The firm is preferred bidder for the £19m Shakespeare North Playhouse project, which will involve building a 350-seat theatre, performance studio, exhibition and education centre.

Plans for a Jacobean court style theatre in the Merseyside town have been more than 10 years in the making.

London-based Helm Architects designed the playhouse complex with Mott MacDonald as structural and Aecom as M&E consultants.

John O’Callaghan, Kier Construction Northern managing director, said that work is due to start on site in April with construction work due to complete to coincide with William Shakespeare’s birthday in April 2020.

As part of the project, Kier will be working with the local supply chain and create 11 apprenticeships.

The vision of Shakespeare North is to celebrate the Elizabethan and Jacobean heritage of Knowsley, a place with historic links to the Earl’s of Derby and Lord Strange’s men.