Liverpool theatre audiences are being invited behind closed doors this September as Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright Terry Johnson brings a newly reworked version of The Sex Party to The Hope Street Theatre.
Produced by Northern Comedy Theatre, the production will run from 1 to 11 September 2026, with press night taking place on 3 September at 7:30pm.
Despite its provocative title, the play is built around suggestion rather than spectacle. Audiences will watch events unfold from the kitchen while the party itself takes place out of sight in the living room, leaving plenty to the imagination.
A sharp comedy about human connection
Written and directed by Terry Johnson, the newly reworked production combines fast-paced comedy with a closer look at vulnerability, relationships and human behaviour.
Johnson revisited the script specifically for this production, reshaping it for a smaller and more intimate setting. The Hope Street Theatre was chosen because its close atmosphere complements the kitchen-sink realism of the play and allows the audience to focus on the characters and their increasingly chaotic interactions.
The production is designed to make audiences feel as though they are sitting in the kitchen at the party, observing everything from a safe distance. The team has also reassured theatre-goers that there will be no audience participation.
What happens at The Sex Party?
The central idea places the audience in a deliberately limited position. They can hear what is happening elsewhere, pick up clues and watch the characters move in and out of the kitchen, but the main event remains just beyond view.
Producer Shaun Chambers explained that this perspective is central to the comedy, with the audience required to piece together what is happening based on conversation, sound and suggestion.
It creates a voyeuristic but playful setup, allowing the production to explore awkward encounters, social dynamics and the absurdity of people trying to navigate an unusual evening.
Cast announced for the Liverpool premiere
The Liverpool production features a cast with experience across the West End, television and film.
The cast includes:
- Suzy Bloom
- Lisa Gorgin
- Jackie Green
- James Lavender
- Jack Loy
- Pearl Schomberg
- Zoe Teverson
The Sex Party is produced by Shaun Chambers for Northern Comedy Theatre.
When is The Sex Party at The Hope Street Theatre?
Venue: The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
Dates: 1 to 11 September 2026
Press night: 3 September 2026 at 7:30pm
Tickets: £25
Tickets are now on sale through The Hope Street Theatre.
With a major award-winning writer at the helm, an intimate Liverpool venue and a comedy built around what audiences do not see, The Sex Party looks set to be one of the city’s most unusual theatre premieres this autumn.