The Unity Theatre announces another packed season of shows this Autumn from September – January. Highlights include a music theatre production on the incomparable Nina Simone, Christmas show, Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf, festival shows for Liverpool Comedy Festival, Homotopia and DadaFest, in addition to a varied programme of theatre, comedy, family shows and workshops.

From 1st-3rd September, Unity Theatre is supporting Rediscovering the Radical, a conference developed by Collective Encounters and LIPA. The conference will offer a unique opportunity for artists, activists, academics, change-makers, researchers and arts managers from around the world to share their thinking and practice, learn from each other and develop ideas around Theatre for Social Change.

Established singer-songwriters, Jennifer John and Lorna Brooks come together for a unique evening of great musicianship and fantastic songs on Thursday 8th – Friday 9th September. On 13th September, audiences have the chance to see work in development in the Scratch Night.

Unity Theatre continues its journey developing and exploring Digital Theatre with two events HACKstage (16th September) which explores the space between the live and the digital in theatre, bringing together a creative team consisting of artists, technologists and technicians.

In October, the Digital Theatre Forum sees the return of the award-winning Metro Boulot Dodo when they host a free workshop and debate for writers, theatre-makers, designers, producers and venue managers, exploring ways that theatre can be experienced using digital technology (7th October).

Local playwright Adam Simpson developed his new play One Less Unfortunate at a Unity Theatre Scratch Night, now he presents the full version of the production (10th September).

Theatre shows in September include Ghost Street (17th September), The Brink (20 September), The Lima Syndrome (21st-22nd September) and the ever-popular Beatle’s themed evening, Ticket to Write (23rd-24th September).

There will be some outstanding performances forming part of Liverpool Comedy Fest, featuring a double bill of Bec Hill and Tiernan Douieb (29th September), Tiff Stevenson (30th September) and Simon Munnery (1st October).

Physical theatre company and Unity regulars, Tmesis Theatre will premiere their new show, Happy Hour on 5th-8th October. For those who want to have a go themselves there will be two workshops; one for 14-19 year olds on 19th September, and The Expressive Body for all ages and levels taking place on 12th October.

The highlight of the season is Nina: A Story about Me and Nina Simone which runs from 15th-29th October and is co-produced by Unity Theatre and the national theatre of Sweden, Riksteatern. Olivier Award-nominated West End star and Unity Theatre patron Josette Bushell-Mingo O.B.E. returns to her artistic and spiritual home to bring this brand new play about the songs and the struggles of Nina Simone. In response to the show there are three pre show events, Jamal Harewood’s Word (25th October), Labels by Worklight Theatre (26th October) and Call and Response – A reaction to Nina (28th-29th Oct).

Liverpool’s LGBT arts festival, Homotopia, returns once more to Unity Theatre with Dance Triple Bill (1st Nov), Diva Debate (3rd November), The Rise and Fall of the Hamburger Queen (3rd-5th November), Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit (5th November), Penny Arcade: Longing Lasts Longer (10th November), Looking for John (10th-12th Nov) and David Hoyle: In The Company of Friends (15th November).

Disability arts festival, DadaFest follows, with shows Assisted Suicide the Musical (17th-18th November), Swagga (21st November), Give Me a Reason to Live (23rd November), Can I start again please (24th November) and Laurence Clarke: Independence (25th-26th November).

Unity works once again with Action Transport Theatre on the ever-popular Christmas show, this year taking the form of Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf (2nd December – 7th January) with performances for both families and schools.

The theatre will close 9th January – late April 2017 to undertake a major redevelopment, improving the front of house spaces and making the organisation more resilient and environmentally friendly. Further details of an external programme during this time will follow.

Tickets for all of the above shows can be booked via Unity Theatre’s Box Office, by calling 0151 709 4988 or via www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.