Collocations for theme - noun

basic, central, dominant, important, key, main, major, underlying | broad, general | common, popular, universal
universal themes of love and loneliness

constant, familiar, favourite, recurrent, recurring | related | unifying | contemporary, topical | historical, religious, etc. | campaign, conference, research | musical
The film''s haunting musical theme stayed in my head for days.

develop, discuss, examine, explore
His later novels develop the theme of alienation.

warm to
‘Our work’, he continued, warming to his theme, ‘will be a milestone in scientific history.’

emerge
Several familiar themes emerged from the discussion.

run through sth
The same themes run through all her novels.

music, song, tune | park, pub

on the ~ of
He gave a talk on the theme of teenage unemployment.

variations on a theme
Most of the essays appear to be variations on a few central themes.