WHAT'S ON at THE HOPE THEATRE
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GRAVE MISTAKE 27th May - 7th June
“Rule Number One: Funerals are spiritual, we are not.”
Burke & Sons Family Funerals are in crisis!
This funeral directorship has been established for over a hundred and fifty years, being safely handed down through the generations - Right up to the point Regina got hold of it!
Her latest in a long line of life ambitions is to open Jolly Gina’s Gin Bar & Spa, in the intimate yet spacious area of the building between the second floor and the roof, which the unimaginative might call… the loft.
Harriet, Regina’s sister and business partner, is left with a seemingly impossible task - save the business from bankruptcy!
The solution?
Do more funerals, obviously!
Matthew Ballantyne & Toby Hampton reunite to write this fast-paced & witty new comedy after their 5-star, award-nominated run of ‘21 Round For Christmas’ at Park Theatre in 2023.
Produced by the award-winning in-house team at The Hope Theatre, Grave Mistake is sure to be a hilarious, chaotic treat!
ACNE ROMEO 9th - 11th June £12/£14
7:45PM
“How easy these boundaries of you and me are to cross. How close my body is to yours.”
When a vigil throws R and J together the day before Valentine’s, they try to construct a home for themselves. Over three unlikely days, they prod, and spill, and break, and lie; doing and undoing sex, talking themselves into oblivion. But violent delights have violent ends, and homes are always full of teeth.
In a darkly intimate world of stasis and revolt, how much care do you need to put into loving someone? And how much carelessness does it take to be free?
ACNE ROMEO is the bold and intrguing new play from Sam Smith, award-winning writer-director of Scenes with boys.
Praise for previous work:
(for Scenes with boys)
“An extraordinary commentary on art, love and life.” ★★★★ Adventures in Theatreland
★★★★ A Young(ish) Perspective
★★★★ LondonTheatre1
BANNED 12th - 14th June £12/£14 7:45PM
"They will find out. They always do. They track things. They will know this. Somehow. So now, the clock is ticking”
Jess turns up on her estranged best friend Leonie's doorstep, a friend she hasn't seen in three years, alone, homeless, pregnant - and desperate not to be. In a world with no legal options, Leonie is tested: how far will she go to help her friend?
As soon as she acts, the clock is ticking. But there are more secrets just under the surface, secrets which will turn everything Leonie believes upside down.
Banned is a play about love, friendship, trust and freedom of choice.
SWAN IN THE WALLS 16th - 18th June £12/£14 7:45PM
“I love her. I love her. But I hate me more.”
Caoimhe has fled home, family, country and a confusing relationship with a childhood friend for drama school in London. But after a night out goes wrong, she realises that there is no escape. But the walls are thin and the past has claws. A swan haunts her walls, demanding the truth and challenging her to stop pretending.
Taking inspiration from Irish mythology, Swan in the Walls, from emerging playwright, Mary Condon O’Connor is a queer, messy, coming-of-age story that asks can you ring the bell and finally come back home to yourself after being away for so long?
ROGUELIKE 19th - 21st June £12/£14 7:45PM
“Is it harder to lose him forever, or lose him a little bit, over and over again?”
In the mystical city of Uhdanagrad there stands a tower that warriors climb, over and over again, constantly seeking the treasure at its top. At the edge of the city sits a gay bar, where one such swordsman keeps coming every time he wipes out. As much as the barkeep rolls his eyes at the bruised paladin at his bar, something keeps drawing them together. Is it the tower? Ancient, eldritch gods? Or something much sadder than that?
Roguelike is a queer love story set in an RPG - Casablanca meets Hades. It's a story about memory, about devotion, and about how much water dungeons suck. Join us for our latest run up the tower. Who knows, maybe this time they win.
Praise for David's writing:
“One of the strongest writing voices I’ve witnessed in a while.” - Theatricellie
“You could feel the love, shared community, and utter joy that was being spread." - Broadway World
“Absolutely incredible” - @urfavgayslay
LAP DOG 23rd - 25th June £12/£14
7:45PM
“You may be his boy but you’ll never be his dog”
Dating a man 30 years older than you is great because he doesn’t want to be texted every second of every day. And he loves your body. Really loves it. He can’t believe it, can’t believe how young it is. He has salami in his fridge and cheese and expensive toothpaste and really nice pans and everything works and he has massive mirrors and they’re always spotless. It’s heaven.
Looking after a chihuahua is shit because they’re stuck-up little runts.
Baby lands the gig of a lifetime when their sugar daddy asks them to live in his Paddington Penthouse whilst he’s away on business. But Baby’s week of luxury is ruined when they find out that this involves looking after Daddy’s territorial chihuahua, Fellatio.
Lap Dog is Joe Harrington’s debut play, an untameable romp into age-gap love, activism, and the generational sanitisation of queer rage, all told through the lens of dogs.
05:59
26th - 28th June
7:45PM
£12/£14
‘You’re a stupid, stupid son-of-a-bitch and I felt like I didn’t want you to be alone right now.’
New York, 2008. The long shadow of the AIDS crisis has begun to slowly recede.
Benny and Jon meet in the back room of a gay club on the Lower East Side. The next twenty minutes, for better or worse, will change both of their lives. This is where it all starts…
Inspired by the true stories of queer men born in the aftermath of the AIDS epidemic, 05:59 asks what it means to be defined by the scars of your forefathers, and how a generation of men taught to fear themselves might start anew.
There’s an untold story of a generation of folk who grew up in the post-Tony Kushner era. One where they no longer have to fear the spiritual inevitability of either dying of AIDS, or dying alone. One where misinformation, fear and prejudice is often, nowadays, more dangerous than the virus itself.
‘A beautiful play’ - Arthur Lubow (The New Yorker, The New York Times)
SIDE QUEST
£10/£12
7:45PM
29th June & 3rd August
A hilarious fantasy tale where you choose the adventure!
Come merry folk from yonder to craft an original tale with aid from your 'Story Master' and a sprinkle of imagination. Fill in a character sheet, then watch your creations spring to life as they embark on an epic quest… or go way off track. Will they fight a dragon? Save a village of pixies? Or get stuck in a dungeon and eat their shoes? Anything can happen! Your characters, your locations, their fate is in your hands. Come and roll the dice. A fantasy fun filled show for all.
The Dirty 20 are a theatrical comedy group based in Sheffield. A band of improvisers, comedians, musicians and actors. They have been performing together in various shows for over 5 years.
Their latest and most successful show is Side Quest. It is the brainchild of Terri Silver. A comedian and writer who plays the role of the story master. A narrator and helpful guide for the audience, who is a hilarious character themselves. The unscripted show immediately became popular in Sheffield and they soon began performing sell out shows across Yorkshire. A combination of fantasy, tabletop roleplay games and an improvised narrative comedy show.
Before the show, audiences fill out character sheets which the performers then embody. These costumed, larger than life characters then go on a unique journey. The audience gets to control the direction of the story in the style of a 'choose your own adventure'. We have a giant dice for people to roll to determine the outcome of the protagonist's decisions and the very fate of the story. Side Quest has struck a chord with people as they indulge in this whimsical journey of silliness. They are now touring around the UK and have played gaming conventions and festivals.
Side Quest brings in people of all backgrounds and the introverted out of their caves. If you love RPG’s and fantasy then this will not disappoint, but the silliness of Side Quest is infectious to everyone.
COURTNEY'S + 30th June
Courtney’s +1 – because comedy is better with company (and because Courtney cannot stand to be alone with her thoughts).
Award-winning comedian Courtney (BBC Creator Lab, 30M+ views online, 4-star sold-out EdFringe debut, Best of Comedy winner @ Fuse Festival) is back with a brand-new show. But this time, she’s not coming alone.
Each show, Courtney invites an incredibly talented comedy star to the stage, giving them 30 minutes to test out their freshest, funniest material. Meanwhile, Courtney will be doing the same as she’s on a mission to generate 24 brand-new stories for her next absurd instalment of: I Wrote This Show Last Night.
A night of bold risks, brilliant stand-up and some of the most talented comedians around. Come for the chaos and be a part of the creation of both comedian’s newest shows.
After a sold-out April show, Courtney is THRILLED to welcome Rachel Galvo for May & June!
Rachel Galvo is an Irish comedian living in London. Galvo studied Musical Theatre at Mountview, graduating in 2023. During this time she wrote her thesis on Women and feminism in comedy and decided to give it a go herself. She has since been on tour across the UK and Ireland with her show- The Shite Feminist. She will be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year after a sold out success in 2024.
PISS GIRLS
1st - 5th July
7:45PM
£10/£16/£18
In the grimy stalls of school bathrooms, Faye and Gemma’s friendship is born—messy, electric, and unshakeable. From their first meeting, the loos become their refuge: a place where secrets spill, hearts break, and the chaos of growing up plays out, one flush at a time. As the years pass, their bond is tested by the push and pull of adolescence, where growing up sometimes means growing apart.
Told through snapshot meetings in bathrooms over several years, Piss Girls is an unsanitary story of friendship, secrets and what it means to be human. After a sellout run in 2024 at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a sold out night at The Troubadour, Brooke McCloy and Samantha Dilena’s debut play returns to London, ready to delve into the highs and lows of young identity and self-discovery all over again.
‘A must for anyone who’s ever had a weepy reconciliation in a bathroom – or anyone who might still yet have an old friend they want to find their way back to’ - Theatre Weekly ★★★★
NIGHT FALLS ON BURMA
6th - 7th July
7:45PM
£10/£16/£18
Can love come out of hell?
Thrown together in one of the most horrific theatre's of war in human history, three very different young soldiers must bond to ensure the success of the military machine they are part of. If their bonds become closer than expected is it a weakness or a strength?
In a world where many of the freedoms we take for granted are under threat, Night Falls On Burma tells the stories of the people who sacrifices to win those freedoms are seldom celebrated in the official version of history. To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, writer Paul Stone has researched the experiences of the Indian army and queer soldiers to celebrate our shared history.
BIG SHOES
8th - 12th July
7:45PM
£10/£16/£18
"Is it weird wearing a dead man's nose?"
Two brothers went into comedy, like their absent father before them. Now dad, like their dream of a
double act, is dead. If humour can get them through the funeral, it’ll get them through anything –
but dad’s shadow stretches further than either brother anticipated.
Weaving theatre with live comedy, Big Shoes is a tender new play about family, community, legacy,
and the cost of reconciling with the things that cause us pain.
“Are you proud of me?
You don’t really think about it, do you?”
Longlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award.
HANGOVER SQUARE
14th & 19th July 7.45pm
£10/£12
20th July 3pm
Based on the novel by Patrick Hamilton
“Click!
Hello. Here it is again…”
London, 1939. George Harvey Bone returns to his boarding house after Christmas, determined that this year he will sort himself out, get back on his feet. Perhaps he’ll finally be able to forget Netta Longdon. Or perhaps he’ll finally be able to get Netta Longdon. If he can just get his head straight… if he can just stop that click…
A new musical adapted from the novel by Patrick Hamilton, Hangover Square follows George in his hopeless infatuation with the cold, unobtainable Netta. As he fights against loneliness, alcoholism, and the unflinching march of the world towards war, can anything put a stop to George’s spiral into darkness?
Subtitled A Tale of Darkest Earls Court, Hangover Square peers into the murky depths of what it is to be human and at war with oneself, whilst exploring the bars, pubs, hostelries, and characters inhabiting the seedy London underworld at the very moment the world as we knew it changed forever.
This rehearsed reading will feature the new and original big band score and the full script. Be part of the show’s development and support new British musicals!
DO ASTRONAUTS MASTURBATE IN SPACE?
15th & 16th July 7.45pm
£10/£12
In a dystopian Britain, reeling from overpopulation, a law called the ‘Parental Act’ requires all couples to apply for a license or ‘Stork Card’ to have children. In this world we follow young, infectiously charming couple Lily and Gareth, who after falling pregnant, are required to attend a ‘Retreat’ where their competency as potential caregivers will be scrutinised. The stakes are high, failing the retreat means forced abortion. Madly, deeply in love, these two are caught off guard by the pregnancy but think the whole process will be a walk in the park.
However, once there, things take a sharp turn. Lily and Gareth discover hidden truths about each other, putting their relationship into question. Over the course of the play they are systematically unravelled by a group of scrupulous social workers and psychologists mandated to determine who is granted the right to a child, and who isn’t. Forever changed and clinging on to their past naivety, their future and life of their baby is left unclear.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS POLISH
14th & 19th July 7.45pm
£10/£12
In the city of light, the truth quickly comes into focus.
Kaitlyn has spent the past two years soaking in the magic of Paris - but time is running out. A twist of fate reveals that her grandfather might be the key to extending her stay. As Kaitlyn uncovers an almost-forgotten piece of her family’s history, she learns that borders and identity are not what she had imagined. Will her newfound heritage provide the answers, or is true belonging deeper than native soil?
This Offie-nominated show blends fast-paced comedy with gut-wrenching revelations about borders, self-worth, and what it means to come from somewhere you’ve never been.
Kaitlyn Kelly is a Canadian actor and writer. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Windsor and trained with the former SITI Company in New York City. In Paris, she hosted the Spoken Word Scratch Night—a zany cabaret blending music, poetry, stand-up, and sketch—where “I Didn’t Know I Was Polish” was born. As a tour guide, she led over 250 immersive tours of the Paris Catacombs, charming audiences with bone-deep historical insight and shameless puns. Her most recent written work was featured live at the True Story London event at 21Soho.
Running time: Approximately 60 minutes
113
24th & 25th July 7.45pm
£10/£16/£18
No Name. No memory. No Identity. Where to begin?
49 and 64 are in the room. They cannot see each other but they can talk and pass notes. All they
have is questions, wedding veils and dog tags. Who are they? Where are they? What is going on?
And why? And who is J Doe? And why are they watching them?
64 has been there as long as they can remember. So has 49 - but they have seemingly been there
far longer than 64. Over the course of their time together the two do everything they can to
recall, rebuild and reshape their lives. All the while, J Doe appears to them as everything they
can think of and far, far more.
113 focuses in on the ideas of identity and memory. It asks if memory is what makes our identity,
and if we were able to see ourselves objectively, could we change?
An ambitious piece of new writing, it has been shortlisted for Best Play at the University of Oxford New Writing Festival
and has been selected for the National Student Drama Festival.
The Dream Machine (Monthly Sunday/Monday)
Making your dreams come true…
Welcome to The Dream Machine – Make It Beautiful’s unique, long-form improvisation show, based around audience members’ dreams. This isn’t just a show, it’s an experience of the mind. The Dreamers will build a world full of crazy characters, odd challenges, and heart-warming stories. From one audience member’s dream, comes an entire production.
This hit improv show has had successful runs at many UK theatres, including: the White Bear, the Space, Trestle Arts Base, the Cockpit, the Garage Norwich, the Maltings Theatre St Albans, the OSO Arts Centre and the Golden Goose.
“The Hope are proud to have Make It Beautiful as one of our new associate companies and we can’t wait to see what they get up to each month!” – Laurel & Toby, joint Artistic Directors at The Hope
