The Hope Theatre in Islington has announced full details and release dates for digital project Hope at Home, a 5-part online series of 15-minute monologues each exploring a single fascinating slice of life, created by 25 artists commissioned by the theatre earlier this autumn. The first film will premiere via the theatre’s YouTube channel on Monday 23 November, with the subsequent films released every Monday after that, culminating in a Christmas special on Monday 21 December. Each will be available free for one week but with audiences able to ‘pay what you want’ to encourage access and donations to help secure the future of the critically acclaimed pub theatre.
FULL SCHEDULE
Monday 23 November
MY FATHER’S SHED by Henry Egar
Escaping from his mother’s birthday party, Anthony secretly tries on some new foundation in his family’s shed.
Director: Liz Arday
Assistant Director: Aran Cherkez
Cast: Jacob Seelochan
Monday 30 November
Where The Socks Go By Somebody Jones
Ahead of a really crucial Zoom job interview Max is determined to answer the question we all want the answer to: where do socks go in the wash?
Director: Jeremiah Towolawi
Assistant Director: Grace Currie
Cast: Meesha Turner
Monday 7 December
A MOMENT’S PEACE by Natasha Santos
Hannah loves her son Callum, she does, but what she doesn’t love are the other 25 snot infested children that she’s had to invite over for his 6th birthday.
Director: Charlotte Peters
Assistant Director: Xanthus Peters
Cast: Kate O’Rourke
– A Moment’s Peace will be released as a full unabridged radio play as well as the filmed version of the episode via YouTube.
Monday 14 December
ALMOST THERE by Michael Head
A comic look at the age between not being old but getting there fast.
Director: Simon K Matthews
Assistant Director: Sarah Stacey
Cast: Guy Porritt
Monday 21 December
21 ROUND FOR CHRISTMAS Matt Ballantyne & Toby Hampton
Wine, turkey, laughter and dirty family history swept neatly under the carpet until Boxing Day. We join the world of Tracy, a day-dreaming housewife who is in the midst of cooking Christmas Dinner for her family – her large family.
Director: Toby Hampton
Assistant Director: Emma Louise Howell
Cast: Clare Bloomer
Hope at Home was made possible thanks to funding from City Bridge Trust as part of a bid from the London Community Response Fund.
Kennedy Bloomer, the Artistic Director of the theatre since January 2020 said, “We’re so excited to share these stories online, and to be able to reach as many people as possible with our PAY WHAT YOU CAN initiative while our doors are closed. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the theatre in 2021.”