Middle Child

Cannot wait to see what @middlechildhull.bsky.social unearth with this super fun project!

looking to speak to freelancers in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors for a story - if that's you, drop me a message! #journorequest

A group of residents, Ings Library staff and Middle Child's heritage engagement producer Beth Murrell stand in front of a brick wall with a street sign that says Adelphi Close on it. In the background are a row of houses.

Big news! ⚡ We've been awarded a grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to explore Hull's lost theatre history, working with residents in Ings Road and creating a new show in 2027 about Humber Street's old Theatre Royal: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/news/middle-...

Meet the writers for Fresh Ink 2026 — Fresh Ink Meet the writers commissioned to create seven new plays for Fresh Ink 2026.

Revealed! The seven writers we've commissioned to write plays for this year's Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival.

A black and white photo of an actor backstage dressed as Scarecrow.

A black and white photo of backstage at panto. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is filling her flask from a kettle. In the background, the Dame enters having removed her wig.

A black and white photo of an actor backstage applying Cowardly Lion make-up in a mirror.

A black and white photo of an actor backstage dressed in a furry onesie with a large dog tag around their neck that says Toto on it.

We all know what happens onstage at panto, but what about backstage? We invited photographer Jess Bennett to capture the chaos behind the scenes and the results are magic ✨ See the full gallery on our website: bit.ly/4pHQoJe

The cast of Wizard of Oz doing a bizarre dance on stage, in blue and pink light. Dorothy is in the centre, arms a loft as if in a trance, her left leg stuck up behind her.

Our 2025 panto, The Wizard of Oz, is underway at Social on Humber Street 🌪️ We run until 29 December, but all shows are now SOLD OUT! Check out more pics on our website: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/blog/gallery...

David Byrne and Ishy Din standing outside Middle Child's theatre on Humber Street in Hull

Huge thank you to David Byrne and Ishy Din from the Royal Court for making the trip to Hull to meet local writers!

The Royal Court at Middle Child — Middle Child Meet Royal Court artistic director David Byrne and associate playwright Ishy Din as they visit Middle Child on 10 December.

Tomorrow we welcome David Byrne and Ishy Din from the Royal Court to our space to meet local theatre makers, from 1-2pm. We still have a few spaces available, if you would like to join us. Find out more ⬇️

We are delighted for our friends @middlechildhull.bsky.social Excited to see what amazing things are in store. p.s. the place looks amazing!

A collage of red theatre seats inside a small studio space at the top, with library shelves full of plays below. Text says "Look! A bannister"

Somehow, we have our own theatre taking shape at 69 Humber Street 🤯 Read more in the latest update from artistic director Paul: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/blog/look-a-...

Applications for this role close tomorrow.

The Royal Court at Middle Child — Middle Child Meet Royal Court artistic director David Byrne and associate playwright Ishy Din as they visit Middle Child on 10 December.

Next month we're delighted to host Royal Court artistic director David Byrne and associate playwright Ishy Din in a meet and greet for Hull theatre makers. Find out more and book your place ⬇️

Vacancy: Heritage Engagement Producer — Middle Child Middle Child is looking for an experienced engagement producer to work on an 18-month long heritage project about the lost history of theatre in Hull.

We are looking for a heritage engagement producer to work with us for 18-months on a project exploring the forgotten history of theatre in Hull. There's just one week left to apply.

A group of people writing in notebooks with text that says Class Acts: a new reading group and series of writing workshops for working class writers.

Class Acts is a new programme for working class people in Hull and East Yorkshire who want to explore politics, class and community through theatre, feat. a book club and writing workshops with leading playwrights. Apply now: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/class-acts

A young person writing on an ipad. Text says No Dress Code: A new introduction to playwriting course for 16-25 year olds, with Lydia Marchant.

No Dress Code is a new programme coming in 2026, supported by the I Am Fund, to improve access to theatre for young people in Hull. Applications are now open for our short, intensive intro to playwriting course with Lydia Marchant: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/no-dress-code

Vacancy: Heritage Engagement Producer — Middle Child Middle Child is looking for an experienced engagement producer to work on an 18-month long heritage project about the lost history of theatre in Hull.

Vacancy ⚡ We are looking for an experienced heritage engagement producer to work on an 18-month long heritage project about the lost history of theatre in Hull.

Interesting in developing your writing skills? Have a HU postcode?

Get involved - it's all free!

An actor reading from a red script into a microphone. Text says "Free Middle Child playwriting groups in 2026"

Tom Wells leads a workshop at Fresh Ink 2025. Text says: "Middle Child Writers' Group: Our annual introduction to playwriting course, with Tom Wells"

A group of writers busy with their heads down in a workshop. Text says: "Class Acts: A new reading group and series of writing workshops for working class writers"

A young person writing on a tablet in a writing workshop. Text says: "No Dress Code: A new introduction to playwriting course for 16-25 year olds, with Lydia Marchant."

Applications are now open for not one, not two, but THREE writers' groups in 2026. All are free to participate in and open to any resident with a HU postcode: bit.ly/3WMiIxL

What’s the difference between professional and community theatre? — Middle Child How do we rehearse? How are we funded? How are shows cast? Learn more about the differences in this Q&A with Hessle Theatre Company.

New blog ⚡ What's the difference between professional and community theatre? Read our Q&A featuring local legends, Hessle Theatre Company.

The front of Middle Child's space at 69 Humber Street. A brick former warehouse with large open glass bifold doors at the front and a black sign running the width of the building, with a new sign featuring the Middle Child logo and website address.

This whole "building a theatre" thing is becoming real ⚡

R&D is about questions, not answers - Arts Professional Ideally, research and development should be a space to play, to experiment and to discover, writes Matthew May of Middle Child theatre company. But that ideal is shifting to more risk-averse practice.

"When R&Ds become about proving rather than exploring, the room for risk shrinks."

A wonderful piece from @middlechildhull.bsky.social's Matthew May in @artsprofessional.co.uk on using R&Ds to play, to experiment and to discover! 🎭📰

www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

Casting call: Isabelle — Middle Child Middle Child are looking to cast three roles in our forthcoming production of Isabelle by Marc Graham.

We are looking to cast three roles in our 2026 production of Isabelle by Marc Graham, the first show in our new theatre space in Hull. Find out more: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/news/casting...

Work with us. We're looking for: stage manager, lighting designer, sound designer. Isabelle by Marc Graham, April-May 2026

Work with us! ⚡ We are looking for a lighting designer, sound designer and stage manager to join the team on the first show in our new space: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/news/call-ou...

An incredibly exciting future ahead for the @middlechildhull.bsky.social gang. Can’t wait to see it all unfold

Your ticket survey responses — Middle Child Audience development manager, Jamie Potter, shares the results of our recent ticket survey as we prepare to open a new theatre on Humber Street.

Last week we asked our audience to take a quick survey about ticket pricing in our new space - the results are in! 📊

Middle Child unveils new theatre inspired by Bush and New Diorama Hull-based Middle Child has unveiled plans for its first permanent venue, vowing it will become the ‘most influential new writing theatre outside of London’

Hull-based Middle Child has unveiled plans for its first permanent venue, vowing it will become the "most influential new writing theatre outside of London".

Read more in The Stage 👇

Collage of plans for a proposed new studio theatre alongside a photo of the outside of 69 Humber Street, with text that says "A new theatre on Humber Street"

A new theatre for Hull ⚡ Read our latest update on what's happening in our new space on Humber Street and our ambition to make it the most influential new writing theatre outside of London: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/blog/new-the...

Four actors reading from scripts on a stage with text that says 60 Second Survey: Ticket Prices in 2026

People of Hull and nearby! After sharing our exciting news about a new space on Humber Street, now we'd like to hear from you about ticket prices, if you have a minute spare? forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

Collage of plans for a proposed new studio theatre alongside a photo of the outside of 69 Humber Street, with text that says "A new theatre on Humber Street"

A new theatre for Hull ⚡ Read our latest update on what's happening in our new space on Humber Street and our ambition to make it the most influential new writing theatre outside of London: www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/blog/new-the...

⏰ Less than 24 hours to go before applications close for Fresh Ink 2026.