A darkly comic drama about a teenage girl navigating life inside a doomsday cult will premiere at Hull’s newest theatre on Humber Street on Friday.
Set in East Yorkshire, Birdcatcher is written by Hull playwright Laura Waldren and shines a light on the murky world of “high control” religious groups in the UK.
The play is produced by Pentabus in association with Papatango Theatre Company and Middle Child, with direction from BAFTA-winner Elle While.
Laura Waldren is a prize-winning writer from Hull whose first play, Some Demon, won the 2023 Papatango Prize and premiered at London’s Arcola Theatre in June 2024 to critical acclaim, before transferring to a sell-out run at the Bristol Old Vic.
She said: “I’m so happy to have Birdcatcher opening in my hometown, especially in Middle Child’s amazing new writing venue.
“It feels like Hull’s theatre scene has really evolved and grown since I was a kid, and it’s so exciting to be part of it now.
“This play is rooted in Hull, while also dealing with issues which affect communities across the UK, so it feels like the perfect place for this story to begin its touring life.”
Elle While is the artistic director of Pentabus and associate artist of Shakespeare’s Globe.
Her directing credits include Even More Ghost Stories by Candlelight, Make Good, Driftwood, One of Them Ones, Idyll (Pentabus UK tours), Pinocchio (The Watermill Theatre) and Mother Courage and Her Children and Richard III (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Birdcatcher premieres at Middle Child from 16-17 October, before embarking on a national tour.
Tickets for the Hull performances are available through the Middle Child website for £15 each.
Visit middlechildtheatre.co.uk/birdcatcher for more information and to book tickets.