We’re on episode 13 of our Isolation series where we get to chat with some of UK theatre’s most influential names and today we sit down with the Hope Theatre’s Artistic Director, Kennedy Bloomer.

As well as this role, Kennedy is a freelance director, with credits including Offie nominated ‘When it happens’ which was performed at the Tristan Bates Theatre as part of the Camden Fringe, Jew…ish, which was performed at last year’s Edinburgh fringe, and transferred to The Kings Head in January. At the beginning of this year Kennedy moved on from her role as head of marketing and publications at the Jermyn Street Theatre to become Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre. The Hope itself is one of London’s most special fringe venues. As a multi-award winning theatre, it nurtures and develops new producing models, working with exciting companies to present a mix of new writing, lost gems from well-known writers, re-polished classics and innovatively staged musicals. The Hope was also the first Off West End venue to open with a house agreement with Equity, the UK’s largest performers union, to ensure a legal wage for all actors, stage managers and box office staff working at the theatre.

Speaking to our own Grace Quigley, Kennedy opens up about the struggles the theatre has faced since lockdown, as well as revealing she was only two months and seventeen days into the role when it started! She talks about moving their content online, ensuring she still pays her staff despite struggling financially and her commitment to making theatre more accessible when they reopen.

Visit the AYT YouTube page to watch the interview and don’t forget to subscribe!