From stirring Hollywood histories and brooding black comedy thrillers to off-beat drag game shows and X-rated fairy tale panto, Hope Mill’s upcoming theatre season delivers an eclectic, unmissable programme of uniquely creative productions to see out the remainder of 2023 in style.

Jewish Hollywood | Tue 3 - Sun 8 Sep | 7.30pm | £32

From tiny European shtetls to Beverly Hills mansions, the Jews of Hollywood epitomise the American Dream, exporting the vibrant fantasy of star-spangled opportunity to the wider world over the last century.

In this dazzling one-off show, their incredible story of ambition, assimilation and sacrifice is brought to life as glamour and reality intertwine to explore memories of anti-Semitism, 1950s blacklisting, 1960s cinematic rebirth and the emergence of iconic stars like Bette Midler, Woody Allen and Barbara Streisand.

Billed as a stunning portrayal of glitz and grit alike, Jewish Hollywood features a setlist of unforgettable songs like Hava Nagila, Don’t Rain on My Parade, Tradition, Putting on the Ritz and more.

Gwyneth Goes Skiing | Wed 11 - Sat 21 Sep | 2.30pm, 7.30pm | From £25

Following sell-out runs in London and a critically acclaimed stint at the Edinburgh Fringe, Gwyneth Goes Skiing brings a ‘gloriously ridiculous’ (The Stage) tale of love, betrayal, stardom and mountainous meet-cutes to Hope Mill this September.

In 2016, a retired Utah optometrist collides with Gwyneth – that Gwyneth – on the slopes of Deer Valley, condemning the unassuming civilian to a grisly court date seven years later where the consciously-uncoupling jade egg advocate seeks to win a hefty lawsuit.

Husk | Wed 25 - Sun 29 Sep | 2.30pm, 7.30pm | From £10

A dark, labyrinthine rendering of love, addiction, violence and revenge shot through with a jolt of black humour, Husk follows recently released prisoner Ray, who, homeless and destitute, sets up camp in a quiet forest. Nearby, Beth and her husband Clark are summering at her Dad’s coastal house in Blackpool. Suddenly, they begin to feel surrounded by sinister forces, and are forced to question whether their terror is a result of Beth’s father’s worsening dementia or something far more dangerous.

An Evening With Erin Jackson | Thu 10 Oct | 8pm | £10

On Thu 10 Oct, renowned comedian Erin Jackson hits the Hope Mill stage for a night of riotous comedy which has earned her feverish acclaim across countless venues in her native New York City.

Jackson’s debut comedy album, Drudgery, opened at #1 on the iTunes comedy charts, and she recently made her Netflix debut on Tiffany Haddish presents: They Ready, following appearances on Ellen, Late Night with Seth Meyers and more.

LIZZIE | Thu 17 Oct - Sun 10 Nov | 2.30pm, 7.30pm | From £27

Back by popular demand after a wildly successful sell-out residency last year, the world-famous rock musical LIZZIE takes over Hope Mill for a limited three-week run this October.

Promising the perfect theatre show for fans of true crime, horror and musicals, LIZZIE recounts the bleak yet remarkable life of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of butchering her father and stepmother with an axe in Fall River, Massachusetts in summer 1892. Set to a blistering rock score, the profoundly original production explores her complex psyche and unpacks her possible motivations for the heinous crime, from oppression and insanity to loss of inheritance and a history of sexual abuse.

On Halloween night, fans of the musical are invited to a special gala event where the full cast leads a sing-a-long version of the show followed by a post-show party featuring goodie bags, welcome drinks and floor-filling music from a local female DJ. Book tickets HERE.

Tinderella | Wed 4 - Mon 23 Dec | 3.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm | £23

Fresh for the Christmas panto season, the scandalous adults-only production Tinderella pledges to leave the audience in breathless stitches – or slack-jawed outrage – with a cavalcade of off-the-wall gags, unexpected encounters and all manner of sordid innuendos.

Settle in and get ready to swipe right on the wickedly mischievous story of Tinderella, a successful influencer who scrambles to cover up the reality behind the grid – she’s single, skint and lives a decidedly unglamorous life. When she abruptly stumbles upon a pair of Princes in the woods, however, she begins to envision a happy ending for the ages.

Devised by the UK’s foremost adult pantomime producer, Tinderella promises an unspeakably raunchy theatre experience packed with cheesy anthems, seedy hijinks and plenty of audience participation.

Book tickets below.

A Manchester Wire Partnership post
Hope Mill Theatre,
113 Pollard St, Manchester M4 7JA

hopemilltheatre.co.uk
Words:
Wolf McFarlane
Published on:
Fri 23 Aug 2024