Everyman Theatre, Liverpool September 1977. During the 1970s and the 1980s works of Liverpool playwrights, including Willy Russell and Alan Bleasdale, received debuts in the theatre: these included "Shirley Valentine" and "John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert". In addition to plays, the theatre has produced musicals, concerts, and an annual rock-n-roll panto each Christmas. During its time the theatre has been involved with the careers of Julie Walters, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Pryce, Alan Scarfe, Pete Postlethwaite, Antony Sher, Bill Nighy, Barbara Dickson, Matthew Kelly, and Cathy Tyson. The theatre is managed together with Liverpool Playhouse by Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust. Since
Willy Roper is too late. Only a few days after his release in May 1996, Arthur suffers a brain haemorrhage on the allotments, and dies the next day in hospital. Arthur's funeral is held and Mark is incensed to see Willy in attendance. He confronts Willy and ends up assaulting him. In November 1996 Willy is sentenced to three years in prison. Introduced in June 1995, Willy plays a key part in the long-running storyline that eventually leads to the exit of one of "EastEnders"' original characters, Arthur Fowler. The actor Michael Tudor Barnes was cast in the role for a six-month