The Hope Theatre Islington Springs Into Action For 2018

Following the critical acclaimed staging of Louise Jameson's and Nigel Fairs' MY GAY BEST FRIEND, the scene is set for a bumper Spring programme at The Hope Theatre.

From 30 January to 17 February comes the award winning Pennyworth Productions with their double bill MOMENTS/EMPTY BEDS. Written by emerging playwright Julia Cranney, these explorations of modern loneliness, family tension and missed connections are funny, frank and touching in equal measure.

Next up, from 20 February to 17 March comes The Hope's award winning Artistic Director Matthew Parker world-premiere production of FOUL PAGES by Robin Hooper (ex literary manager of the Royal Court and Paines Plough). Full of scandalous secrets, backstage betrayals and lusty liaisons, this fruity farce is set against the 1603 backdrop of plague ravaged London and the delayed coronation of the soon to be King James I. FOUL PAGES tells the story of the first production of As You Like It. Political intrigue, lusty, gay liaisons and backstage betrayals combine with theatrically explosive results. You think you know your Shakespeare?... Think again!

From March 20 to April 7 comes OUR BIG LOVE STORY by Stephanie Silver. A tale of faith, prejudice, love and healing the play explores the radicalisation of young people and the struggle to keep faith after a traumatic event. OUR BIG LOVE STORY is a thought provoking, heart-warming and funny look at how love, faith and unity really do make the world go around.

Artistic Director Matthew Parker said "I am delighted with the rich variety of work that kicks off 2018 at the Hope Theatre. Theatre allows us to look at our lives in different ways and the wide range of work here certainly does that. I'm particularly pleased to have a strong LGBTQ+ showing and the split of female and male writers. At the same time we continue our commitment to the Equity Low Pay No Pay campaign'.

The award winning Hope Theatre is little theatre with big ideas. The theatre nurtures and develops new producing models, working with exciting companies to present a mix of new writing, lost gems from well-known writers, re-polished classics and innovatively staged musicals.

Although The Hope Theatre receives no public subsidy, it was the first Off West End venue to open with a house agreement with Equity, the UK's largest performers union, to ensure a legal wage for all actors, stage managers and box office staff working at the theatre.

Matthew Parker was named Best Artistic Director at the Off West End Awards 2017 for his work at The Hope in 2016.

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