Race Furniture and Theatres Trust are delighted to announce that Unity Theatre has the honour of being the winner of Seating’s Second Act, a partnership initiative to celebrate Race Furniture’s 80th anniversary. Unity Theatre will have its auditorium seating refurbished courtesy of Race Furniture.

Unity Theatre is one of Liverpool’s longest-standing arts venues and is a creative home for underrepresented voices, working with d/Deaf and disabled artists, LGBTQIA+ creatives, young people, and people from lower income backgrounds. Installed in 1980, its auditorium seating is tired, uncomfortable, and no longer meets the needs of modern, diverse audiences – in particular the fixed configuration restricts accessibility for wheelchair users and limits programming flexibility.

The seating revamp, courtesy of Race Furniture, will enhance audience experience, improve accessibility, and enable more flexible use of the auditorium for performances, community events, and hires. Race Furniture will work closely with Unity Theatre to ensure the design reflects the venue’s inclusive ethos and aesthetic character, creating a welcoming space that meets the evolving needs of its artists and audiences. While details of the redesign are still being finalised, the focus will be on comfort, accessibility, and flexibility – key priorities for both Unity Theatre and Race Furniture.

Seating’s Second Act was established as a gesture of gratitude to the theatre industry, which has played a vital role in Race Furniture’s success over the decades, Theatres Trust was chosen as the initiative’s natural partner given its role as the only organisation that supports the whole of the UK’s theatre ecosystem.

Unity’s application impressed Theatres Trust and Race Furniture by making a clear case for what a difference the seating refurbishment would make to the theatre and the communities it serves. The refurbishment will coincide with a major year-long heritage project, culminating in Unity presenting its first in-house production in more than a decade in spring 2026.

Actor and director David Morrissey, a Unity Theatre Patron and Theatres Trust Ambassador says, This is fantastic news. Unity Theatre is a theatre close to my heart, which does so much fantastic work in my hometown of Liverpool. It thoroughly deserves this reward. Well done to Race Furniture and Theatres Trust for making this happen.

Eleanor Manson-Sawko, Executive Director of Unity Theatre says, Winning this competition forms a key part of our heritage celebrations, breathing new life into our space while honouring our past. This isn’t a cosmetic change — it’s an essential step in our evolution as an inclusive, welcoming, and professionally managed theatre. Thank you to Race Furniture and Theatres Trust for giving us this transformative opportunity.

We are delighted to support Unity Theatre through our Seating’s Second Act initiative, says John Schofield, Managing Director of Race Furniture. For 80 years, Race Furniture has built a reputation for craftsmanship and innovation, and in recent decades we’ve been privileged to bring that expertise into theatres and arts venues across the UK. It’s a privilege to give back to a venue that plays such a vital role in nurturing creativity and community. We look forward to working closely with Unity to design seating that not only enhances comfort and accessibility but also supports their vision for a more flexible and inclusive auditorium.

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, says, Theatres Trust is thrilled that the Seating’s Second Act award is going to a theatre with a proud history of radical, experimental and working-class theatre. It is serendipitous that the work will be completed to tie in with a celebration of Unity’s past and an exciting moment in its future plans. It has been a pleasure to work with Race Furniture on Seating’s Second Act to make this much-needed upgrade possible for Unity Theatre.

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