APR - JUL 2019
unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
“A tour de force of character comedy and clowning.” The Independent on Butt Kapinski
WELCOME TO Y
“A raw and magnetic performance... a gorgeous show about grief in the era of hyper connectivity.” Time Out on User Not Found
“Gig theatre, loud and driven.” The Scotsman on Electrolyte
YOUR SEASON HERALD ANGEL AWARD WINNER
“A bravura entertainment for all ages, this is a juicy treat from first bite to its mid-air core.” The Herald on SMASHED
“A beautiful dance of love, death and grief delivered via a single live performer (the phenomenal Terry O’Donovan), headphones and mobile phones.” The Independent, Lyn Gardner
G IN LL SE ST FA
USER NOT FOUND Created by Dante or Die Written by Chris Goode Directed by Daphna Attias
It’s the moment of your death. There’s a magic button. Do you delete your entire online legacy? Or do you keep it – and leave the choice for someone else? User Not Found is about our digital identities after we die. The show is performed in LEAF on Bold Street. Audience members receive a smartphone and a pair of headphones and are immersed in one man’s story, as he’s faced with keeping or deleting his partner’s online existence. A story of contemporary grief unfolds through this intimate, funny performance that gently interrogates our need for connection. Mon 22 - Tue 23 April | 6pm, 8:30pm £15 / £10 conc Performed at LEAF on Bold Street.
Sunday Times
The Guardian
The Independent
The Stage
Time Out
Fest
What’s On Stage
The Skinny
Broadway World
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
Headstrung
CRYPTID PETTING ZOO Headstrung are a Liverpool-based puppet company specialising in cheeky, anarchic and inventive theatre. This family show brings you an introduction to new and exciting animals from around the world. The Cryptid Petting Zoo gives the audience a chance to interact with some very unusual creatures, including the extremely rare Cornish Sea Serpent, the famous Jersey Devil, and our loveable Giant Beast. See these Mythical Monsters up close and learn more about them from our specially trained handlers, including the opportunity to ask questions and Sat 4 May | 2pm £6 / £5 Conc Unity 1
“Headstrung give beautiful attention to detail, belly laughs and great surprises.” Animations Onilne
Unity Theatre and Headstrung
THE RITUAL OF VOTING
Take to the polls at Unity Theatre this LightNight for a voting experience like no other. Abandon your notions of democracy and enter an adventurous reimagining of a polling station with puppets, film and music. This interactive, playful take on a fundamental ritual is perfect for all ages, so join us from 5pm-10pm on 17 May as part of Open Culture’s city-wide celebration of culture. We’re celebrating 10 years of Open Culture’s one-night arts festival with an evening of experience. Fri 17 May | 5pm – 10pm | Free Unity 1 & Bar
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
“Punchy, she struck a chord.” The Guardian
Jess Green and The Mischief Thieves in association with Discerning Nights
A SELF HELP GUIDE TO BEING IN LOVE WITH JEREMY CORBYN A hard-hitting, lyrical and humorous look at modern politics. BBC Slam Champion, Jess Green joined the Labour Party in 2007. Since then she’s stuck by them through the downfall of Tony Blair, the disappointment of Gordon Brown and the monolith of Ed Miliband. Now she’s fallen head over heels in love with Jeremy Corbyn and his raw socialist magnetism but if only everyone else agreed. Fri 24 - Sat 25 May | 7.30pm £15 / £10 conc Groups 8+ £5 / Creative Membership £5 Unity 1 In partnership with WoWFEST
“Brilliant.” Huffington Post
PHYSICAL FEST is Tmesis Theatre’s international physical theatre festival. A celebration of the rich variety of local, national and international contemporary physical work – the only festival of its kind in the UK. Ticket offer: Book any Physical Fest show and receive 10% off any other show in the festival.
I CRIED BECAUSE I HAD NO SHOES UNTIL... Izumi Ashizawa Japan
Real, nostalgic, dreamlike memories all intertwine, collide and dissolve in this powerful, physical performance, exploring shoes in gender and racial politics. Incorporating traditional Japanese performance styles and puppetry, Izumi Ashizawa creates a hauntingly beautiful performance. Tue 11 June | 7.30pm £15 / £12 conc Unity 1
‘She’s bold. She’s impressionistic, and she’s demanding of your attention.’ Washington DC Metro
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
BUTT KAPINSKI Deanna Fleysher USA
“Completely unique, brilliant, insane, surprising and funny.” Graham Norton
Think it’s a solo show? Think again. The international sensation of gender trickery and audience immersion is back in England for a very limited run. Private eye Butt Kapinski invites you to co-star in a choose-your-own-adventure murder mystery. The ensuing funny, filthy ride is riddled with sex, sin, shadows and subterfuge. No seat is safe! Adults only. Tue 11 June | 9pm Thur 13 June | 8pm £10 / £8 conc Unity 2
“Terrifically inventive and invariably hilarious... A master craftswoman at work.” Fest UK
to fall in love with.” The Exeunt on O No!
NARKY SIZZLE AND THE COCONUTS Jamie Wood UK
Narky Sizzle, rock star extraordinaire, has arrived in your town. He’s ready to perform - with out-of-this-world jumping music, leg-jiggling dancing and costumes to make your eyes pop. But wait... where are the Coconuts? Their instruments are here but the band is nowhere to be seen… What will Narky do? Maybe you can help. Will you join Narky’s band? The show must go on! For children aged 4-9 and their families Sat 15 June | 2pm £8 / £5 children Unity 2
Image from previous production.
T ES EC LI RF MI PE FA R FO
“Jamie Wood is a performer
HERALD ANGEL AWARD WINNER
“A bravura entertainment for all ages, this is a juicy treat from first bite to its mid-air core.” The Herald
SMASHED Gandini Juggling UK
The dark art of juggling. 80 apples, 9 performers, 4 crockery sets. You are cordially invited to a tea party that you will never forget. At the forefront of contemporary circus for over 20 years, and having performed in over 40 countries, Gandini Juggling bring their award-winning sensation SMASHED. A mesmerising mix of circus and theatre, inspired by the work of Pina Bausch, this is a rare opportunity to catch this global SMASH-hit. Sat 15 June | 7.30pm £15 / £12 conc Unity 1
‘Glorious… when it comes to juggling, the Gandinis pip everyone else.
The Guardian
DIVE Teatro Pomodoro, Madame Señorita & the Reetta Honkakoski Company
Three extracts of exciting new work from across Europe in clown, bouffant and physical theatre. Teatro Pomodoro UK
Fish out of Water A Shipwrecked Odyssey blends clown, live music and dark comedy to playfully turn Ancient Greece upside down. Welcome to a world where the Sirens are the unsung heroines and Odysseus can never find his way home.
Devised in part by Petra Massey, one of the team from Cabaret From The Shadows (Physical Fest 2016, Brighton Fringe 2017 award-winner).
“Teatro Pomodoro is anarchic theatre at its best.” Fringe Review for Cabaret from the Shadows Madame Señorita SPAIN
ESPOUSA is the attempt of a clown to experience Perfect Romantic Love. Although her interpretation of that might be different to ours!
Paula Valluerca aka Madame Señorita is an award winning theatre maker trained in LISPA and later in clowning with Philippe Gaulier, Dr. Brown and Nicole Kehrberger.
“Clowning at its purest and best.” The Skinny Reetta Honkakoski Company FINLAND
Hypnagogia. A girl, three bears and
the power of imagination: this is a disjointed tale of growing up in a society run by men. Set in the surreal state between waking and sleep, this hypnotic show explores the subversive capacity of the subconscious in transforming our world. The company, known for their exquisitely intense shows, collaborate with a talented international cast of Corporeal Mime actors. Friday 14 June | 7.30pm £10 / £8 conc Unity 1
Workshop Mothers Who Make is a growing national initiative aimed at supporting mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate. Every kind of maker is welcomed, and every kind of mother. Tmesis Theatre are the Liverpool hub coordinators at Unity Theatre and we are pleased to welcome one of the MWM artists to lead a workshop on the 12 June. Booking is essential and children welcome. Wed 12 June | 10.30am - 12.30pm | Free | Unity Bar
PHYSICAL FEST’S FEMALE ARTIST BURSARY AWARD Performance
A new initiative from Physical Fest to develop and support women in physical theatre. Introducing our bursary award-winning artists.
DEVOTED AND DISGRUNTLED: Open Space Event
An invitation from Claire Bigley, Producer of Physical Fest: “I believe we need to make sure there are ways into the sector for female working-class artists. We need women in leadership roles; Artistic Directors, CEOs, board members and venue managers. How can we, together, fundamentally change the make-up of those making and watching theatre for the better? Come along on 13 March and let’s do some work. See you there!” This is a Devoted & Disgruntled Open Space event. You set the agenda; nothing is censored. For more information on D&D and Open Space, please see devotedanddisgruntled.com Unity is fully accessible. We can provide BSL on request by contacting claire@tmesistheatre.com Thursday 13 June | 11am-3pm (Bring your lunch along) £5 | Unity 2
Meraki Collective
MERAKI COLLECTIVE: KILL A WITCH OR DIE TRYING From the days of burning at the stake to slaying the successful woman on Twitter, women are being demonised for speaking up and standing out. A new visually captivating, belly laugh-inducing dance theatre work. Thursday 13 | 4pm | Pay What You Decide | Unity 1
Rowena Gander
THE TEN INCH HEELS Do objects have the capacity to make you feel empowered or
objectified? What is that object for you? An exploration of the extrinsic value of sexualised and exaggerated femininity, questioning how engagement with high heels can either promote or dissolve female subordination. Friday 14 | 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm (15 mins) Pay What You Decide | Unity 2 Limited Capacity
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
“An immediate standing ovation met Sweeney’s towering, exhausting performance.” The Scotsman
WILDCARD
ELECTROLYTE By James Meteyard
“Absolutely f***ing
Music & Lyrics by Maimuna Memon
phenomenal.”
‘We are a blip. A speck of dust. To be wiped off the face of time like you might a bike chain’s rust. But to each of us, we are everything’
Broadway Baby
Electrolyte is a multi-award-winning piece of gig theatre that powerfully explores mental health. Written in spoken word poetry and underscored by original music ranging from ‘blasts of sound to lyrical sweetness’ (The Scotsman), this ‘phenomenal’ (Broadway Baby) production is performed by six multi-instrumentalists who seamlessly integrate live music with expert storytelling. Wed 3 & Thur 4 July | 7.30pm £15 / £12.50 conc Groups 8+ £5 / Creative Membership £5 Unity 1 Winner Mental Health Fringe Award 2018 Winner Pleasance Best Newcomer Award 2018 Winner Voice Mag Pick of the Fringe 2018
“Visceral, emotionally charged and engaging.” Ed Fest Mag
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
Presented by Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, produced by Shubbak in partnership with the Bagri Foundation.
CHRONICLES OF MAJNUN LAYLA
Bahraini poet Qassim Haddad’s powerful rendering of the classic love story of Majnun Layla - often described as the Arab Romeo and Juliet - is transformed into a live experience by renowned Palestinian actor and writer, Amer Hlehel. The story of love, passion, eroticism and unfulfilled desire is radically reinterpreted with an original, contemporary soundscore and live performance by Rihab Azar and Kareem Samara on acoustic and electric oud. Moving between Arabic and English, the rhythm, intonation and particularities of both languages bring out the universal qualities of this epic. Age 12+ Sun 7 July | 7:30pm £9 / £7 conc Unity 1
Presented by Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, produced by Shubbak in partnership with the Bagri Foundation.
YARA BOUSTANY: ĒVOLVŌ AND ONE DAY AND ONE NIGHT BEIRUT
ēvolvō is a complex, magical delight from visual artist and performer, Yara Boustany. Following a journey from idyllic nature in the mountains of Lebanon, to the busy street-life of Beirut with its startling roofscapes and noisy traffic, ēvolvō is filled with wondrous images and optical illusions. Performed alongside the shorter work One Day and One Night Beirut, depicting 24 hours from sleep to wake – a journey from dreaming to reality. Thur 11 July | 7:30pm £9 / £7 conc
Book now: 0151 709 4988 | unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
UYCREATIVES Our new Unity Young Creatives programme enables young people aged 14 – 18 to explore their creative talents, learn new skills and work in partnership with industry professionals. Built on the foundations of Unity Youth Theatre, we are relaunching our programme and widening our offer for the evolving artistic landscape. Projects will offer opportunities to create performances, exhibitions, installations, develop new writing, and experiment with digital arts, alongside experiences in traditional performing arts. Email uycreatives@unitytheatre.co.uk for more information.
Mothers Who Make is a grass roots, national initiative, dedicated to supporting mothers. Monthly sessions are held at Unity, led by Tmesis Theatre’s Claire Bigley. Sessions are open to all mothers who make - painters, writers, actors, dancers, producers, film-makers every kind of maker, is welcomed, and every kind of mother. Those with babies and preschool children can bring them along. Pay By Donation Book online at unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
20 Stories High Youth Theatre and Kitchen Sink Live
THE SHUT DOWN With funding at an all-time low, the youth centre is struggling to keep its doors open. Time is running out, everyone is giving up... Can the young people save their local community from total SHUT DOWN? Join them as they fight back with original music, real stories, raw poetry and pure drama. #ShutDownPlay Thur 25 – Sat 27 July | 7.30pm £6 / £4 Conc Unity 1
LAUNCH is a professional development programme for emerging theatre makers and creatives delivered by 20 Stories High in partnership with Unity Theatre. Its aim is to equip emerging artists and brand-new companies with the right tools to enable them to launch a career in the arts. “LAUNCH has been like university for emerging artists, all covered in 6 months. Now we feel empowered to kick-start sustainable careers in the arts.” Kitchen Sink Live, LAUNCH Academy Graduates 2018-19 If you’re interested in future LAUNCH opportunities please get in touch: info@20storieshigh.org.uk www.20storieshigh.org.uk #makeyourownfuture
ARE YOU A CREATIVE? If you are a creative or work in the arts, join the membership especially for you - sign up for FREE access to £5 tickets to selected Unity shows. Find out more and sign up at unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
THE BIG TABOO Welcome to The Big Taboo, Unity’s new programme of free events to help you get more out of your experience. We want to spark debate, explore ideas and invite Unity audiences to make sense of our world. Whether you come along to a post-show Q&A or screening, download a podcast or attend a late-night takeover, your journey doesn’t have to stop at the performance. Look out for Big Taboo extras and events at unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk and Twitter @unitytheatre
Support Us Unity Theatre is a registered charity and we cannot survive on ticket sales alone – donations from individuals and organisations are crucial in allowing us to stage exciting, ambitious productions for and with the people of Merseyside. To find out more about how to support our work see unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/support-us
THANK YOU TO OUR CAPITAL REDEVELOPMENT FUNDERS
THE RAVENSDALE TRUST
THE REX MAKIN FAMILY
AND FOR THEIR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT
UNITY THEATRE PATRONS
Bill Kenwright CBE
Josette Bushell Mingo OBE
David Morrissey
Andrew Lancel
John Bishop
UNITY THEATRE ANGELS Mr Terence Davis, Mr Joe Farrag, Mrs Frances Flooks, Mrs Carol Frood, Ms Mary Morgans, Mr Nicholas Orr, Mr Martin Powell, Mr and Mrs Stone, Mr Frank Thompson, Ms Vivienne Ruth Tyler, Mr & Mrs Mark White, Ms Sue Williams.
UNITY ASSOCIATE COMPANIES
A very special thank you to all Unity Volunteers.
We are a registered charity (1062 463) and gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders, donors and audiences. A private company limited by guarantee - number 3333987.
A Graeae & Theatre Royal Plymouth Production
Commissioned by Ramps on the Moon Presented in association with Curve
Thur 14 & Fri 15 Nov unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk / 0151 709 4988