We are thrilled to announce the recipient of the Hodgkiss Director Award 2026, a vital fund that enables an early-career director based in Greater Manchester to undertake a three-month residency at the Royal Exchange Theatre during our landmark 50th anniversary ‘A Homecoming’ season.
Connor Goodwin is a Manchester-based theatre director and Creative Director of Divided Culture Co. His work proudly spotlights working-class stories and communities facing exclusion and oppression. Recent credits include Yen (Bolton Octagon), Bears Bears Bears (CONTACT), and Toxic (UK Tour). Having studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, his practice is influenced by a diverse range of makers and artists from across Europe and multiple art forms.
The Hodgkiss Director Award offers the recipient a unique insight into the workings of a large-scale producing theatre and provides direct experience to help forge a sustainable career. At a time when opportunities to break into the creative industries are increasingly limited, awards such as this are essential to supporting the region’s artistic ecology, offering wide-ranging opportunities both in and beyond the rehearsal room.
As part of this year’s residency, Connor Goodwin will serve as Assistant Director on the regional premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical FUN HOME, working alongside award-winning director Sarah Frankcom and the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Associate Director, Emma Baggott. Fun Home is a ground-breaking modern masterpiece based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel – a story of grief, love, queer tragedy, and queer joy, told through soaring, revelatory songs.
Emma Baggott, Associate Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre, said:
“Connor impressed the panel with his ambition, drive and resilience. Since graduating from Mountview, he has worked tirelessly to build his directing career, and his experience perfectly positions him to assist in the Fun Home rehearsal room. Working on a production of this scale at the Royal Exchange will further develop his skills and broaden his experience as he continues to grow within the industry. I’m delighted he’ll be joining the Royal Exchange and look forward to mentoring him during this exciting stage of his development.”
Connor Goodwin, Hodgkiss Director Award 2026 recipient, said:
“Growing up in Salford, the Royal Exchange was the theatre I attended as a child. The in-the-round space completely hooked me. To return as Assistant Director on Fun Home is a major milestone. This award comes at a pivotal point in my career: I’ve built a strong portfolio and am ready to work at a larger scale, inside a major producing house, alongside practitioners I can learn from. As an artist with multiple lived experiences, opportunities like this are rare, and I don’t take that lightly. Fun Home, a story about the cost of silence and queer lives lived in its shadow, means so much to bring to Manchester audiences. I’m delighted to be the Hodgkiss Director for 2026 and to share this incredible show with communities across the region.”
The Hodgkiss family and the William Hare Group have a long history of supporting the Royal Exchange Theatre, including contributing to the refurbishment of the building following the Manchester Bomb in 1996. In 2010, Sue Hodgkiss CBE co-founded the Hodgkiss Director Award to recognise an outstanding emerging director. Since then, the award has supported artists across disciplines, helping them develop their careers and build lasting connections to the Royal Exchange and Greater Manchester. Sue and her daughter, actor, writer and comedian Sally Hodgkiss, remain dedicated champions of both the theatre and the award.