The History of Unit One ~ 2

Unit One Theatre Company's first production was Billy Liar in February 1985 - staged at the Unitarian Theatre, after which the group was named.

At the end of 1985 Unit One moved to Salford's very own Playhouse in Liverpool Street, where their versions of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, Mike Harding's Fur Coat and No Knickers and Mike Stott's Funny Peculiar earned them a loyal following.

Funny Peculiar

►The Wentworth Trophy

Out in the Cold

A year later Salford City Council took the controversial decision to turn the Playhouse professional, so Unit One, along with the other amateur groups using the theatre, found themselves homeless.

The Christmas production that year, Who Killed Santa Claus, was performed at The Swinton & Pendlebury Arts Centre. Unit One remained there for the rest of the season, culminating with their most successful show to date - Abigail's Party by Mike Leigh - which played to a packed house every night.

Bringing the house down

Abigail's Party quite literally brought the house down: shortly after, in the summer of 1987, the arts centre building was condemned as unsafe - and closed awaiting demolition.

The Company returned to the Playhouse for a one-off revue, before hitting the road again.

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