The Hope Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Laurel Marks and Toby Hampton
Just over a year ago, there was a fear we’d be losing one of our amazing pub theatres when The Hope Theatre announced its closure. But thankfully it never happened, with Laurel Marks and Toby Hampton arriving to save the day.
A year on from officially taking over as co-Artistic Directors, we caught up with them to find out how it’s going, and more importantly, what they have planned for the future – something that includes their first in-house production of Hampton’s own play, Grace Mistake.
Grave Mistake
The Hope Theatre
Tuesday 27 May – Saturday 7 June
“Rule Number One: Funerals are spiritual, we are not.”
Burke & Sons Family Funerals are in crisis!
This funeral directorship has been established for over a hundred and fifty years, being safely handed down through the generations – Right up to the point Regina got hold of it!
Her latest in a long line of life ambitions is to open Jolly Gina’s Gin Bar & Spa, in the intimate yet spacious area of the building between the second floor and the roof, which the unimaginative might call… the loft.
Harriet, Regina’s sister and business partner, is left with a seemingly impossible task – save the business from bankruptcy!
The solution?
Do more funerals, obviously!
Harriet and Regina, together with hapless new intern, Malcolm, plan to run two funerals at once.
The first for Mrs Clarke, an unfortunate widow with a bit of a crush on Malcolm.
The second for Mrs Farrington, an ambitious social climber with an eye on the Burke’s family business.
Chaos descends as they wade their way through sandwich mix ups, mistaken identities, quite a lot of gin and… wait… was it Vivaldi or Frankie Valli?!
Can they pull off the impossible or have they made a…*clears throat… Grave Mistake?!
Matthew Ballantyne & Toby Hampton reunite to write this fast-paced & witty new comedy after their 5-star, award-nominated run of ‘21 Round For Christmas’ at Park Theatre in 2023.
Produced by the award-winning in-house team at The Hope Theatre, Grave Mistake is sure to be a hilarious, chaotic treat!
Further information and tickets available here.
