Theatre to give creative artists a stage to shine

Middle Child is a new writing theatre company and registered charity in Hull

A new theatre will open in the heart of Hull's cultural quarter next year.

After hearing about the vacant space on Humber Street, Middle Child Theatre Company partnered with Wykeland to create an 80-seat theatre for its new home.

It will open in Spring next year with the performance of its new show Isabelle, by Marc Graham, who is one of Middle Child's founding members.

Paul Smith, artistic director and CEO, said: "What we need now is the community and local people to really get behind it, support it, get their work on here and we'll see where it takes us all."

Middle Child has performed all over the city, including Welly nightclub and on top of Humber Street car park.

"We have been everywhere and, come rain or shine, the show has gone on," Mr Smith said.

The theatre company has performed all over the city

Mr Smith said the group had always wanted its own space so it could "build something special and lasting" that benefits everyone in the city.

He said there was "always going to be something new and original" and added that the group was also open to hearing from the community about what they want the space to be.

"It's a very different space to lots of other ones that exist in the city, it's very intimate," he said.

"It's going to have a really different direct relationship with its audience, so we're just keen to see what people want to put in here and make as much great stuff happen as possible."

The company's first play in the new theatre will be Isabelle, by Marc Graham

The theatre also has a community library full of plays and textbooks where people will be able to sign up, get a library card and take out items.

"We just want to make sure that everyone in the city has access to the best new plays, the best new writing from across the world," Mr Smith added.

The goal now is to become "the most influential new writing theatre outside of London".

"At Middle Child, we know how hard it is to make new work. You're often building the plane while flying it," he said.

"I think we just want artists to know that this is their home and where, hopefully, audiences get in the habit of seeing slightly messier, slightly riskier work that is literally being built and developed in front of you."

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