Unity Theatre, Action Transport Theatre and DaDaFest look at an age-old fairy tale classic with new eyes this Christmas, from 30th November to 5th January at Unity Theatre. If you think you know Beauty and the Beast - think again! Friendship – not just love – is in the air, as our two central characters take the form of two unlikely friends who put their differences aside in this heart-warming festive production.
Unity and Action Transport Theatre are once again providing a warming seasonal alternative to the panto this Christmas. The accomplished creative partnership have five Christmas collaborations under their belt, including the sold-out Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf, and The Jungle Book, which was described by The Stage as “a gift to children of all ages“. Once again, the Christmas production is entirely home-grown. Every element, from the script, score, lights and sound are produced by the team, and we are delighted to be collaborating once again with third year students from Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts for the show’s set design.
The familiar themes of beauty being skin deep, and not judging a book by its cover, shine through - but once again, with a twist. Physical deformity and outward beastliness take a back seat, and give way to other things that might make a person ‘ugly’ – anger, resentment and bitterness.
Produced in partnership with innovative disability arts organisation DaDaFest, Beauty and the Beast shows that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder and that everyone’s attitude can, at times, be beastly!
Gordon Millar, Artistic Director and CEO of Unity Theatre, comments:
“This production of Beauty and the Beast will be our sixth festive collaboration with Action Transport Theatre. Together we’ve built a reputation for creating charming Christmas productions with real character that provide an authentic alternative to the seasonal panto. We’re thrilled to be joined this year by DaDa Fest, a leading disability arts organisation with an outstanding track record of creating cutting edge theatre.”
Nina Hajiyianni, Artistic Director of Action Transport Theatre, comments:
“We are delighted to be co-producing Unity Theatre’s Christmas show once again this year. This wonderful partnership has created such successes as Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf and last year’s The Jungle Book, and we’re enormously excited to present this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. The addition of cutting edge disability arts organisation DaDaFest makes this year’s production doubly exciting, and audiences are in for a real treat.”
Join us this Christmas for one of the most wonderful stories ever told! Tickets available from https://www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
LISTINGS
Beauty and the Beast
Unity Theatre and Action Transport Theatre coproduction in association with DaDaFest
30th Nov 2018 – 5th Jan 2019
Various times – matinee performances available
see www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk for details
Prices: £15.50 - £5.50
(Family of four £55 - £34)
Relaxed performances: Sat 15th Dec at 11am, Thurs 3rd Jan at 11am
BSL performances: Sat 15th Dec at 2.30pm, Sat 5th Jan at 11am
Box Office: 0151 709 4988 or www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
Venue: Unity Theatre 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
Director - Nina Hajiyianni
Writer – Kevin Dyer
Devised by the Company
Composer – Patrick Dineen
Lighting – Phil Saunders