Hotbuckle Productions began as a small British theatre company that brings classic novels to the stage in a simple, creative way. The company was founded in 2006 by actor and director Adrian Preater and his wife Gemma Aston. Adrian became the artistic director and writes, adapts, and directs the company’s productions, while Gemma works as executive director and helps run the organisation. Both founders trained in professional drama schools and had experience in film, television, and theatre before starting their own company. Their aim was to create high-quality touring theatre that could reach audiences across the UK and Ireland. What Hotbuckle does. The company specialises in adapting famous classic novels into stage plays. Instead of large casts and complex sets, Hotbuckle usually uses a small group of actors who play many different characters. This style relies on strong acting, simple props, music, and storytelling to bring the stories to life.
We began working with Hotbuckle Productions back in November, when the company approached us about giving their website a complete refurbishment. The aim was not simply to redesign the site, but to refresh its structure and presentation so that it better reflected the company’s work, touring productions, and growing audience.
Adrian Preater, the company’s Artistic Director, explained that what they were looking for was “a simplification and reboot of an existing website, and an add-on of a one-page website for the brand new Hotbuckle Youth Project.” The goal was to create a site that was cleaner, easier to navigate, and more effective at showcasing Hotbuckle’s productions while also supporting their new youth initiative.
Working closely with Adrian throughout the process, we developed mock-ups to show our ideas of the new website. These allowed us to present clear visual concepts of how the new website would look and function, while also giving Adrian the opportunity to provide feedback and shape the direction of the project. Each stage focused on improving usability, refining the visual identity, and ensuring the website reflected the spirit and professionalism of the company.
Once the final design received Adrian’s seal of approval, we moved into the development stage and began building Hotbuckle’s brand new website for 2026. The result is a refreshed online presence designed to highlight their touring productions, provide clear information for audiences and venues, and introduce the exciting new Hotbuckle Youth Project.
