Hull City of Culture holds World Premiere of Maxine Peake play

Hull Truck Theatre and Hull UK City of Culture 2017 today announce the world première of The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca, a new play written by Maxine Peake especially for the final season of Hull 2017. Tickets will go on sale today at 2pm.

This site-specific performance will lead audiences through Hull’s historic Guildhall, the Grade II listed home of Hull City Council. It sees Peake reunite with regular collaborator Sarah Frankcom and features a live musical score from celebrated folk artists Adrian McNally and The Unthanks.

Follow Hull hero Lillian Bilocca and her crew of head-scarved women through The Guildhall, joining them in 1968 as they dare to speak out and take action to improve the safety conditions for their men at sea.Witness the Three Day Millionaires’ riotous return home from the wet and wild west, and dance at the ghostly Silver Cod Ball, the trawler owners’ annual slap on the back.

Become part of their story as it unfolds and immerse yourself in Hull’s fishing community. Celebrate the vivid and dangerous lives of its trawler men and unite against the feudal power of the ship owners.

Written by Maxine Peake, directed by Sarah Frankcom and Imogen Knight, and with an original live score by folk’s finest – The Unthanks – this unique site-specific production will take audiences on an unforgettable journey using music, storytelling, movement and performance to celebrate an inspirational period in Hull’s history and a force for change that resonated far beyond the city.

Peake says: ‘I am extremely honoured and more than a little excited to be working in collaboration with Hull City of Culture on The Last Testament of Lilian Billoca. We hope our telling of this story about the extraordinary women from this extraordinary city will entertain and stimulate an outsiders view on a past community in a city that is very much alive and kicking hard!’