The Hope Theatre has announced details of its upcoming winter season, including a programme of productions this December where all tickets will be £10 in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Phil Bartlett, artistic director of The Hope Theatre, comments, Times are tough for many, and with our Winter season we’ve looked for ways to support theatre-makers, audience-members and our local community. This December we’ll be presenting a programme of performances from fringe artists for which all tickets are £10, with performing companies receiving additional support to help bring their productions to our little theatre in Islington and a proportion of the Hope’s proceeds being donated to local charities working with those who need help getting through the winter.
The winter season opens with Cheryl May Coward-Walker’s ‘wildly relatable’ debut play The Wedding Speech (29th November – 3rd December), in which a woman prepares to speak at her mother’s wedding and it becomes clear the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Presented by Purple Moon Drama, the show stars Princess Donnough and will play at the Hope for one week in advance of a 2023 London tour.
Also at the Hope as part of the £10 December programme is A Splash of Milk (6th – 10th December) by Sami Sumaria, focussing on the character of Sunny, who retreats to their childhood bedroom after ‘a not-so-great couple of years’. A queer almost-love story, the show is sprinkled with sass and humour and comes to the Hope after a successful run as part of Camden Fringe.
Back at the Hope this December following their sold-out run of These Craters of Ours are Springbok Production House, with their new production Nice Jewish Boy (13th – 17th December), a tragic comedy about a clash of identities. When Josh is gifted his worst nightmare on his 19th birthday, he must confront what haunts both his synagogue services and Grindr hook-ups.
The theatre will start the new year with Iphigenia; or, the sacrifices of a young woman in nine movements (11th – 28th January with press night on 13th January). Conceived and directed by Elsie Yager, the show tells the tragic tale of the forces behind a young girl’s demise and the mother who feels she must allow it to happen. Alongside documentary interviews with daughters and mothers, the company presents a series of private moments set in the confines of Iphigenia’s childhood bedroom as she reconciles her own desires against the role she is asked to play.
The Hope Theatre’s long-running Sunday – Monday series also continues this winter, giving companies the opportunity to present work professionally in a low-risk environment. December Sunday – Monday productions include: Goodbye Papà (11th– 12th December), the new tri-lingual production from Hope Theatre favourites Teatro Multilingue; Deck the Stalls (18th – 19th December), a blistering new play set at the office party from hell; and The Not-12 Days of Not-Christmas (4th – 5th December), an interactive life-sized board-game in which the performer dishes out a smorgasbord of not-so-festive confessions at the mercy of the roll of the dice. The programme continues in January with And Then They Came For Me (15th – 16th January), a powerful multimedia play that combines videotaped interviews with Holocaust survivors Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg with live actors recreating scenes from their lives as teenagers; and The Best Pints (22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th January), a comedy play in which three friends tell the stories of the best pints of stout they ever had.
Phil Bartlett, artistic director, adds, Whilst everyone is feeling the pinch, we remain committed to presenting high-quality pub theatre where all the actors and stage management are paid for their work. Our winter season is stuffed with brilliant and beguiling performance, and with all tickets for December priced at £10 we hope to be able to welcome as many people as possible through the doors of our little theatre with big ideas.
Tickets for all productions are now on-sale via the Hope Theatre website.
The Wedding Speech (29th November – 3rd December at 7:45pm)
Written by Cheryl May Coward-Walker
Directed by Simone Watson-Brown
Rosemary is about to do a speech at her mother’s wedding. She’s not quite sure how to hit the right note as the relationship between Rosemary and her mother has been… less-than-rosy. As she revs up for her big moment on her mother’s Big Day, we realise maybe the apple hasn’t fallen very far from the tree.
Purple Moon Drama comes to The Hope Theatre with the ‘wildly relatable’ debut play by Cheryl May Coward-Walker (Black Beth & Saturn Return). The Wedding Speech will embark on a London tour in 2023. Starring Princess Donnough (Robin Hood and Talia Versus) and Directed by Simone Watson-Brown (British History Retold and Work That Pussy).
A Splash of Milk (6th – 10th December at 7:45pm)
Written by Sami Sumaria
Sunny is back at home in their childhood bedroom after a not-so-great couple of years. Will their quest to find love be fruitful, or end in disaster like so many times before? A Splash of Milk exposes the harsh realities of being a person of colour within the already marginalised queer community and the racism that lies within. An almost-love story, with just a sprinkle of racism, sass and humour, A Splash of Milk explores how being part of the global majority can affect your relationship with the queer community itself.
Nice Jewish Boy (13th – 17th December at 7.45pm)
Written and performed by Josh Maughan
Directed by Jake Samson
Josh has always been a nice Jewish boy. He had a lovely girlfriend, got good grades and was even head boy of his Jewish high school. However, in London, he discovers men, poppers, douching, and Heaven nightclub.
Produced by Springbok Production House, Nice Jewish Boy is a tragic comedy about a clash of identities. When Josh is gifted his worst nightmare on his 19th birthday, he must confront what haunts both his synagogue services and Grindr hook-ups. An ode to our desperation for inclusivity, Josh Maughan’s debut one-man play is for all – bring your partners, bring your friends, your parents, and, if you dare, your grandparents – and follow Josh as he discovers who he is, and who he can be.
Iphigenia; Or, the sacrifices of a young woman in nine movements (11th – 28th January at 7:45pm with press night on Thursday 13th January)
Conceived and directed by Elsie Yager
Iphigenia is a regular teenage girl on the verge of becoming a woman, whatever that means. Bursting with desires, fears, dreams, and a whole lot more she hasn’t figured out yet.
She’s also about to be slaughtered as a sacrifice to the gods.
The show tells the tragic tale of the forces behind a young girl’s demise and the mother who feels she must allow it to happen. Alongside documentary interviews with daughters and mothers, we witness a series of private moments set in the confines of Iphigenia’s childhood bedroom as she reconciles her own desires against the role she is asked to play. We catch her in the most intimate moments — the moments in-between the acts — those not normally seen in our epic dramas. As her life is shaped by the decisions of others seemingly outside her control, Iphigenia is pushed towards the ultimate sacrifice.
The Not-12 Days of Not-Christmas (4th – 5th December at 7:45pm)
Written and performed by Lila Robinson
Directed by Lili Worden
If on the first day of Christmas your true love gives you a partridge in a pear tree, what do they give you every other day of the year? Indestructible thrush, clumsy coming outs and brutal break-ups. But why isn’t that part of the song? Well, it is now. A pawn in her own life-sized board game, Lila dishes out a smorgasbord of not-so-festive confessions at the mercy of the roll of the dice. Follow her as she laughs, lip syncs and cringes from square to square in a dizzying voyage of queer confusion and chaos.
Lila Robirosa is a comedy performer whose autobiographical work probes at the more awkward topics surrounding queer, female sexuality. Her confessional style aims to find humour in the most deliciously cringe-worthy moments. Director Lill Worden has been collaborating with Lila throughout the pandemic. She supports and develops new work that is relatable, provocative and funny.
Goodbye Papà (11th– 12th December at 7:45pm)
Written by Francesco Baj
Directed by Flavio Marigliani
English Father dies all of a sudden in Egypt, leaving “half of his body” to his Son in Italy and the other half to his Daughter in Greece, both abandoned at the age of 6 in different moments of his life. The news of his death reaches Figlio (Son) in Italy, who has to get ready for the funeral.
This bizarre family story is the perfect chance for Figlio to take stock of his life and to continue that imagined dialogue with the Greek αδελφή (Sister) he has never met but who, he’s sure, must have gone through the same experience. Funny and moving, Goodbye Papà is about identity, shared memories and our relation to language, as the code to create connections beyond reality.
Whether the language is your ‘native’, the one you’ve ‘inherited’ from your estranged father, or a ‘foreign’ language you are learning has no importance, because the connection goes beyond all this. Performed in English, Italian and Modern Greek – but you don’t need to know all the languages to follow the story and understand! After a sell-out run with Mrs Green earlier this year, Teatro Multilingue are back at the Hope!
Deck the Stalls (18th – 19th December at 7:45pm)
Written by Lydia Brickland
Directed by Chloe Cattin
Middle Management has her tits out and is singing Don’t Cha by The PussyCat Dolls on Karaoke. HR Sandra is desperate for the mini cheddars not to get crushed into the carpet. And Maddison Fox – well Maddison Fox is a c***. Serena’s office Christmas Party is tragic, like beyond tragic. So she’s locked herself in the toilet because seriously – f*** HR Sandra’s forced fun.
Deck The Stalls is a blistering new play by Lydia Brickland. This show is for anyone who has had to endure the: ‘There’s no washing up fairy’ posters and passive aggressive office lunchroom sticky notes. Filled with humour, fun and a sack full of heart this alternative Christmas show is sure to be a great night out – maybe even bring your own office Christmas party?
And Then They Came for Me (15th – 16th January at 7:45pm)
Directed by June Trask
And Then They Came for Me is a unique experience… a multimedia play that combines videotaped interviews with Holocaust survivors Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg with live actors recreating scenes from their lives as teenagers during World War II.
Ed was Anne Frank’s first boyfriend. Eva was the same age and lived across from Anne in Amsterdam until she and her family were arrested by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps. More than 1.25 million people were killed in Auschwitz-Birkenau where Eva and her family were sent. Part oral history, part drama action, part remembrance, this play brings to life what happened after The Diary of Anne Frank ends. The ensemble-driven play breaks new ground and has been acclaimed by audiences and critics in world-wide productions.
The Best Pints (22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th January at 7:45pm)
Written by Jack Gallagher
Directed by Kay Dent
‘What’s the best pint you ever had?’
And not just the best as in the ‘nicest’, but the one that “made a moment…enhanced an already great moment…comforted you in a moment of distress…just, in general, made your life better?” At one point or another – more than likely 10 pints deep in a bar called the ‘[insert random number here] Crowns’ – we’ve all asked our mates that question.
In FishMail Productions’ comedy play ‘The Best Pints’, Gerry (Warren Rusher) poses that question to his two best friends Steve (Matthew Blaney) and David (Tarik Badwan) during their regular Friday night drinking session in their local pub. What follows is the three best mates telling one another stories of parenthood, love, loss, addiction and the Yakuza (yes, that Yakuza). After a sold-out performance at the White Bear Theatre, FishMail Productions brings ‘The Best Pints’ to the Hope Theatre.
