Middlechild’s Fresh Ink Festival launches this weekend
Hull’s Fresh Ink playwriting festival is set to return to the Fruit Market from 19th–20th July, championing local talent with a vibrant weekend of theatre, workshops, and industry talks. Created by Hull-based company Middle Child, the festival supports writers with strong ties to the city by commissioning and showcasing new plays developed right here in Hull.
This year’s programme includes seven new works, presented as script-in-hand performances. From full 70-minute pieces to sharp 5-minute monologues, the festival promises a diverse, dynamic lineup. Audiences can also look forward to creative writing workshops, panel discussions, and a keynote speech by David Byrne, artistic director of the Royal Court. Tickets and the full schedule are expected in early June.
Middle Child’s ethos—creating theatre for people who think they don’t like theatre—remains front and centre, with this year’s plays delving into strange, unexpected and often humorous territory. Noor Sobka’s Colonel Gadaddy imagines Gaddafi reincarnated and wandering Derbyshire. Sobka looks forward to seeing this surreal figure brought to life on stage, finding joy in the absurdity of it all.
Meanwhile, Jim Norris’ No Scrap, No Chips offers a more grounded but equally unique story. Drawing on his own childhood around horse and cart culture, Norris’ play follows two estranged brothers who return to the rag-and-bone trade a year after their father’s death. Through this lens, the play explores grief, reconciliation, and identity. Norris hopes the story will spark important conversations and offer audiences a relatable yet fresh perspective on loss.
Fresh Ink also highlights the collaborative nature of theatre. Michelle Kelly, author of Roll to React, speaks passionately about the vital role actors and directors play in developing a script, breathing life into the words and shaping characters through performance.
For emerging writers, the festival is more than a showcase—it’s a nurturing environment. As Norris explains, it offers mentorship, feedback, and crucial real-world experience. It’s also a chance for audiences to connect with local voices and stories that reflect Hull’s diversity and spirit.
Ultimately, Fresh Ink is a celebration of the city’s distinctive voices—those rarely heard on mainstream stages. As Norris puts it, “Sometimes it’s just nice to hear your own accent.” The festival is a testament to the passion and persistence of Hull’s creative community.
Tickets are now on-sale for the 2025 festival through the new Fresh Ink website.
