Hope Mill Theatre

The Hope Mill Theatre stands in Ancoats, Manchester, inside a converted textile mill. The building is a Grade II* listed structure, once used for manufacturing. It now hosts original plays, musicals and special events. The theatre won Fringe Venue of The Year in 2018. A registered charity called A Factory of Creativity runs the venue. The theatre was founded by Joseph Houston and William Whelton in 2015. Both serve as directors and have received awards for their work. Katy Lipson, founder of Aria Entertainment, was the artistic director for several years. Since 2020 the venue has hosted Turn on Fest, an LGBTQIA+ theatre festival. The festival runs for two weeks each year and features live performances and discussions. Visitors find a small producing theatre with a focus on new and revived works. Front of house volunteers welcome guests and guide them to seats. The venue also supports students through yearly work experience programmes. The atmosphere reflects the theatre’s mission to enrich and inspire through storytelling. The converted mill provides a distinctive setting for performances.