David Hutchinson (born 28 May 1988) is a British theatre producer and director. [1] He is the founder and CEO of The Path Entertainment Group as well as the [2] founder and CEO of Selladoor Worldwide, formerly Sell a Door Theatre Company [3] Hutchinson attended the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts 2006 to 2009 and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Acting.
In August 2021, The Path Entertainment Group and Hasbro, Inc launched the first immersive, multifaceted, physical experience of Monopoly Lifesized based on the family board game. The 80 minute game comprises elements from the classic game merged with thrilling escape room challenges. Based in London, the experience is also home to The Top Hat Restaurant and Bar serving signature cocktails and British small-plates menu. The game has won awards and nominations for live and location based entertainment and opened a brand new location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [4]
In May 2021, David founded The Path Entertainment Group, a company dedicated to transforming the experience of audiences through live, immersive entertainment. The innovative company were awarded the 2022, Best Location-Based Entertainment Award for their work producing their hit interactive version of the classic "Hasbro" board game, Monopoly Lifesized. Though GamePath, a subsection of the Path Entertainment Group set up to create experimental productions with leading brands, David produced London's first official SAW escape room experience. Alongside Lionsgate, The Path Entertainment Group opened a new adrenaline-fuelled immersive production combining escape rooms based on the iconic franchise with the theatrical. Using state of the art technology to guide and expert lighting and sound production, Jigsaw's world has been painstakingly brought to life to allow game players to experience a brand new level of entertainment.
Launching in late 2023, [5] is The Paddington Experience, a new large scale production inspired by Michael Bond's creation. The Paddington Bear Experience will be presented by The Path Entertainment Group and The Copyrights Group in partnership with Lionsgate, Copyrights' Agent for Experiences. The production will be the first large-scale attraction inspired by the famous bear to open in London. It will be based on London's Southbank, taking up residence in the iconic County Hall later this year, with the multi-sensory adventure making use of epic designs, live performances and video across 26,000 square ft space.
David Hutchinson created Sell A Door Theatre Company in 2009 after graduating from Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Whilst the company began touring to small scale venues and producing for fringe festivals, within less than 10 years David Hutchinson was producing UK Tours at mid and large scale venues, International Tours across 4 continents and West End productions. [6] David Hutchinson is now the CEO of Selladoor Worldwide and his portfolio of productions includes 9 to5 The Musical (Savoy Theatre, London), Falsettos (The Other Palace, London), Flashdance The Musical (UK & International tours), Madagascar The Musical (UK & International tours), Jersey Boys (International Tour), The Producers (International Tour), Avenue Q (UK Tours), Amelie The Musical (UK Tour & The Other Palace), Of Mice And Men (UK Tour), Elmer The Patchwork Elephant Show (UK & International Tours). A full list Selladoor's productions are detailed in the Credits section. [7]
In addition to producing, David Hutchinson expanded the company in 2019 launching Selladoor Venues, becoming the theatre operator for Queen's Theatre Barnstaple, The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe; and Peterborough New Theatre. In 2021 the venues were brought together to become a separate entity, away from Selladoor Worldwide. They were successfully launched as a new non for profit entity and began operating in 2022 before being officially named Landmark Theatres in May 2023. [8] Sir Ian McKellen [9] opened the Ilfracombe Theatre to perform his one-man show "Tolkien, Shakespeare and You!" in March 2019.
In 2020 David Hutchinson announced the launch of a brand new company dedicate to developing and staging large-scale experiential and live gameplay productions, Gamepath. Gamepath launched in partnership with leading global entertainment brands, alongside the announcement of Monopoly Lifesized, in collaboration with Hasbro, as well as other major iconic titles across the gaming and cinematic genres in creation. [10]
David is also the co-founder of We Are I Am, alongside Louis Hartshorn, a marketing company that provides specialist marketing, press and communications support to the arts sector. [11]
David is a notable campaigner for strengthening international relations in response to the challenges that Brexit brings to the theatre industry, and advocated for support from the Government to support the Arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] [13]
David sat on the board of the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from [14] 2016 until his departure in 2021 and is currently the associate director of the Brooklyn Youth Company in New York City. [15] [16]
In 2010 he directed the UK tour of Dracula at twelve venues across Scotland, and in 2012 directed a co-production between Sell a Door Theatre Company and Mull Theatre of Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All the Luck which toured across Scotland and London. [17]
Hutchinson produced the debut UK Tour of Spring Awakening the Musical touring to the Exeter Northcott Theatre, Manchester The Lowry, Stirling MacRobert Arts Centre, Greenwich Theatre and Norwich Playhouse. [18] He produced the debut West End production of Seussical at the Arts Theatre, London in December 2012. He went on to produce the 2014 tour of Avenue Q touring 32 venues in the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong [19]
David first produced the Scotsman Fringe First award-winning play Rainbow at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012. [20]
In 2013, David Hutchinson partnered Sell a Door Theatre Company with the Greenwich Theatre following nine productions at the South London venue. James Haddrell and David officially announced the partnership on 19 November ahead of Sell a Door Theatre Company opening their second West End production of Seussical . [21]
In 2014, as Sell A Door Theatre Company, David produced their first UK Tour of the popular musical Avenue Q. [22] Due to the demand and success from their production it completed another UK Tour throughout 2015 and 2016. [23]
In 2015, David Hutchinson directed the world premiere of Jo Clifford's Jekyll and Hyde based on Robert Louis Stevenson's gothic classic at the Greenwich Theatre followed by a thirty-three venue tour across the UK. [24]
In 2016 David Hutchinson continued to expand the company in size, borders and targets, rebranding the company to Selladoor Worldwide. [25] Sell A Door Theatre Company had established themselves as an integral part of the regional theatre landscape in the UK and Ireland, but Hutchinson aspired to expand further afield and therefore to produce and tour theatre not only in the UK, but worldwide. [6]
Along with UK Tours of Footloose , Flashdance The Musical , Spamalot , and The Crucible , David Hutchinson, as Selladoor Worldwide produced their first International Tours in 2017, including Jersey Boys and The Producers . Collectively in 2017 Selladoor Worldwide's productions performed in 8 different countries. [26]
2018 began with the opening of the UK tour of Of Mice And Men in association with the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. The second play produced in 2018 was Diane Samuel's Kindertransport in collaboration with the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch and Les Theatre De La Villa De Luxembourg. Flashdance The Musical continued to tour the UK throughout 2018 as well visiting international venues such as Zurich MAAG and Kursaal Oostende. Notably, in the summer of 2018 Selladoor launched two new productions, Madagascar The Musical and Fame the 30th Anniversary UK tour, as well as co-producing the musical, Rock of Ages with DLAP. [27] During the Christmas season Selladoor produced The Wizard of Oz Christmas show in Blackpool and Aladdin pantomime at The Broadway Theatre, Catford. [28] [29]
In 2018, David Hutchinson launched Selladoor Creation, a platform for new writers to showcase and develop their work and bring innovative new work to the national and international stage, making it accessible for all audiences. [30]
In 2019 American Idiot was revived for a 10th Anniversary Tour, and Avenue Q embarked on its 3rd UK Tour. David Hutchinson co-produced 9 to 5 the musical with ATG and Dolly Parton at the Savoy Theatre, London. David Hutchinson as Selladoor Worldwide also produced the London premiere of Falsettos at The Other Palace, alongside UK tours of Amelie The Musical and Little Miss Sunshine the Musical, Elmer The Patchwork Elephant Show and The Mr. Men & Little Miss On Stage. In 2019 David Hutchinson became a theatre operator, launching Selladoor Venues, which includes the Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple; The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe; and Peterborough New Theatre
In 2020 Selladoor announced the UK tours of Footloose The Musical and Bring It On the Musical and international tours of We Will Rock You and 9 to 5 the Musical, however due to COVID-19 all productions have been postponed to 2021. [31]
In 2021, Selladoor produced the stage version [32] of the 2001 whimsical, romantic comedy of the same name, "Amélie". The plot centres around a young woman who lives quietly in the world, but loudly in her head.
2022, brought in the Broadway musical, "Bring It On", based on the 2000 American, teenage, cheer comedy. Starting its tour at the Peterborough New Theatre [33] before ending at The Southbank Centre; the show starred Olympic Gymnast Louis Smith. [34]
In 2023, Madagascar The Musical, in partnership with DreamWorks (Shrek the Musical) is currently touring Australia before going on to tour the UK with the first show in Plymouth in October 2023.the first production with Selladoor premiered in 2018.
"The SpongeBob Musical" based on the beloved series written by Stephen Hillenburg and the book written by Kyle Jarrow made a splash with audiences all over the world, began its UK based tour in 2023 starring RuPaul's Drag Race UK star, [35] Divina de Campo and Pop Idol star, Gareth Gates.
David travels internationally regularly to explore new performance opportunities and business ventures, annually attending conferences such as SPAF (China) and APAP (New York). This has enabled numerous Selladoor productions to perform outside of the UK, to territories such as Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, UAE. [36]
The level of international touring significantly increased for Selladoor Worldwide, with a particular focus in Asia. Therefore, in 2017 David Hutchinson opened an international office in Bangkok, as Selladoor Asia Pacific, which is managed by Peevara Kitchumnongpan. [37]
Continuing to open doors to the world to help make theatre accessible across the globe, David opened the Selladoor Spain office in Madrid in 2019, with Juan Carlos Orihuela, opening with the transfer of Flashdance The Musical at the Apollo Theatre, Madrid. David saw the opportunity of having a mainland European hub, especially in light of Brexit, to enable Selladoor to continue to maintain strong ties with the continent. [38]
Name | Location | Year |
---|---|---|
Monopoly Lifesized | London | August 2021 |
SAW: The Experience | London | October 2022 |
Monopoly Lifesized | Riyadh | December 2022 |
The Paddington Bear Experience | London | December 2023 |
An adaptation of Ben Macintyre's Novel ‘A Foreign Field’ – An extraordinary story of love, duplicity and shame.
Book written by Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal and Music written by Julien Salvia [44]
By Sam McBratney, Adapted by Anna Fox
In early 2017 it performed at Greenwich Theatre and Portsmouth King's Theatre before touring to the Middle East in Spring. Culminating with an extended run at the Arts Theatre in London at the end of 2017. In 2018 Guess How Much I Love You goes on to enjoy a Far East tour along with a larger tour of the UK. [45]
Adapted from the Eric Idle book, by Dougal Irvine
Coventry, Belgrade Theatre [45]
Adapted by Rob Drummond (The Broons)
10 venue Scottish Tour, venues included Edinburgh Kings, Glasgow Theatre Royal, and Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre [45]
By Ian Serraillier, Adapted by Susie McKenna and Steven Edis
8 venue UK Tour [45]
By Robert Louis Stevenson, Adapted by Jo Clifford
31 venue UK Tour [45]
By Lewis Carroll, Adapted by the company
Greenwich Theatre [45]
By Robert Louis Stevenson, Adapted by Ivan Wilkinson
36 venue tour, including Greenwich Theatre and opened at Sell A Door Theatre's Scottish home, The Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock. [45]
Book by David Hutchinson, Lyrics by Katy McIvor and Music and Lyrics by David Wilson
5 venue UK tour, including performances at Greenwich Theatre and Edinburgh Festival [45]
Book by David Hutchinson, Lyrics by Paddy Clarke and Music by Michael Bradley [45]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a sung-through musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the character of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly; their first collaboration, The Likes of Us, written in 1965, was not performed until 2005. Its family-friendly retelling of Joseph, familiar themes, and catchy music have resulted in numerous stagings. According to the owner of the copyright, the Really Useful Group, by 2008 more than 20,000 schools and amateur theatre groups had staged productions.
Seussical, sometimes Seussical the Musical, is a musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on the many children's stories of Dr. Seuss, with most of its plot being based on Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg while incorporating many other stories. The musical's name is a portmanteau of "Seuss" and the word "musical". Following its Broadway debut in 2000, the show was widely panned by critics, and closed in 2001 with huge financial losses. It has spawned two US national tours and a West End production, and has become a frequent production for schools and regional theaters.
Stephen Flaherty is an American composer of musical theatre and film. He works most often in collaboration with the lyricist/book writer Lynn Ahrens. They are best known for writing the Broadway musicals Ragtime, which was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and won the Tony for Best Original Score; Once on This Island, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, the Olivier Award for London's Best Musical, and was nominated for a Grammy Award and eight Tony Awards; and Seussical, which was nominated for the Grammy Award. Flaherty was also nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his songs and song score for the animated film musical Anastasia.
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is an open-air theatre in Regent's Park in central London.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre is a West End theatre located on the corner of Drury Lane and Parker Street in Covent Garden in the London Borough of Camden. The Winter Garden Theatre occupied the site until 1965. On 1 May 2018, the theatre was officially renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre in honour of choreographer Gillian Lynne. It is the first theatre in the West End of London to be named after a non-royal woman.
Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, a major division and business unit of The Walt Disney Company.
Greenwich Theatre is a local theatre located in Croom's Hill close to the centre of Greenwich in south-east London.
The New Wimbledon Theatre is situated on the Broadway, Wimbledon, London, in the London Borough of Merton. It is a Grade II listed Edwardian theatre built by the theatre lover and entrepreneur, J. B. Mulholland, who at the time was also owner of the King's Theatre in Hammersmith and had owned the Theatre Metropole in Camberwell in the 1890's. Built on the site of a large house with spacious grounds, the theatre was designed by Cecil Aubrey Massey and Roy Young. It seems to have been the only British theatre to have included a Victorian-style Turkish bath in the basement. The theatre opened on 26 December 1910 with the pantomime Jack and Jill.
Tim Firth is an English dramatist, screenwriter and songwriter.
Buena Vista Theatrical Group Ltd., doing business as the Disney Theatrical Group, is the live show, stageplay and musical production arm of The Walt Disney Company. The company is led by Thomas Schumacher, Anne Quart, and Andrew Flatt, and is a division of Walt Disney Studios, forming a part of Disney Entertainment, one of the three major business segments of The Walt Disney Company.
Stafford Arima is a Canadian-born theatre director. Arima studied at York University in Toronto, where he was the recipient of the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Creative Work. He is a member of the SDC and CAEA. In April 2017, he became the artistic director of Theatre Calgary.
Samantha Dorrance is a British actress, singer-songwriter, TV presenter and writer who reached fame on Disney Channel UK. Best known for playing Mr Tumble's best friend Tootsie on Cbeebies and for her role of Laura in Dreamboats and Petticoats London's West End.
Flashdance is a stage musical based on the 1983 film of the same name with a book by Tom Hedley and Robert Cary, music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Roth and Cary. The show had its world premiere in 2008 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, as part of a ten-month UK tour, followed by a London West End run at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
Selladoor Worldwide is a UK Theatre producing company based in Greenwich, London. Selladoor Worldwide produce musical theatre, plays and family theatre for UK and international touring and the West End. Selladoor Worldwide also operate and manage theatres across the UK, known as Selladoor Venues.
Rufus Norris is a British theatre and film director, who is currently the artistic director and chief executive of the National Theatre.
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre companies and one of its most consistently innovative.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children written by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. Written by Lewis between 1949 and 1954, illustrated by Pauline Baynes and published in London between October 1950 and March 1956, The Chronicles of Narnia has been adapted several times, complete or in part, for television, radio, the stage, film, in audio books, and as video games.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a musical based on the 1964 children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, with book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures is the live show, stageplay and musical production arm of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company forms a part of Warner Bros., one of the major business segments of Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures is led by Mark Kaufman.
Richy Hughes is an English musical theatre lyricist and theatre maker from Thurrock, England.