Book now for Fresh Ink 2026

Tickets are now on-sale for this year’s edition of Fresh Ink, which takes place across Hull’s Fruit Market from 18-19 July.

This year’s festival will expand for the first time, to include a third venue at Middle Child’s new studio theatre on Humber Street.   

The line-up includes:  

• Script-in-hand performances of work-in-progress plays, commissioned for the festival, by Elle Douglas, Dan McGarry, Jamie Lee Falk, Aidan Thompson-Coates, James Hall, Nina Koshy and Emily Lidgard

• Rehearsed readings of scenes by Middle Child’s introduction to playwriting, 16-25 year-old and working class writers’ groups

• An exclusive sharing of scenes from Let It Burn, Middle Child’s 2027 production, written by Sarah Middleton 

• Writing workshops with Olivier Award-winning playwrights Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and Sami Ibrahim (two Palestinians go dogging); Kendall Feaver, whose adaptation of Ballet Shoes graced the National Theatre’s largest stage this Christmas; Papatango Prize winner Iman Qureshi (TheMinistry of Lesbian Affairs) and local writers, Tom Wells (The BFG) and Lydia Marchant (Mumsy)

• Industry talks by South African playwright and author Gillian Slovo (Grenfell: in the words of survivors) and Hull playwright Maureen Lennon (Mary and the Hyenas; Baby, He Loves You), alongside a panel discussion with Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield Theatres and York Theatre Royal

• Keynote speeches by Robert Hastie, National Theatre deputy artistic director and director of the West End smash hit Operation Mincemeat and Lydia Marchant, who has written for Hull Truck Theatre, EastEnders and British Scandal 

More writers than ever before

Paul Smith, artistic director of Middle Child, said: “Fresh Ink is back and bigger than ever. While the 2026 edition is only our third festival to date, Fresh Ink has already had a huge impact on the local new writing ecology. Marc Graham’s Isabelle opened our new venue earlier this year having started its life at Fresh Ink.

“So too did Hannah Scorer’s play Can We Be Friends?, which is now under commission with Hull Truck Theatre. We’re sure this is just the beginning and this year 34 different Hull writers will see their work performed across the weekend.

“Alongside our brilliant new commissions programme, which explores parenting, lottery syndicates, professional wrestling and conservation, we’re excited for two new additions to the programme: No Dress Code and Class Acts.

“These two writers’ groups will platform the work of young and working class writers in Hull’s newest theatre, at 69 Humber Street, directly addressing gaps in who is writing plays for British stages.

“We’re also delighted to welcome to Hull theatre luminaries such as Iman Qureshi, Simon Stephens, Gillian Slovo and Sami Ibrahim, who will share their expertise in a series of workshops and talks in the Pop-Up Space on Pier Street.

“With a reported 30% drop in new plays being produced nationwide, Fresh Ink is more vital than ever to ensure playwrights from Hull are given time, space and investment to tell their stories and shape their craft.

“Thank you to our co-founders Wykeland and supporters J F Brignall Charitable Trust, Hull City Council, The Fenton Arts Trust, Hull Truck Theatre, the University of Hull, the Garrick Charitable Trust and the I Am Fund for making all of this possible.”

The seven new commissions were selected from 123 entrants, who responded to an open call in July 2024 for writers with “a meaningful connection to Hull”.  

Below: Photos from Fresh Ink 2025

Tickets from £4-8

Elle Douglas and Dan McGarry have both written a 70-minute play, Jamie Lee Falk and Aidan Thompson-Coates have both written a 30-minute piece, and James Hall, Nina Koshy and Emily Lidgard have each written a short monologue. 

A company of actors will perform second drafts of the respective scripts in a marquee on Stage@TheDock, an outdoor amphitheatre by the river Hull. 

Workshops and talks will be hosted in a pop-up warehouse space on Pier Street, a three-minute walk away, with rehearsed readings of work by the Middle Child writers’ groups taking place in their new theatre at 69 Humber Street.

Each event is individually ticketed, with plays, workshops and talks all costing between £4-8, while a number of events are also free to attend.   

Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland Group, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership as sponsors and co-founders of Fresh Ink as it enters its third year.

“Wykeland was thrilled with last year’s festival which showcased the breadth of the region’s talent, alongside a world-class programme of workshops and talks.

“This year we are excited to see the festival expand into a third venue, with Middle Child’s new theatre at 69 Humber Street a welcome addition to the Fruit Market.  

“The 2026 festival line-up builds on the high standard set in the previous two years, with more local writers than ever before set to have their work performed on Hull stages.

“This growth is testament to Middle Child’s talent in nurturing artists and the value of businesses partnering with Hull’s vibrant culture sector.

“We are immensely proud of all the work that goes into Fresh Ink and we can’t wait to see the festival spark ideas, conversations and future artistic collaborations.”

Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival is produced by Middle Child and sponsored by co-founders Wykeland. It is supported by J F Brignall Charitable Trust, Hull City Council, the Fenton Arts Trust, Hull Truck Theatre, the University of Hull, Garrick Charitable Trust and the I Am Fund.