27 May 2008

HULL CITY AND HULL TRUCK - ON THE UP!


Hull City’s players and staff were given a heroes welcome after returning from their Wembley win - including support from another of the city’s success stories, Hull Truck Theatre. During a parade staged on Monday to celebrate the Tigers’ promotion to the Premier League, the open-top buses travelled past the site of Hull Truck Theatre’s prestigious new home. The theatre, which is looking ahead to exciting times with the opening of the new building in spring 2009, showed its support for the Tigers by displaying
a huge black and amber banner on the scaffolding.

Hull Truck Theatre’s Joint Artistic Director Gareth Tudor Price, who travelled to Wembley to see Saturday’s play-off final, said: “As a company, we wanted to show our support for Hull City whether they won or lost in the final, by hanging up the banner from our new building on Ferensway. Hull City have done a great job not only on the field, but also off it, as ambassadors for the city. We at Truck also strive to raise the profile of Hull and so are delighted to support another of the city’s great success stories, the Tigers!”

The banner, created by Bartuf Graphics in Hull, was draped from the top of the new theatre on Friday by a team from contractors Quarmby Construction Company. The £14.5m theatre development took a major step forward last week with the installation of huge steel roof trusses. The building is due for completion in autumn this year and will open its doors to the public in spring 2009. Hull Truck has a £520,000 fundraising target to meet before opening. When completed, the theatre will include a 440-seat main auditorium, a 134-seat studio theatre, education suite, corporate facilities and café bars.

Ends

Media enquiries to Alice Mooney on 01482 325012 or Email alice@hulltruck.co.uk

Notes for editors:
· Hull Truck Theatre was formed in 1971, operating from the back of a truck.
· In 1983, the theatre company acquired its first home, a converted church hall in Spring Street.
· Fundraising for the new theatre has been ongoing for 10 years. The theatre has already raised £14m with support from Arts Council England, Hull City Council, the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward.
· Hull Truck Theatre’s Artistic Directors are John Godber and Gareth Tudor Price.
· Hull Truck Theatre will continue to stage productions at its Spring Street venue as normal until spring 2009.