Sorcha Harris (No.3, 2015-2019) is a Theatre Maker and Facilitator from the UK and Ireland. She is a recent graduate of the Lir Academy with an MFA in Theatre Directing. Sorcha is a member of the Young Vic Genesis Network as a Director and completed the Exeter Northcott Artist Programme as a Writer and Director. She makes playful, energetic, multidisciplinary theatre involving her love of music and movement. Sorcha has worked in community and outreach projects in the UK and Ireland as a facilitator and maker. She has worked as an opera singer and has been a member of Berlin Opera Academy. Sorcha is currently a recipient of the ‘No Strings Attached’ Bursary from Farnham Maltings. 

1. What is your favourite memory of Roedean?

My favourite memory of Roedean would be my final International Women’s Day. Every IWD that Roedean hosted when I was a student was inspirational. But something about my final year; the last time I would go to these talks, the last time me and my friends could wander around the halls finding our next speaker to collect and bring to the talk. The freedom of that day, and the joy of hearing these amazing stories and sharing them with my friends. I always felt privileged on those days.

But also, lunchtimes were my favourite memories. Eating my weight in soup, laughing with my friends and then running to various play rehearsals or music lessons.

2. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at School?

This isn’t a specific piece of advice but so many of my teachers encouraged me to challenge myself. Getting into Roedean was enough of a challenge and keeping up with my extremely clever and talented cohort was demanding but my teachers always encouraged me to keep trying and learn from my mistakes. There was a lot I felt I couldn’t do when I came to Roedean and my friends and teachers really showed me that I was wrong.

3. When you were at Roedean, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?

I wanted to be a Theatre Director.

4. What are you now that you’ve grown up?

I am working as a Theatre Director. But I am also many other things. I am a Dramaturg, I teach drama, I am a writer, and I facilitate workshops in my local community.

5. What does your job involve?

My job involves lots and lots of applications. I am constantly applying for bursaries, or awards that will allow me to make my own work. I try to build my portfolio and make things I am proud of. My outreach work involves a lot of logistical planning but then I get to share my skills with a new group of people and learn so much from them. My jobs, all of them, are about collaboration. My job is to make theatre, or to help others make theatre.

6. What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of getting into my Masters program in the Lir Academy, Dublin. It’s been my dream for so many years to direct, and to have the opportunity to just direct for a whole year was invaluable. I was one of four directors selected and one of their youngest ever directors to be accepted. It was a huge achievement and one, despite the challenge of the course, that I will cling on to when I feel like I should give up.

7. What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?

I need my music so I would have to take some kind of solar powered iPod that had years worth of music downloaded. I would take The Criterion Collection bookshelves of DVDs and a solar powered DVD player.

8. What books have had a significant influence on you and why?

I am a literature girl. My classes with Mr Woodhouse were some of my favourites. I think I would say that Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s ‘A Ghost in the Throat’ will always be one of my favourite books. The writing style and the experiment in form is so bold and wonderful to read. ‘The Waves’ by Virginia Woolf.  I have the most beautiful copy that was given to me after I started Roedean. I think Virginia Woolf will always be inspirational to me and I return to ‘The Waves’ because it is so lyrical and feels so comforting to me. ‘Brave New World’ by Huxley is a book that I really associate with my time at Roedean, as I painfully wrote my coursework on it. The dystopian and political nature of the book reminds me of the fire I have inside myself and how angry I am at our political systems and what they have done to us. There are some writers like Woolf or Lorde or Babitz who I will always be thinking about. Who I continue to read and obsess over and adore.

9. What is on your bucket list?

I would like to direct a piece of new writing for a large ensemble at the National Theatre. I would like it to be something political, daring and ultimately something enjoyable.

I would like to tour the world with my work and be able to create performances for people who don’t have access to theatre.

I would like to be successful enough to come back to Roedean and give a speech for Speech Day. I’ve done International Women’s Day once now, and I want to go the next step up!

10. If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do?

Right now, I would give buckets of money to charity. The world continues to be such a dark place and the only thing I would really want to do is donate that money to the people and organisations that need it most.

And, seeing as it’s unlimited, I would buy myself a house, with a studio in it and I would buy a theatre space that I would use for community work.