Prescot's Shakespeare North Playhouse takes 'exciting step forward' The Shakespeare North Playhouse, centrepiece of Prescot's regeneration, has taken another step forward with the approval of a trust to run the theatre when it opens next year 11:56, 29 APR 2021 Updated Shakespeare has been at the heart of Prescot's regeneration, thanks to the theatre due to open in 2022 (Image: KMBC) Prescot’s landmark Shakespeare theatre took another step towards opening last night as Knowsley Council gave the Shakespeare North Trust the green light to run the theatre. However, at a meeting on Wednesday evening (April 28), Knowsley Council’s cabinet formally approved the trust’s business plan, with councillors describing the move as “the next exciting step” in Prescot’s regeneration.