Hope Mill Theatre

The award winning Hope Mill Theatre was the dream of couple Joseph Houston and William Whelton who after a career in Musical Theatre and living in London, became inspired by the highly regarded Off West End theatres and the high-quality work they were creating. With the growing theatre industry blossoming in Manchester and no medium sized venues, they set up and established Hope Mill Theatre in November 2015.

The venue has firmly placed itself on the northern map for its ambitious in-house musical productions, which include Parade, HAIR The Musical (Best Off-West End Production WhatsOnStage Awards 2018), the UK Première of YANK! (Charing Cross Theatre, London), the European Première of Little Women, Spring Awakening, Pippin (Southwark Playhouse, London), Aspects of Love (Southwark Playhouse), The Return of the Soldier and Putting It Together. Upcoming shows include; RAGS, MAME and new musical The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit.

In October 2016 Joseph and William were awarded the Hospital Club Award for contribution to Theatre and Performance. In 2017 they picked up a Special Achievement Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards. The venue was nominated for The Peter Brook Empty Space Award, won a Northern Soul Award for small theatre of the year and won the prestigious Stage’s Fringe Theatre of the Year award 2018. The venue was also awarded The What’s On Stage award's What’s Off Stage Award for Best Front of House team and Best Theatre 2018. Joseph and William joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to spearhead the venue as a regional home for new musicals and musical revivals and their successful collaboration got them named on The Stage 100 list 2018/19. William Whelton is a recipient of the Stage One Young Producers Bursary for emerging producers. Hope Mill Theatre hosts many emerging Manchester theatre companies, touring productions and offers a varied programme for its audiences.

Their newest venture is the creation of Hope Aria Academy which offers part time musical theatre training in Manchester. For details visit hopeariaacademy.com 

Joseph and William would like to thank their associates and investors for their support and belief in this production.

www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk
@hopemilltheatr1 @HopeStudiosMCR