Impact of Hillsborough on survivors portrayed on stage

The impact of Hillsborough on those who survived the disaster is being portrayed on stage.

Set in 2012, 97+ tells the stories of John and Steve, who are still dealing with the trauma they suffered as boys 23 years before.

It is being premiered at the Liverpool Olympia, ahead of the 35th anniversary of the disaster which claimed the lives of 97 people.

The play was written and directed by Tom Cain, who researched and wrote it while he was a student at Edge Hill University, with the help of the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance.

Tom, who's grandfather was a Hillsborough survivor, said:

"To think this was something I originally wrote during lockdown for my Edge Hill University drama dissertation, to performing shorter editions of the piece at Liverpool Theatre Festival, Edge Hill and even outside Merseyside at the Buxton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals – where we were able to gain an international audience, to now playing at such an incredible venue as the Liverpool Olympia. It’s truly a dream come true.

"Educating audiences on the TRUTH of Hillsborough and raising awareness for survivors still suffering trauma.

"To have had the continuous support of the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance and to have raised money for this charity means everything to me. I’m proud of the work we’ve produced.

"I hope I’ve made my grandad, who was a Hillsborough survivor himself, proud too."

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