Unity Theatre are set to hit the road with their take of Nina Simone’s life story.
The hit show ‘Nina – The Story of Me and Nina Simone’ will round off its tour of the UK next year with a closing performance in its native Liverpool.
A £95,000 grant from Arts Council England has helped make the nationwide show possible for the theatre company, who also recently secured a four-year National Portfolio Organisation status for four years from 2018.
Nina – The Story of Me and Nina Simone is inspired by the life and music of Nina Simone and her involvement in civil right movements in 1960s America.
The performance directed by Dritero Kasapi, will see some of Simone’s most beloved songs brought to life as the show compares to inequality during her life to today’s equality issues.
Matthew Linley, Unity Theatre Artistic Director and CEO said: ‘Nina – a story about me and Nina Simone’ really is a remarkable production which has attracted both critical acclaim and very deep, personal and profound audience response where ever it has been performed so far, be that in the UK or Sweden.
“We are delighted that Arts Council England has chosen to support the UK tour of the production through its National Lottery funded Strategic Touring programme, where ‘Nina…’ will bring diverse audiences together throughout England to talk about issues which concern the times we live in now.
“In conjunction with the tour, we will lead an Audience Development programme to encourage BAME audiences to visit theatre for the first time – sending the message that all audiences are welcome in England’s theatres.
“At Unity Theatre we consistently talk about subjects on our stages which wouldn’t be discussed elsewhere.
“With this tour we take the questions that Josette and Dritero are asking to as wide and as diverse an audience as possible.”
Full details of the upcoming tour will be released this autumn.