Introducing…Sophie Willan

‘I definitely think that madness makes you more interesting…’

Both brutally honest and gloriously unpredictable, Sophie Willan takes inspiration from her unusual life experiences in order to produce bold, unapologetic and political work.

Born to a mother who had suffered from a lifetime of drug addiction, Sophie was brought up in and out of care system around droves of charismatic Boltonian women. One such woman was her grandmother, who introduced her to film and comedy as a child and encouraged her ambition to be a writer and to perform. Together they devoured Victoria Wood’s comedy, films with Julia Walters in, and the works of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. Passionate about working class issues and Northern voices, her grandmother ignited the spark and fanned the flames of Sophie’s success.

And what a success of it she has made. In 2015, Sophie secured funding of over £100k to create the dynamic multi-platform project, Stories Of Care. The work Stories Of Care does with Care-Leavers across Greater Manchester has become a national talking point, establishing Sophie as one of the UK’s leading ambassadors for Homeless Young People and Care-Leavers.

Flippant, funny and defiant, Sophie will warm you with her open candour.

She has been nominated for a 2017 Chortle Award for ‘Best Newcomer’, and her career shows no signs of slowing!