Hope Mill Theatre Archives - Page 5 of 5

Hope Mill Theatre to stage the first new UK production of The Wiz

10Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre to stage the first new UK production of The Wiz

Hope Mill Theatre has announced that this Christmas it will stage the first new UK production of The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 10 years. With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, book by William F. Brown and original orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, The Wiz is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This new production will be directed by Actor’s Touring Theatre’s Artistic Director and previous Royal Exchange Associate Artistic Director Matthew Xia, Musical Supervision and Orchestrations by Sean Greenand and Choreography by Leah Hill. Hope Mill Theatre are also thrilled to be co-producing alongside producer Ameena Hamid and bri...

Smash Hit RENT Returns to Hope Mill Theatre this Summer

15Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Smash Hit RENT Returns to Hope Mill Theatre this Summer

Hope Mill Theatre announces that its hit production of the classic rock musical RENT will play to audiences this summer. After only being able to perform 5 live shows last autumn prior to lockdown, the production will run for a strictly limited season from 6th August to 19th September 2021. Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 19th of March 2021. RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard, with casting to be announced soon. William Whelton, Executive Director of Hope Mill Theatre, said: “It was so heart-breaking to have to close our production of Rent after only 5 shows, due to entering another lockdown. We were so thrilled that we managed to capture the show and share it with audiences online. The reaction to the show both critically and with audiences alike was truly overwhelming. ...

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre to open Community Hub and launch Hope Mill Theatre School

26Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre to open Community Hub and launch Hope Mill Theatre School

• Community space will be based on Pollard Street, next to Hope Mill Theatre and will include a large studio space and a more intimate studio. • Hope Mill Theatre School will launch in June 2021 for young people aged 7 to 18, and an early learning class for those aged 4 to 6. • Online classes for those ages 2-4 years old, Clever Cogs, will launch next month. • Performers Marcus Collins and Hayley Tamaddon to be Patrons of the Hope Mill Theatre School. • The Hope Mill Theatre Community Hub will also launch a Crowdfunding campaign with donations of any size being gratefully received in order to make a new home for the members of Hope Mill Theatre’s community so they can access and engage with the arts. Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announced today that they are launching a C...

Hope Mill Theatre announce full programme for Turn On Fest 2021

18Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announce full programme for Turn On Fest 2021

Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre announces today an exciting programme of live and online content for their annual LGBTQIA+ theatre festival Turn On Fest which will return between 18th and 31st January 2021. Headlining the festival will be an evening in conversation with Hope Mill Theatre patron Russell T Davies which will be streamed live on Saturday 23rd January 2021. The evening will be hosted by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and will look at Davies’ incredible career writing for film and television, including the ground-breaking Queer As Folk, most recent Years and Years starring Russel Tovy and his newest Channel 4 drama, It’s A Sin which premieres on Friday 22nd January 2021. Another festival highlight will be Queer Musical Theatre Cabaret: All That Drag, a celebration of both Drag...

Hope Mill Theatre announces its long-awaited cast of RENT

24Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announces its long-awaited cast of RENT

The cast and full creative team has been announced for Hope Mill Theatre’s hotly anticipated revival of the classic rock musical RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard. RENT will play at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from Friday 30th October to Sunday 6th December 2020. The 12 company members, who were originally cast back in February are finally getting the opportunity to come together for this special revival of the much-loved musical. The cast will receive a Covid-19 test prior to being placed in one household (bubble) for the length of the run in Manchester. Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Dreamgirls – West End) will play Joanne; Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill – The Other Palace, Closer to Heaven – Off West End/Above the Stag) will play Mark; Tom Francis (Arts Ed 2020 ...

Hope Mill Theatre confirms RENT will go ahead this year and it’s set to be the hottest ticket in town!

15Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre confirms RENT will go ahead this year and it’s set to be the hottest ticket in town!

Hope Mill Theatre has announced its hotly-anticipated revival of classic rock musical RENT will run to socially distanced audiences this autumn – with the 12-strong cast forming a ‘bubble’ for the duration of the show’s run in Manchester. RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard, was due to play at the venue in July, but the run was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The venue has been working hard and keeping updated with new guidance being released regarding inside performances and after much careful consideration are excited to announce the production is scheduled to go ahead as planned. Hope Mill Theatre will be operating with strict Covid guidelines in place in line with the Government guidance for the performing arts. This will include operating at 50% capacity per show with...

27Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Godspell – Hope Mill Theatre Online

Like the show itself, I’m going to wear my heart on my sleeve from the very beginning. I’m so glad I liked this production, because to dislike Godspell would be a very sad thing. Conceived and directed by Michael Strassen, if ever there was an illustration of how to make lemonade when life hands you lemons, this 50th anniversary production is it. The pandemic which makes this version necessary is incorporated into the piece and sits so comfortably, it could have always been there. Whereas on stage Godspell is very much an ensemble piece, of necessity in this presentation there is more focus on the songs and the performers. And what performers. The cream of west end stars are lined up for us. I doubt a live version would pull so many together and I doubt a live version would allow us...

Hope Mill Theatre to live stream UK premiere of a new documentary celebrating the career of stage and screen icon Olympia Dukakis

29Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre to live stream UK premiere of a new documentary celebrating the career of stage and screen icon Olympia Dukakis

Hope Mill Theatre will live stream the UK premiere of a new documentary celebrating the career of stage and screen icon Olympia Dukakis, in collaboration with the producers of the film. Olympia, directed by Harry Mavromichalis, will be shown on Friday 10th July at 6pm on Hope Mill Theatre’s facebook page. The premiere of the US documentary was due to have taken place in New York but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – so producers have decided to have a one-off online premiere of the film before its wider release. As well as the UK premiere, it is also being streamed in the USA & Europe. Olympia is an intimate look at the life and career of one of the greatest actresses to grace the stage and screen. A deeply personal portrait of the actress and her craft and her...

Hope Mill Theatre announces online ‘An Evening With Jonathan Harvey’ plus new playwriting prize

28Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announces online ‘An Evening With Jonathan Harvey’ plus new playwriting prize

Hope Mill Theatre will host an online evening on Saturday 18th July, celebrating the many works of the well-loved writer Jonathan Harvey (Gimme,Gimme,Gimme/ Coronation Street). An Evening With Jonathan Harvey will include an interview with Harvey, hosted by Hope Mill Patron Denise Welch and will feature scenes from his past plays including Beautiful Thing, Hushabye Mountain and The Cherry Blossom Tree as well as songs from musicals that Harvey has written the book for including Dusty: The Dusty Springfield Musical and the Pet Shop Boys musical Musik. The cast performing includes; Katherine Kingsley, Frances Barber, Emma Clarke, Gemma Brodrick, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Joshua Asare, Rose Keegan and Danny Lee Wynter. The evening will also include guest hosts who have starred an...

Hope Mill Theatre announces rescheduled dates for revival of RENT

29May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hope Mill Theatre announces rescheduled dates for revival of RENT

Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester has announced rescheduled dates for its production of RENT, plus full creative team. Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak, the venue has been closed since 17th March and has had to cancel or postpone all scheduled productions until further notice. RENT, directed by Luke Sheppard, was due to open in July, with rehearsals beginning in June, however the musical will now open on Friday 30th October and run until Sunday 13th December 2020. https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/ The venue has taken the decision to reschedule the run of RENT should they be able to open later this year, which they hope to be able to do. All audience members who have already booked for the run of RENT have been contacted about exchanging tickets and refunds. Hope Mill ...