Meet Alice Stephens, a Creative Writing PHD student at the University of Essex who has made a positive impact for the LGBTQ+ community in Essex and around the UK.
Her play ‘Spit It Out’ has been touring around the country. The is a play which explores the difficulties of coming out as a transgender woman to family, the workplace, and the world of dating – and how the pressures of that struggle to come out can exacerbate a strain on supportive friendships. The initial draft of the play was their original dissertation project.
The birth of ‘Spit It Out’ all began when she was performing a poetry reading in Colchester City Centre. Alice mentioned she had a play sitting in her drawer that she never expected to see the light of day. To her surprise the café owner offered right then to stage it in the café venue. In the following weeks, she took on the role of producer, casted several actors, including the lead role played by a trans woman, briefed a graphic designer and worked with her crew to bring her play to life.
“What was amazing to me was that we were able to do all of this with a 100% LGBTQ+ cast, crew, and contractors. Real opportunities being given directly to people from under-represented backgrounds in the industry”
- Alice Stephens
This all led to a sold-out staged reading in Colchester in November 2023. Since then Alice’s play, Spit It Out has been included in Lakeside Theatre at Essex campus, Pinch of Vault Festival and King’s Head Theatre in London, Brighton Fringe and most recently for 4 nights included in Colchester Fringe
Following the success of Spit It Out, Hissing Goose Films following the crew in rehearsals and stage performances to include in their feature-length documentary, which aims to showcase trans-led projects around the UK. Alice’s next play Gunpowder Necklace, depicting two transgender woman who have been found guilty of witchcraft, is soon to be performed at a festival that specialises in showcasing work from trans theatre-makers. Feeling inspired by the story of Alice Stephens? She leads the weekly Community Creative Writing Projects brought to you through SU VTeam. Free to join and open to all students.