Sapph-Fest is dedicated to uplifting and showcasing the bold work of queer women and non-binary artists. Running from August 3 to 28, this month-long celebration will transform The Hope Theatre into a vibrant hub for new writing, genre-defying performances, and authentic queer storytelling.
Each evening features two different shows, with participating companies given short runs of two to five performances. This approach offers audiences a constantly changing lineup of fresh discoveries. North Sapph-Fest aims to establish itself as a joyful, community-focused fixture in London’s theatre scene. It serves as a platform where new talent can be showcased, risks are embraced, and queer stories are celebrated loudly, proudly, and unapologetically.
The Hope Theatre is located above the Hope & Anchor pub on Upper Street in Islington, just a short walk from Highbury & Islington station, which is in Zone 2. More information about the location can be found at https://www.thehopetheatre.com/the-venue/
MOUSE By Alice Sparrow
3, 4, 5 & 6 August at 7pm
Gemma is under a curse that transforms her into a mouse for 364 days each year. To regain her human form, she must engage in an intimate relationship with someone who has truly loved her in the past. However, she questions whether her only ex ever really loved her. “Mouse” is a sapphic, whimsical, and surreal exploration of love and its definitions. This is Alice Sparrow’s second play; her first won the National Theatre’s New Views prize and was later commissioned by Audible.
THEY WERE ROOMMATES By Song Marshall
4, 5 & 6 August at 8.30pm
“They Were Roommates” is a short one-act play written by a Black queer woman, offering a unique perspective. It tells a heartwarming and wholesome story about found family, centring on QBIPOC joy. The narrative follows three queer friends as they navigate changing group dynamics when two of them begin to develop romantic feelings for each other.
thehopetheatre.com/theywereroommates
THE RISOTTO IS BURNING By Sophie Underwood
7 & 8 August at 7pm
On a sweltering summer night, a dinner party unfolds with cold wine and overcooked food. Three old university friends introduce their significant others to the group. However, one friend surprises everyone by bringing a puppet as their new partner, prompting the others to reflect on the lengths they will go to avoid being alone.
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/therisottoisburning
SHALLOW RESTING PLACE By Lauren Carter
10 – 12 August at 7pm
Set against the Oxfordshire prairies, Charlie and Sophia reunite after three years. This tender and poetic play offers a stark exploration of the addictive nature of nostalgia and the consequences of romanticising the people we love—and, surprisingly, hares. Previously, Lauren served as the Resident Director of the Oxford Playhouse, where she co-founded Queer Fest.
thehopetheatre.com/shallowrestingplace
MAKESHIFT (A QUEER MASS) By Charli Simone
12 & 13 August at 8.30pm
What happens when we are abandoned by a community that once felt like home? We rebuild. “Makeshift (A Queer Mass)” is a powerful piece that explores the connection between queerness and religion, past trauma and fresh starts, as well as activism and performance. It demonstrates that when we advocate not just for ourselves but also for those who are marginalised, there is immense joy to be found and shared.
IF NOT TOMORROW By Lucy Hall
13 & 14 August at 7pm
“Sometimes I think love is the greatest thing two people can do together. And sometimes I think it’s a half decent way to pass the time.” Ronnie and Isla are not the world’s first lesbians; in fact, they are just like every other lesbian. They met, fell in love, broke up, and now they can’t figure out how to stay away from each other.
thehopetheatre.com/ifnottomorrow
THE BRIDALIA WITCHES By Anya Basu-Chaudhuri
14 – 16 August at 8.30pm
In Bridalia, witches live in hiding, fearing persecution. However, when Lily receives a final letter from her sister, everything changes. She reaches out to old friends to devise a risky plan. “The Bridalia Witches” is a humorous show that explores themes of persecution and the awkwardness of reconnecting with long-lost friends—who are also witches.
thehopetheatre.com/thebridaliawitches
SHALL I BE MOTHER? By Eve Ruck
15 & 16 August at 7pm
During the height of the AIDS crisis, Jean-Michael and Eunice Carnie’s lives collide in a cramped NHS room as his health rapidly deteriorates. As they navigate strained family relationships, lost loves, and the burden of guilt, *Shall I Be Mother?* offers a glimpse into the often-overlooked world of lesbian advocacy.
thehopetheatre.com/shallibemother
CHERSTON By Emily Farley
18 – 20 August at 8.30pm
Housemates. Friends. With benefits? What could possibly go wrong? Set in 2020-21, this story explores the psychological toll on six individuals forced to spend excessive time together. Their subconscious obsession with each other helps them cope, yet it also drives them apart. Themes of limerence, breadcrumbing, and toxic relationships emerge. Do we value ourselves enough to be alone?
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/cherston
THE ADVENTURERS By Autumn Shields
19 & 20 August at 7pm
The Adventurers is a campy lesbian romantic comedy set in 18th-century Venice. The story follows a cross-dressing sailor who returns from the sea, determined to marry an aristocratic widow. However, his plans are thwarted when he encounters a notorious libertine with a secret of her own. The narrative is loosely based on Voltaire’s play *La Prude* and Giacomo Casanova’s memoir *Histoire de ma vie*.
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/theadventurers
THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT’S (UN)DONE By Rowan For Now
21 & 22 August at 7pm
An award-nominated autobiographical theatrical cabaret, this performance dances through the dangers of heteronormative conditioning and embraces a world of queer fluidity. It explores the journey of outgrowing oneself, shedding the constraints of rigid narratives, and unravelling everything you thought to be true. It presents a queer version of “Happily Never After.”
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/thatsjustthewayitsundone
MASC OFF By Julia Rogers
21 & 22 August at 8.30pm
A custody battle over a dildo, an obsession with Hercules, and a love for big breasts. Recently graduated from university and still reeling from a devastating heartbreak, Masc spends most nights getting intoxicated on Canal Street with her friends, Jazz and Shy. However, as buried trauma starts to emerge from the seams of her oversized jorts, Masc’s refusal to communicate and her tendency to self-destruct threaten to unravel her friendships, work, and love life.
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/mascoff
NORTH SAPPH-FEST runs from 3 – 28 August 2026 at The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper Street, London N1 1RL, United Kingdom.
Shows at 7.00 & 8.30pm
Full Programme details at thehopetheatre.com/northsapphfest
TICKETS: £18 Full. £16 Concs.
