Stage One Awards £25,000 to Theatre Producer David Hutchinson

Stage One, the charity that supports new UK commercial theatre producers and productions, today announces the latest recipient of its Start-Up Investment Fund. David Hutchinson has been awarded £25,000 by the charity to co-produce the forthcoming UK tour of Avenue Q, opening 23 April 2014 at Greenwich Theatre. Hutchinson, Stage One Bursary recipient in 2013, will co-produce with Richard Darbourne, who has been supported by the charity's Bursary and Start-Up Funds previously.

David commented "I am absolutely over the moon to receive the Stage One Start-Up Award, and can't thank enough the generous individuals who have made such an award possible. Producing theatre can be the best and worst job at times, but knowing that there is the Stage One support network championing young producers such as myself, and enabling us to progress our skills, understanding and ability to produce quality theatre, makes all the difference. I intend to make the most of this opportunity and give my all to ensure Avenue Q is a successful tour for all concerned."

David grew up in Stirling, Central Scotland before moving to Liverpool to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) from 2006 to 2009. Whilst at LIPA he formed theatre company Sell a Door with classmate Phillip Rowntree, with the ambition of bringing new quality productions to the stage. David started producing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008, and garnered awards including the Scotsman Fringe First Award for his co-production of Rainbow. After graduating in 2009, Sell a Door relocated to London where it began producing larger scale productions in Greenwich at the small Playhouse and mid-scale Greenwich Theatre including revivals of Blue/Orange, A Taste of Honey, The History Boys, Journey's End and Proof.

In 2011 David produced his first major tour of Spring Awakening which established his interest in touring theatre. Subsequent tours include 1984, Dracula, Proof, Ghosts, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Lord of the Flies. In 2012 David produced the first London production of Lynn Arends and Stephen Flaherty's Seussical at the Arts Theatre in Leicester Square, and revived the production again over Christmas in 2013. Sell a Door also formally partnered with the Greenwich Theatre in London, and Beacon Arts Centre in Scotland and now has two creative hubs to launch its work both north and south of the border.

Avenue Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the story of a recent college graduate named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet sexpert), Lucy The Slut and other colorful types who help Princeton finally discover his true purpose in life.

The production opens at the Greenwich Theatre on 23 April and then tours to Torquay, Crewe, Derry-Londonderry, Manchester, Leeds, Bracknell, Edinburgh, Inverness, Buxton, Wycombe, Crawley, Blackpool, Poole, Lincoln, Sunderland, Winchester, St. Helen's, Lichfield, Croydon, Guildford, Dublin and Oxford.

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