Nearly 40 years ago, an advert appeared in Time Out: "Half-formed theatre company seeks other half." With the caveat that the "other half" must be willing to move to Hull, Mike Bradwell set out to establish one of the most innovative theatre companies in Britain.
Writers and directors such as Alan Plater and Anthony Minghella joined Hull Truck over the course of the next 12 years. But it was John Godber who became the key figure in Hull Truck's next 27 years. Touring his brand of theatre to great acclaim, the company rose to new heights of both popularity and national importance. Gareth Tudor-Price joined the company in 2002 and, by encouraging talents such as Richard Bean and Amanda Whittington, broadened Hull Truck's Artistic output still further.
Today, the legacy of both Bradwell and Godber, together with all the artists and writers they have fostered, is the foundation of the company's new home, a brand new theatre, which opened in 2009.
Now the company is responding to the opportunity of an increased capacity across two theatre spaces, an extensive community engagement programme and the exciting journey to discover and develop the next generation of outstanding writers and theatre-makers at Hull Truck Theatre. In 2013, Hull Truck Theatre announced the appointment of Mark Babych as Artistic Director.
New writing is at the core of Hull Truck Theatre's work. It is truly a writers' theatre, with a mission to produce the work of living playwrights and to showcase work made by the very best contemporary theatre-makers.
Recent productions or commissions by Hull Truck Theatre include plays by Tom Wells, Alan Bennett, Morgan Sproxton, Tom Wainwright, Lucinda Coxon, Anthony Weigh, Dave Windass, Richard Vergette, Sarah Davies and Joe Hakim.
Recent collaborators and partners have included Royal Shakespeare Company, Headlong, Rash Dash, Bolton Octagon, Bristol Old Vic, Greyscale, Gate Theatre and nabokov.
We invest in today's artists. We celebrate new forms of theatre-making. We make theatre for today's audience.
