Return of the Soldier

Joseph and William the founders of Hope Mill Theatre, joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to spear head the venue as a home for new musicals, musical premieres and musical revivals. Lipson is now Resident Producer and Co-Artistic Director for all in house productions here at Hope Mill Theatre. Past productions include; Parade, Hair (which Transferred to The Vaults Theatre, London), European Premiere of the new American musical YANK! (which later ran at The Charing Cross Theatre, London in July 2017), Pippin (Later transferred to the Southwark Playhouse, London), European Premiere of Little Women, World Premiere of new British musical Toyboy Diaries and Spring Awakening. Most recently they have produced a 5* revival of Andrew Lloyd Webbers ‘Aspects of Love’ at the theatre with the next upcoming production of the new British musical ‘Return of the Soldier’.

At Hope Mill Theatre we are passionate about developing and nurturing new musicals. To date we have produced 8 musicals  - which include UK premieres, northern premieres and one world premiere.

Return of the soldier is a brand new British musical based on a best selling novel by Rebecca West (1916). We are staging this musical at Hope Mill Theatre from 6-29 Sep 2018 which includes a transfer to New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and the hope of a future life.

This production will allow us to focus on nurturing emerging talent & investing in the development of grassroots talent. This has helped us build a strong, dedicated following of both general audiences & musical theatre lovers in the North, who see our contribution as one to support.


General audiences will have the experience of a brand new, British chamber musical, focused on an unknown part of British history. We are confident audiences will have a highly positive experience; knowing ourselves to be a reliable producing house. Students will have a more layered experience; including a lecture, the show itself & a post-show Q&A. 

We are setting up a funding platform as a result of two rejected Arts Council Bids.

We need the funds by the start of the production on 9th september. 

In order to continue to operate a self funded, independent producing venue and to nurture new musicals we need more funds from more resources. This money will allow us to produce Return of the Soldier with the hope of giving the production a future life beyond Hope Mill Theatre.

Joe, Will and Katy have worked so hard to stage new and exciting work at Hope Mill Theatre and bring audiences highly produced shows in the regions and in London - and to date have taken no money from these productions/ wages/ or venue hire.

This money is invaluable and will continue to allow us to produce musicals at Hope Mill Theatre and most importantly Return of the Soldier - a new British musical.  https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/the-return-of-the-soldier/