Liverpool’s Unity Theatre presents an autumn season including theatre companies Headlong, Told by an Idiot and Paines Plough promising contemporary themes of gender, race and social media.
From September 10 to 15, Headlong, in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, presents Meek, a dystopian drama that presents a parallel reality where censorship, repression and control reign supreme.
Fans of dark prophecies can also sink their teeth into The Forecast from Limbik Theatre on 8 September. This dark, zany Edinburgh Fringe hit sees four women escape war and poverty by relinquishing their freedom to become the latest must-have consumer items. Finally, Where We Began from Stand and Be Counted imagines an alternative future where every citizen is ordered to return to their place of birth on 9 October.
In October, Unity welcomes two more world-class companies. Told by an Idiot brings All You Need is LSD by Leo Butler from, 16 to 20 and Paines Plough plays Pop Music for one night only on 30 October, with a journey through 30 years of pop.
Fusion theatre and newsworthy themes are in the spotlight on September 21 with SKIN from 201 Dance Company, a hip-hop dance exploration of transgender themes, and Woke (September 19), a feminism-themed gig theatre event from rapper and writer of the hugely successful Black Men Walking, Testament, in association with Little Mighty.
Tmesis Theatre returns with its trademark physical style from September 28 to October 6 with Beyond Belief, a show about online legacy.
On October 31, Manchester Theatre Award-winner Mirror Theatre Company, stages Narcissist in the Mirror, a dark comedy about life, ambition and millennial expectation.
On October 5 and 6, What a Little Bird Told Me Theatre brings When Did You Stop Dancing, a look at the true story of mass dance hysteria.
Dancing is in the spotlight again on November 15 and 16 with Mop the House: A Short Guide to Vogue, a world première from Homotopia, DadaFest and The Arena Theatre.
Family secrets and wartime memories wreak havoc in Silence on October 24-27, a play from Mercury Theatre Colchester, Wiltshire Creative and Unity Theatre, and family drama takes centre-stage again from October 10 to 13 with Blood Runs Deep, a new thriller from Break A Leg Productions in association with Bill Elms.
Unity collaborates with Action Transport Theatre again this Christmas and in association with disability arts organisation DaDaFest brings Beauty and the Beast to life from November 20 to January 5.