Hope Mill Theatre

Theatre in Manchester, England
53°29′00″N 2°12′59″W / 53.483275°N 2.216334°W / 53.483275; -2.216334OperatorThe Factory of CreativityOpenedNovember 2015Websitehopemilltheatre.co.uk

The Hope Mill Theatre is an independent theatre in Manchester, England that performs original and revival plays, musicals and other events. The theatre is located in the Hope Mill building, a Grade II* listed converted textile mill.[1] It won Fringe Venue of The Year at The Stage awards in 2018.[2] Hope Mill Theatre is the main work of the registered charity A Factory of Creativity.

History

Joseph Houston and William Whelton built on their training in London theatre to create a theatre modelled on the Off West End Theatres which dominate the London theatre scene. They created a small producing venue in Manchester and opened Hope Mill Theatre in November, 2015.[3]

Whelton and Houston serve as respectively Executive and artistic director of the theatre. In 2016 they won the Hospital Club Award for their contribution in Theatre and Performance and in 2017 they were also awarded a Special Achievement Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards.[4]

Katy Lipson, founder of Aria Entertainment, was the artistic director at the Hope Mill for several years, also producing many of the show staged at the venue, from Rags to Mame.[5]

Values

The mission of the Hope Mill Theatre is to "enrich, educate and entertain the community by providing a uniquely superior theatre experience; allowing both audiences and artists alike to be inspired, ambitious and to share stories and enlighten lives through the power of theatre."[3]

Productions

  • Parade (May to June 2016)
  • Hair, 50th Anniversary (November to December 2016)[6]
  • YANK! (April to March 2017)
  • Pippin (August to September 2017)
  • Little Women (November to December 2017)[7]
  • The ToyBoy Diaries (January to February 2018)
  • Spring Awakening (March to May 2018)
  • Aspects of Love (July to August 2018)[8]
  • Rags (March 2019)
  • Mame (September 2019)
  • The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit (November 2019)[9]
  • RENT (2020, closed due to COVID-19, August 2021)[10]
  • Saving Britney (January to March 2022)
  • Passion (2022)
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (November to December 2022)[11][12]
  • Head over Heels (January to March 2023)[13]
  • Julie: The Musical (20 to 24 June 2023)
  • To Wong Foo The Musical (October to December 2023)[14]
  • Gypsy in concert (25 February 2024)[15]
  • Oliver! (April 2024)[16]

Awards

Year Award Category Result Ref
2016 The Hospital Club Awards Theatre and Performance Won [17]
2017 Manchester Theatre Awards Special Achievement Won
Best Fringe Production (for Moth) Won [18]
Peter Brook Award Empty Space Peter Brook Award Nominated [19]
The Stage Awards Fringe Theatre of the Year Nominated
2018 The Stage Awards Fringe Theatre of the Year Won [20]
2023 Whatsonstage Awards Best Regional Production, for To Wong Foo The Musical Nominated [21]

References

  1. ^ "Hope Mill Theatre". Visit Manchester. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  2. ^ "Winners of the Stage Awards 2018 announced". 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  3. ^ a b "Our Story – Hope Mill Theatre". hopemilltheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  4. ^ www.brackets.digital, {digital} |. "Hair the Musical". www.hair50.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  5. ^ "Aria Entertainment | About". Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  6. ^ Goldsmith-Rybka, Yvonne (2016-11-17). "HAIR The Musical: the sixties relived at Hope Mill Theatre". I Love Manchester. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. ^ Wilma (2017-01-13). "YANK!, PIPPIN and LITTLE WOMEN launch Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre 2017 season". West End Wilma. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  8. ^ "Hope Mill Theatre Announces 2018 Season". Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  9. ^ https://www.facebook.com/BritishTheatreOfficial (2018-12-10). "Hope Mill Theatre Manchester Announce 2019 Musicals Season". British Theatre. Retrieved 2023-06-24. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  10. ^ "Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre – review". 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  11. ^ Wiegand, Chris (2022-11-18). "Cinderella review – a rapturous Rodgers and Hammerstein fairytale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  12. ^ Gans, Andrew (September 23, 2022). "Cast Complete for Hope Mill Theatre's Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Starring Grace Mouat". Playbill.com.
  13. ^ "Review: HEAD OVER HEELS, Hope Mill Theatre". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  14. ^ "To Wong Foo The Musical – Hope Mill Theatre". hopemilltheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  15. ^ "Gypsy The Musical In Concert – Hope Mill Theatre". hopemilltheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  16. ^ "Oliver! – Hope Mill Theatre". hopemilltheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  17. ^ "h.Club 100 Awards: Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester". theartsdesk.com. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  18. ^ "The 2017 Manchester Theatre Awards winners in full". There Ought To Be Clowns. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  19. ^ "Peter Brook Empty Space Awards to end as 2017 winners announced". 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  20. ^ "Here are the winners of the Stage Awards 2018!". arthereartnow.com. 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  21. ^ "Nominations in full: 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  • Official website