What To Expect

You’ve bought tickets for Treasure Island, now what?

Thank you so much for booking a ticket to see Treasure Island at Social on Humber Street. We can’t wait to welcome you to our panto party.

We know that some people like to know what to expect before coming to see a show, so we’ve put this guide together to share just that.

If you need any further information, please contact our audience development manager, Jamie Potter.

You may also wish to take a look at our FAQ page, where we aim to answer regularly asked questions regarding your visit.

Venue

Treasure Island is performed at Social on Humber Street. Social used to be called Fruit and hosts live music and comedy acts.

Social has level access throughout and is contained on one floor. It’s a small, intimate space that only seats 150 people for panto and has a bar running the length of one side. 

The seats are padded banquet chairs arranged in rows. We are quite packed in, but it is very cosy and seating is unreserved, meaning you sit where you can.

There is no quiet breakout space. If you need to head outside for a few moments, you can do so and return indoors when you are ready.

There are male, female and accessible toilets, including baby-changing facilities. 

Tickets

Although this is a Middle Child show performed at Social, we sell tickets through Hull Truck Theatre. This is because they have a box office system best suited to this kind of show. If you have any questions about your tickets, it is best to contact the box office at Hull Truck Theatre directly.

You don’t need to print your tickets and bring them with you – we will have your names on a guestlist. However it is useful to have your tickets on your phone to present at box office.

Times

Shows begin at 2.00pm, 6.00pm and 9.30pm. Doors open 45 minutes beforehand.

We expect the show to last for approximately two hours, including an interval (break). This can vary once performed a few times in front of an audience, or if Pattie Breadcake goes off-script.

It shouldn’t ever be more than five or ten minutes extra, but we will share any updates on our website and social media pages.

Content

We understand that some people like to know what happens in the show, so have created this plot summary page, featuring content notes.

If you are attending a late-night show at 9.30pm, this is the same show as the family version, but with a few more risque jokes and ad libs sprinkled throughout. It’s more about giving adults a place to enjoy a Christmas night out while the kids stay at home, than being rude and in-your-face.

Audience “rules”

There are none, it’s panto!

Well, that’s not quite true. You are encouraged to join in the fun, cheering for the heroes, booing the villains, singing along, responding to calls from the performers – as long as you respect the performers, staff and fellow audience members.

Our dame, Pattie Breadcake, usually likes to ‘pick on’ a man in the audience to be her love interest. They will be invited onto stage with her, but you don’t have to go if you don’t feel comfortable.

All of our Treasure Island performances are relaxed. This means you are free to do any of the following, at any time:

• Move around
• Make noise
• Wear ear defenders
• Talk and ask questions
• Go to the toilet
• Go to the bar
• Go outside

Although this performance is relaxed, it is not quiet. The show includes loud amplified live music and the audience is encouraged to make lots of noise.

The house lights – the big light – is also switched off during the show, so the audience sit in darkness.

When you arrive

This is the front of the Social building on Humber Street. You will enter through the door on the right-hand side.

When you arrive, there may be a queue of people outside. There will also be a volunteer in a blue coat to greet you.

They may ask you a question about our ticket prices. We ask this question as we like to know how affordable people find our panto.

When you head inside, a member of staff from Social will ask you for the name of the person who booked your tickets, so we can cross you off our guestlist. Then you can go find a seat and head to the bar.

Who you will meet

You will meet our front of house manager, Rabbey, who looks after audiences at each of our shows. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with them.

There will also be a number of HEY Volunteers, in blue uniforms. They are here to help people find their way around the space and can also answer any questions you may have.

Then there are the people who work for Social. They will be behind the bar, serving you drinks and sweets. For late-night performances before Christmas, we also have security (a ‘bouncer’). 

Wheelchair users

If you have booked wheelchair tickets, we will know to expect you and reserve seats for you.

If you have booked regular tickets but require a wheelchair space, please let the Hull Truck Theatre box office team know.

BSL users

All of the performances on Saturday 21 December are BSL-interpreted by Dave Wycherley.

He will be on-stage, usually on the right-hand side as you look at it.

If you have booked BSL tickets, we will know to expect you and reserve seats for you with a clear view of Dave.

If you have booked regular tickets but require a view of the BSL interpreter, please let the Hull Truck Theatre box office team know.

Voting and photo booths

Every year we ask our audience to vote for the panto story they’d most like us to stage the following Christmas.

We’ll be doing the same again this year and a stall, with the four options to choose from, will be placed to the left of the bar.

Next to the voting booth there will also be a photo booth, where you can take photos as a memento of your trip to Treasure Island.