The Hope Mill Theatre is an independent theatre in Ancoats , Manchester , England that performs original and revival plays, musicals and other events. The theatre is located in the Hope Mill building, a Grade II* listed converted textile mill. It won Fringe Venue of The Year at The Stage awards in 2018. Hope Mill Theatre is the main work of the registered charity A Factory of Creativity .
8-822: Joseph Houston and William Whelton built on their training in London theatre to create a theatre modelled on the Off West End Theatres which dominate the London theatre scene. They created a small producing venue in Manchester and opened Hope Mill Theatre in November, 2015. Whelton and Houston serve as respectively Executive and Artistic director of the theatre. In 2016 they won the Hospital Club Award for their contribution in Theatre and Performance and in 2017 they were also awarded
16-568: A Special Achievement Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards. Katy Lipson, founder of Aria Entertainment, was the artistic director at the Hope Mill for several years, also producing many of the show staged at the venue, from Rags to Mame . The Hope Mill Theatre is now a registered charity, under the name "A Factory of Creativity", but continues being called with its original name. Whelton and Houston remain in their directors' roles and
24-431: A board of trustees has also been appointed, to help support and guide the charity. Since 2020 the venue also hosts the "Turn on Fest", a LGBTQIA+ theatre festival, every year for two weeks, with live performances. The festival is usually run in collaboration with Superbia, Manchester Pride’s year-round programme of arts and culture. Every year the festival showcases different work and local queer theatre companies (in 2021
32-745: The Society of London Theatre , SOLT membership for the Off West End is entirely optional and is not widespread. The industry organisations for Off West End and Fringe venues are OffWestEnd, the London Theatre Consortium (larger venues), and the Society of Independent Theatres (smaller venues). The Off West End Theatre Awards , known as the Offies for short, have been awarded to Off West End theatre productions since 2011. This London -related article
40-460: The centre. According to London Theatre, "Smaller theatres, including many pub theatres, are called Fringe, although some of these small theatres are also called Off West End, particularly those located in the West End of London , where most of the big commercial theatres are. These small theatres can vary in size, with seating capacities of around 40 to 400." While West End Theatres must register with
48-487: The full programme was held online). The mission of the Hope Mill Theatre is to "enrich, educate and entertain the community by providing a uniquely superior theatre experience; allowing both audiences and artists alike to be inspired, ambitious and to share stories and enlighten lives through the power of theatre." The Hope Mill Theatre is supported by volunteers who cover both front of house and back of house roles in
56-455: The similar American term " off-Broadway " (though without the same strict definition). It is usually used synonymously with the more widespread term Fringe (or, specifically, "the London Fringe"), but sometimes is also used to refer to more mainstream or commercial theatre which is located within London but outside the centre, or to especially small and non-commercial theatres located within
64-453: The venue. Front of house volunteers welcome guests, check tickets and show ticket holders to their seats. The venue also hosts yearly work experience high school and university students who are looking to pursue a career in the arts. Off West End Off West End refers to theatres in London which are not included as West End theatres . The term is a relatively recent one, coined after
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