Delivered weekly by Grace Hatchell — local theatre’s cheekiest postie
Here is Me:
You’ve just stepped into Theatre Village, where the curtain never quite falls and every alleyway leads to a stage. Here in our quirky corner of the theatrical world, news doesn’t break — it’s delivered.
That’s where I come in. I’m not real, I am part of Theatre Village though.
I’m Grace Hatchell, proud delivery girl of the 2nd Act Post — the unofficial, underground postal network connecting local theatres up and down the country. While others are stuck refreshing press releases, I’m scooting between stage doors, dodging dressing room tantrums, and picking up fanmail, cast gossip, backstage whispers, and everything in between.
From playhouses in Portsmouth to rep theatres in Rochdale, I’ve got a route that’s as unpredictable as a Shakespearean plot twist. But no matter where I go, my satchel is always full of stories worth sharing.
Each week, in What’s in Grace’s Satchel?, I unpack the latest:
- ✉️ Juicy updates from the rehearsal room
- 🎭 Local theatre gems and unmissable shows
- 💌 Fanmail shoutouts, rave reviews, and the odd bit of drama
Think of me as your cheeky, stage-loving postie, on a mission to bring local theatre back into the spotlight — one stamped, scribbled, and secretly passed-on letter at a time.
Because in Theatre Village, every theatre matters. The spotlight belongs just as much to the community centre panto as it does to the regional tour. And trust me — sometimes the biggest drama happens behind the scenes.
Now then… what’s in my satchel this week? Let’s have a rummage…
My delivery network stretches miles and miles and I am busy criss crossing it every day, the ushers at every theatre have a secondary role and they provide with the packages and the gossip.
GRACE HATCHWELL
📮 Theatre Postwoman Extraordinaire
📍 Route: From Soho’s stages to the Fringe fields of Edinburgh
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Reliable as a standing ovation and twice as sparkly, I’m a spirited theatre correspondent and professional postie with a flair for drama, a nose for gossip, and a satchel full of secrets. Whether I’m delivering scripts, scandals or five-star reviews, I pride myself on connecting theatre lovers with the stories behind the curtain. From West End royalty to Fringe newbies, I’ve seen it all – and I never miss a cue.
EXPERIENCE
Theatre Village — Lead Cultural Courier & Columnist
2023–Present
- Creator and host of What’s in Grace’s Satchel?, the must-read weekly column delivering theatre gossip with a wink and a flourish.
- Exclusive interviews with rising stars, diva dispatches, and opening-night insights (before the critics even arrive).
- In charge of the 2nd Act Courier Network – the invisible artery connecting writers, ushers, and wayward wigs across the UK theatre scene.
2nd Act Couriers — Junior Messenger, then Senior Route Whisperer
2017–2023 (underground and unofficial)
- Entrusted with classified theatrical cargo: late rewrites, understudy scripts, and one actual Tony Award (unofficially borrowed).
- Navigated the shadowy corridors of London’s oldest playhouses, from ghostlights to trapdoors.
- Initiated into the secret code of the ushers (retired but still watching).
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
- Smuggled a rogue production of Hamlet into the vaults beneath the Southbank.
- Delivered fan mail (and one angry muffin) to a diva mid-performance without being spotted.
- Once stopped a stage invasion by accidentally tripping over the intruder’s prop bag.