Static at Unity Theatre

Fiercely personal, Static is a new semi-autobiographical solo show about memories, misfits and the messy side of showbusiness – coming to Unity Theatre this May.

Performed by Liverpool’s Elaine Collins – a theatre-maker and disabled artist whose past work has been supported by DaDaFest, Graeae and Arts Council England – this punchy one-woman show blends powerful storytelling and authentic, emotive subject matter with flashes of Liverpudlian humour. Billed as a “manifesto for equality”, Static draws on Collins’ real-life showbiz experiences, from holiday park gigs on the ‘North Wales Riviera’ to making the final 10 in the Spice Girls auditions, all undercut by a persistent sense of otherness linked to neurodivergence, mental health and disability.

Static centres on Ruby as she roots through the contents of her late father’s caravan. Unearthing more than just her dusty keepsakes, she reflects on her younger years – the near misses, mismatched dreams and the overarching feeling of being the outsider.

With live music and a wonderfully evocative soundscape by Andy Frizell, Static is a sharply crafted 70-minute play told with a big heart. Suitable for ages 14 and up, it offers a powerful, unvarnished take on the pressures of image, identity and ownership in the entertainment industry – and what it means to make space in a world not built for you.

Directed by Paula Simms, Static was devised by Elaine Collins and developed with script and dramaturgy by Esther Wilson. Tackling themes of classism and ableism, the show speaks directly to Northern, working-class identity. Moving and raw, it tells the story of a woman making peace with her past as she finds her place in the present.

Packed with nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, Static is a must-see for fans of bold, intimate theatre.