- National Theatre will support Hull-based company for the next two years
- Middle Child premiere next play Biting Point in Hull, from 10 May
The National Theatre has chosen Hull-based Middle Child as one of its first-ever resident companies.
Middle Child will spend the next two years developing new work through R&D weeks and writer residencies at the National Theatre Studio in London.
The partnership will offer Hull theatre makers access to national platforms and creative opportunities, while amplifying locally-relevant stories on a national stage.
It was announced by the National Theatre on Tuesday, as part of new director Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season.
Paul Smith, artistic director and CEO of Middle Child, said:
“The National Theatre has been a huge supporter of our work in recent years and everyone at Middle Child is delighted to formalise this partnership as their new Resident Company.
“This landmark residency will have a direct impact on Hull’s cultural sector, cementing the city’s reputation as a vibrant hub for bold, contemporary theatre.
“It will support the creation and development of ambitious new work by the writers of tomorrow, helping to expand the scale, quality, and reach of our productions.
“At a time when getting new work onto our stages is increasingly challenging, this partnership feels more vital than ever.
“We’re committed to ensuring this opportunity deepens our mission of championing bold, brilliant playwrights nationwide while continuing to shine a light on the incredible artists making work in our home city of Hull.”
Founded by Laurence Olivier in 1963, the National Theatre is a performing arts venue and theatre company based in London’s South Bank.
The building is home to three separate theatre spaces and the National Theatre tours work nationally and internationally, alongside broadcasting recordings to cinemas across the country. Some of the biggest names in theatre have created work for and performed on the National Theatre’s stages. Middle Child join LUNG Theatre, known for their verbatim plays Trojan Horse, The Children’s Enquiry, Who Cares and The 56, as its first two resident companies. The National Theatre said:
“Middle Child is a bold and ambitious new writing company rooted in Hull. “They share the profound belief with the National Theatre that by making work that speaks to the world we live in and responding to the challenges of our time, we can change who makes and experiences theatre.
“By platforming these innovative, groundbreaking companies this scheme not only aims to give these exciting theatre-makers the platform to grow and expand, but also for them to influence and inspire the National Theatre.”
Middle Child were founded in Hull in 2011 and have built an award-winning reputation for staging new plays, alongside an annual alternative pantomime and, since last summer, Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival. Their biggest hits include All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Luke Barnes (2017), The Canary and the Crow by Daniel Ward (2019) and Modest by Ellen Brammar (2023).
All three shows started life in Hull, before transferring to theatres in London.
Last year they produced Baby, He Loves You by Hull writer Maureen Lennon, a wedding play staged in a marquee on Stage@TheDock. Middle Child are now in rehearsals for Biting Point by Sid Sagar, a play about road rage that will be performed on top of the Fruit Market multi-storey car park. Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival launched in 2024, with co-founders Wykeland, to develop and showcase new plays by writers with a meaningful connection to Hull. The two-day festival featured rehearsed readings of new plays alongside writing workshops and industry talks and will return this summer from 19-20 July. The Wizard of Oz was chosen as their 2025 pantomime in an audience vote and will be performed at Social on Humber Street at Christmas.
Visit middlechildtheatre.co.uk for more information about the company and its work.