Apr - Aug
what’s on
0844 873 2888 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
This election week we’ve teamed up with producers China Plate to bring you exceptional theatre & debate going beyond party politics and deep into the issues we really care about. Alongside this we’ll be presenting 4 brand new short pieces from our favourite Liverpool voices: The Ballot Box Ballads. More? unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/udecide Individual show: £12 (£10 conc) Under 23s: £5 (availability limited to 20 per show)
Tue 5 May : Book both shows for £15!
Sheriff
Backstage in Biscuit Land
Fresh, responsive and immediate theatre inspired by the major news story of the week.
The Guardian Jess has Tourettes, a condition that makes her say ‘biscuit’ 16,000 times a day and now she’s about to unleash her unique perspective on the world with comedy, puppetry, singing, and incredible tics! Ages 16+
A play made with the intensity of the newsroom with its finger on the pulse of the city and the world around us. Join us for our opening unmissable election week show! 7pm
Sheriff is run by Nick Walker.
8:30pm
Co-Creators - Jess Thom, Jess Mabel Jones Matthew Pountney | Produced by Jolie Booth and Matthew Pountney | Supported by Unlimited, Graeae & BAC.
Wed 6 May : Book both shows for £15!
7pm
Confirmation
#TORYCORE
The Guardian The Independent
“...the rage is palpable, the impact terrific...” The Scotsman
With an election looming, Fringe First award-winning Confirmation examines the phenomenon of confirmation bias through an honourable dialogue, real and imagined, with political extremism.
What better way to underscore Conservative economic policy than with the sound of doom metal? Combines sludge and doom metal with the Budget speech 2015; a pounding growl with text from the suits at Tory HQ.
Presented by Warwick Arts Centre and China Plate Commissioned by Northern Stage and Battersea Arts Centre | By Chris Thorpe | Developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin
9:30pm
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Chris Thorpe and Steve Lawson on guitar Lucy on vocals | Lyrics by George Osborne & the Architects of Austerity
season highlight Thu 7 May : All tickets £5!
Unheard Party If you’re not 18 by today you don’t get a vote and your voice won’t be heard by the politicians. So what would you have said? New performance about what we should really be thinking about, by young people’s theatre companies from across the city and featuring award-winning Daniel Bye’s The Evening News. 7pm
Created with Daniel Bye for Unity Theatre.
Festival Extras Ballot Box Ballads Written by 20 Stories High Young Actors, Joe Ward Munrow, Aimee Marnell, Chloe Nezianya, Jahnay Dalrymple & Chris Fittock. Visit our website for info or see them all at Ballot Box Ballads Redux.
What If by Collective Encounters Democracy is dying, but can it be saved? A short promenade show - Tue at 6.30pm.
You Decide Debates Question Time with a creative twist. For broadcast times or to join the live audience check the website. In association with Liverpool Live TV.
Fri 8 May : Book both shows for £15!
Early Days
Jonny & The Baptists: Rock The Vote
(of a better nation) “...the future of British theatre...” The Guardian
“...riotously silly...” The Guardian
The war is over. You and your fellow survivors must build the beginnings of a new country. What are the rules you’re going to live by? Incredible interactive theatre!
7pm
Created by Coney. Co-commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre, National Theatre Wales and Battersea Arts Centre. Supported by Cultural Institute at KCL, Garfield Weston Foundation and Unity Theatre Trust.
10pm
The UK’s hottest musical comics bring their unique blend of satire and silliness to tackle the big election issues and finally crack democracy once and for all. From the multi-award-nominated stars of The Now Show !
fro m
Ne w
Yo rk
Sat 9 May : Book both shows for £15!
Every Brilliant Thing
Sheriff & Ballot Box Ballads Redux
Di re ct
“...one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see...” The Guardian
Our closing election night show combining the intensity of the newsroom mixed with cutting political satire.
Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s ‘done something stupid’. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant in the world. Everything worth living for. Ice Cream. Water fights. Me.
Accompanied by the finale of a week of new writing through the Ballot Box Ballads Redux.
By Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe.
7pm
A Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre Company production
8:30pm
Sheriff is run by Nick Walker.
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Physical Fest (22 - 30 May) is an international festival of workshops, performance and street theatre curated by Tmesis Theatre’s Artistic Director Elinor Randle.
Unity comes alive before and after shows with free intimate performances, street theatre and food! More: physicalfest.com | tmesistheatre.com
Festival Pass
6:30pm, 7pm & 7:30pm A strange saloon, deadly sins, a free immersive 15 min experience by Tmesis’ ‘15 graduate company.
Offer applies to all paid performances at Unity Theatre only | subject to availability
Fe st iv al Ni gh t
Honky Tonk Hideaway
Buy all the shows for just £45!
Ev er y
Ev er y
Fe st iv al Ni gh t
Food | Drink Squash Nutrition are serving delicious food at every show from 6pm! Two courses just £5! (when booked in advance)
Solotoria From 6pm Theatre for 1, a free miniature personal entertainment that charms and delights all ages. Pop by and smile!
Indomador: Animal Religion Tue 26 May | 8pm | +Q&A A stunning contemporary circus performance which brings out the inner animal in us all, in a grotesque parody of the modern human and the differences between the sexes. A new production from acclaimed Spanish theatre company Indomador.
£10 (£8 conc) | +£5 with food
season highlight
Wendy Houstoun: Pact with Pointlessness
Fest Live: International Showcase
Fri 22 May | 8pm | +Q&A
Fri 29 May | 8pm
Five extracts - five companies - one great night!
The Guardian
A double act for one, ridiculous movement meets stand up meets vaudeville in this frank demonstration of how it feels to be knocked sideways by death, then renegotiate and carry on.
The most exciting new physical and visual work from both emerging and established artists internationally selected by our panel of festival directors!
£12 (£10 conc) | +£5 with food
£10 (£8 conc) | +£5 with food
Ship Of Fools: From The Cradle To The Bin
Jamie Wood: O No!
Sat 23 May | 8pm
“As funny as the best comedy” Brian Logan | The Guardian
Whatsonstage
A hilarious odyssey about being thrown onto life’s scrap heap. With live music, grotesque parody and shocking imagery follow Mr Whitey, an affable gent, spending his final days in a broken care system.
£10 (£8 conc) | +£5 with food
Sat 30 May | 8pm
A psychedelic ride, a wonky homage to the woman damned for destroying the Beatles. A show about reckless optimism, high art and Yoko Ono. The finished version of the show that premiered at PhysicalFest 2014
£12 (£10 conc) | +£5 with food
April. ld or W re ie em Pr
My Clockwork Heart
Thu 16 - Sat 18 Apr | 8pm & 2pm Sat matinee
The story of a Miraculous Mechanical, he could Thuso 16lifelike, - Sat 18 Apr | write 8pm & 2pm dance, play a harpsichord; so notorious that the depraved aristocrats of 18th century Europe all desired him. But now he sits in a glass case, an exhibit in the vast Museum of Mankind, where visitors take selfies with him until… Until fate offers him the chance to escape his torment... A new show about freedom; driven by a musical score and staged in a contemporary roller-coaster style.
£12 (£10 conc) | £8 matinee
Written & composed by Patrick Dineen | Directed by Paula Simms Designed by Rosalind Henderson | Lighting designed by Phil Saunders With Paul Duckworth, Laura Campbell & Andy Roberts
£12 (£10 conc)
STELLA, a story of women, their men and astronomy Fri 24 Apr | 8pm
“the audience choked on the bared emotions and the wonderment of people seeing deep space for the first time”. The Guardian Two women astronomers from different times, look up at the same night sky. Jessica Bell from the C21st and Caroline Herschel from the C18th can both precisely map their positions in the universe yet each struggles to find her place in the world. A new play by Siobhán Nicholas about Time, Space, Curiosity and Passion. From Take the Space who brought us Hanging Hooke and Dolce Via
£12 (£10 conc)
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May. G IN AK M T AR
Tales From The Blue Room Tue 28 Apr - Fri 1 May | 8pm Seven women take part in a creative writing class and discover that while it’s not all sisterhood and sharing, it’s not all bitching and back-biting either. But with the community centre under threat of closure will the new writers’ talents be lost forever? Written by Pat Anderson | Directed by Paul Goetzee
£10 (£8 conc)
Inglorious Insinuations Of Insanity Tue 12 May | 8pm A rambunctious dark comedy taking us on a journey through the inner workings of one man’s depraved and flirtatiously outrageous mind. What happens when imagination takes over and our human imperfections come out to play?
£10 (£8 conc)
Liverpool Musical Theatre Showcase
DNA by Dennis Kelly
Sat 16 May | 8pm
A group of teenagers do something bad, really bad. But when they find that the cover-up unites them and brings harmony to their otherwise fractious lives, where’s the incentive to put things right?
A celebration of the best local musical theatre groups, featuring over a dozen productions from the 2014/15 season. Discover Liverpool’s finest new talent, relive memories and get a first preview of upcoming shows. Presented by Lights Up Entertainment
£6 (£5 conc)
Tue 19 - Wed 20 May | 8pm
A chilling tale with a very dark heart. MATE Young Actors Company | Directed by Kirsty Taylor and Craig Sharkey
£10 (£8 conc)
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June.
Colonial Bast**ds: On Charity
Mis Les: A revolution in rollers
Wed 3 & Thu 4 Jun | 8pm
Whatsonstage The Public Reviews
With busy TV schedules and a world that’s twirling down the toilet it’s hard to know what to feel guilty about next! The Bast**ds are here to help with this hilarious attack on the Western approach to goodwill. Company: Alice Colquhoun, Dora Colquhoun and Izzie Major.
Fri 5 - Sat 6 Jun | 8pm
Caz ‘n’ Britney return with their award-winning hit show. Prepare for dry ice and drama and follow these Bag for Life owning heroines as they rewrite ‘herstory’ and get where dust wouldn’t..
£8 (£7 conc)
£14 (£12 conc)
Red Skies
The Art Of Falling Apart
Thu 11 - Sat 13 Jun | 7:30pm & 2:30pm Sat matinee
Thu 25 - Sat 27 Jun | 8pm & 2pm Sat matinee
“an amazing and moving play” Nerve Magazine
Three Weeks The Scotsman
Back by popular demand! This story of one family’s struggle for survival during the Liverpool Blitz is filled with laughter and tears. Written by Jo Mac
A big hit at Edinburgh Festival last summer, Callum falls apart for the very last time. This will also be, we are sad to announce, the very last performances by Big Wow for the very foreseeable future.
£14 (£12 conc)
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£12 (£10 conc)
June. Bonnie & Clyde Wed 17 - Sat 20 Jun | 8pm At the height of the Great Depression, two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere became the biggest folk heroes in all America and ‘public enemy number 1’. This modern musical follows the love story and infamy of Bonnie and Clyde, bringing a slice of Americana to the Unity stage.
“WWDN tread it expertly” Liverpool Echo on Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens What We Did Next are amateur performers with professional attitudes. The company was set up in 2008 to offer the central Liverpool arts community a focus to gather around to put on quality musicals. A What We Did Next production | A community production
£12 - £10 (£10 - £8 conc)
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Club Orientale
Ancient Routes
Tue 9 Jun | 8pm
Wed 10 Jun | 8pm
A kaleidoscope of movement and colour brought to you by Sirocco Academy of Egyptian Dance and special guest dancers.
Arab, Kurd and Yazidi stories and music - from the humane and wise to the humorous and the absurd.
This vibrant evening of diverse dance from the Middle East promises to leave you dazzled!
£10 (£8 conc)
Accompanied by music that evokes the different traditions across the centuries, let Alia Alzougbi and Louai Alhenawi share some of the vast hidden treasures of the Arab region.
£12 (£10 conc)
boxoffice: 0844 873 2888 | 9
July. Jane & Lizzie Tue 30 Jun - Wed 1 Jul | 8pm
Pride and Prejudice through the looking glass! Jane Austen meets a Lizzy Bennet, who flits between the literary character and the actress playing her. Jane needs answers - can Lizzy supply the ones she wants?
£10 (£8 conc)
CO M ED Y
Millionaires Anonymous
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Thu 2 - Sat 4 Jul | 7:30pm Six lottery winners who have lost their millions attend therapy in an attempt to learn that money doesn’t buy happiness. But unknown to their therapist they are in a syndicate and desperate to hit the jackpot again! Written & directed by Stewart McDonald Produced by Typecast Productions
£10 (£8 conc)
Adolf in Toxteth Tue 7 - Sat 11 Jul | 8pm Liverpool, 1912, 23 year old Adolf Hitler, failed artist and future Fuhrer, comes to stay with his half-brother Alois and his family at 102 Upper Stanhope Street in Toxteth. What is it like having a dictator for a lodger? A portrait of the madman as a young man! Written and produced by Ian Carroll. Directed by Bernie C. Byrnes.
£10 (£8 conc)
Exhibitions Our gallery space on our 1st and 2nd floors displays work by local artists. It’s open from 1pm, Mon to Sat and is free to look around. 7 Apr 2 May 12 May 2 Jun 7 Jul
Group exhibition by Art Tree (pictured) U Decide to accompanying the political theatre week Get Physical exhibition accompanying PhysicalFest Silent Voices: photography by the Friends of Bil’in 35 Years: celebrating 35 years of Unity in Hope Place
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Image by Joel Fildes
July.
Promise/Animals
double bill
Queertet 2015
Thu 16 - Sat 18 Jul | 7:30pm
Wed 22 - Fri 24 Jul | 8pm
Promise boldy explores the aspirations of young people and the promises that are made to them. Animals (15+) tells the stories of young adults who’ve given up on society, and earn their living illegally.
4 original short LGBT themed plays by upcoming writers that are sure to delight and intrigue. Heralding the start of Liverpool Pride in colourful, energetic and sparkling style, Queertet is back in town!
20 Stories High presents two vibrant new plays. told with storytelling, poetry, mask and live music.
Debate | Fri 24 Jul | 2pm An open debate on the state of LGBT theatre in the UK.
A 20 Stories High Youth Theatre & Young Actors Company production Directed by Keith Saha and Julia Samuels
A Grin Theatre production
£5 (£3 conc) £5
£12 (£10 conc)
In Development.
We pride ourself on developing new shows. This season four companies are researching new projects with us including Olivier nominee Josette Bushell Mingo OBE, Metro Boulot Dodo, National Theatre of Sweden, Jammy Voo and Windswept Productions.
Award winning artists metro-boulot-dodo are creating their latest piece, Always On Stage at Unity. Bring a smart phone and solve clues as you’re taken on an emotive journey around the alternative stages of the Unity Theatre.
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New Theatre for Today
R FO ! EE FR
Wed 22 - Thu 23 Jul | From 1pm to 9pm
boxoffice: 0844 873 2888 | 11
Drama Previews.. Broken Biscuits Wed 29 Jul | 8pm
...a real feel for dialogue, shape and form... Liverpool Echo Two mothers of soldiers, life-long friends, torn apart by a devastating tragedy. Rita and Maggie’s sons were best friends, joined up together, trained together, went to war together. But when Rita’s son James is killed in Afghanistan grief tears the two mother’s 20 year friendship apart. Exploring the brutality of war away from the battlefield, Trisha Duffy’s acclaimed play is the story of friendship, laughter, sadness and heartbreak. A Lantern Theatre production | Directed by Margaret Connell Broken Biscuits will be at Edinburgh Festival from 24 - 29 Aug
£10 (£8 conc)
Unity at Edinburgh Festival 2015
Chicken by Molly Davies Thu 6 Aug - Sun 30 Aug | 5:10pm
If they all ganged up on us, they could rule the word. We wouldn’t stand a chance. The UK has split, London sits as a sovereign state, the country divided. Entire regions, communities and families are left desperate for survival. A darkly comic new play by Molly Davies (Royal Court, Soho Theatre, Hampstead Theatre). Venue: Roundabout at Summerhall, Edinburgh Venue 26a Book online: www.edfringe.com Directed by Steven Atkinson Produced by Eastern Angles in association with Unity Theatre
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Comedy Previews. Tue 2 Jun
Phil Nichol
Bec Hill
If.comedy award (formerly Perrier) winner & comedy legend returns with his latest stand up show!
The award-winning comedian brings her unique mix of stand-up and paper-puppetry!
9pm (preview show)
£8
7pm (preview show)
£5
Tue 21 Jul
Glenn Wool
Markus Birdman
Amazing Canadian cult comic as seen on Netflix & Russell Howard’s Good News.
International headliner as seen on Comedy Central’s Live at the Comedy Store.
9pm (preview show)
£8
7pm (preview show)
£5
Tue 28 Jul
Hal Cruttenden
Patrick Monahan
As seen hosting Live At The Apollo and seen on Mock The Week!
The award-winning Irish/Iranian Teessider won ITV1’s Show Me The Funny !
9pm (work-in-progress show)
£8
Thu 30 Jul
John Robins 9pm (preview show)
£5
Acclaimed headliner as seen on Russell Howard’s Good News and Set List.
Max & Ivan 7pm (preview show)
£8
Acclaimed duo & Edinburgh Award Nominees as seen
on BBC’s W1A.
2 shows, 1 night = £10 All 8 shows = £38 T&Cs apply | Subject to availability Visit website or call our box office for details
7pm (preview show)
£5
UYT. Umbrelephant Fri 31 Jul - Sat 1 Aug | 7:30pm Stressed? Over-worked? Need some time out? Sit back, relax and enjoy some group therapy. Our award-winning Unity Youth Theatre looks at issues of Mental Health and young people’s health-and-wellbeing. Directed by Carl Cockram & Laura Campbell
£5 £5
Unity Youth Theatre
Open to all young people from 14-18 years our Youth Theatre works with professional theatre companies and practitioners gaining experience in the performing arts, developing a wide variety of skills to create performances on unity’s stages. Contact: uyt@unitytheatre.co.uk
Workshops. Intro to Physical Theatre (13 - 19 years) Wed 15 Apr | 12pm - 2pm A fun workshop from Liverpool’s leading physical theatre company, Tmesis Theatre.
£5
Perfect for all abilities this workshop is for ages 13 - 19 and includes a free ticket to a show at Physical Fest in May. See pages 6 & 7
Music for Theatre Sat 25 Apr | 10am - 4pm
£10
Digital Theatre Introductory workshops by award winning artists metro-boulot-dodo in digital theatre. Session includes a performance of their digital play, Always on Stage.
Youth Session
Want to write and perform your own piece of Musical Theatre in a day?
16 - 21 years | Wed 22 Jul | 4pm – 6.30pm | £5 Learn about creating theatrical experiences on a digital platform and experiment with the latest technology.
Create a 10 min music led piece with original melodies and lyrics.
Professional Development
Led by composer & lyricist Patrick Dineen (My Clockwork Heart), the day will finish with a performance of the final pieces!
18+ | Thu 23 Jul | 4pm – 6.30pm | £10 Focusing on the skills required to write a play for a digital platform. Participants experiment with the latest technology used in location based experiences.
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about us. Booking Tickets Tickets can be purchased in person from our box office, by phone or via our website.
stage
stage
Concessions
Spaces
Access
We offer concessions for most shows for over 60s, under 16s, students, registered disabled and job seekers.
We have two theatre spaces. unityone (right) which seats 144 and unitytwo (left) which seats 82.
Unity has a ramped entrance, lift to all levels & accessible toilets.
Reservations
Latecomers
Reservations may be held for up to 3 days. Group bookings may be held longer.
Latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable point in the performance.
We have a radio hearing system in both our theatres and loops in the box office and bar.
Exchanges
Ticket fees
Refunds & Resales
For alternative performances if tickets are returned 48 hours prior to start. 50p charge.
We charge 50p per transaction for card payments and £1 to post out tickets.
No refunds will be given. We may be able to resell tickets for sold out performances.
Large print and audio brochures can be provided on request.
Hiring Our Spaces We have a range of comfortable spaces that are available to hire. We can provide drinks, snacks, sandwiches, bar facilities, box office and technical support for an additional charge. For our availability visit unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/availability Enquiries: chrishennessey@unitytheatre.co.uk | 0151 702 7360
Patrons (left to right) Bill Kenwright CBE, Josette Bushell Mingo OBE David Morrissey, Andrew Lancel, John Bishop.
Thanks
Volunteer
Keep in touch
Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, The Makin Charitable Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund, The Frood Family, Hope Street Hotel, Sefton MBC, Knowsley MBC, unityangels and all our donors.
Unity’s team of volunteers are essential for our success.
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unitytheatre
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facebook.com/unitytheatre
Errors and omissions excepted
If you’d like to get involved then please e-mail us: chrishennessey@unitytheatre.co.uk
youtube.com/unitytheatre Unity Theatre 1 Hope Place Liverpool, L9 1BG
boxoffice: 0844 873 2888 | 15
boxoffice: 0844 873 2888
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unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk Hightide Festival Theatre and Soho Theatre in association with Unity Theatre present
Lampedusa Thu 24 Sep - Sat 3 Oct A devastatingly powerful new play from the UK’s most exciting political writer, Anders Lustgarten. In a story of divide and rule, two strangers strive to find human connection in a world of separation. Lampedusa is a play about us being better than our rulers think we are. Directed by Steven Atkinson, Artistic Director of HighTide Written by Anders Lustgarten
£14 - £8 (Book Now!)
Fri 4 Dec - Sat 9 Jan Once upon a time in a land far away, There was a tall bed and a girl came to stay. Layer upon layer of soft luxury, But she couldn’t get comfy because of a pea! A funny, inventive show for families with music, dance and song. Ages 5+ and their families! Tickets on sale: Mon 6 April | 1pm
Funded by
A private company limited by guarantee number 3333987 | Registered charity number 1062 463