Hopes new theatre will put city on the map

A company of actors has transformed a beauty salon into a theatre.

Middle Child began life 15 years ago in a kitchen above a Hull pub, but now has a new home in Humber Street, near the city's marina.

The company hopes to become the most influential new writing theatre outside London.

"Our vision has always been to change who comes to theatre and who engages with it," said Paul Smith, the CEO and artistic director. "We want to create a place where people who don't normally come to theatres see it as more of a possibility".

Their first show will be "Isabelle", a dark comedy written by Mark Graham, a founding member of the company. It will run from 15 to 31 May.

The new, intimate venue has a small stage and passers-by will sometimes get a glimpse of the actors rehearsing.

Many of the red velvet seats in the auditorium are dedicated to theatre fans who helped fund the venture.

Smith said building a new theatre felt "like a radical act" during what he believed was a challenging time for the arts.

Hull City Council has provided funding for the theatre, along with the government, Invest Hull and the the Equity Charitable Trust.

Middle Child is the third theatre in central Hull, alongside Hull New Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre.

"It doesn't feel competitive at all," Smith said. "Both of Hull's established theatres have supported us by offering rehearsal space.

"It just feels like we're all working together towards the same goal."

Inside the new theatre, one wall is lined with scripts for plays, making up a "theatre library".

"We'd like to get more people to read plays," said Smith.

"It can be a brilliant thing to read in a lunchtime, rather than a huge novel. You can get through a play in an hour or so."

He said he hoped plays that started at the theatre would go on to the West End, TV or radio.

"I really want this to help put Hull on the map, but also to give local people somewhere to hone their craft."

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