Ep. 65: Sarah Middleton on parental pressure and teens in theatre

Sarah Middleton is the writer of a new female-led coming-of-age production perfect for teenage girls (age advice is 12+). SHEWOLVES had an incredibly successful and highly critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was named one of The Stage's 'Best shows of 2022'. It is now heading to the Southwark Playhouse from 21 June – 8 July 2023 and it's a really lovely, exhilarating piece for teens and adults alike. Sarah says teens are hugely under-represented in the theatre, and she aims to put that right with this, and other initiatives she runs with teenagers - some of them will perform ahead of the main show in Southwark. She also says she never sees teens in fiction doing what they do in real life - snack! Armed with a backpack full of Pop-tarts, Priya and Lou embark on a covert expedition into the wild. They want to fight back against the climate crisis and make real change, but when the wilderness closes in around them, first they have to overcome their differences and make their voices heard. Somewhere between Booksmart, Little Miss Sunshine and Thelma & Louise, SHEWOLVES is a funny and empowering play about forging friendships when you're a bit weird, the power of hope and the underestimated smartness of teens.  Sarah also tells me about how - after winning a scholarship to a private school - she witnessed the effects of parental pressure on other girls before she thought they were ready to handle it. Have a listen, I think you'll find something that resonates.