MERSEYSIDE is a Northern Powerhouse of creative talent.

This week I have been made more aware of this fact by three productions that entertain and educate about Liverpool's past through musical and straight period drama genres.

Willy Russell's Blood Brothers (set in the 1950s to 60s); Anne Dalton's Her Benny (Victorian) and Twopence to Cross the Mersey (1930s) all provide flashbacks in time.

Lovers of local history will get something out of each of these accomplished touring shows.

Throughout each production Liverpool is rightly portrayed as a tough, gritty and funny supporting star.

Twopence - as it is affectionately called by my fellow critics - started out as a 1994 musical adaptation of Helen Forrester's biographical, unsentimental account of her poverty-stricken childhood.

This is a feisty tale of Scouse spirit and survival.

Indeed the thematic, well-tapped-into cliche of rags-to-riches is here reversed.

Writer and co-producer Rob Fennah was - and is - hooked on his subject matter, so much so he is planning a sequel.

For now, Twopence is on a seven-venue tour with a two-and-a-half hour tightly-structured version directed by Bob Eaton on designer Richard Foxton's stark yet effective set.

The promotional material shows the urchin, dream-like Helen with a battered pram - an illustration of a pull-no-punches, thought-provoking drama.

Hope springs eternal as she prays for enough money to catch the ferry to see her Wirral-based grandmother.

From the outset we see Helen as a caged bird trapped in the dire domino effect of the Wall Street Crash which spread across the Atlantic.

It is 1931 - a time when a man called Adolf Hitler was deemed a saviour with his economic plan.

Widnes-born Maria Lovelady shines throughout as Helen - a 14-year-old passionate rebel with a cause who meets some inspirational people along the way.

Helen (real name June Huband) was duty-bound to look after her siblings while mummy and daddy searched for work in a city already blitzed by recession.

Her deluded parents had a silver spoon life until bankruptcy forced them to move to Merseyside where they planned to start again.

If there were O-levels in common sense back then, they would have failed miserably.

Clearly father was no Alan Sugar and relied on his old school tie.

Mother had a lot in common with Hyacinth Bouquet - forever keeping up appearances. Emma Dears is outstanding in the role.

There are some comic cameo moments off-setting the bleak storyline and I would love to see more - especially in the hands of versatile Jake Abraham.

Yet again Eithne Browne proves why she is one of the city's favourite stars.

Multi-tasking comes easy to Eithne who can switch on and off every theatrical emotion when called upon.

This is a passionate ferry tale with a difference - a striking and slick production.

Globe rating: Four Stars.  A lasting Liverpool lament.

Until October 8.

Box office: 0151 709 4321.