Tributes to 'inspiring' veteran theatre director

Graeme Phillips had been a member of the city's Unity Theatre since 1982

A veteran theatre director who "transformed" Liverpool's arts scene in a career spanning more than three decades has died at the age of 77 after a long illness.

Graeme Phillips had been a member of the city's Unity Theatre since 1982, before taking on the role of artistic director in the early 1990s.

His leadership was shaped by what Unity described as an "unerring support" for new local theatre companies, writers, actors, and directors until his retirement in 2015 due to his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease.

Unity Theatre said Mr Phillips had left "a lasting mark" on the the city's theatre culture.

Phillips trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London before embarking on work throughout the country.

In 1982 he joined The Merseyside Unity Theatre, which was later renamed Unity Theatre.

Services to arts

He was influential as the group "transformed" a leaky-roofed synagogue into what became Hope Place theatre, and eventually Unity.

As artistic director he also became pivotal as the venue secured performances from international and national theatre companies.

After he retired, Phillips was awarded an MBE for services to the arts in the city.

Elinor Randle, Unity's incumbent artistic director, said: "Graeme has been such an incredible inspiration to me, and to so many artists in the city and beyond.

"He poured his heart into making Unity a true home for brilliant, daring, and experimental new work and gave countless people the chance to bring their creative dreams to life.

"He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will always live on in Unity and in those us of whose lives he touched."

Among those leaving tributes online, arts and culture writer Catherine Jones posted on X, describing him as "an inspiring advocate of great live theatre".