Hull-based Middle Child are celebrating their ten-year anniversary this month as one of the UK’s leading theatre companies.
The award-winning company were formed in 2011 by a group of University of Hull graduates, with the aim of breaking down barriers and making theatre accessible for all.
Middle Child have since toured critically-acclaimed, sell-out shows across the country, from Hull Truck Theatre to Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Latitude Festival and the Bush and Arcola theatres in London.
Reverb, their artist development programme launched in Hull in 2018, has also supported over 100 theatre makers from various disciplines, including writing, directing and acting.
In 2019 this led to the production of Daniel Ward’s script for The Canary and the Crow, which earned the writer the George Devine Award for most promising playwright and a Writers’ Guild award.
This summer the company moved into a new home on High Street, from which they will rehearse new shows and support theatre makers in the city.
To celebrate the landmark anniversary, Middle Child are throwing a party at Social on Humber St on Thursday 4 November, where they will reunite performers to play songs from past shows, alongside a fundraising raffle and sets from the Make Noise DJ Collective.
Middle Child are also making a digital recording of The Canary and the Crow available to stream, for one-week only, from Monday 25 October.
Rapunz’ull, their 10th rock’n’roll pantomime, is already on-sale.
Artistic director, Paul Smith, said: “We’re delighted to be turning ten years old and to be marking our first decade in the usual Middle Child style – making noise and creating great nights out.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far, but it’s just the beginning for us. There’s a lot more to come as we continue supporting new voices and reaching beyond the usual theatre crowd.
“Throughout our first ten years Hull has been at the heart of Middle Child and it will remain so for years to come, as we work towards a more equitable industry where anyone’s story can be told and heard, invest meaningfully in people and create new routes into theatre.”
More information about Middle Child’s birthday celebrations can be found on their website: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk
Middle Child’s 10th Birthday Party
Venue: Social, 63 Humber Street, Hull
Date: 4 Nov
Times: 7pm til late
Tickets: £15
middlechildtheatre.co.uk/birthday
The Canary and the Crow
Written by Daniel Ward
Music by Prez 96 and James Frewer
Directed by Paul Smith
Available: To stream online
Dates: 25-31 Oct
Tickets: £5-15
middlechildtheatre.co.uk/canary
Rapunz’ull
Written and directed by Paul Smith
Venue: Social, 63 Humber Street, Hull
Dates: 16-24 Dec
Times: Various
Tickets: Child £10.50; Concession £13.50; Adult £16.50 (no booking fee)
