SOUND STAGE presents premiere of Frances Poet’s new play SOPHIA new play next month

Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh have announced the world premiere of Frances Poet’s new play Sophia, based on the life of Sophia Jex-Blake, Scotland’s first practising female doctor. 

Sophia dives into the story of Sophia Jex-Blake, a formidable woman who battled for a woman’s right to a medical education and license and who went on to become the first practising female doctor in Scotland. In 1869, Blake applied for admission to the Medical Faculty of the University of Edinburgh, only for her application to be rejected on the grounds that the University could not make necessary arrangements “in the interest of one lady”. Poet’s inspiring new play tells the story of Blake’s campaign and the struggles for her and her fellow women to secure the right to a medical education.

Sophia’s exciting cast will feature Madeleine Worrall (Jane Eyre and Peter Pan, National Theatre); Clare Perkins (Emilia, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and West End, Ava Hartman in EastEnders, BBC and soon to be seen in Stephen Merchant’s new television series The Offenders); Paul Higgins (Line of Duty, Hope Springs and The Thick of It, BBC, Utopia, Channel 4 and In The Loop, BBC Films);  Maryam Hamidi (River City, BBC Scotland and Nora: A Doll’s House, Citizens Theatre); Muireann Kelly (In My Father’s Words, Dundee Rep );  and Robin Laing ( DI Donald in River City, BBC Scotland; Gavin Laird in Shetland, BBC Scotland; and Band of Brothers, HBO). 

Sophia will be aired on Sound Stage from 27-29 August. You can find out further information on Sophia by visiting the website here.