Hull Truck Theatre has announced the return of Grow Festival 2026, an annual artist development season showcasing new work from local talent and hosting workshops in theatre careers for professionals and audiences alike.
Sh*t Life Crisis
Sh*t Life Crisis (Thursday, July 23 – Saturday, July 25) is a hilarious new karaoke theatre show by Olivia Hannah (Braids) about how no one tells you that survival turns your life inside out, especially when everyone seems to be so much better at living than you. Raw and real, join us to belt along together to the soundtrack of life. Made by award-winning theatre company and creators of challenging and camp nights out Silent Uproar.
BALLGAMES
BALLGAMES (Friday, June 19) is a work-in-progress show about masculinity, morals, faith, and having the balls to do the right thing. Written and performed by Aidan Thompson-Coates and directed by Rabbey, BALLGAMES is a laugh-out-loud, dark and deeply moving rollercoaster exploring shame, queer safety, and the messy gap between policy and compassion.
Katie Pritchard & Rob Kemp
Katie Pritchard & Rob Kemp (Wednesday, July 1) is a multimedia mash-up with two Hull Comedy Festival legends. One part madcap comedy game show adventure and one part cult comedy film, Beetlejuice, retold through the songs of the not even remotely cult band, The Beatles.
Grow Insight Workshops
Grow Insight Workshops (Wednesday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 7) will put careers in the spotlight. Join Hull Truck Theatre’s Executive Director Janthi Mills-Ward for a practical insight session on Running a Theatre, our Marketing department for how to reach audiences and build compelling campaigns with Theatre Marketing, and a talk from Associate Director Tom Saunder on Starting Small: Producing Your Own Work for anyone taking the first steps into making and sharing their own work.
What’s the Big Idea? Residency
Local theatre artists are invited to apply for a two-day residency, What’s the Big Idea? (Thursday, June 25 – Friday, June 26), for a collaborative development session designed to help you generate, challenge and energise new ideas for making work. If you’re a theatre artist based in Hull or the East Riding of Yorkshire and there’s an idea you can’t quite shake, Hull Truck Theatre wants to hear from you and be part of your idea’s development. To express your interest, please complete the application form: Grow: What's The Big Idea? @ Hull Truck Theatre. Applications close Thursday, May 21 at 5pm.
Tickets and Membership
Tickets will go on sale Thursday, May 7, 12pm. Priority booking is available now with a Drama Deal Plus membership. Find out more details about becoming a member at www.hulltruck.co.uk/your-visit/booking-information/drama-deal-plus-membership/. Be the first to see new performances, take part in workshops and meet industry professionals living locally. Book tickets and discover the full programme by visiting www.hulltruck.co.uk/grow-festival-2026. Location: Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire.
