The List

The Hope Theatre

The Hope Theatre is above the Hope and Anchor pub on the corner of Islington Park St and Upper St. It offers a performance space with a programme of new works, often from young theatre companies such as time Zone Theatre. It prides itself on the lack of public money supporting its operations, with a commitment to paying all performers and staff. The Artistic Director is Matthew Parker.

What's On @ The Hope Theatre

The Dream Machine

The Dream Machine

18 May 2025 - 18 May 2025

Making your dreams come true... Welcome to The Dream Machine Make It Beautifuls unique, long-form improvisation show, based around audience members dreams.This isnt just a show, its an experience of the mind. The Dreamers will build a world full of crazy characters, odd challenges, and heart-warming stories. From one audience members 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
Courtney's + 1

Courtney's + 1

5 May 2025 - 30 Jun 2025

Courtneys +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, shes 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 shes 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 comedians 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. Running time: Approximately 70 minutes UNDER 18s ARE NOT PERMITTED INTO THE THEATRE FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Refunds and exchanges are not available.
Fufc

Fufc

20 May 2025 - 24 May 2025

The whole cancer thing is shit. People never say that to you, you want them to but they dont. A muddy football pitch under a hungover council sky somewhere in the North of England; two old friends meet to play the national sport and talk . A bad day in goal is one thing a bad result from the cancer specialist is another. A story told all too often of cancer and its often tragic consequences. Darkly comedic and poignant this heartwarming moment of genuine connection unfolds; leading to a touching reminder that even in our darkest hours the bonds of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit bring hope. FUFC speaks to the challenges that unite us all. Proudly supported by Macmillan Cancer Support.
Side Quest

Side Quest

4 May 2025 - 3 Aug 2025

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.
The Project

The Project

30 Apr 2025 - 3 May 2025

Katie sees flowers where others see weeds. In the corner of a seedy dive bar or a sweaty basement gig, she falls in love with a mans potential. When her romantic life unmistakably unfolds into a pattern of one disastrous project after another, its time to get clean. Reluctantly embarking on a wellness retreat, Katie finds herself alonesingle, for the first time in... forever. 'The Project' is a different kind of love story, posing the question: what truths do we conceal, even from ourselves? Following a sold-out debut run at Jack Studio Theatre, 'The Project' returns with new life at The Hope Theatre. "It is a heartfelt performance beautifully delivered [...] One can only hope this beautifully staged piece is seen elsewhere" - REVIEWSGATE Running time: Approximately 60 minutes LATECOMERS MAY NOT BE ADMITTED. UNDER 18s ARE NOT PERMITTED INTO THE THEATRE FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. No re-admittance once the performance has commenced. Refunds and exchanges are not available.
Grave Mistake

Grave Mistake

27 May 2025 - 7 Jun 2025

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 Ginas 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, Reginas sister and business partner, is left with a seemingly impossible task - save the business from bankruptcy! The solution? Do more funerals, obviously! Harriet and Regina, together with hapless new intern, Malcolm, plan to run two funerals at once. The first for Mrs Clarke, an unfortunate widow with a bit of a crush on Malcolm. The second for Mrs Farrington, an ambitious social climber with an eye on the Burkes family business. Chaos descends as they wade their way through sandwich mix ups, mistaken identities, quite a lot of gin and wait was it Vivaldi or Frankie Valli?! Can they pull off the impossible or have they made aclears throat Grave Mistake?! 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! Run time: Approximately 2 hours including a 15 minute interval
Banned

Banned

12 Jun 2025 - 14 Jun 2025

"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. Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025 Were proud to be raising funds for Not A Phase as part of BokFest 2025. Not A Phase is a trans-led charity working nationwide to support and empower trans+ adults through advocacy, community projects, and funding for trans-led initiatives. Queer and trans stories have always shaped culture, often against the odds, and these voices are vital to modern storytelling. We celebrate them, and stand with those telling them.
05:59

05:59

26 Jun 2025 - 28 Jun 2025

Youre a stupid, stupid son-of-a-bitch and I felt like I didnt 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. Theres 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) Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025 Were proud to be raising funds for Not A Phase as part of BokFest 2025. Not A Phase is a trans-led charity working nationwide to support and empower trans+ adults through advocacy, community projects, and funding for trans-led initiatives. Queer and trans stories have always shaped culture, often against the odds, and these voices are vital to modern storytelling. We celebrate them, and stand with those telling them.
Acne Romeo

Acne Romeo

9 Jun 2025 - 11 Jun 2025

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 Valentines, 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 (for This Swollen Thing) Theres something exciting about the linguistic talent of Sam Smiths This Swollen Thing, almost Churchillian in its daring. There Ought To Be Clowns Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025 Were proud to be raising funds for Not A Phase as part of BokFest 2025. Not A Phase is a trans-led charity working nationwide to support and empower trans+ adults through advocacy, community projects, and funding for trans-led initiatives. Queer and trans stories have always shaped culture, often against the odds, and these voices are vital to modern storytelling. We celebrate them, and stand with those telling them.
Swan In The Walls

Swan In The Walls

16 Jun 2025 - 18 Jun 2025

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 OConnor 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? Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025 Were proud to be raising funds for Not A Phase as part of BokFest 2025. Not A Phase is a trans-led charity working nationwide to support and empower trans+ adults through advocacy, community projects, and funding for trans-led initiatives. Queer and trans stories have always shaped culture, often against the odds, and these voices are vital to modern storytelling. We celebrate them, and stand with those telling them.
Roguelike

Roguelike

19 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

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 Ive witnessed in a while. - Theatricellie You could feel the love, shared community, and utter joy that was being spread." - Broadway World Absolutely incredible - @urfavgayslay Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025
Lap Dog

Lap Dog

23 Jun 2025 - 25 Jun 2025

You may be his boy but youll never be his dog Dating a man 30 years older than you is great because he doesnt want to be texted every second of every day. And he loves your body. Really loves it. He cant believe it, cant 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 theyre always spotless. Its heaven. Looking after a chihuahua is shit because theyre stuck-up little runts. Baby lands the gig of a lifetime when their sugar daddy asks them to live in his Paddington Penthouse whilst hes away on business. But Babys week of luxury is ruined when they find out that this involves looking after Daddys territorial chihuahua, Fellatio. Lap Dog is Joe Harringtons debut play, an untameable romp into age-gap love, activism, and the generational sanitisation of queer rage, all told through the lens of dogs. Running time: Approximately 70 minutes This production is part of BokFest 2025 Were proud to be raising funds for Not A Phase as part of BokFest 2025. Not A Phase is a trans-led charity working nationwide to support and empower trans+ adults through advocacy, community projects, and funding for trans-led initiatives. Queer and trans stories have always shaped culture, often against the odds, and these voices are vital to modern storytelling. We celebrate them, and stand with those telling them.

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