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Sophie Willan

she/her Contact Patron

Sophie 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.”

A white woman with short red curly hair and a black top

Related items

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    Tue 26 May
    We’re delighted to welcome back to Manchester Literature Festival Booker Prize-winning novelist Douglas Stuart, to discuss his profoundly moving new novel John of John, set on the Isle of Harris. 
    InfoBook now
  2. Bears Bears Bears

    Wed 6 – Sat 16 May
    If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…After committing a violent act with her partner, Jake, feminist Jen becomes obsessed with a survey asking women if they’d rather be alone in a forest with a man or a…

    Contact Presents

    InfoBook now
  3. three artists posing in three separate photos posing for the camera

    Announcing the Artists of 50 Hours of Freedom

    21 June 2023
    In celebration of International Non-Binary People's Day on 14 July, Contact and Manchester International Festival are bringing together three local, non-binary artists to create a new piece of work – and you’re invited to the sharing! This…

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