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
Commission Announcement: Rory Aaron's 'This Town'
26 April 2023We will be working closely with Rory through his rehearsal and production process, to bring Rory’s brilliant long narrative poem to life. Rory’s process will be enriched by the presence of a strong creative team: Director/ Dramaturg Cheryl…Contact announces stellar line up of its first Patrons
23 June 2023Contact in Manchester is celebrating the arrival of ten, newly appointed Patrons for the first time in its 50-year history. Ranging from past members of Contact Young Company, actors, artists, and filmmakers to a previous mayor of…Human Rights Tattoo Project visited the UK!
19 September 2023One small letter has the power to make a change Human Rights Tattoo is tattooing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 6773 people around the world. One character – one person. And we were delighted to host it coming to the UK for…