Over the years, Helen and I became firm friends and I feel very privileged to have been entrusted with her most famous work.” It was fantastic to have her there, in person, to help me flesh out some of the lesser characters in the books, but ones I felt would help bring the story to life on stage. On many occasions, Helen would travel to the UK and we’d get together to talk about the stage adaptation. Along with the many hours of telephone conversations I had with her from her home in Canada, I have a stack of letters and faxes, crammed with little gems that never found their way into her books. Helen was hands-on during the writing process so her army of loyal readers will get to see a true and honest representation of Twopence To Cross The Mersey. Rob Fennah said: “This show is loaded with provenance. Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “We’re thrilled to have this fantastic show coming to Rhyl Pavilion next week, we cannot wait to welcome everyone to this iconic performance and if you haven’t already booked your tickets make sure you do before it’s too late, this is not a show to be missed! Our newly refurbished 1891 restaurant and bar is open for pre-theatre dining, make an evening of it and really enjoy the magic of theatre with Rhyl Pavilion.” 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. 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.

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. Play writer Rob Fennah has shared exclusive insight into author Helen’s life, ahead of the show starting at Rhyl Pavilion next week.įeaturing a cast of 9 playing over 40 characters, the period drama is set in the early 1930s in the midst of the Great Depression.

Twopence across the mersey