Hull Truck Theatre are excited to turn their focus to the future as their 50th Anniversary year comes to a close in March 2023 with the world premiere of Hull Playwright Lydia Marchant’s brand-new comedy Mumsy from Thursday 2 – Saturday 25 March 2023. Developed as part of Hull Truck Theatre’s Artist Development Programme, fans of Motherland will love this enjoyable new comedy that lifts the lid on the highs and lows of being and becoming a Mum – not to be missed.
January and February 2023 are action packed with shows for all different audiences to enjoy – from comedy with Lloyd Griffith: One Tonne of Fun, to funny, eclectic, and political theatre: The City and The Town (Friday 10 – Saturday 11 February), to an adaptation of the well-loved children’s story: The Tortoise and The Hare (Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 February).
The theatre also welcomes audiences to come together to enjoy visiting artists and companies who will present some great music and comedy and a diverse programme of contemporary work in the Godber Studio.
Mark Babych Artistic Director at Hull Truck Theatre, said: “We are looking forward to presenting and welcoming a range of unique and varied productions to our venue in 2023. We’re phenomenally proud of Hull Truck Theatre’s achievements over the past 50 year and as we move forward, we will continue our commitment to producing and presenting work of the highest quality, as we move from the dark winter months into the joy and hope of Summer.”
Oh! What A Night (Saturday 14January), kicks off our season, combining amazing vocals, slick harmonies, and even slicker dance moves – it’s the ultimate celebration of one of the world’s greatest Rock and Roll bands! Audiences can be taken back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Featuring songs such as Sherry, Let’s Hang On, Big Girl’s Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and many, many more!
We will be screening the best art and independent cinema from around the world as the Godber Studio hosts a state-of-the-art screen and sound system streaming live broadcasts in partnership with The Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. Running in partnership with Hull Independent Cinema we will present Hull Independent Cinema: The Gravediggers Wife (Saturday 14 January); Nasra urgently needs an expensive operation to treat chronic kidney disease. Guled is already working hard as a gravedigger to make ends meet: how will they find the money to save Nasra and keep the family together? NT Live: The Crucible (Thursday 26 January); Raised to be seen but not heard, a group of young women in Salem suddenly find their words have an almighty power. Hull Independent Cinema: Corsage (Friday 10 February); A funny, refreshingly irreverent spin on the period biopic formula. Royal Opera House: The Barber of Seville (Wednesday 15 February); Expect heart-melting serenades, ridiculous disguises and a fairy-tale ending waiting just out of reach. NT Live: Othello (Thursday 23 February); She’s a bright, headstrong daughter of a senator; elevated by her status but stifled by its expectations. He’s refugee of slavery; having risen to the top of a white world, he finds that love across racial lines has a cost.
Enjoy authentic music and dance with Art of Believing (Friday 27 January). Promising to be a truly memorable performance, bringing a taste of pure Flamenco and outstanding musicianship to Hull Truck Theatre. The show hosts an exceptional group of musicians; flamenco singers, guitarists, a violinist, and a dancer, bursting with passion and authenticity. Vibrant and exciting, this is an unmissable Flamenco experience.
Lloyd Griffith: One Tonne Of fun (Wednesday 1 February). Starting 2023 with his biggest tour to date, with a fresh new stand-up show. Since school Lloyd has always been a show-off, doing anything he can to make people laugh, and 20+ years later, nothing’s changed. Expect his unique bag of stand up, dubious impressions, and obviously a sprinkling of his (incredible) singing.
The Time of our Lives (Wednesday 1 February) invites you to come dressed up as your favourite 80’s character to sing along to an 80’s whirlwind of classic movies and timeless soundtracks! From Dirty Dancing to Top Gun, all the hits are here from your favourite 80s blockbuster movies. We’re gonna party like its 1985! Let’s see your Flash dance and Let’s have The Time of Our Lives!
The Noise Next Door: Hometown Heroes (Wednesday 8February), the quickest wits in comedy are coming to Hull with a side-splitting evening of hilarious off-the-cuff songs, scenes and characters. The stars of ‘Tonight at the Palladium’ (ITV1) will spin comedy gold out of all the things that YOU, the live audience, think is the best, worst and downright weirdest things about your hometown.
An intimate spectacle of identity, where being British, Iranian, and a Hip-Hop head collide in I’m Muslamic Don’t Panik! (Thursday 9February). From Bristol to the Tehran marathon and back again, Bobak Champion invites us to join him on a journey to accept his own heritage, against a media culture which holds fast to the idea that the Middle East is a frightening and dangerous place. A joyful evening of dance theatre, unearthing hidden truths and challenging stereotypes about this conservative yet thriving part of the world.
Riksteatern and Matthew Linley Creative Projects will present in association with Hull Truck Theatre the funny new play by Anders Lustgarten, The City and The Town (Friday 10 – Saturday 11 February). This unique piece of theatre will bring a fresh perspective to some of the political divides and problems facing our country today, highlighting that memories are tricky and not always the way you remember then.
Comedian Richard Stott returns home to Hull, bringing his new comedy show Afterparty (Saturday 11 February). After finally starting to grow up and liking the adult he’s become, Richard will entertain audiences with embarrassing anecdotes and acerbic one liners. Learn how to be an adult when things haven’t gone to plan, stripping off for a documentary, dating with a disability and an axe fight… all in one blistering hour.
Our visiting programme continues throughout February as Ladies That Dig (Wednesday 15 February) will lead us to discover what it means to grow. Collected from real local interviews this moving comedy-drama is a fertile blend of live music, comedy and true tales. From the team that brought you Ladies That Bus, prepare to be entertained by women who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Join the Lindy Hop Dance Company and The Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra as they present Swinging at The Cotton Club (Thursday 16 February). With spectacular music and dance, they promise a hot night out with this action-packed show celebrating the music and dance of the Cotton Club – New York’s most celebrated nightclub of the 1920s and ‘30s.
Tortoise and the Hare (Thursday 16 – Saturday 18February), will bring fun and games to young children (recommended age 4+). Created by Luke Pearson and Tom Saunders, Hull Truck Theatre presents the story of these two best friends as they play board games, sports games, guessing games and new games they’ve invented themselves. It all sounds fun, right? However, Hare is a terrible loser and after losing yet another game to Tortoise, Hare hatches a plan to play a game that Tortoise has no chance of winning. Each show will start with an arts and crafts session followed by the performance.
Expect exhilarating Swing from award winning jazz vocalist and band members, The Clare Teal Four (Saturday 18 February) with a fabulous new show that celebrates hits from the Great American and British Songbooks. Teal’s live shows are constantly evolving, always richly infused with jazz and critically renowned across the country for their fabulous arrangements, interspersed with Clare’s warm and witty storytelling.
Blow Down (Friday 24February) is a funny and poignant play based on stories collected from the local community. Marking the recent demolition of the iconic cooling towers at Ferrybridge Power Station, this hilarious, gritty and thought-provoking piece comes from the words of those who lived and worked beneath them. From the raucous seventies to recession and decline in the 2000s, it tells the tale of the area offering surprising insights, authenticity and humour.
Mumsy (Thursday 2 – Saturday 25 March) will kick off Hull Truck Theatre’s year of in-house productions with a funny, authentic new play shining a light on three generations of women as they battle through the friendship, drama and love that encompasses mother-daughter relationships. Written by Hull Truck Theatre alumni, Lydia Marchant and directed by Zoe Waterman, tickets for Mumsy are available to book as part of the theatre’s wider drama deal. There are also a number of access performances available including: BSL, Relaxed, Captioned, Touch Tours, Audio Described and Baby Friendly. The Baby friendly performance is intended for caregivers with young children under 18 months old (Fri 17 March). Tickets start from £10, with concessions available. Recommended age guidance: 14+.
Other shows to look forward to in March include James Hudson (Friday 3 March), born and bred in East Yorkshire – a rising star on the UK jazz scene. The Island (Saturday 4 March)is a rich, boisterous, funny, moving piece of theatre. Witness a star of the future with the Comedy Graduates Performance (Wednesday 8 March). As seen on Taskmaster (Channel 4), Mike Wozniak (Friday 10th March). Coming Out of my Cage (Thursday 23 March) will be present an interactive investigation with karaoke.
To book tickets for any of the shows on stage from January – March 2023, please visit: www.hulltruck.co.uk
Oh! What A Night
Date: Saturday 14 January
Tickets: £24.50
HIC: The Gravediggers Wife
Date: Saturday 14 January
Tickets: £7
NT Live: The Crucible
Date: Thursday 26 January
Tickets: £16 / Conc. £2 off
HIC: Corsage
Date: Friday 10 February
Tickets: £7
Royal Opera House: The Barber of Seville
Date: Wednesday 15 February
Tickets: £16 / Conc. £2 off
NT Live: Othello
Date: Thursday 23 February
Tickets: £16 / Conc. £2 off
Art of Believing
Date: Friday 27 January
Tickets: £27
Lloyd Griffith: One Tonne Of fun
Date: Wednesday 1 February
Tickets: £19.50
The Time of our Lives
Date: Thursday 6 October
Tickets: £21.50 / Conc. £3 off
The Noise Next Door: Hometown Heroes
Date: Wednesday 8 February
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 off
I’m Muslamic Don’t Panik!
Date: Thursday 9 February
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 off
The City and The Town
Dates: Friday 10 – Saturday 11 February
Tickets: £16.50
Afterparty
Date: Saturday 11 February
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 0ff
Ladies That Dig
Date: Wednesday 15 February
Tickets: £20 – £13.50
Swinging at The Cotton Club
Date: Thursday 16 February
Tickets: £21.50
Tortoise And the Hare
Dates: Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 February
Tickets: £7
The Clare Teal Four
Date: Saturday 18 February
Tickets: £23 / Conc. £2 off
Blow Down
Date: Friday 24 February
Tickets: £21.50
Mumsy
Dates: Thursday 2 – Saturday 25 March
Tickets: £28.50 – £10 / Conc. Available
James Hudson
Date: Friday 3 March
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 off
The Island
Date: Saturday 4 March
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 off
Hull Truck Theatre’s Comedy Graduates
Date: Wednesday 8 March
Tickets: £8
Mike Wozniak
Date: Friday 10 March
Sold Out
Coming Out of my Cage
Date: Thursday 23 March
Tickets: £13.50 / Conc. £2 off
Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU2 8LB, 01482 323638
www.hulltruck.co.uk