The Hull Truck Theatre presents an enchanting array of performances this festive season, promising a blend of adventure, intrigue, and creativity that captivates audiences of all ages. With 'The Borrowers,' 'Rapunzel,' and a special 'First Thursday Theatre Club' session, this season is set to ignite imaginations and stir the soul. Each performance offers a unique perspective on storytelling, from the tiny yet adventurous Arrietty and her family of Borrowers to the introspective journey of Rapunzel, who seeks adventure beyond her tower. Dive into the world of performance with these vibrant events that blend classic tales with fresh theatrical flair.

Unveiling Enchantment: Hull Truck Theatre's Festive Season Line-Up

A complete book worm and lover of Christmas time, Rapunzel can get lost in a make-believe world for days on end... stopping only for snacks, to decorate her tree and to brush her long unruly hair!

But this year, Rapunzel finds herself in a bit of a festive funk. As much as she longs to step outside her front door and find an adventure of her own, there is something holding her back...

Rapunzel

Hull Truck Theatre

What might you need to consider when first approaching a new script? How might I develop a clear, and detailed understanding of a character? How do I approach breaking down a script to delve deeper into each character’s journey and thought process?

First Thursday Theatre Club - Acting: Detail in Performance

Arrietty Clock is an adventurous and spritely “Borrower”, secretly living under the floorboards of a country house in rural East Yorkshire with her family. This small, but perfectly formed family borrow from the humans above – furnishing their home and fuelling their appetites with their finds, but Arrietty longs for freedom and fresh air.

As Arrietty hits her teenage years, she begins to join her father, Pod, on special borrowing quests – much to the dismay of her mother. However, the Borrowers have one simple rule: to remain hidden from the “human-beans”, especially Mrs Driver, a bad-tempered housekeeper and Crampfurl, the rebellious gardener.

The Borrowers

Kobby Taylor, multi award winning record producer, composer, and performer with ENDOFLEVELBADDIE and Middle Child pays tribute to his Ghanaian grandfather, Afrobeat legend Ebo Taylor with live music from his re-mix album The Torch.

The show centres around a piece of gig theatre that can only be described as a live concept album on stage. Expect everything from RnB remixes, hip hop to modern afro-beat. Special guests include Stephanie Halsey (harpist), Steve Cobby (producer, musician, composer, and best known for being part of Fila Brazillia), Kev La Kat (multi-instrumentalist, producer and remixer from Love Our Records) and Wai Wan (whose single Goddess was ranked among the all-time top 20 Nu-Jazz records on Worldwide FM).

The Torch: Kobby Taylor's Tribute To Ebo Taylor

This celebratory festival gig draws together new commissioned big band pieces by incredible composers including Laura Jurd, Nikki Iles, Rebecca Nash and Laura Cole, that shows how healthy the modern jazz scene is.

At the heart of this is Meet Me in The Middle, a new big band piece by award-winning saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson. Exploring themes of belonging and what it is to be welcomed and welcoming, the title is inspired by the search for Home, commissioned especially for the talents of the Hull Youth Jazz Orchestra by the Jazz Festival.

Emma Johnson with Hull Youth Jazz Orchestra: Meet Me In The Middle

In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira is quiet and well-behaved, the prefect and star student. The arrival of a new student, Sri, threatens her social and academic status, but also thrusts Mira into the sudden discovery of romance and desire. But Mira’s mother, who never had the chance to make this journey of self-discovery when younger, also finds herself experiencing new emotions because of Sri, and struggles to balance her new desires with her duty to care for and protect her daughter.

Girls Will Be Girls (15)

In 1990s rural southern China, police detective Ma Zhe has a lot on his plate. His wife’s pregnant, but his mind is consumed by a series of murders with no apparent motive. Brought in to lead the investigation, Ma drives himself to the brink with his determination to uncover what lies behind the killings, when his superiors are more than happy to ascribe it to randomness. As events unfold, Ma’s grasp of reality becomes increasingly uncertain in this ingenious subversion of the crime thriller genre.

Only The River Flows (15)

Two world class musicians synonymous with Gypsy Jazz play together in every corner of the UK and beyond, embodying the spirit of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli. A glorious afternoon awaits, as they present favourite jazz standards from the great American Songbook, playing with warmth, humour and skill.

Matt Holborn & Kourosh Kanani: From the London Django Collective

A unique collaboration between two of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene. Zoe Rahman is a vibrant and highly individual pianist and composer, her style is deeply rooted in jazz yet it reflects her classical background, British-Bengali heritage and her very broad musical taste.

Zoe Rahman & Arun Ghosh

Local group One Off Productions return to Hull Truck Theatre with a stage adaption of the ever popular hit. The Vicar of Dibley. If you enjoyed the TV show you will love this production featuring many of the scenes from the BBC sitcom.

The Vicar of Dibley

Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England is a blisteringly funny new play that comes to Hull directly from a sell-out, five-star Edinburgh Festival run. Written and performed by Alex Hill, it asks what it means to belong to a club that you live for.

Billy and his best pal Adam are die-hard football fans. It’s how they spend every weekend, without fail. It’s their escape, their religion and their life. But when they encounter a new group of mates, they start to take their support one step further.


Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England

Join Hull Truck Theatre’s Associate Director for a practical exploration unpicking, understanding and performing Shakespeare Soliloquies. Participants should come away from the session with a short and simple toolkit for approaching Shakespeare’s speeches.

First Thursday Theatre Club - Acting: Unlocking Shakespearean Soliloquies

Hull is funny! Prepare for laughter as a selection of Hull’s comedy talent return for our annual “Hullarious” showcase, for one-night-only!

Come and join us for our showpiece event with Hull's multi-award winning comedians to see what everyone is laughing about!

Best of 'Ull

Paul Mayhew-Archer has been making audiences laugh for 45 years.

He produced several series of the Radio Four Classic “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” and co-wrote with Richard Curtis the multi-award-winning and much-loved sitcom “The Vicar Of Dibley”. He also worked with Richard again to adapt Roald Dahl’s “Esio Trot” starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman.

Fourteen years ago, Paul was told he had Parkinson’s and he decided to carry on laughing. He started doing jokes about his condition at fundraising events at The Royal Albert Hall and London’s Comedy Store. Later he made a BBC Documentary “Parkinson’s: The Funny Side” and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Presenter of The Year. Then in 2023 he and five friends with Parkinson’s - the presenters Jeremy Paxman, Rory Cellan-Jones, Mark Mardell and Gillian Lacey-Solymar, and the Judge Nick Mostyn - got together to make a podcast called “Movers and Shakers” which has become more popular and influential than any of them thought possible and won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Podcast of The Year Award.

The Incurable Optimist

In 1943 Colin Armitage’s ship was torpedoed in the South Atlantic. He scrambled aboard a life raft. 50 days later HMS Rapid rescued him.

Colin was the grandfather of Louise Beech. 64 years after his ordeal Louise’s daughter, Katy, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In order to distract her during insulin injections Louise began to tell the story of Colin’s bravery and determination to survive.

How To Be Brave

Milkshake! Live is back with a brand-new show!

Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol*, DORA, Pip and Posy, Blue from Blues Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two presenters for an all-new adventure!

Pack your bags and jump aboard the Milkshake! train as we go on an all singing, all dancing holiday together! It’s a family show not to be missed!

Milkshake! Live on Holiday

Are you between the ages of 7 and 11? Enjoy creating and acting out stories? Join us for a spooky and spell- binding day at Hull Truck Theatre, learning how to create your very own short play.

You will take part in ghostly games and spooky activities as well as creating an original haunting performance, culminating in a sharing for parents.

This project will take place on Thursday 31st October, 10am until 3pm. The performance will be no longer than 15 minutes and parents will be invited to come and watch.

Spooky Theatre Day 7 - 11yrs

The nation’s favourite sitcom returns! The boys are delighted to head to Hull Truck Theatre with three new episodes.

Two actors, two microphones, over twenty-five characters - and lots of sound effects! The Dad’s Army Radio Show brings Perry and Croft’s classic BBC comedy to life in this highly acclaimed stage production.

Three episodes of the popular sitcom - adapted for radio for the very first time - are hilariously and lovingly enacted on stage by two master performers - complete with sound effects, vintage music and all your favourite Perry and Croft characters and catchphrases

Dad's Army Radio Show

Fanny tells the story of how she found burlesque and offers a unique ‘behind-the-scenes’ insight into this misunderstood artform.

Is burlesque more interesting when it doesn’t try to be glamorous? Judge for yourself as Fanny performs the most chaotic, hilarious burlesque routines you’ve ever seen, and reveals all about the real life fantasies, fears and failures that inspired them.

The Burlesque Imposter

Gail Porter is coming to the Hull Comedy Festival 2024. Gail can laugh at her life now she's won a BAFTA for 'being mental’ (Being Gail Porter 2020). She's been famous, homeless and sectioned with two guys, both claiming to be Jesus. She even lost her hair - but no need for sympathy, she gets so many travel upgrades as people assume she's dying.

Following a hugely successful run of sold out shows at 2023’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gail is now taking her hilarious stand-up show on the road.

Gail Porter: Hung, Drawn & Portered

All Holly’s hits and classics from his rock ’n’ roll pals are played live on stage by these five amazing young actor-musicians, who always delight crowds with their fabulous show. Featuring raw rock ’n’ roll, beautifully haunting ballads, energetic performances – and some genuinely hilarious moments – there is no live event that delivers a better Buddy experience.

Audiences of all ages all over the globe have found it impossible to stay in their seats. From Dundee to Dubai, Swansea to Sweden, Taunton to Thailand and all across the USA, thousands of fans have shown their appreciation with standing ovations and shouts for “more!

Buddy Holly & The Cricketers

Multi award Nominated for ‘Best Kids Show’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival & UK Kids’ Comedy Festival awards, Hull’s comedy duo are ready to help you discover your very own super powers as they unleash a brand new show!

They'll combine fun facts, amazing new powers and a whole load of cool stuff about our awesome planet as they battle to save the world before the end of the show

Jeddy Bear & Gary Save The World

So what can you expect from Hudson & Hudson? Fantastic magic (obviously) and lots of LOLs. Also probably some built up tension on stage, especially if Alan has been leaving his underpants on the floor recently.

Last year half way through Edinburgh Festival, Kat announced that they needed marriage counselling. Let’s hope this one goes smoother…

Hudson & Hudson: 2 Become Wand

After her previous completely sold out, highly acclaimed debut tour, and fresh from hosting Live At The Apollo and appearances on A League Of Their Own and Have I Got News For You, Maisie Adam is heading back out on tour with her brand new show, Appraisal.

It’s been a meteoric rise through through the comedy ranks for Maisie and she’s fast on her way to becoming a household name. Stand-up is what she loves most and she’s now five years into her job as a comedian, so perhaps she’s due an appraisal.

Maisie Adam: Appraisal

Come to Hull Truck Theatre for a Halloween themed adventure that features an arts & crafts session followed by an interactive play that uses whatever you have made.

Adventurers are invited and encouraged to come in Halloween dress!

All shows on Sat 26, Mon 28 & Tue 29 will be the same story and themes.

A Great Halloween Adventure

Finally, the UK has a new government. That can only mean one thing: new people to take the piss out of.

Leading political comedian and satirist Matt Forde (British Scandal, Spitting Image, The Last Leg) makes this his personal mission.

“Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe” ★★★★★ The Telegraph.

Matt Forde: The End of an Era

Presented in collaboration between 1UPSTARTS Theatre company and the Goodwin Development Trust’s Youth Arts Takeover programme, ‘Tall Tales’ is an evening of brand new writing!

Developed through several workshops run by 1UPSTARTS, the evening will have multiple short stories of 5 - 15 minutes, from writers of various levels of experience, delivered as a series of rehearsed readings.

Tall Tales: A Playwrighting Showcase!

St Stephen's Shopping Centre

1943. Whilst Europe tears itself apart, two women hide from their past at what feels like the very end of the world. And one of them has a terrifying story to tell…

“I created life. You don’t believe me but it’s true. I didn’t start from scratch of course but out of portions and odd ends I made something –alive. But what I created... it wasn’t a superhuman. It was a monster.”

This new thriller inspired by the classic gothic novel and complete with a stunning original score explores the very fabric of what makes us human and the ultimate cost of chasing “perfection”.

Hull Truck Theatre

Nov 29, 2024 - Jan 4, 2026

The Borrowers

12 - 29 Dec, 2024

Rapunzel

12 - 29 Dec, 2024

Rapunzel

Dec 5, 2024

First Thursday Theatre Club - Acting: Detail in Performance

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