REVIEW: DAD @ THE HOPE THEATRE

🎭 Dad

📍 The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper Street, London, N1 1RL

🗓 Tuesday 25th August 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

PARTY POPPERS AND PARENTAL PROTECTIVENESS

It is the final week of North Sapph-Fest, and I found myself heading over to Islington to finally catch up with the inaugural, month-long theatre festival taking over The Hope Theatre. For those who haven’t been tracking it, this festival is a massive, much-needed platform specifically dedicated to celebrating the bold, genre-defying work of queer women and non-binary artists. It’s been an incredible showcase of grassroots talent, and I was thrilled to make it to this pub theatre for its final stretch to catch DAD.

As I headed upstairs and entered the intimate performance space, I was immediately invited straight into the world of Ellis, who was busy setting up for a party. Before the play even technically "started", I was handed a paper hat and a party popper, and quite hilariously left in charge of a teddy bear. Safe to say, I was instantly charmed and completely ready for whatever the play had in store!

At its heart, DAD is a contemporary queer drama and parable. The plot follows Ellis, a non-binary parent who is navigating life and grief after the recent death of their partner. Ellis’s entire world revolves around raising their four-year-old daughter, Becky, to be her most authentic self in a happy, loving environment. However, as society shifts and discriminatory laws start passing, the local community turns hostile. Ellis is cast out of the neighbourhood mother’s group and targeted by spying neighbours, transforming their life into a state-sanctioned witch-hunt and a terrifying custody battle for their own daughter.

James Robertson's writing for the most part is succinct, and it moves the narrative along at a pace that manages to keep the audience thoroughly engaged without ever rushing through the heavy themes. There are some incredibly sensitive moments here which are handled with immense dignity and grace. Being in such an intimate space really allowed me to absorb the raw emotions of the piece, and I truly felt every bit of the heartbreak and anxiety that Ellis was experiencing on that stage.

A massive part of that emotional pull comes down to Sven Ironside’s incredible performance as Ellis. The truth they bring to the role is sublime. Ironside anchors the entire production with a vulnerability that is deeply moving, balancing the fierce protectiveness of a parent with the crushing weight of a society trying to tear them down. It’s a stellar piece of acting.

Matching them beat-for-beat is Anna Roenigk, who gave a great multi-role performance, playing all the people surrounding Ellis throughout this tumultuous journey. Roenigk plays everyone from the supportive friend to the nosy neighbour, the judgemental school-gate mums, and cold legal personnel. Remarkably, with absolutely no costume changes, Roenigk manages to bring a distinct believability and individual energy to each role, shifting seamlessly between characters with impressive precision.

Kit McGuire's direction really understood the space and utilised it beautifully, filling every corner of The Hope's compact stage. McGuire keeps the staging dynamic, ensuring the transition from a joyful children's party to a claustrophobic legal battle feels organic and impactful.

As Ellis goes down a rabbit hole, struggling to remain true to themselves while trying to be the absolute best parent they can be, DAD really pulls at the heartstrings and brings to the forefront the systemic struggles that non-binary people face every single day.

This is an emotional, truthful piece of theatre that sucks you right into its heart. It has a remarkably strong, urgent message, but it crucially never feels preachy. I felt the pacing dropped slightly in intensity around the middle of the 60-minute run, but thankfully, this picked up again quickly. Perhaps it's just a small bump in the road, but as this piece continues to be developed, it can only become more powerful.

I would love to see DAD get a longer run in the future, but I firmly feel it needs to remain in a smaller, intimate venue like this to really thrive and give the audience the best, most immersive experience.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Dad was gifted by Matthew Parker PR who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

CAST:

Sven Ironside as Ellis; Anna Roenigk as multiple roles

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Includes themes of transphobia and death

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

18+

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