Magical musical Pippin comes to the Unity

Liverpool theatre company What We Did Next will be performing the award-winning musical Pippin, from tomorrow (Wednesday, June 28) until Saturday (July 1) at the newly reopened Unity theatre.With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked), the musical tells the story of the titular Pippin, heir to Charlemagne’s throne, who is searching for beauty, glory, fame, magic and the secret to true happiness. Is it to be found within the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh, the intrigues of political power... or perhaps in the ordinary moments of everyday life?Schwartz has said of the show: “It slowly became an allegory of a young man in search of himself, and it reflected my own search as a young man in my early twenties.”First performed on Broadway under Bob Fosse’s direction in 1972, the show won five Tony Awards and ran for five years. The production has enjoyed a recent revival on Broadway, scooping four more of the most prestigious awards in theatre.Director, Shaun Holdom-Eyles says “What We Did Next is delighted to return to the Unity in its opening season since the theatre’s £750,000 redevelopment. Pippin is a darkly humorous coming-of-age musical about finding your place in the world.”What We Did Next has performed in annually at the Unity since 2011, with their take on several modern and classic musicals such as Bonnie & Clyde, Carousel, Urinetown, Spring Awakening and Bat Boy. Thecompany has also presented Into the Woods, Rent, Three Sides, The Last 5 Years and Company to sell out audiences, since its inception in 2008. WWDN is a community-based company, defining themselves as 'professional amateurs'. Members include doctors, teachers, photographers and more, who succeed in putting on professional-standard theatre that otherwise would not be produced in Liverpool.The show also forms part of the programme of the Liverpool Fringe Festival. Tickets are available from Unity Theatre website.