Unity Theatre Archives - North West End UK

7Nov

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

North West

Bad Lads – Unity Theatre

Created from a story by Jimmy Coffey and the testimonies of other men held in the Medomsley Youth Detention Centre during the 1980s, Bad Lads is a powerful, devastating and vitally important play which exposes the systemic abuse suffered by these men throughout their sentences. We follow Jackie Jones, a fictional character whose story is inspired by these testimonies, including Coffey’s own, as he serves his 3-month sentence. Jackie is portrayed by 3 actors: Danny Raynor as Older Jackie, Robin Paley Yorke as Younger Jackie, and Craig Painting as Signing Jackie. This was an effective decision, as conversations between Older and Younger Jackie not only rounded out the character, but also demonstrated just how severe and long-lasting the impact of Jackie’s terrible abuse was. Older Jackie,...

16Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Maids – Unity Theatre

Inspired by the late Graeme Phillips, finessed by director Elinor Randle, and produced by Peter Ward, That Theatre Group CIC’s production of Jean Genet’s The Maids, translated by David Rudkin, is a masterly tour de force and a fitting tribute to a man who did so much for theatre in Liverpool. With their mistress (Jane Hogarth) away, two male maids, Solange (Samuel Perez Duran) and Claire (Cameron McKendrick) plunge into their darkest fantasies, in a twisted game, simmering with sexual tension, unravelling questions of modern slavery, gender identity, and power. The result is an absurd world where boundaries between reality and performance dissolve. Genet’s play was written in 1946 and, drawing upon a real-life murder case, critiqued the social and sexual hierarchies of the time t...

6Sep

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

Mona and Mimi – Unity Theatre

Mona and Mimi by Catherine Leen, premiering at the Unity Theatre on the 3rd and 4th of September, played deservedly to a sold-out audience. Telling the story of the guardians of Pete Best, original drummer of the Beatles, and John Lennon (you’ve probably heard of him) as they but heads over the future of the Beatles, we get a wonderful tale of two strong women debating what they believe to be the best course of action in protecting, and encouraging, their boys. The staging is simple, with a few chairs and a backdrop to signify a seamless set change. The simplicity adds to the DIY feel of the play, which I personally love, and allows the dialogue and story flow naturally between the two actors, Meriel Scholfield, playing the cogent Mimi (that is, Mrs. Smith, Lennon’s aunt), and Fiona...

20Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

A Grain of Sand – Unity Theatre

Commissioned by London Palestine Film Festival and supported by Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Good Chance theatres’ A Grain of Sand, dramatised and directed by Elias Matar, is an adaptation from A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza by Leila Boukarim and Asaf Luzon. Taking an intimate look at war through the eyes of a child and blending Palestinian folklore with real-life testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza, we follow the fraught and dangerous journey of Renad (Sarah Agha), a young Gazan girl, who with the echoes of her grandmother’s tales and the spark of her own imagination, searches for her family and the ‘Anqaa’ – the mythical Palestinian Phoenix. Photo: Ellie Kurttz Large scale crises and the ongoing devastation like the one unfolding in Gaz...

13Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Penguin – Unity Theatre

Opening this year’s Liverpool’s Arab Arts Festival, Penguin is a timely piece which connects strongly with the recent Refugee Week – the UK-wide celebration of arts, culture, and community – as it tells the story of one man’s extraordinary journey from a village in the Syrian mountains to a new life in the North-East of England. Directed with a suitably light touch by Amy Goulding, the wonderfully charismatic Hamzeh Al Hussien relays his life in just over an hour with a combination of music and physical theatre and liberal doses of humour throughout. Performed predominantly in English, there is some Arabic with surtitles provided in both languages. Jida Akil’s staging and costume design is rightfully kept simple with an array of clothes rails to the rear allowing Hamzeh to seamle...

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

8Jul

By Clare ChandlerNo Comments

North West

Don’t Call Us We’ll Call You – Unity Theatre

RAWD began over a decade ago as a disability drama group, meeting weekly in a church hall. Since then, it has grown into an arts organisation with a mission to tackle inequality and celebrate disabled creativity. Previous projects include Boards Are Boring, which challenged governance structures; Creative Wellness, exploring inclusive wellbeing; and their ongoing Facilitator Training Programme, which empowers the next generation of practitioners. Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You is part of a broad programme of creative offerings for Disability Pride Month, as RAWD celebrates the next step in their journey - their official launch as a charity. It’s a timely reminder of the company’s commitment to making space for disabled voices: on stage, in leadership, and beyond. RAWD have partnered w...

25May

By Kevin EcclestonNo Comments

North West

Afloat – Unity Theatre

Theatre has long held the power to inspire action, evoke empathy, and shine a light on the injustices of the world. Afloat, the latest production from the socially driven theatre company of the same name does exactly that—delivering a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of the asylum system in the UK. Performed at Liverpool's Unity Theatre over two nights (May 23rd and 24th), Afloat seamlessly blends traditional theatrical storytelling with striking physical theatre and evocative music, creating an unforgettable experience that lingers long after the final scene. Helmed by director Phoebe McSweeney, this production was collaboratively devised through workshops involving asylum seekers, volunteers, and advocates—ensuring authenticity and emotional depth in every performance. ...

Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2025 – Unity Theatre

4May

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2025 – Unity Theatre

As the dust settles, and the individual show reviews have now been written, it seems like a good time to take a step back and reflect on last weekend’s improvisation festival. The four-day event consisted of three days of improvised shows, and the final day was workshops aimed at fellow improvisers. The Unity Theatre offered two good sized spaces, so it was easy to move between the two theatres whilst the organisers set up the next act. The vibe of the event was one of community, and inclusivity, and a warm welcome was given to all who came to the event. I attended one whole day on the Saturday, which offered a varied schedule, beginning with a charming family show, ‘Jungle of Emotions’ which encouraged children to join in, by making their own suggestions, and th...

The School Of Night – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

4May

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

The School Of Night – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

Twenty years ago, under the stewardship of Ken Campbell, ‘The School of Night’ was formed and made its first appearance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. It is interesting to note that the original members of the Elizabethan version of The School of Night, were such luminaries as Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Harriot, Christopher Marlowe et al, who may very well have frequented the original Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599, which makes The School’s anniversary feel significant. It is thought that the name ‘The School of Night’ came from a line in Shakespeare’s play ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost,’ but there were other possibilities for the original name of this group of radical freethinkers. These include ‘The School of Atheism,’ and the ‘Durham House Set’ named after Sir Walter Raleig...

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

30Apr

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Allegory of the Cave – Liverpool Improvisation Festival – Unity Theatre

Mythical tales re-telling the story of people’s lives is enchanting, and Allegory of the Cave excel at making the tradition of storytelling delightful in their presentation with an improvised show which also incorporates puppetry. Grandma is always good to have on hand to read these mythical tales, and in this instance, she is a G&T drinking Granny. She asks her grandchild to ask her imaginary friend what fear she had when she was a child, and of course the imaginary friend is us, the audience. Brave audience member Mark recounted his recurring bad dream of being chased by bees, and so the troupe would weave Mark’s fear of bees into the story. Photo: Andrew AB The story centres around the battle between nature and the destructive force that are humans. ...