Sophie Willan
she/her Contact PatronSophie Willan is a sharp, eccentric and provocative multi-award-winning writer, producer, comedian and actor from Bolton. Her BAFTA-showered BBC comedy Alma’s Not Normal draws on her history of care and escort work and has its own history with Contact’s rehearsal and performance spaces. Alma’s audition scene was filmed in Contact’s main theatre space and Sophie’s precursory show Branded (2017) was developed and performed there before taking the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm. In the formative years of her career, Sophie was a member of Contact Young Company and co-founder of Contact’s long-time friends, theatre/cabaret group Eggs Collective.
“Contact is more than an arts venue. It’s a home and a community where new artists and young people are listened to, nurtured and expertly developed in a way that no other venue does. I learnt so much about myself and my practice growing up in that building throughout my twenties. And I’m so excited to now be a patron, who will have the privilege and joy of watching and supporting the next generation of voices at Contact as they become leaders, activists and creative spearheads.”
Related items

Why Creativity and Connection Matter for Men’s Mental Health
27 June 2025More Than Just an Arts Venue
An Update from Contact
14 December 2023The completion of Contact’s recent capital development project endured substantial delays due to Covid and resulted in major increases in the costs of running the building. The business model produced many years ago to support the capital…
Announcing Manchester's 2023 Agents
20 April 2023In 2023, funding has been awarded to four brilliant young people - known as Agents - across three outstanding projects that aim to widen access and brighten futures for communities in North Manchester. The Agency is a creative youth…