Theatre / religion

Multi-disciplinary debut performance from Liam Callaghan offers chance ‘to rewrite religion’

By Sarski Anderson  Tuesday Nov 25, 2025

Born and bred in Liverpool, Liam Callaghan has been in Bristol for five years, working for local institutions including Trinity Centre and Wake the Tiger among others.

He is also a graphic designer and illustrator, who runs after school clubs and works on commissions.

Now, he is adding another string to his skillset: performer. Callaghan’s debut show Sit Down, Stand Up will be coming to St Michael’s Parish Hall on December 7.

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In his own words, the performance is conceived as a variety show that serves as “an ode to my Christian upbringing”.

Sit Down, Stand Up will feature puppetry from Morbid Merriments

It is “a battle of angels and demons through the prophecy of puppetry, tales of tyranny and haunted heritage”, he continues, offering the audience “a chance to rewrite religion”, and concluding with an ambient DJ set.

There will also be a confession booth on entry, an avant garde interpretation of spatial choral sonics from two8Nine, and a representation of the original Eucharist using mushrooms.

A bowl of Scouse (with meat or vegan options) will be available to audiences at the end of the show.

For Callaghan, in promoting the project, he has realised the extent to which others have been affected by religious trauma, as well as “how willing people are to talk about it, when given the opportunity”.

Liam Callaghan: Sit Down, Stand Up is at St Michael’s Parish Hall on December 7 at 7pm. Tickets are available at www.headfirstbristol.co.uk. Follow @imaginate.if or @morbid.merriments for updates.

All photos: Liam Callaghan

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