Interview with Sophie Max

What happens when the people who are supposed to protect us become the very people we fear, and can we ever truly escape the shadows of our childhood? These are some of the difficult questions at the heart of Sharp Edges, a darkly comedic one-woman drama written and performed by Sophie Max. Inspired by Sophocles' Greek tragedy Electra, the play brings an ancient story of grief, family and retribution into a contemporary world, following Ellie as she confronts the violent experiences that have shaped her life and considers whether she can finally right the wrongs of her past. With its exploration of trauma, the cycle of violence and the possibility of choosing a different path, Sharp Edges promises to be a challenging and thought-provoking piece of theatre. I caught up with Sophie to discuss the inspiration behind the play, creating such a complex central character, and finding humour and defiance in the darkest of circumstances.

I'd love to start at the beginning. What first drew you to Sophocles' Electra, and what was it about this particular Greek tragedy that made you want to reimagine it for a contemporary audience?

I read a lot of the Greek tragedies when I was quite young. Reading Electra, I remember being immediately struck that she as a young woman was so vocally expressing her grief and rage and defiance in a way that, even as a kid, I felt was almost taboo or “not allowed” for girls. The character lived deep in my imagination since then. I revisited the play a few years ago when I read Anne Carson’s incredible translation of Sophocles’ Electra, and the themes felt so urgent and relevant for today’s world. Her translation illuminated these dark corners and undercurrents within the story that I’d always identified within it; I felt almost relieved, a breath of fresh air, to see them alluded to in her translation. At its heart, it's about a girl who’s grown up surrounded by violence, lies, half-truths and secrets, and how that impacts her growing up; her humanity, her personality, her relationship to her family, her ideas about justice and revenge. It asks whether it’s possible to break the cycle of violence within a family or not, and those themes and questions felt like they needed to be explored for a contemporary audience.

The play explores a childhood shaped by violence, grief and confusion, with Ellie looking back on events she doesn't fully understand. How did you approach writing from the perspective of someone trying to make sense of a fractured family history?

There were a couple of elements of the writing that I focused on to do this. The first was exploring what is said and what is unsaid. There’s a real tension in the play and character between the memories she’s able to share and what she’s not, and the space in between illuminates the violence and grief she’s experiencing. I also focused on the ways the character can, as she grows up, recontextualise her memories. Revisiting moments in her past and understanding them in new ways allows Ellie, and through her the audience, to experience both the confusion and the truth of what she’s been through. Finally, an element of Ellie that I really love, both as a writer and an actor, is that she has this really alive imagined world. The thing about growing up surrounded by secrets is that she’s had to create her own narratives around what’s happening in her family, which allows a beautiful space to both explore the ways her childhood has been shaped by violence, loss and confusion, but also to provide moments of levity and hope. 

The title Sharp Edges suggests something that can wound, but perhaps also something that has been shaped by pressure and experience. What does the title mean to you, and how does it reflect Ellie's journey?

This is such a wonderful analysis of the title, thank you so much! I resonate with this. 'Sharp Edges’ comes from a line Ellie says quite early in the play. She says growing up knowing you’re loved means you “don’t sharpen your edges”- and then she describes herself as “all sharp bits". So to me, the title is really expressing that central dynamic within Ellie as a character. Without spoiling the play (you’ll have to find out more by coming to watch it!), it also reflects Ellie’s purpose, dynamics within her family and her mission…

Electra is a story rooted in ancient ideas of justice, revenge and family loyalty, yet those themes remain recognisable today. What do you think the original story tells us about human nature, and what did you feel needed to change to make it speak to a modern audience?

In Electra, there’s definitely this idea that justice and revenge are connected, and are even passed down through generations. But Sophocles seems to question the justice and wisdom of these vicious cycles. To quote Ellie again, both Sharp Edges and Electra are discussing human nature's relationship to violence, and how our humanity is affected by violence.  To quote Ellie in Sharp Edges, the “very human tendency to destroy each other”. So this play is for and about every child who has had to become a fighter, every adult who is still living with the aftershocks of familial violence, and everyone asking how to choose a different path than the one you’ve inherited. That feels so vital to reckon with today. We live in an epidemic of violence against women and children, and in this moment, we must ask ourselves: how do we change this? 

I used Electra as inspiration, but this isn't an adaptation changed for a modern audience- I created my own bold, fun central character and her journey, while riffing on some themes and dynamics in the original story. So Sharp Edges will be an exciting and original discovery whether you know Electra or not!

The idea of retribution sits at the heart of the play. Without giving too much away, how do you want audiences to think about the difference between seeking justice, wanting revenge and trying to reclaim control over your own life?

Sharp Edges is asking audiences- and Ellie herself- what is the meaning of justice? What does justice look like? And, especially for people who have grown up around huge amounts of violence, what is the difference between justice and revenge? I think these are really important and hopefully challenging questions for an audience. We’re not used to seeing female characters, especially those who have been victims of violent behaviour, considering retribution and revenge. The play is reckoning with how it’s possible to take back control over your own life, and how- or if- it’s possible to do so while breaking cycles of violence that you’ve grown up with. I’m not saying these are easy questions or that they have easy answers; I hope that Sharp Edges challenges people to think about these concepts for themselves, and gives them a window into Ellie’s mind and perspective through which to consider these questions.

Sharp Edges is being presented in partnership with One in Four, which supports survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, abuse and trauma. What made this partnership important to you, and what do you hope the collaboration will offer audiences beyond the performance itself?

I’m so thrilled to be partnering with One in Four for the second time, having previously partnered with them on my short film The Whole Truth. They are an incredibly important charity doing vital work with survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and specifically childhood sexual abuse. Their work aligns so deeply with the themes of the play, and as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse myself I know how important their mission is. They not only support survivors and their loved ones; they also work to destigmatise conversations about childhood sexual abuse and trauma. Only by raising awareness and having conversations do we make it safe for survivors to come forward, and learn how to both support them and prevent further abuse in our communities. I hope that through the collaboration, audiences will be able to learn more about their work. Audience members will be signposted towards One in Four’s many resources after the show, so they can find and access support if they need it. 

The production is directed by Blair McAlpine. As the writer and performer, how has Blair helped you shape the piece for the stage, and have there been any moments when the directing process has challenged or transformed your original intentions?

I am so happy to be collaborating once again with Blair, who is a brilliant director, having worked with her on another play of mine, Banned, and on works in progress performances of Sharp Edges in the Pleasance Futures Festival last December. Blair has incredible vision and knows what she wants the audience’s journey through the play to be, so having her there has really helped shape the play for performance. My favourite thing about collaborating with a director, and creative team in general, is that everyone has their own interpretations of the script and brings their own ideas to it. I’ve loved being in the rehearsal room so far because Blair has illuminated moments in the writing by seeing new possibilities and layers in it. One of the most exciting parts about rehearsing for me is exploring all these different options until we land on what is most useful and what will translate in the most effective way for an audience.

Finally, if readers were thinking of coming to see Sharp Edges, what would you say to them, and why do you believe this is a play audiences should experience? 

Please come and see Sharp Edges! It will be a really fun night at the theatre, a blend of dark comedy, excitement, tension, one hell of a journey and thematic questions you'll be thinking about long after you leave the theatre- lots to discuss in the bar afterwards! It’s definitely a rollercoaster…

This play means so much to me, I’m so passionate about it and so excited to share Ellie with you all. We’ve had an amazing team of people work so hard bringing the show to life, so please come and join us at Camden People’s Theatre!

I'd like to thank Sophie Max for sharing the inspiration and ideas behind Sharp Edges. The production runs at Camden People's Theatre from 11-14 November, with press night on Thursday 12 November at 7pm. The performance lasts 75 minutes without an interval and is suitable for ages 14+, with content warnings for violence, murder and childhood sexual abuse. Tickets are priced from £12, with booking available at https://cptheatre.co.uk/