Unprotected - a brief introduction

A group of writers from The Everyman Theatre were commissioned to write a piece which looked at the sex trade in Liverpool. At the time several options were being explored regarding controlled zones and legal brothels for prostitution. The writers interviewed a range of people who would be affected by these changes including women involved in prostitution, their customers, the police, local councillors, support workers and local residents.

In the process of developing a script there were a couple of brutal murders of prostitutes who had given interviews. This gave a different slant to the play as it encompassed the reaction to these murders as well as speaking to the mothers of the people involved.

The play is a very narrative piece of theatre with very little of the action taking place in real time. In fact for the majority of the play the audience takes the place of the camera and the interviewer while cast members share their thoughts on some of the questions posed as well as talking about their own personal experiences. The play is exceptionally funny at times whilst also being deeply moving. It makes no judgements and is a very objective, honest and real observation of the sex trade and more importantly the beliefs and assumptions made of the people involved.