Naomi Sheldon: 13 questions
Good Girl, by writer and actor Naomi Sheldon, was one of the hits of 2017’s Edinburgh Festival. The tale of adolescence, and of struggling to be what people think you should be while feeling emotions in the most extreme way, struck a chord with both critics and audiences. After a brief stop at this year’s VAULT Festival, Good Girl makes the leap to the West End, where it plays at the intimate Trafalgar Studios 2. Naomi Sheldon tells us more about the play, what inspired her to write it and her favourite places in London: [caption id="attachment_283316" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Good Girl at Trafalgar Studios[/caption]
How would you describe Good Girl?
It’s a darkly comic solo show about growing up, disassociation and big emotions set to a very, very cool soundtrack.
What inspired you to write it?
Watching Bridget Christie being an incredible whirlwind of furious emotion in her Edinburgh show in 2016 inspired me to write about how often we’re forced to push down our strong feelings and cut off our gut instinct in order to be liked, accepted or “good”. I wanted to connect with people and see if there are any other big feelers out there in the wilderness. There are lots, as it turns out!
How do you find being a cast of one?
It’s funny, because I make so much eye contact with the audience and it feels like I’m telling everyone in that room this story, I often don’t feel like it’s a cast of one. There’s a whole room of us making this show together. It’s different with different audiences. It’s really intimate. The dressing room chat is pretty dull, though. I could do with a mate to get ready with backstage!
Did anything surprise you when you first performed Good Girl for an audience?
Yes. I wasn’t expecting so many people to be nudging each other with self-recognition when GG does something they used to do. I love that.
How do you feel about bringing Good Girl to Trafalgar Studios?
I’m over the moon to be at Trafalgar Studios. We’ve tried to keep the ticket prices low so that audiences who may not usually be able to afford West End shows can still go. I’m very pleased to be able to tell this story to a wider audience and it feels like the right time for people to hear it. It’s why we’ve set up a series of post-show panel talks on emotion every Tuesday in March. We want to make the best use of this space and to continue the conversation about emotion, sex, identity and politics. [caption id="attachment_283329" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Naomi Sheldon stars in Good Girl at Trafalgar Studios (Image: Felicity Crawshaw, courtesy of Flick Morris PR)[/caption]
What was your first experience of theatre?
Seeing The Wizard Of Oz at the West Yorkshire Playhouse with my dad. The costumes, colours and smells felt like magic.
Why is watching a live performance so special?
I think it’s particularly special because live performance is experienced with a community of people. You are part of an event, a night, a collective experience that can’t be recreated in quite the same way ever again.
What one piece of advice would you give aspiring performers?
Make your own cake! That’s a quote from Cariad Lloyd that I had up in my room while writing Good Girl. Making your own work is incredibly empowering.
Apart from Trafalgar Studios, which is your favourite London theatre?
The Young Vic because they consistently programme exciting work, because of the stripped back aesthetic and because of their new Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah.
Why do you think London is such a great place to experience theatre?
Just look around, there’s just so much on, from fringe to West End theatre. The best thing is the prices are still relatively low, certainly in comparison to New York.
Which one other London show are you excited about at the moment?
Anything that is on at the VAULT Festival. It’s such a vibrant, exciting place for emerging writers and performers.
Where is your favourite place to visit in London?
I love wandering around the National Portrait Gallery. The views from the restaurant at the top of the building are breath-taking.
What’s your top tip for a trip to the theatre?
Go to a preview! Not only are they cheaper but you get that edge of excitement in the air when a production is coming together.