How much Biting Point costs
How much does it cost to make a show like Biting Point, and how does that translate to ticket prices?
At Middle Child, we’re constantly setting fire to your expectations of what a night at the theatre can be. We believe in bringing extraordinary theatre to extraordinary spaces, creating unforgettable experiences that challenge and excite our audiences, showcasing Hull as a city of exceptional talent.
During our last show, Baby, He Loves You, we asked our audiences, “Would you like to see more theatre in non-traditional spaces in Hull?” A resounding 98% said yes. So, we listened. And now, we’re taking Biting Point on tour to car parks across Hull and East Riding, delivering a unique experience that invites audiences to see theatre in a whole new way.
We couldn’t be more excited to bring Biting Point to you and this production has been a dream to create. Sid Sagar’s script is hearty, powerful, relevant, vital and couldn’t be more of its time.
It captures the pulse of the moment with precision and truth. It’s a shining example of our commitment to bringing Hull the very best new writing that the country has to offer, and in turn, shining a massive spotlight on the city we call our home as a hub of talent, innovation and exceptional theatre making.
This is Sid’s first full commission, and we couldn’t be more thrilled and privileged with the trust that has been placed in us to animate and deliver this play.
The show features a heavily local cast, crew and creative team, an ensemble who are talented, generous and, quite frankly, a little bit genius. It’s been a truly collaborative process, working with our team and you, our audiences, to bring this vision to life.
The challenge remains
All of that being said, commissioning new writing has never been more challenging.
A year ago we published a call to arms, sharing the precarious reality of Middle Child and many others like us. Back then we made it clear just how important ticket sales are to our long-term sustainability, and that’s no different this time around in light of rising costs and standstill funding.
Without support from you, our audiences, we wouldn’t be able to continue producing new work which speaks to the world we live in and platforms the writers of tomorrow.
Putting on a show like Biting Point is pricey. The creation and Hull performances alone amount to £103,474.85, with the tour costing just over £12,000 per week.
Why? Because we pay people properly. Theatre is an industry like any other and those who create, perform and bring these stories to life deserve fair pay. They have bills to pay, families to support and expertise that should be valued.
On top of that, staging theatre outdoors means we’re essentially building a venue from scratch. We need seating, a box office, power distribution, lighting, sound equipment, an operating desk, licenses, closures, higher insurances, adequate staffing and much more — I've never thought more about the weather and sunset times in my life! It’s a huge undertaking for our core team of six, but one we’re incredibly passionate about.
Our box office target for this show is £27,500, on top of our fundraising target of £26,000 for the remainder of 2025 through to April 2026.
Even though Middle Child is a national portfolio organisation, which means we get yearly income from Arts Council England, we still have to raise a significant amount of money every year to make our budgets balance, pay our salaries, create our productions, run Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival, provide space for artists to rehearse, upkeep our library, pay our rent and utility bills and to run our artist development programme, as well as all the other stuff we do.
The fundraising landscape is tough and highly competitive right now and it's becoming more and more challenging to upscale our ambition and grow the company beyond the confines of an excel spreadsheet. Or about 50 excel spreadsheets with every scenario, thanks to our brilliant executive director, Emily!
How much it costs
Put simply, you could say:
Total cost of the show: £152,854
Arts Council England touring grant: £91,079
Cost to Middle Child: £61,775
Cost to you: £20, which is 0.01% of the overall cost.
Theatre remains a vital cog in Hull’s creative machinery, churning out some of the most incredible and relevant stories of our time. We were overwhelmed by the response to last year’s blog post and ask once more that if you value new writing, new stories and unique theatrical experiences then please, buy a ticket, tell your mates and share information about the show.
If you’re a local business or funder reading this, then please do get in touch to discuss how you can support Biting Point and make sure it’s seen by as many people as possible.
It is no exaggeration to say once again that the future of theatre is in an ongoing existential battle, which we think is vital to talk about openly before it’s too late. We know times are tough for everyone, so that’s why we’re sticking with our scalable ticket prices, meaning you choose how much you’d like to pay.
We believe fully in the quality of our new show and are confident Hull audiences will have a great time watching it, so help us to sell it out and send a resounding message that Hull values its cultural life.
Hull is a city of storytellers, of dreamers and theatre gives us a space to share, connect and imagine together.
If you believe in the power of theatre, in the importance of storytelling and in paying artists fairly, there are other ways you can support Biting Point:
Spread the word: Tell a mate, a colleague, or your rich uncle who might fancy supporting the arts
Become a Middle Child Mate: Your support helps us continue making bold, exciting theatre
Explore beyond panto: If you come to our panto every year, why not check out the rest of our work? We promise it’s just as thrilling, vibrant and entertaining
Consider larger sponsorship: If you’re someone who’d like to sponsor Middle Child, please drop me an email on sarah@middlechildtheatre.co.uk
Theatre is for everyone, and Biting Point is a chance to experience it in a way you never have before — we can’t wait to share this journey with you. See you at the car park!
