Hold tight, Hull, here’s what we’ve got planned for you over the next 12 months!

A world premiere in Hull and trip to London for a new drag king cabaret-inspired play about Victorian artist Elizabeth Thompson, an outdoor show created with the residents of Gipsyville, two scratch nights, the return of our people’s panto and extensive artist development opportunities feature in a jam-packed programme of ground-breaking theatre for the year ahead. All from our home in Hull.

This exciting programme for 2023-24 speaks to four key commitments across our work: to Hull, to new writing, to broadening who theatre is made for and by, and to lessening the impact of the cost of living crisis and removing financial and social barriers to change.

We kick-off with the premiere of Modest at Hull Truck Theatre, our electrifying new play about Victorian artist Elizabeth Thompson, produced in collaboration with the wonderful Milk Presents, with support from the National Theatre’s Generate programme.

Written by Middle Child co-founder and Hull writer, Ellen Brammar, with music by Rachel Barnes, Modest tells the story of the artist who fell two votes short of becoming the first woman elected to the Royal Academy, in 1879.

See it in Hull from 23-27 May before it heads on tour to Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Ipswich, Scarborough, finishing with a two-week run in London at the Kiln Theatre.

Our people’s panto, as chosen by our audience, returns to Social on Humber Street this Christmas with Red Riding Hood. Expect an anarchic, rock’n’roll take on the classic fairy tale, with tickets going on-sale (already!) on Tuesday 4 April. Plus, we are very, very excited to announce that Red Riding Hood will return in the February half-term of 2024, for a mini-tour of Hull with the good people at Back to Ours.

A year-long project with the residents of Gipsyville, commissioned by Absolutely Cultured, culminates with a free outdoor performance of This One’s For Us on Saturday 3 June. Written by Rachael Abbey, this sparky and uplifting show brings together protest and celebration in the heart of the community.

Out Loud, our scratch night for new writing in association with Silent Uproar, returns in July following its first time out with Casino at the Humber Street Gallery a year ago. This year we host a double header over three nights at our rehearsal space in the Old Town, with Shit Life Crisis by Olivia Hannah and 1988 by Hannah Scorer. A second edition follows in October with Cuckoo by Chris Pearson. Both Hannah Scorer and Chris Pearson came through our Writers’ Group, while Olivia Hannah has taken part in Silent Uproar’s Making Trouble programme.

Elsewhere in the city, young people from the Warren Youth Project will see monologues, inspired by ideas shared in a series of creative writing workshops about mental health, staged for the first time in Three Minute Monologues at Freedom Festival, funded by Comic Relief.

The Middle Child Theatre Library, featuring over 2,000 scripts and reference books free-to-borrow to residents of Hull and the East Riding, continues to grow and further comes to life with the start of a monthly Book Club and series of regular Library Talks about hot topics in the theatre industry and wider world.

Similarly, Take Your Seat is a series of fully funded group excursions to see productions of exciting new writing at Hull Truck Theatre and discuss it over coffee the following day, starting with Too Much World At Once in April.

Elsewhere in our development programme, the annual Writers’ Group returns in the autumn, with introduction to playwriting workshops led by Hull playwright Tom Wells leading up to a first-time sharing of scenes in January 2024.

Our ever-popular Acting Gym is also back this year, with a focus on monologues providing performers with a place to flex their acting muscles in-between jobs. Literary manager, Matthew May, also continues to offer notes to writers on draft scripts through our 1:1 Script Support programme.

Bond 31, our creative hub on High Street in Hull, featuring a rehearsal space, writing room and hot desking space remain available and free to use, subject to availability, throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming local artists into our old warehouse to use the space, including Belle Streeton and Jamie Potter with an R&D project about pirate radio in Hull, Jack Chamberlain with a further R&D project looking at AR and VR in performance and the NYAT Youth Theatre every Monday afternoon.

We also continue our efforts to improve working conditions in theatre and advocate for change by implementing a four-day week for our core team and the wider company during rehearsals and production periods. Artistic director Paul Smith has written a separate blog post about our experience so far and why we’ve made the switch.

Finally, the next 12 months will also see us pilot a new financial access rider scheme with Classroom, asking the freelancers we work with what adjustments we can make around payment schedules to help people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to make a career in theatre.

This is Middle Child in 2023 (and a bit of 2024…) We can’t wait to have you join us.

• Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about upcoming on-sale and application dates

After five years as executive director and joint-CEO, Lindsey Alvis is leaving Middle Child for an exciting new role as programme manager at Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA).

We are delighted to reveal arts consultant and facilitator Amanda Smethurst as the new chair of our board of trustees.

Amanda succeeds Eurovision 2023 managing director and former Hull 2017 UK City of Culture chief executive, Martin Green CBE, who has held the position since 2018.

She was previously the director of Artlink in Hull and director, London for Arts Council England.

Amanda will chair the Middle Child board through our second term as an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation (NPO).

Amanda said: “I’m delighted to be the next chair of Middle Child and ever since I met the team and saw their fabulous work in breaking down barriers to attending theatre, I knew I wanted to be a part of their story.

“I’ve been blown away by Middle Child’s passion, ambition and genuine commitment to the city and people of Hull.

“Hull was the city I chose to study in and begin my arts career 30 years ago. I’m so thrilled to reconnect with the city and community I was proud to call my home.”

“I want to say a huge thank you to Martin Green as he steps down from the chair role, for supporting Middle Child’s growth over the past five years and securing NPO status.

“I am excited to work with the fantastic board and team as the company continues to make gig theatre that excites, challenges and tells the untold stories that need to be heard, creating accessible spaces for people to hear those stories and have a good night out.”

Artistic director Paul Smith and executive director Lindsey Alvis, joint-CEOs of Middle Child, said: “We are delighted that Amanda has joined us as chair. She brings her skills and experience as a consultant, coach and facilitator working in the arts, as well as a genuine love for Hull.

“Amanda shares our values and her craft and care at bringing out the best in organisations and people make her the perfect person to lead Middle Child through the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“We would also like to thank Martin for the five years he has spent at the helm. From joining the Arts Council’s National Portfolio in 2018 to navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, he has led the organisation with ambition and vision.”

Martin Green said: “I have loved being the chair of Middle Child, seeing their profile and work grow in every way and steering the company through covid-19 and its successful second NPO application.

“After five years it’s time for fresh eyes and energy and I am thrilled with Amanda’s appointment. The company is in safe hands.”

The current board of trustees includes Jane Fallowfield, Jack Heaton, Rozzy Knox, Jay Mitra, Magda Moses, Emma Tucker and John R. Wilkinson.

In addition investor Chris Tonge has joined as a trustee.

Paul Smith and Lindsey Alvis added: “We are thrilled that Chris Tonge joins Middle Child as a trustee, bringing experience of corporate and commercial sectors to the organisation after years establishing and running a successful business.”