5 - 9 May | Political Theatre Season
This election week we’ve teamed up with producers China Plate to bring you exceptional theatre and 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.
Under 23? You can get tickets for the festival shows for just £5! There’s a limited number for each show so when they’re gone, they’re gone! Don’t miss out!
Tue 5 May : Book both shows for £15!
Sheriff presents
Our Main Story Tonight Fresh, responsive and immediate theatre inspired by the major news story of the week. 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!
Backstage in Biscuit Land The Guardian Total Theatre Award Winner Jess has Tourettes, a condition that makes her say ‘biscuit’ 16,000 times a day. Her neurology gives her a unique perspective on life; one she’s about to unleash on the world. Weaving comedy, puppetry and incredible tics to explore spontaneity, disability, and things you never knew would make you laugh.
Sheriff is run by Nick Walker.
Co-Creators - Jess Thom, Jess Mabel Jones Matthew Pountney | Produced by Jolie Booth and Matthew Pountney | Supported by Unlimited, Graeae & BAC.
7pm | £12 (£10 conc)
8:30pm | £12 (£10 conc) Pr
Keeping Things PC (Politically Confused) by Aimee Marnell, Chloe Nezianya & Jahnay Dalrymple
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Included with Our Main Story Tonight | Ballot Box Ballad: Political short commissioned by Unity Theatre
With the general election fast approaching, hear the thoughts and fears of 3 young women as they embark on their first ever voting experience. Political confusion gone mad! Aimee, Chloe and Jahnay were all members of Unity Youth Theatre and continue to study performance/arts in Liverpool.
Wed 6 May : Book both shows for £15! Fr in ge Fi t rs
Confirmation
#TORYCORE
The Guardian Time Out The Times Independent
‘This noise pierced the festering sense of injustice within me and set me on fire.’
2014 Fringe First award-winning show If you pinned me against a wall, I’d probably admit to being a liberal.
Doom metal combines with the Budget speech 2015; a pounding subverbal deathgrowl with text samples from the blue suits at Tory HQ.
An attempt to have an honourable dialogue (real and imagined) with political extremism, and examine the mental processes governing our deepest beliefs.
#TORYCORE is twisted avant-garde vocal that plays like a verbatim record of a government ripping society’s guts out.
Written and performed by Chris Thorpe. Developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin (The TEAM). Presented by Warwick Arts Centre and China Plate. Commissioned by Northern Stage and Battersea Arts Centre.
7pm | £12 (£10 conc)
whatsonstage.com
Chris Thorpe and Steve Lawson on guitar, Lucy Ellinson on vocals with lyrics by George Osborne and the Architects of Austerity.
9:30pm | £12 (£10 conc)
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Included with Confirmation | Ballot Box Ballad: Political short commissioned by Unity Theatre
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Supernatural Violence by Chris Fittock
Meet the politics of supernatural violence. Quiet poverty haunts our streets: the spectre of austerity, a ghost of slow decay, is creeping doorsills and devouring kitchens while we sleep. Chris is Associate Artist at Tmesis Theatre, Director of the Theatre in the Rough Festival, and is published by Nick Hern.
Thu 7 May : All Tickets £5 ld or W re ie em Pr
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? Liverpool’s youth theatres are taking a stand and making their voices heard with fresh and vibrant performances. Featuring award-winning Daniel Bye’s rolling rapid-response performance The Evening News. This performance will be streamed online in association with Liverpool Live TV. Created with Daniel Bye for Unity Theatre.
7pm | £5 e w
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Included with Unheard Party | Ballot Box Ballad: Political short commissioned by Unity Theatre
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Animals by 20 Stories High, directed by Keith Saha
The stories of young adults who have given up on society and earn their living through illegal means. Told through vivid storytelling, poetry, movement, mask and live music. The award-winning 20 Stories High have a passion for pushing boundaries to create dynamic, challenging theatre for new, young and diverse audiences.
Festival Extras Big Society The Musical a film by First Take
A film set in coalition Britain. Amidst the crisis of capitalism, the government launches their flagship idea: ‘The Big Society’. In Liverpool, Connor, a disillusioned 15 year old sits alone in his cell. He understands the lie: We’re not ‘all in this together. Sat 2 May | 7:30pm | £3
What If by Collective Encounters Democracy is dying, but can it be saved? Short promenade show. Tue 5 May | 6.30pm | Free
You Decide Debates in association with Liverpool Live TV. Question Time with a creative twist. Can art influence politics? Wed 29 Apr | 6pm | Free
Fri 8 May : Book both shows for £15! y ed m Co
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Early Days
Jonny & The Baptists:
(Of A Better Nation)
Rock The Vote
“I play it as if it’s real – and that’s exactly how it feels. For two hours, I lose myself in the show...the future of British theatre...’
‘Politically engaged... riotously silly.. triumphant’
The Guardian
The war is over and the nation lies in ruins. You and your fellow survivors must build the beginnings of a new country. A piece of interactive theatre for a playing audience, explores the possibilities of nationhood and democracy. Created by Coney. Co-commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre, National Theatre Wales and Battersea Arts Centre
7pm | £12 (£10 conc)
The Guardian
The UK’s hottest musical comedians Jonny & The Baptists bring their unique blend of songs, satire and silliness to tackle the big issues of the 2015 General Election and finally crack this democracy thing once and for all. From the multi-award-nominated stars of The Now Show!
10pm | £12 (£10 conc)
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Included with Early Days | Ballot Box Ballad: Political short commissioned by Unity Theatre
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Five Giants by Joe Ward Munroe
As the Job Centre clock ticks by, Jim fights back the memories from his time in Afghanistan and begins to wonder just who and what he was fighting for. Joe Ward Munrow is an award-winning Liverpool based playwright. His previous work includes Held, The Laundry and Mind the Gap.
Sat 9 May : Book both shows for £15! om Fr ew N ! rk Yo
Every Brilliant Sheriff & Ballot Box Ballad Redux Thing Edinburgh Festival hit show.
‘one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see’ The Guardian
‘bout as brilliant as theater can get’ Talkin’ Broadway
You’re six years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s ‘done something stupid’. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for 1. Ice Cream 2. Kung Fu Movies 3. Laughing so you shoot milk out your nose 4. Construction cranes 5. Me Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe. A Pentabus production in co-production with Paines Plough
7pm | £12 (£10 conc)
Our closing election night show combining the intensity of the newsroom mixed with cutting political satire. Sheriff is a theatre company that responds to the major news stories of the day. Each play is created in the immediate run up to the show and deals with whatever news is preoccupying the country that week. Almost certainly be focusing on the general election, but what other stories will serve as the subplot, or are big enough to topple the election off the front pages, we won’t know until the day. Accompanied by the finale of a week of new writing through the Ballot Box Ballads Redux. 8:30pm | £12 (£10 conc)
boxoffice: 0844 873 2888 unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
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