Chris Sonnex, the new artistic director of the Bunker Theatre, has announced plans for his first season of shows at the Southwark venue.

The season launches on 25th January with the world premiere of Borderline’s WELCOME TO THE UK. Directed by Sophie NL Besse, the show promises that audiences can expect humour, horror, live music and candy floss. WELCOME TO THE UK will be performed by Borderline’s mixed-ensemble, which includes people who have recently sought refuge in the UK. WELCOME TO THE UK runs to 16th February.

BORDERLINE, a satire of the Calais jungle, will also run concurrently with WELCOME TO THE UK, performing at the Bunker twice a week.

Next in the season. Nadia Papachronopoul directs Sacha Voit and Jessica Butcher’s BOOTS. The play centres around Willow, as she braves the wilds of Lynx Africa, talking trees, arson and infertility to find an unlikely friend. Starring Tana Loretta Dee, BOOTS runs at the Bunker from19th February to 16th March.

From 18th to 23rd March, the Bunker Theatre hosts a festival of writing called MY WHITE BEST FRIEND AND OTHER LETTERS LEFT UNSAID… Curated by Milli Bhatia, the week-long festival commissions 11 writers to respond to Rachel De-Lahay’s original provocative piece MY WHITE BEST FRIEND.

From 26th March, the theatre presents a double-bill of female solo-shows that explore working-class & benefit-class life: KILLYMUCK by Kat Woods and directed by Caitriona Shoobridge, and BOX CLEVER by Monsay Whitney and directed by Stef O’Driscoll. The plays run until 13th April.

In April, FUNERAL FLOWERS, written and performed by Emma Dennis-Edwards, premieres in London. Directed by Rachel Nwokoro, the Fringe First winning play features poetry to tell the story of 17 year old Angelique, who dreams of becoming a florist. FUNERAL FLOWERS runs from 15th April to 4th May.

The season concludes with FUCK YOU PAY ME. Joana Nastari’s play, directed by Bethany Pipps, looks at the world of London’s strip culture. Bunker describes the show as two weeks of shameless entertainment and divine feminine fury in a love letter to strippers with comedy, poetry & live music, exploring power, money & sisterhood. FUCK YOU PAY ME runs from 7th to 19th May.

Chris Sonnex has also announced that Debbie Hannan joins the venue as a new associate director. Hannan will also host a monthly podcast from the Bunker, exploring what needs to change in the theatre industry.

The final announcement from the theatre is that it will create Bunker’s Writers’ Snug. The free-to-use space is a place in the theatre for up to four playwrights to work, with one desk reserved for underrepresented writers.

Tickets for the Bunker Theatre’s new season are on sale now.