Naomi Sheldon’s award-winning debut play Good Girl, will play at VAULT Festival before transferring to Trafalgar Studios 2. Winner of Voice’s Pick of the Fringe Award, Good Girl is a semi-autobiographical story that examines the dangers of defining ourselves by the opinions of others. We spoke to Naomi Sheldon to find out more.
What can you tell us about Good Girl?
Good Girl is a darkly comic storytelling show about growing up in the 90s, the need to please and big emotions. It’s set to a soundtrack dreams are made of (so mainly Madonna). Oh, and there’s witchcraft. Naturally.
What inspired you to write it?
I went to see a Bridget Christie show in 2016 and the need to write a show that had been bubbling up for some years just went pow! And I had to do it. Seeing Bridget celebrated whilst being passionate and emotional made me think about how long I’d felt ashamed of my strong feelings, how I’d been taught to be ashamed of them, and how hard I’ve tried to hide them (with little success). At the risk of blowing my own trumpet (there goes that apologetic good girl again) Good Girl feels like it’s absolutely the story that needs telling at the moment. It’s about having a voice and a rage and a passion and owning it.
How does it feel performing in a play that you’ve written?
At first it felt seriously exposing. I’d never been so frightened before a show as during my previews. There were some very quick dashes to the loo before we opened the house I can tell you. Performing your own work is a very alive experience because after the show and even during the performance there’s that writer in the back of your head working out what needs changing, what can be improved, made more succinct, funnier. It’s full on. But it’s an amazing, terrifying, empowering job. Like jumping off a cliff and realising you can fly.
How do you think VAULT Festival will help you prepare for the Trafalgar Studios run?
I can’t wait for the VAULT run! I love that festival with all my heart. There’s such a buzz and everyone is willing to take a risk on the shows they see there. It’s very supportive. I think it’ll really help me prepare in a few ways. The Cage has the same seating plan at Trafalgar Studios 2 so I can get used to playing on three sides. There’s a bit of new script I’m playing with too so it’ll give me a chance to test run it. What I’d love at VAULT is to find a community of people who the show really resonates with. I want a big feelings tribe.
It’s your debut work and had some fantastic reviews, how does that make you feel?
I’m just so bloody glad people connect with the show. Most importantly it feels empowering. Transferring my actor skills to writing has felt surprisingly natural and I fully recommend actors make their own work at some point. Of course I end up suffering from the inevitable imposter syndrome. But I’m trying my best to own all the good things that are coming from the show. What means the most is when individuals contact me to say how it’s made them feel less alone, or has articulated something in them they weren’t sure how to describe. I love that. It’s what I set out to do so it shows me the play is doing it’s job properly when that happens.
What do you think was the best thing about growing up in the nineties?
Oh wow. That’s a great question…pop tarts? PJ and Duncan? Tamatgotchis? No, it’s probably the double-edged sword of the Spice Girls and the girl power they propagated. Girl Power ‘philosophy’ had some serious flaws BUT it taught us that when women get together they can achieve extraordinary things. How apt to be saying that this week, on the centenary of the suffrage act.
Good Girl will play at VAULT Festival from 28th February to 4th March, prior to transferring to Trafalgar Studios 2 from 5th to 31st March. Buy Tickets Here
