Truck asks to borrow Tigers memorabilia
April 28, 2009
Gareth Tudor Price has today asked Hull City fans to donate their club memorabilia to Hull Truck ahead of this season’s revival of Confessions of a City Supporter by Alan Plater. Truck’s artistic director has appealed to followers of The Tigers to lend items such as club shirts from past seasons, scarves, flags, caps and rosettes to the company before the updated version of the play, which recounts the club’s route to its first ever season in the top flight of English football, opens on 21 May.
Truck unveils new home
April 7, 2009
Hull Truck gave the first access to its new home yesterday at the building’s press launch. Designed by architect Wright and Wright, the £15m structure incorporates two auditoria – a 440-seat main house to replace the 290-seat Spring Street theatre and a new 134-seat studio theatre. The new build, which opens on 23 April, also encompasses two café-bars that will open all day and an education facility.
SJT outlines Summer programme
March 23, 2009
Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has released details of its Summer programme. The season opens with a production of Ron Hutchinson’s Moonlight and Magnolias (30 April – 27 June), led by new SJT artistic director Chris Monks. Long-serving previous artistic director Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s return to his 1969 farce How the Other Half Loves (4 June – 29 August) and Monks’ adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s swashbuckling operetta The Pirates of Penzance (2 July – 22 August), which has been given what the SJT describes as a “Reservoir Dogs twist”, are the other major forthcoming house productions.
Truck announces opening programme for Ferensway
March 10, 2009
Hull Truck has released details of its programme for the forthcoming opening season at its new Ferensway home, which opens on 23 April. A new play by creative director John Godber and a revised version of Alan Plater’s Confessions of a City Supporter, to celebrate Hull City’s progression to the top flight of English football, will be among the highlights at the purpose-built 440-seater.
The premiering play, entitled Funny Turns, is to run from April 25 until May 16. It is Godber’s 55th and, as is customary, he will direct its first production. The story of a Hull couple whose life unexpectedly veers towards “rock, roadies and rheumatics”, its cast will include several Truck stalwarts, with Robert Angell’s 12th Truck premiere being especially noteworthy.
SJT announces date for Monks’ arrival
February 17, 2009
Stephen Joseph Theatre has announced that Chris Monks will replace Sir Alan Ayckbourn as its artistic director on 1 April.
The Scarborough theatre has highlighted the fact that much of the Sheffield-born writer and director’s work has been with other theatres in the round to emphasise the suitability of his appointment. Monks has produced at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange, Orange Tree Theatre in London and Bolton Octagon. Notably, his directorial debut was on Music Hall, at the Bolton Octagon, in 1990.