The Unity Theatre has postponed its reopening following an £845,000 programme of refurbishments.

The performing arts venue was originally due to resume operations this month, but will now hold a short ‘soft launch’ summer season in June and July before reopening in the autumn.

Events previously scheduled for 5 June and beyond have not been affected by the postponement, while others have been rescheduled or moved to alternative venues.

The Unity remains committed to the LightNight arts festival, with window projections and a revised programme of street theatre performances still due to take place outside the building on the evening of 19 May, but the sleepover as part of Aleasha Chaunte’s The Handless Project has been moved to Liverpool Cathedral.

‘The Damned United’ has been pushed back to Tuesday 25 July, while ‘Home’ has been relocated to Southport venue The Atkinson and will take place on Wednesday 24 May.

Unity Theatre will hold a soft launch this summer

Tmesis Theatre’s Physical Fest – taking place between 26 May and 3 June – will relocate its performance programme to The Arts Centre at City of Liverpool College, and the Tmesis Theatre Training Company performances have moved to Hope Street Theatre.

Regular family event Saturday Splatterdays will return to Unity Theatre on Saturday 10 June.

Artistic Director and CEO of Unity Theatre Matthew Linley says: “Our ambition was always to keep our closure period as short as possible for our audiences, artists, staff and volunteers, and it is unfortunate that our plans have changed.

“However, we are staying focused on the end result, and what our revitalised venue will do for us as an organisation, and for the people of Liverpool and beyond.”

The Unity Theatre’s box office will remain located at LIPA while the refurbishment work is ongoing.

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