The Mod Musical, Dame Fanny and Her Fabulous Friends, and The Tempest.

Liverpool City Region Pride Festival takes place between:- 28 July and 30 July 2023, and LTF shows have been specifically programmed on these dates to complement the weekend celebration.

The programme also features comedy, drama, music, opera, musical theatre, and drag.

The full line up also features:- Viva Tenori - A Celebration Of The 3 Tenors; Whatever Happened To Billy Kenny; Perfectly Frank; A Night With Daniel Taylor - His Music And His Friends; Locomotive For Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit; Pauline Daniels - Get Me Before The Crematorium Does; and Laughterhouse Comedy - Pride Special featuring Morgan Rees and Bethany Black.

This year's festival partners are:- Liverpool BID Company, Edge Hill University, Morecrofts Solicitors, Bill Elms Associates, Ticket Quarter, and The Harrogate Group.

This project is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority. Along with Liverpool City Council and Culture Liverpool.

Liverpool Theatre Festival was created by Liverpool theatre producer Bill Elms, who has worked in the theatre industry for more than 30 years. Theatres and live entertainment venues were ordered to close immediately under the Government's 1st national Covid19 Lockdown guidelines in March 2020. It was Bill's mission and vision to reinvigorate and boost the City's live performance and creative arts sector, offering a lifeline when it was needed most. Liverpool Theatre Festival was created in a matter of weeks.

Since its inaugural staging in Autumn 2020, it has gone on to win praise from audiences and critics alike, as well as winning many awards along the way. Liverpool Theatre Festival is committed to supporting:- local artists, creatives, and theatre companies.

Liverpool Theatre Festival Producer and Artistic Director Bill Elms commented:- "This year's festival is fast approaching with just 2 weeks until we open at St Luke's Bombed Out Church in Liverpool City centre. This is the fourth staging of the festival and it's something we are incredibly proud of, the festival was created in a matter of weeks in the midst of the pandemic to give a glimmer of hope, inspiration, and escapism to creatives and audiences alike. And we're still continuing to do just that. And this year we will also remember our dear friend and writer Mark Davies Markham, who was highly respected in Liverpool and beyond. This year we've moved the festival to coincide with the School holidays and have a great line up of family shows, making theatre accessible and affordable for everyone. So please join us for 11 days of live entertainment in a fantastic setting; we want this to be a real Summer highlight in Liverpool."

Fringe event Little LTF; Liverpool Theatre Festival Of New Works will take place in the Autumn, running between:- Tuesday, 3 October and Sunday, 8 October 2023. Performances will be staged within the more intimate marquee at:- St Luke's Bombed Out Church. Further details about submitting work will be announced soon.

There are still opportunities for businesses to support. To find out more contact the events Producer and Artistic Director Bill Elms, by emailing him at:- Bill@BillElms.Com

To see the full program of shows this event is to offer, please visit:- LiverpoolTheatreFestival.Com for the latest news updates...