Welcome to Hull Truck Theatre’s Digital Shorts Programme. Here you can view a series of five brilliant films written by Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire based writers.
Each writer was asked to create a short piece, answering the question “What do you want to say about the world in 2024?” The writers were free to interpret this brief however they wished, and you’ll see that each piece is a fantastic insight into their world’s and ideas.
The Digital Shorts represent an opportunity to experience new work created by amazing local talent, some of which is still in its early stages of development.
We hope you enjoy watching the films as much as we’ve enjoyed commissioning and creating them.
Brian
Written by Tom Wells
Performed by Rachel Dale
Directed by Tom Saunders
Director of Photography: Oliver Cooper
Production Assistant & Boom Op: Joe Ng
It’s hard work transforming from a caterpillar into a moth but luckily, they have teacher Maggie Mills to guide them on their way. She will teach them with kindness, patience and skill ensuing that Mike, Madeline, Malachi, Mo, two Maeves and Mervin (classic moth names) have a smooth journey to adulthood.
But what is Maggie going to do about Brian?
About Tom Wells:
Plays include: Big Big Sky (Hampstead Theatre); Ghosting (part of Royal Court Living Newspaper); Lentils (part of Our Futures, Middle Child); Drip (Script Club/Boundless Theatre); Broken Biscuits (Paines Plough/Live Theatre, Newcastle); Folk (Birmingham Rep/Hull Truck Theatre/Watford Palace Theatre), Jumpers For Goalposts (Paines Plough - Watford Palace Theatre and UK tour); Cosmic (Ros Terry / Root Theatre, E. Yorkshire tour); The Kitchen Sink (Bush Theatre, winner of the Most Promising Playwright - Critics Circle, 2011 and the 2012 George Devine Award ); Me, as a Penguin (West Yorkshire Playhouse and Arcola Theatre / UK Tour) and About a Goth (Paines Plough / Oran Mor). Ben & Lump, written as part of the Coming Up season (Touchpaper), was broadcast on Channel 4 in 2012, and Jonesy was broadcast on Radio 4. Tom has also written three pantos for the Lyric Hammersmith.
About Rachel Dale:
Theatre for Hull Truck includes: Prince Charming’s Christmas Cracker; The Gaul; Pub Quiz is Life and for RSC/Hull Truck: The Hypocrite.
Other theatre includes: To Have and To Hold (Hampstead Theatre): Absolute Hell (National Theatre); The Love Project (Edinburgh Festival - Ideastap Underbelly Award); You Once Said Yes (Edinburgh Festival - Fringe First Award/Roundhouse); Talking in Bed (Theatre503); Fuente Ovejuna (Southwark Playhouse); The Caravan (Fringe First Award/Royal Court).
Television work includes Miss Scarlet and the Duke; Hollyoaks; Hullraisers; The Bay (Season 2); The A Word (Season 3); Doctors; Four Lives; Coronation Street; Silent Witness; Girlfriends; Casualty; In the Club and UKIP: The First 100 Days.
Rachel also writes and performs character comedy and is a regular performer and dramaturg for Scene and Heard.
Nowt Ever Changes
Written and performed by Elle Ideson
Directed by Mark Babych
Director of Photography: Oliver Cooper
Production Assistant & Boom Op: Joe Ng
Miley is sick of being skint all the time. Being in your twenties is supposed to be the best years of your life but Miley is fuming.
When Miley’s electric goes down – she need to put money for the meter – her frustration… no here frustrations come tumbling out.
About Elle Ideson:
Elle Ideson is an actor and writer form Hull. Elle took part in Hull Truck Theatre's Young Writers group in 2022-23 and performed in last year's Digital Short, 4EVA by Rachel Hogg. Her professional acting debut was this April for Middle Child Theatre in Baby, He Loves You.
Scones & Skates
Written by Evie Guttridge
Performed by Emilio Encinoso-Gil
Directed by Tom Saunders
Directed of Photography: Oliver Cooper
Production Assistant & Boom Op: Joe Ng
Moving away to University is an exciting milestone in a young man’s life. Partying, staying up late and making lots of new friends.
It can feel like everyone is having a great time. Well… everyone except James.
About Evie Gutteridge:
Evie has been in the creative industry for the past 8 years, working primarily as an actor in a number of local works. Back in 2022 she began writing sketch-form comedy and shorts before tackling her first long-form play last year. Evie has loved the challenge and process of working on Digital Shorts and can’t wait to watch all of the films!
About Emilio Encinoso-Gil:
Emilio is a part Spanish actor, born in Hull. He trained at The Academy Of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA North).
Theatre Credits Include: Kyle in Do I Love You? (John Godber Co), Smee in Peter Pan (Tony Peers Ltd), Tom in On Your Marks (Dramatic Theatre CIC), Zauber in Lapland (Lapland UK), Feste/Orsino in Twelfth Night (JLA Productions), The Holiday Armadillo in Friends Festive (Comedy Central)
Screen Credits Include: Bobby in The Memory Project (Smashing Mirrors Theatre), Gary in God Save The Queen (Resolute Productions), Max in Step Up, Stand Out (She Productions).
Trilobite
Written by Hannah Scorer
Performed by Matheea Ellerby
Directed by Tom Saunders
Director of Photography: Oliver Cooper
Production Assistant & Boom Op: Caitlin Clarke
Lyra finds herself at a crossroads in her life. She’s definitely no longer a child but certainly doesn’t feel like an adult.
Whilst Lyra works things out, she returns to her lifelong love of fossil hunting and reignites her hunt for the coveted trilobite.
About Hannah Scorer:
Hannah started writing in 2019, after taking Hull theatre company Middle Child’s playwriting course. She has written a short digital panto, and had two pieces at scratch nights. Her first full-length play will be performed script-in-hand this summer at Hull’s Fresh Ink writing festival.
A former journalist, she now works in public sector communications. She lives in Hull with her partner, child and their dog Luna. When not writing she enjoys rock climbing, anything outdoors, yoga and aerial hoop - as well as fossil hunting.
About Matheea Ellerby:
Matheea is a 22-year-old actor from Hull. She trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, graduating in the summer of 2023. While in her third year at drama school, she starred in Aphra Behn's The Rover as Helena, directed by Philip Wilson, and performed as ‘Hetty’ in an all-female production of The Lord of the Flies, directed by Lizzie Manwaring. Her professional stage debut was in The Elves and the Shoemaker directed by Jane Thornton in December of 2023. She has recently been cast in a new play The Highwayman, which will be written and directed by John Godber, to be performed in October and November of 2024.
Man Child
Written by Jim Norris
Performed by Michael Kinsey
Directed by Mark Babych
Director of Photography: Oliver Cooper
Production Assistant: Lauren Moir
In the early days of a new relationship, things can be in tough. You’re still working each other out, trying to impress and thinking about what the future will hold.
Despite being the happiest you’ve ever been, worries can creep in and only way to sort this out… is a frank conversation.
About Jim Norris:
Jim Norris is a writer from Hull who took part in Middle Child Theatre’s writing group in 2022 and Hull Truck Theatre’s ‘Be Our Guest’ residency in 2023. Having lived and worked in Hull all of his life he takes inspiration as a writer from the people and culture around him. His writing aims to celebrate the unique voices and stories of his city.
About Michael Kinsey:
Film credits include: Warchief (Lionsgate); Three Day Millionaire (Netflix), and Destination Dewsbury (Circus Pictures).
Theatre credits include: You Can See The Hills (The White Bear); Paint The Town Fred (ERT); The Secret Garden (Theatre by the Lake); Good People (ERT); Romeo And Juliet, DNA, and Pigeon English (all National Youth Theatre REP).