Annabelle and Ben are struggling. They hate their jobs, their flat, and maybe each other. But what’s going to fix it all? 
A dinner party, of course. 

Annabelle invites her two closest university friends, Leah and Maddy, and tells them to bring their new partners. She’s adamant this gathering is going to be civilised, classy, and adult, but the night unravels fast. Leah brings a 20-year-old philosophy student she picked up at a Buddhist retreat. Maddy brings a fuzzy blue puppet. Love, loss, queerness, and intermittent veganism are explored as this rag-tag group muddle their way through one fateful evening. As wine flows and old feelings resurface, all six are forced to confront what love really means - and at the end of the night, who's going home with who? 

An absurd new play about the lengths we will go to avoid being alone, The Risotto is Burning will make you laugh, gasp, and reexamine your life choices. 

This one-act was developed in Kick it Anywhere’s writing group, premiered in Victoria, Canada earlier this summer to a sold-out audience at the Belfry Theatre, and is making its London debut at The Hope Theatre! 

Written by Sophie Underwood, a playwright, puppeteer, and theatre maker originally from Canada, now living and working in London. 

Part of North Sapph-Fest 2026

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Running Time - 45 minutes

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UNDER 18s ARE NOT PERMITTED INTO THE THEATRE FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. 

Latecomers may not be admitted. 
Refunds and exchanges are not available.