Outside Edge Theatre Company—the UK’s only theatre company focused on addiction—is thrilled to announce that critically acclaimed award-winning playwright Sonya Hale will become our new Associate Theatre Facilitator in November 2018.
Sonya has been supported by Outside Edge Theatre Company since coming into recovery and first made contact with theatre through the drama workshops we offer to people affected by substance misuse. She now facilitates and leads a playwriting group for OETC. Alongside Associate Theatre Facilitator Christopher Holt, who is also a previous service user, Sonya will support Artistic Director Matt Steinberg in the development and delivery of OETC’s programme of participatory drama workshops.
Sonya’s plays have been performed at The Southbank Centre, Latitude Festival, East15 University and in prisons and treatment centres. She has worked with Synergy Theatre Project, Clean Break Theatre Company and Outside Edge Theatre Company. Rehearsed readings of her first play Glory Whisperswere performed at Theatre503 after winning Synergy Theatre Project’s national prison scriptwriting competition. Her monologue play Dean McBridewas a finalist in the inaugural Heretic Voices competition, and was performed at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2018. Sonya co-wrote Bullet Tongue for The Big House, which premieres this month as the inaugural production for their new venue.
Sonya says: “I am very excited, honoured, privileged to be offered this post. I love working for Outside Edge because it is fun, exciting and you never know what is happening next. It deals with a subject matter that is very close to my heart, as I went through the process of recovery myself and Outside Edge Theatre Company saved my life.”
One of OETC’s current participants says: “I’m super excited to see Sonya as the new Associate Theatre Facilitator. After all she’s been through she sure is a role model to me and after working with her in the Writer’s Group, I can’t wait to see what she’ll do in the drama workshops!”
Outside Edge Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Matt Steinberg says: “Sonya is an extraordinary playwright and theatre maker with an unique voice and inspired ideas. Her lived experience of recovery inspires every participant she supports. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to collaborate with her to shape the future of Outside Edge’s work.”