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Stroll down Hanover Street and you’ll spy a little gem that has lived more lives than most theatres could dream of. The Epstein Theatre has been through closures, campaigns and comebacks, yet it always finds a way to shine again.

It first opened its doors in 1913 as Crane’s Music Hall, perched above the Crane Brothers’ piano shop. At the time it was mainly a place for musical recitals, but as the city’s appetite grew so did the theatre’s ambitions. By 1938 it was known simply as the Crane Theatre, staging full productions and drawing in loyal Liverpool crowds.

Then came 1968, and with it the theatre’s first big transformation. Liverpool Corporation bought the building, spent a small fortune on a revamp (complete with a smart new front-of-house bar) and proudly re-launched it as the Neptune Theatre. The name was a nod to Liverpool’s seafaring soul, and even today you can still see little hints of that nautical theme if you look closely at the details.

The Neptune years brought plenty of drama both on and off the stage. In 1993, when closure looked likely, theatre lovers refused to give in. Dame Judi Dench herself threw her weight behind the campaign to save it, and for years a professional Snow White pantomime kept the lights on and the auditorium full of families.

The theatre fell dark again in 2005, but Liverpool wasn’t about to let go. A huge £1 million restoration project brought the building back to life in 2011. With its Victorian charm polished up and a brand-new name, it reopened as the Epstein Theatre, in honour of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The connection to Brian is a quirky one - as a youngster he once performed here, and today his portrait by artist Tony Brown keeps watch from the foyer.

Even with such a proud history, the story hasn’t always been easy. In June 2023 the council pulled its funding and the operators couldn’t keep the lease, leaving the Epstein dark once more. For many it felt like a heartbreaking full stop in a century-long story.

But Liverpool has never been short on fighting spirit. In 2025, Theatrical Times Ltd stepped in with fresh backing and another £1 million to modernise the place. After a run of test shows through spring and summer, the grand reopening took place on 19 September (Brian Epstein’s birthday) with Ricky Tomlinson hosting a gala night that saw The Christians take to the stage alongside other homegrown favourites.

I managed to catch Shake It Up Baby! this week, a brand-new musical about the Beatles’ wild days in Hamburg, and the atmosphere was electric. With history, character and sheer Northern determination on its side, it feels like this much-loved theatre is ready to enjoy the standing ovation it deserves.