Hull’s renowned Middle Child are celebrating their 10-year anniversary in October 2021 as one of the UK’s leading and innovative theatre companies.
Marking ten years of acclaimed productions, Middle Child are streaming The Canary and the Crow, are hosting an exciting 10th birthday party and have moved into their new office and rehearsal space that will allow them to keep supporting Hull creatives and creating new shows. Alongside these new productions, Middle Child is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that theatre is affordable and accessible for all, from designers to writers to audiences.
Middle Child’s artist development programme Reverb provides artists in Hull with development opportunities across different disciplines, such as with directing, acting and writing workshops and this was exemplified in their recent post-lockdown Recover, Restart and Reimagine programme. Tackling boundaries to work for artists is at the forefront of Middle Child’s artist support, and the company recently signed up as a charter partner with PiPA – Parents in Performing Arts – to help parents in the industry balance their work and childcare through schemes like 4-day weeks, provisions for children to stay or visit on tours and in the workplace, flexible working, comfortable private areas for breastfeeding and parental leave packages.
In celebration their 10th anniversary, Middle Child are taking over Social on Humber Street for a birthday party, featuring songs and scenes from past shows including The Canary and the Crow, Us Against Whatever and All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, a fundraising raffle and tunes from the Make Noise Collective DJs. The evening will be BSL-interpreted.
The Canary and the Crow is Middle Child’s production of Daniel Ward’s George Devine Award-winning grime and hip-hop inspired play first performed in 2019. This semi-autobiographical show follows a working-class black kid who is accepted to a prestigious grammar school. In celebration of their anniversary, Middle Child are releasing the acclaimed production online from 25th – 31st October on their website from £5.
Chosen by their audience, Rapunz’ull is Middle Child’s tenth Christmas panto and a helter skelter take on the classic fairytale set among the lights of Hull Fair. The rock’n’roll production follows goblin mayor Gothel who has locked away loudmouth dame Pattie Breadcake and Rapunzel, and features live music and mess galore. Rapunz’ull was chosen by Middle Child’s audience after their last pantomime, The Little Mermaid, in 2019. Family shows are available, as well as late-night shows for grown ups to leave the kids at home and enjoy a Christmas night out. BSL-interpreted performances of both family and late-night shows will be available.
Middle Child Artistic Director Paul Smith comments, We’re delighted to be turning 10 years old and to be marking our first decade in the usual Middle Child style – making noise and creating great nights out. It’s been an incredible journey so far, but it’s just the beginning for us. There’s a lot more to come as we continue supporting new voices and reaching beyond the usual theatre crowd. We’re doing all we can to work towards a more equitable industry where anyone’s story can be told and heard, investing meaningfully in people and creating new pathways into theatre in Hull and further afield.
More details about Middle Child’s Birthday Party and stream of The Canary and The Crow can be found here.
