A brand new theatrical adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel Fever Pitch is set to open at the Hope Theatre in Islington on 31 August, running until 25 September, and directed by the venue’s current Artistic Director Kennedy Bloomer. We talk to Kennedy about the production and her time working at the venue.

Tell us about the current production that you are directing, Fever Pitch. 

Fever Pitch is based on the bestselling memoir by Nick Hornby and has been adapted by the incredible Joel Samuels. It’s an exhilarating, moving and brutally funny love letter that will appeal to football obsessives and football haters alike. The show charts over two decades of one man’s total and utter obsession with Arsenal Football Club. A treatise on what it means to be a fanatic and what that means for everyone in our lives who isn’t.  

How have you approached translating the memoir from page to stage? 

I worked with Joel to establish the important matches, dates and memories from the memoir that we wanted to incorporate and moved through several drafts with a reading, a research and development period and then finally to rehearsals. 

Are rehearsals going well? 

We’re having the best time in rehearsals. There have been moments where we’ve all been in side-splitting hysterics, working on different kinds of fan celebrations and fan heartbreak as well. There are 51 ensemble characters in the play and it’s been incredible getting to see them all start coming to life.  

What is your favourite part of the creative process? 

My favourite part is definitely the rehearsal period and coming in to the room with a melting pot of ideas from everyone in the company and then streamlining them during the process. Also, you can’t beat the feeling of the first time an audience sees the show and how they respond.  

Are you a football fan yourself? 

I’m a proud Gooner but came to football later in life. At school, the girls were always sent off to do badminton and we never had the opportunity to learn the skills and not be afraid of failing so it didn’t feel like something I was allowed to access without ridicule. However, after finding the wonderful Brockwell United FC, I now train every week with them in a inclusive and supportive environment.  

Do you need to be able to appreciate football to fully invest in the show? 

Absolutely not. The show details the life of an obsessive and those around them who are affected by that, football fans or not. Everyone will be able to find something of themselves within the characters.  

This marks your first and last in-house production at the Hope Theatre after you successfully steered the theatre through the pandemic. Does it feel slightly bittersweet for you?  

Definitely but in a way that I’ll miss working with the team, companies, bar staff and seeing the regulars everyday again. It’s definitely a great show to do as my first/last as it really speaks to the community around The Hope and the history of Islington.  

You started at the venue as a Theatre Assistant in 2017 and only a few years later, you became the Artistic Director. Have you enjoyed your time at the Hope and how was it progressing through the ranks? 

Absolutely! I felt like I hardly knew anything when I became Theatre Assistant and had never experienced fringe theatre before. I come from Brierley Hill in the West Midlands and only sometimes got taken to commercial theatre as a child. It’s been incredible getting to see how a pub theatre works, meeting people and getting the AD job in August 2019 was the cherry on top.  

You are leaving the venue to pursue a career in teaching, which is incredible in itself. Is teaching something you have always wanted to do? 

It’s something I did before moving to London and it was a really tough decision to leave the students. However, I wanted to be able to give one day go back into teaching but with industry experience and more thorough subject knowledge. Especially now drama is being pushed out of schools, I think it’s important to highlight how incredible it is to help students access their “core” subjects and to instil confidence, teamwork etc.  

Lastly, how would you encourage people to buy a ticket for Fever Pitch? 

Love football or hate football, come and celebrate a night back at theatre even if you’ve never been before! We’ve been closed for 15 months and we can’t wait to entertain you.  

For more information and to book tickets for Fever Pitch, please click here.