London’s HOPE THEATRE hosts the inaugural ‘NORTH SAPPH-FEST’ platforming the bold work of queer women and non-binary artists.

North Sapph-Fest is an exciting new theatre festival from London’s award-winning Hope Theatre, dedicated to uplifting and platforming  Running from 3 to 28 August, this month-long celebration will transform The Hope Theatre into a vibrant hub of new writing, genre-defying performance, and authentic queer storytelling.

Each evening features two different shows, with participating companies offered short runs of two to five performances, giving audiences a rolling programme of fresh discoveries. North Sapph-Fest aims to become a joyful, community-focused fixture in London’s theatre landscape: a space where new talent can be seen, where risks are encouraged, and where queer stories are celebrated loudly, proudly, and without compromise.  The plays include : 

MOUSE.  By Alice Sparrow 

3, 4, 5 & 6 August at 7pm

Gemma is under a curse: she’s a mouse 364 days a year. To become human again, she must shag someone who once truly loved her. But did her only ex ever really love her? Sapphic, silly and surreal, ‘Mouse’ is about who gets to decide what counts as love.

This is Alice Sparrow’s second play. Her first won the National Theatre’s New Views prize and was later commissioned by Audible.    https://www.thehopetheatre.com/mouse

THEY WERE ROOMATES  By Song Marshall 4, 5 & 6 August at 8.30pm
They Were Roommates is a short one-act written by a black queer woman, offering a unique perspective. It’s a heartwarming, wholesome, found family story centring QBIPOC joy. Three queer friends navigate the changing group dynamics as two of them catch feelings.thehopetheatre.com/theywereroommates

THE RISOTTO IS BURNING By Sophie Underwood 7 & 8 August at 7pm
A dinner party on a stuffy summer night. Cold wine and overcooked food. Three old university friends introduce their significant others to the group – but when one of them brings along a puppet as their new partner, it forces everyone to examine the lengths they will go to avoid being alone. https://www.ticketsource.com/thehopetheatre/the-risotto-is-burning/e-zpddqb The Hope Theatre is above the Hope & Anchor pub on Islington’s Upper Street, a short walk from Highbury & Islington station in Zone 2. More info on the full Festival program and theater location can be found at https://www.thehopetheatre.com/the-venue/