Hull Truck Theatre facts for kids
Hull Truck Theatre, Ferensway, Hull in 2012
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| Address | 50 Ferensway, Hull, HU2 8LB East Riding of Yorkshire England |
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| Coordinates | 53°44′46″N 0°20′47″W / 53.746200°N 0.346500°W |
| Capacity | 437 main house, 135 studio |
| Production | Visiting and own productions |
| Website | |
| www.hulltruck.co.uk | |
The Hull Truck Theatre is a famous theatre located in Kingston upon Hull, England. It puts on exciting plays and also sends its shows on tour to other places. In March 2022, the theatre's first home on Coltman Street in Hull received a special blue plaque. This happened at the same time as the theatre's 50th birthday!
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How Hull Truck Theatre Started
The Hull Truck Theatre Company began in 1971. It was started by an actor and musician named Mike Bradwell. He couldn't find acting work, so he decided to create his own company.
Mike put an advertisement in Time Out magazine. It said, "Half-formed theatre company seeks other half." Their very first play was called Children of the Lost Planet. Not many people came to see it, and the same happened with their next play.
Soon, the company started making plays especially for children. They toured these shows from their base on Coltman Street in Hull. The actors even lived and rehearsed there! Hull Truck quickly became well-known for its children's plays.
At the same time, they also created shows for working men's clubs and late-night cabaret. Mike Bradwell wanted all the actors to play musical instruments. He said their shows were "provocative and challenging, but above all, entertaining.” Music was a very important part of their work.
In 1974, the company created a play called The Knowledge. At its first show in Manchester, many people left early. But a reviewer from The Guardian newspaper, Robin Thornber, praised it. This led to the Bush Theatre in London becoming interested and putting on the play.
Hull Truck's Home on Spring Street
In April 1983, the Hull Truck Company found a new home at the Spring Street Theatre. This building used to be a church hall that was damaged in the Second World War. It was a small theatre with 150 seats. Before Hull Truck, it was known as The Hull Arts Centre. A famous Hull writer, Alan Plater, helped start a theatre group there in 1970. The theatre had closed in 1981. From 1983, it became known as the Hull Truck Theatre.
John Godber became the artistic director in 1984. At first, he didn't know that Hull Truck Theatre was having money problems. He was doing well as a teacher, but he wanted to create his own plays. So, he took the job. He wrote Up 'n' Under, a play about rugby league in Hull. This play became a big success for the theatre.
One of Hull Truck's most popular and famous plays is Godber's Bouncers. This play celebrated its 30th birthday in 2007. It was also the very last play performed at the Spring Street Theatre before the company moved to a brand new building.
A New Theatre in Ferensway
In 2006, work began on a new, modern theatre in Ferensway, Hull. This new building was part of a bigger development called St Stephen's. It was built especially for the Hull Truck Company.
The new theatre cost about £15 million to build. Money came from the Arts Council, Hull City Council, and the European Regional Development Fund. The building was finished three years later. It has a main theatre with 440 seats.
The first play performed in the new theatre was John Godber's Funny Turns. It opened on April 25, 2009.
For two years, Gareth Tudor Price was the artistic director. In June 2010, the Hull Truck Theatre helped launch Hull's Larkin 25 Festival. This festival celebrated 25 years since the poet Philip Larkin passed away. It included poetry readings and music.
Later that year, Paul Marshall became the operations director. Andrew Smaje was hired as the new chief executive. His job was to make the theatre's shows even better and bring in new audiences. Andrew Smaje started in October, after working for ten years at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Special Celebrations and Awards
40th Anniversary Fun
In 2012, Hull Truck Theatre celebrated its 40th birthday! They put on many special shows that year. These included a new version of Once Upon a Time in Wigan and a brand new play called Sixty Five Miles. They also toured a play called DNA by Dennis Kelly around the UK.
Mike Bradwell, who started Hull Truck, came back in March 2012. He performed parts of the very first Hull Truck shows. He was joined by other actors from those early days. They were called the "original Truckers."
Later in 2012, the company was nominated for an award for its touring shows. These tours included The Lady in the Van and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
In October 2012, Hull city centre received a special award for its great nightlife. Hull Truck Theatre was praised for its "outstanding contribution" to entertainment in the city.
In January 2013, Hull Truck Theatre was nominated for another award for its touring production of DNA.
In April 2013, Mike Bradwell returned to direct a play for the first time in over 30 years. He directed the first-ever performance of Queen of the Nile.
In May 2013, Mark Babych became the new artistic director of the company.
In April 2014, the theatre received £400,000 in grants. This money came from Arts Council England and Hull City Council.
In November 2015, Hull Truck Theatre won an award for Arts and Culture. They won it for helping to plan Hull UK City of Culture 2017. They won this award again in November 2017 and November 2019. In 2019, they also won an award for being a very welcoming and inclusive place for visitors.
Hull UK City of Culture 2017 Events
Hull Truck Theatre played a big part in Hull UK City of Culture 2017. They put on a special "Year of Exceptional Drama programme." They worked with famous theatre groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Market Theatre from South Africa.
In June 2017, Hull Truck Theatre was shortlisted for an award for their amazing drama program during the City of Culture year.
In September 2017, they were nominated for an award for how well they marketed their shows and brought in new audiences.
