Hull Truck Theatre Archives - Page 2 of 3

Around The World in 80 Days – Hull Truck Theatre

10May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Around The World in 80 Days – Hull Truck Theatre

Note to self: Be sure to wear waterproof mascara when you next review anything at Hull Truck Theatre in case it turns out to be as funny as Around The World In 80 Days was on Tuesday evening. Having never read the Jules Verne novel, first published in French in1872, all I knew was that a hot air balloon was involved in one man’s endeavour to travel around the globe in 80 days. The intrepid adventurer, a Mr Phileas Fogg (Stefan Adegbola) accepted a wager of £20,000 with fellow Reform Club members, that he could undertake such a journey. That sum is half of Fogg’s fortune, but he leads such a monotonous life in London - his daily habits being carried out with mathematical precision - the thought of such a journey excites him. Having fired his valet for some minor misdeed, he empl...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Hull Truck Theatre

22Apr

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Hull Truck Theatre

I set off for Hull Truck Theatre, on Friday evening, knowing my worst nightmare - audience participation - is probably about to come true. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical invites audience members to create a musical comedy by shouting out their suggestions - suggestions the cast will endeavour to act out. My seat on the front row meant there was no hiding place. So, I determined not to make eye contact with anyone on the stage; keep my head down, be invisible and leave the suggestion-making to anybody - just not me. Billed as a “must-see”, this improvised comedy came to Hull Truck for one night only, as part of a nationwide tour (visit www.showstopperthemusical.com for future venues). Well, dear reader, my “keeping schtum” resolution lasted approximately 30 seconds - that’s...

8Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Mumsy – Hull Truck Theatre

The end of Hull Truck Theatre’s 50th anniversary year is being celebrated with a comedy drama, set in the city and written by homegrown talent, Lydia Marchant. Mumsy tells the story of an unplanned pregnancy which causes friction between mum-to-be Sophie (Jessica Jolleys), her mum Rachel (Nicola Stephenson) and Rachel’s mum Linda (Sue Kelvin). The well-written script of this world-premiere production was delivered so realistically and naturally by all three on stage on Tuesday night that, at times, you could hear a pin drop in the fullish theatre. Even before “curtain up” I couldn’t take my eyes off the impressive stage setting of a huge tower block, its many windows, open and shut, plus individual window lights flashing on and off - just like a real tower block would be. It’s ...

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

20Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Interviews

First Look photos: world premiere of ‘Mumsy’, the finale of Hull Truck’s 50th anniversary programme

Hull Truck Theatre are marking the end of their 50th anniversary year programme with Mumsy, a new play written by homegrown talent and Hull Truck Youth Theatre alumni, Lydia Marchant. This brand-new world premiere comedy drama follows the story of three generations of women living under one roof, exploring the highs and lows of motherhood and intergenerational female relationships. Directed by Zoë Waterman, and with a full female creative team at the helm of the production, Mumsy will be on stage at Hull Truck Theatre from 2nd – 25th March 2023. This sparky new comedy has been developed by Lydia Marchant through Hull Truck Theatre’s Grow Artist Development Programme and is her first full-length play to feature in the theatre’s main auditorium: Stage 1. Lydia Marchant was selected for...

<strong>A Christmas Carol – Hull Truck Theatre</strong>

30Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Christmas Carol – Hull Truck Theatre

The "snow" that fell at the end of Hull Truck Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, on Tuesday evening, was the icing on a quite unusual theatrical cake. There can't be anyone alive today who doesn't know Charles Dickens' story of the miserly Scrooge and his visitations from three spirits which leads to him changing his greedy ways. Well, in a rather novel move, British Sign Language (BSL) runs throughout this production, having two deaf actors in lead roles. Hull-born Adam Bassett (Bob Cratchit) and Emma Prendergast (Mrs Cratchit) used sign language to communicate, as did the rest of the cast, who must be congratulated on their BSL skills. Also, to be congratulated are the set and costume designers who created the perfect atmosphere of wealth, hardship, fun, fear and sadn...

5Oct

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Ladies Unleashed – Hull Truck Theatre

It might have been a rainy night in Hull on Tuesday, but there was a very warm welcome awaiting Hull Truck theatregoers who had ventured out to see Amanda Whittington’s Ladies Unleashed. No sooner had my theatre buddy sister, Chrissy, and I found seats in the foyer, a friendly “waitress” held the most scrumptious looking food under our noses for us to sample - free of charge. The garlic chips, chicken wings with dip, prawns etc were all from the new menu of Shoot The Bull, the popular eaterie within the theatre, and every mouthful was delicious. What a fantastic start to theatrical proceedings. But did the night continue in that vein? Well, the jury is still out on that one. The atmospheric stage setting was static, apart from a useful giant film screen at the rear, which mainl...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hull Truck Theatre

5Jul

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hull Truck Theatre

The only puck I have ever had dealings with was the one that landed in my lap during my days as an avid follower of the Humberside Seahawks ice hockey team, in Hull. In other words, I’m no fan of anything William Shakespeare wrote. So, reviewing A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Bard was never going to be on my bucket list. But, not one to shirk my theatre duty, I went along to the Hull Truck Theatre on Monday evening. Well, bloomin’ ‘eck, as Shakespeare wouldn’t say, I really enjoyed watching a talented group from the community bring that very play to life. The opening stage setting was very sparse, consisting of just a metal park bench. However, the most dazzling costumes soon emerged and from then on it was colour all the way. As well as the psychedelic costumes, fairy lig...

Teechers Leavers ’22 – Hull Truck Theatre

25May

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Teechers Leavers ’22 – Hull Truck Theatre

Zoom, Netflix, Wordle, Covid 19, sanitising, face masks, Til Tok were all clues that playwright John Godber’s production Teechers, first performed in 1987, had been brought up to date with his re-imagined version - Teechers Leavers ’22. The Hull Truck Theatre was very well attended on Tuesday evening, as theatregoers not only looked forward to watching this rewrite, but also to the fact that Godber had been honoured with having the theatre’s Studio space renamed the Godber Studio. I arrived early on the night so I could be privy to the, admittedly short and sweet, speeches by the production’s director, Mark Babych, and Godber, in what is this popular theatre’s 50th anniversary year. Then it was showtime. As the lights dimmed, the deliberately unfussy stage setting came into view, ...

10Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

71 Coltman Street – Hull Truck Theatre

As a theatregoer, when you’re handed a complementary tub of chip spice along with your tickets, it does pique your interest. The chip spice came courtesy of Hull Truck Theatre, whose world premiere production of 71 Coltman Street brought to life this local theatre’s creation, 50 years ago. This week I have almost made myself ill by laughing so much at a Hull theatre production, but on Wednesday evening, at this intimate city centre venue, my chuckle muscles took a real battering. The play centres around Hull Truck founder, Mike Bradwell, who at 23, arrived in our city in 1971, renting the run-down house of the production’s title, setting up the theatre from there the following year. Written by Richard Bean, Bradwell admits not a word in the script is true, but that made not a j...

28Feb

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Acosta Danza – Hull Truck Theatre

If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought the dancers I saw on the Hull New Theatre stage on Friday evening had molten rubber running through their veins, not blood - so supple were they. Acosta Danza 100% Cuban, the brainchild of international ballet star Carlos Acosta, is a mesmerising concoction of fast & furious and slow & sensuous - with effortless acrobatics thrown in. The most fantastically hypnotic and unforgettable music assaulted our senses throughout each performance, of which there were five. Liberto, Hybrid and De Punta a Cabo were all UK premieres, and according to the programme, Impronta and Paysage, Soudain, la nuit were both back by popular demand. So, five rousing chapters, each telling a different story. However, I have to confess that I could...