Interview: Rosie Day on Instructions For a Teenage Armageddon at Southwark Playhouse

Rosie Day is the writer of Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon at Southwark Playhouse’s the Little, which will open on 9 February 2022, running until 5 March.

Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon had a sell-out preview run at the Old Red Lion Theatre in February 2020, and subsequent performances at the Barn Theatre’s first Summer outdoor theatre festival, BarnFest in August 2020.

Rosie Day will also star in Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon which is directed by Georgie Staight and features voice overs from Maxine Peake. Tickets are on sale here.

You’re bringing your solo play, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon, to Southwark Playhouse, what can you tell us about the play?

It’s about a teenage girl forging her way through adolescence, the struggles, the kicks, the punches, set to her weekly scout meetings she reluctantly attends. After the death of her sister, the butterfly effect comes into full force and it’s how she navigates that, amongst other things. It sounds a bit dark, but she’s a very funny, bouncy character who refuses to let the pain in.

You’ve performed the play previously at The Old Red Lion, how have you developed it since those runs?

We did a preview run at The Old Red Lion, and it’s definitely evolved into something bigger. We now have interactive video – so there are other cast members on screen! I love cinema, and I love theatre, so I wanted to do something where you combine the two!

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As your debut play, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is clearly very special to you, have you been pleased by the way audiences have reacted in those previous runs?

I think what’s been amazing is seeing how it was a very universal story. After the preview run, we had 50-year-old men tell us how much they loved it, and grandparents, as well as young people. Everyone has been young once, so I think there’s something in it that everyone can find to relate to and enjoy.

Tell us a little about how your solo performance will be assisted by some very special guest stars?

Through filmed scenes we shot in the summer we have the amazing Amanda Abbington and Philip Glenister playing my Mum and Dad, and the brilliant Isabella Pappas playing my best friend. So even though Isabella is in America right now, she can be on stage with me every night! They’re all so exceptionally talented, I feel very grateful they agreed!

The play has also inspired you to write a book, how did that come about and what did you enjoy most about the experience?

Someone who came to the preview run introduced me to my literary agent who asked whether I’d like to do a non-fiction book for teenage girls, and I jumped at the chance. It was published by Hachette before Christmas. It was a totally unplanned ‘out of the blue’ thing that happened, but I’m so delighted it did – and it kept me very busy when we were all in lockdown! And learning how the publishing industry works was fascinating.

This run was delayed because of the pandemic, how does it feel to finally be bringing it back to the stage?

Amazing – I’m almost too old to play a teenager at this point, so I’m delighted we’ve managed to get it on! Like many people I’ve missed theatre an immeasurable amount over the past two years, so simply to be able to go to the theatre is a real treat, let alone bring the play back!

What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon?

Don’t be put off by the title. It’s not just for young people! But I hope it shines a light on what it is to be young in 2022! It’s very fun. I think. It’s very fun to do – and that seems to rub off!