REVIEW: THE WAKE @ THE HOPE THEATRE

🎭 The Wake

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

🗓 Friday 28th August 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

SANDWICHES, SIN, AND SAPPHIC SUCCESS

What an absolute privilege it was to be invited along to the final week of the inaugural North Sapph-Fest at The Hope Theatre in Islington. For those who haven’t got the memo yet, this brilliant new festival is a much-needed celebration of queer women and non-binary voices, bringing fresh, vital stories to the London fringe scene. The energy in the space was already buzzing, but the final show of this premiere outing was something truly special - a gorgeous new piece called THE WAKE - and honestly, what a way to close the festival.

Now, anyone who knows me knows I love a kitchen-sink drama, but this piece takes that concept, turns it on its head, and serves it up with a side of dark, satirical brilliance. The play plunges us straight into the chaotic heart of a modern Irish family gathering on the day of their matriarch’s funeral, with the action taking place across a single day. It is a masterclass in exploring the uniquely Irish attitude towards death, grief, and the absolute chaos of family obligation, with these dynamics being captured flawlessly. It’s a pressure-cooker environment filled with old resentments, Catholic kitsch, and a mountain of traditional sandwiches, where the boundary between crying from sadness and laughing from hysteria completely dissolves.

And oh boy, those Irish family dynamics are spot on. It is loud, messy, and deeply affectionate all at once. Emma Langan’s writing is nothing short of brilliant here. She strikes this incredibly delicate, wonderful balance between laugh-out-loud comedy and deeply heartfelt, tender moments that leave you in a breathless silence. The story and momentum never drop for a single second. It is so utterly engaging that the audience was practically gasping for breath between laughs before being hit right in the feels.

You don't normally see a cast of this size packed into such an intimate, 50-seat space. Usually, a big ensemble in a small room can feel a bit much, but both the writing and the razor-sharp direction ensure that the stage never feels claustrophobic - even on the night I attended, which was completely sold out.

The exceptional cast brought this piece to life with unbelievable chemistry. Kevin C. Olohan gives a stunning performance, delivering a frighteningly realistic depiction of someone riding high on narcotics, yet somehow pitching it so perfectly that it feels genuinely funny rather than purely tragic, which is a seriously tough tightrope to walk. Opposite him, Rua Barron is fantastically neurotic as the sister desperately trying to hold the entire family together as the wheels fall off.

Caroline Kane brings the real emotional heart to the piece. You feel every ounce of empathy for their character as they struggle to figure out exactly where they belong, both geographically and within the family hierarchy. Daniel Keogh grounds the room with such a warm, calming presence, while Nathan Patterson frequently provides the comic relief, pitching his beats just right without ever overshadowing the drama.

I left the theatre buzzing and genuinely excited to see what is next from both the cast and the creatives of this brilliant piece of theatre. This was a fantastic, five-star finale to a hugely successful premiere outing for North Sapph-Fest. I'm already counting down the days until next year's festival.

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 The Wakw 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:

Caroline Kane as El; Rua Barron as Caroline; Kevin C. Olohan as Paddy; Padráig Lynch as David; Daniel Keogh as Father Fagan; Nathan Patterson as Tom; Brian Raftery as Eamonn; Siún O'Kane as Kate

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Discussion of terminal illness and death; Grief; Coffin on stage; Depictions of drug use

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

18+

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