“The light of memory, or rather the light that memory lends to things, is the palest light of all. I am not quite sure whether I am dreaming or remembering, whether I have lived my life or dreamed it. Just as dreams do, memory makes me profoundly aware of the unreality, the evanescence of the world, a fleeting image in the moving water.” – Eugene Ionesco I came to Theatre de la Huchette for the first time with my mum, to see The Bald Primadonna, the longest continually runnin

Originally written for Gladstone's Library's blog during my residency there in October. It’s a strange month to be on retreat from reality, these final days of our membership of the EU (or perhaps not), as the clock ticks down to Halloween and all the ghoulish things it harbours. Out in the world I know I wouldn’t be able to draw my eyes away from Twitter for more than a few minutes at a time, but a couple of days after I arrived at Gladstone’s I logged off all my social medi

I like to do it in the mornings. I make a strong cup of coffee and climb back into my bed, sit there with my laptop as the sun climbs outsid

This originally appeared on The Pool (RIP). As it's sadly not available there any longer, and this week is Mental Health Awareness week, I thought I'd share it here. I’ve always been the type of friend with a lot of opinions to share – whether it’s Brexit or your boss or why you should put the clotted cream on your scone first, I’ve got something to say about it. If an acquaintance comes to me with a problem, my first impulse is to tell them exactly what they should do to res

Working in the arts gets you into some strange situations. Over the last year, the unlikely trajectory of my career has led to me attempting to familiarise myself with the entire artistic landscape of a country I’d never been to before, with four languages – not a single one of which I can speak. Just because you have imposter syndrome, it doesn’t mean you aren’t totally out of your depth. Still, what I lack in expertise I make up for with willingness-to-have-a-crack-at-it. S

HUGE thanks to the marvellous team from Gladstone Library for a wonderful night celebrating the 2019 writers-in-residence at the Liberal Arts Club in Westminster. It was so, so inspiring to hear more about all the projects my fellow writers will be working on during the year, and I feel very lucky indeed to be in their company - and to enjoy a wonderful three course dinner! Here's a photo of me celebrating my politics-in-residence prize with the great man himself. I may have

I'm over the MOON to have been selected as political writer-in-residence for the extraordinarily beautiful Gladstone Library, where I'll be living and working for three weeks next October, and to be in the company of such an august group of writers. You can learn more about the awards here.

So thrilled that Twenty Theatres To See Before You Die has received this thoughtful, detailed review in the latest edition of The Times Literary Supplement.

On 8th August, we launched 20 Theatres to See Before You Die at Edinburgh's best independent bookshop, Golden Hare Books. Matt Trueman was a consummate chair for a wonderfully attentive audience. Huge thanks to Penned in the Margins and Golden Hare Books for organising it, and to Mobius Industries who PAID FOR THE BOOZE. All the more appreciated because it was my birthday too! The very talented Madeleine Rose took the snap above on the night - you can see here full album from

A few weeks ago I shared my response to the Department for Work and Pension's request that I work on their campaign to empowering women in employment - for free. While the irony seemed to have escaped the DWP, it didn't escape Twitter, and the exchange went viral - as well as being picked up by titles including The Sun, The Big Issue and The Mirror.