Pasek and Paul's A Christmas Story to receive UK premiere at Hope Mill Theatre

Hope Mill Theatre has announced the final two productions of its 2018 season.

First up will be new British musical The Return of the Soldier by Charles Miller and Tim Sanders. Adapted from Rebecca West's 1918 novella, the musical presents a female angle on love, loss and the English class system at the end of World War One. Directed by Charlotte Westenra, it runs from 6 to 29 September.

This will be followed by the UK premiere of A Christmas Story The Musical. Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – the songwriting duo behind Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman and La La Land – A Christmas Story has a book by Joseph Robinette and opened on Broadway in 2012.

It is based on the 1983 classic festive film of the same name and follows a nine year-old and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts—an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.

Directed by Bronagh Lagan and choreographed by William Whelton, the production will run from 26 October to 1 December 2018.

On today's announcement, producer Katy Lipson said: "We couldn't be more thrilled to be playing host to such important writers of contemporary musical theatre like Miller and Sanders, and Pasek and Paul and look forward to bringing their work to our wonderful Manchester audiences."