BokFest returns to London this June for its second year, extending its queer writing festival to four weeks and showcasing eight plays. The expanded programme highlights fresh voices in queer theatre, supported by artistic directors Josh Maughan and Freddie Acaster.

BokFest, founded by Josh Maughan and Freddie Acaster, will take place at The Hope Theatre from 1 to 27 June 2026. The festival increases its run from three to four weeks and features eight new queer works, up from six in its debut year.

Created to tackle challenges faced by early-career playwrights, BokFest offers more than performance opportunities by providing a full producing framework. This includes connecting writers with collaborators and offering assistance with marketing, press, and technical production, in partnership with The Hope Theatre, where Springbok is an associate company.

The 2026 programme was selected following an open submissions process that attracted a large volume of entries from queer writers. It opens with Mio Lobban’s Baleen (1-3 June), which combines Caribbean folklore with puppetry and movement to explore Black British heritage and queer and trans identity.

Subsequent productions include Rosalie Roger-Lacan’s EAT YOU (4-6 June), a two-hander described as a “cannibal meets stalker lesbian rom-com,” and Wayne Middleton’s The Last Halloween of Diablo (8-10 June), centred on a relationship unfolding at a Halloween party.

Chloe Casel’s MUD (11-13 June) spans four summers at an American camp, focusing on gender identity and adolescence, while Giulia Fincato’s MOTHERTONGUE (15-17 June) examines communication between two women. Silas Thomas’s Ketchup & Mayo (18-20 June) explores family dynamics and ambition.

The festival also presents Tom Homer’s The Worst Possible Nice Thing (22-24 June), set in late 1980s Britain and exploring themes of friendship and secrecy, and concludes with George Rennie’s Tartarus (25-27 June), a gig theatre reimagining of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth.

Visual identity and individual artwork for each production have been created by designer Daniel Hintner. BokFest continues its commitment to nurturing new queer playwrights by facilitating full productions within a supportive, collaborative framework.