Unity Theatre, Liverpool
Jennifer
Unity Theatre, nestled between the beautiful town houses on Hope Place, is one of the best loved theatres in Liverpool. Originally a synagogue, the building was leased to Unity Theatre in 1979 and had its inaugural festival in 1980. It’s located a stone’s throw away from the Bombed Out Church and between Liverpool’s two cathedrals, in a quiet spot close to Hope Street‘s cafés and restaurants.
The event programme is varied, and most importantly, with a very local focus. Unity Theatre prides itself on representing the community, staging plays and performances not just about the people, but by the people living, working and creating in the city. It has a reputation for staging innovative, high quality work in a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere and even the building itself is a smaller, more intimate venue where audiences can (literally) come closer to the performers.
Today, Unity is not just a theatre either – over the years it has developed into a combined arts venue, creating a hub for local artists. As well as a stage for performance , the organisation provides guidance and mentoring to emerging talent with dedicated development programmes and an exhibition space. There are even regular scratch nights where artists can share and test out their ideas. With an excellent track record for encouraging new writing and supporting new companies, Unity is at the forefront of the Liverpool theatre scene.
Audiences will find more traditional theatre as well as boundary-pushing, experimental performances, physical theatre, music events, film screenings, workshops and family events. The Unity operates an open access policy making professional facilities available to local community theatre companies, and is the venue that most reflects the diverse communities in Liverpool.
