When Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook decided to start Hartshorn – Hook Productions they were working at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. The large receiving house was playing home to the UK tour of The Producers, an irony not lost on either of them.

Having set their sights on becoming “the biggest commercial producers in the world”, they made their first step with a production of West Side Story in collaboration with the Manchester Consort and the Royal Northern College of Music in 2008. The venture, directed by Stefan Janski, was staged to mark the 50th anniversary of Sondheim and Bernstein’s masterpiece.

Since then Hartshorn – Hook Productions has worked with The Lowry Theatre, Mary Cossette Productions, and South Hill Park Arts Centre, mounted shows in London’s King’s Head theatre and the Arts theatre (making them the West End’s youngest ever producers) and produced over thirty other productions from the UK, Europe and the USA. Most recently they co-produced Woody Sez, starring David Lutken, a biopic of American folk legend Woody Guthrie staged at The Arts Theatre in 2011, which was nominated for the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical in the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Between producing commercial theatre Louis and Brian are dedicated to giving back to the industry, speaking and leading workshops at numerous venues and events such 24/7 and Not Part Of theatre festivals in Manchester and Bury College. Louis and Brian are also developing a new initiative to help champion new writing, involve communities in touring theatre and support developing artists. Many exciting projects are in the pipeline – you can keep up with all the news here on the site, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Hartshorn – Hook Productions would like to offer thanks to: