Patrons
Get to know our Patrons, you might recognise a few! As some of the industry’s most celebrated artists, they help to guide us and support us as an organisation. We couldn’t be prouder to have our patrons’ help in navigating the world of show biz.
Tracie Bennett
Tracy Bennett became a patron of Hope Mill Theatre in 2016. Tracie Bennett’s television debut was in the children’s series Going Out. She then played Sharon Gaskell, the Fairclough’s foster daughter in Coronation Street between 1982 and 1984 and returned to the role in 1999.
Her very extensive musical theatre credits include: La Cage aux Follies, Carousel, Grease, Chicago, Blood Brothers, She Loves Me, Honk!, High Society, Sex, Chips and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Les Miserable’s , Hairspray and End of the Rainbow. She won a Laurence Olivier Award as Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for She Loves Me at the Savoy Theatre in 1995 and played Ida in the Drewe & Stiles musical Honk!, which won the 2000 Olivier award for Best Musical. Her television credits include: Doctors , Casualty, Dalziel and Pascoe Northern Lights . Vincent , The Royal, The Bill , The Afternoon Play, Mersey Beat , Where the Heart Is, Coronation Street, Verdict, Heartbeat, Joking Apart, The Upper Hand, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Brush Strokes, Unnatural Causes and Boon.
Russel T Davies
Russell T Davies joins the Hope Mill Patrons in 2019.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to become a patron of Hope Mill Theatre. It’s an amazing place, and I’ve followed Joe and Will’s journey right from the start. Their productions are wonderful, and I love their support for new writers and talent. I think the future’s full of Hope!”
Russell is an iconic screenwriter and television producer whose works include Queer as Folk, Bob & Rose, The Second Coming, Casanova, the 2005 revival of the BBC One science fiction series Doctor Who, and the trilogy Cucumber, Tofu, and Banana.
Denise Welch
Denise Welch joins the Hope Mill Patrons in 2019.
Denise is an English actress and television presenter. Best known for her roles as ‘Natalie Barnes’ in ITV’s Coronation Street (1997 – 2000) and Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road (2006-2010). She is also known as a regular panelist on the lunchtime chat show ‘Loose Women’.
“I’m delighted to become a patron of Hope Mill Theatre. My love of theatre was formed in a company that started like this one and I’m thrilled to be a small part of Joe and Will’s journey. Coming to Hope Mill is not just a night at the theatre – it’s an experience from the minute you arrive, and the productions are first class. Exciting and vibrant…..just like me!”