Rebel Violets discuss They Were Roommates at The Hope Theatre for North Sapph Fest
August really is a busy month. While many eyes turn to Edinburgh, back in London much of the attention is on Camden Fringe. But this year The Hope Theatre is doing its own thing; North Sapph-Fest, a bold new festival celebrating queer women & non-binary voices. You can fid out what’s playing here, while here at ET we’re hoping to publish interviews with a few of the people involved this year, so watch out for these over the next couple of weeks.
What happens when you combine the nostalgic charm of The Wedding Singer and the vibrant ensemble warmth of Living Single with an unapologetically sapphic love story? You get They Were Roommates, making its debut at The Hope Theatre as part of the inaugural North SapphFest 2026.
Produced by Rebel Violets and written by Song Marshall, this wholesome, nostalgic rom-com flips the script on traditional queer theatre. Instead of focusing on trauma or pushing Black and Brown women into side-character subplots, They Were Roommates puts a plus-sized Black woman right where she belongs: at the centre of the romance. Directed by Catherine Mieses with sound design and original music by Janhavi Shivalkar and Odiesia Daley, this production is a warm hug of a show designed to fill hearts with hope, laughter, and community.
We sat down with Song, Janhavi, Odiesia, and Catherine to talk about creating space for BIPOC sapphic joy, the power of a Chappell Roan soundtrack, and why we all need a break from trauma-centric storytelling.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
Our vibe is a 90s/early 2000s romantic dramedy with a sapphic flare, like if The Wedding Singer and Living Single were sapphic!
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
Because the world is on fire and we need a bit of joy in our lives! With so many of our most vulnerable and marginalized communities under legislative attack across the globe, it feels particularly important to remind folks of our humanity, that we live, breathe, work, and love just as everyone else does. But also, it’s crucial to represent Black and Brown folks who are often left out of the conversation within our queer community as well.
As this is the festival’s first year, what was it that made you want to be part of it?
The second I found out about a Sapphic festival, I knew I wanted to be part of it. Literally: “It sounds gay, I’m in!” But honestly, since They Were Roommates is a sapphic love story, it seemed like the absolute perfect fit.
What was the ‘eureka moment’ that made you realise this story had to be told right now?
I had finally sat down and watched Heartstopper in early 2024, and while I enjoyed the show, I realized how often in these queer shows they have one lesbian couple that exists as a secondary subplot. I thought: Where is the wholesome sapphic love story where the women aren’t a subplot, but the main story? I was annoyed that aside from The L Word, I couldn’t name any, and certainly not with a plus-sized Black woman as the romantic lead and love interest. So I decided to write one, because we deserve to see ourselves as the main story, too.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
Writing is still very new for me. The first show I wrote explored topics that were very important and topical, but it was quite heavy. This time around, I wanted something fun and happy. I wanted to write something that would be relatable for folks in the queer community that didn’t focus on trauma, because trauma is not all that we are. I am not interested in plumbing the depths of despair right now. In this current political climate, I am more interested in seeing the everyday kindnesses of care and community, of people holding space for each other, laughter, and friendship. So I wrote the kind of show I would want to see, one that would have been a comfort watch for me growing up.
What is it about the show that you most enjoy?
JANHAVI: I think there’s a real lack of sapphic theatre, especially theatre dealing with sapphic joy, and I think this show is a welcome and necessary antidote.
ODIESIA: I love being the audience perspective, yelling at these hopeless friends of mine to just kiss already!
Being fringe and a festival, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this?
Imagination, a talented cast and crew, and suspension of disbelief! Our incredible Director, Catherine Mieses, and wonderful sound designer, Janhavi Shivalkar, collaborated together to make the sound and lighting design fill in the gaps. Plus, the lovely Odiesia Daley wrote some fun music for us, all working together to bring Song Marshall’s words to life.
What does “success” look like for you this August, beyond just selling tickets?
Honestly, if folks resonate with the story, feel seen, or just walk away from this show with a light and happy heart, maybe some warm fuzzy feelings, I will be a very happy woman indeed.
If your show had a soundtrack, what songs would definitely be on it, and why?
“Tell Her” by Mia Wray and “Naked in Manhattan” by Chappell Roan. They are both songs about having a crush on your friend and how scary it can be to realise that you feel a different way for someone in your life. But both songs are upbeat and have a hopeful, joyful energy to them.
If your show was a drink at the venue bar, what would be the ingredients?
Well, Malbec comes up in the show, but probably a gin-based drink with ginger, hibiscus, and something with bubbles!
If budget or reality was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery/set you’d love to have in your show?
A bridge! You’ll have to come and see the show if you want the context.
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received during your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?
“When we share ourselves and allow ourselves to be vulnerable, it gives other people permission to do the same.” — Song Marshall
Many thanks to Song, Catherine, Janhavi and Odiesia for their time. They Were Roommates will play at The Hope Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 August as part of the North Sapph Fest 2026.
