Spotlight on Artist Residencies: Introducing Rachel, Eden & Tanya

Tell us a bit about yourself and your work?
Tanya is a performer and producer from North London. Her producing work varies from large scale live events and brand experiences, to theatrical productions. Recent projects include These Demons (Theatre503) and Pickle (Soho Theatre, Park Theatre). Tanya also runs Wholeface Workshops, a handmade skincare workshop company.

Eden is a writer and musician working in musical theatre and pop. Her projects range from alt-pop to youth theatre to DIY queer shows. Recent projects include The Glamification of Loki (BYMT, Southwark Playhouse), Galaxy Train (The Other Palace) and The Canterbury Tales (Half Cut Theatre, UK tour). 

Rachel is a writer and lyricist who writes across plays and musicals, often tackling identity, belonging and morality while combining drama with a dark comedic edge. Produced work includes These Demons (Theatre503), Game Theory (Rewrites at The Lowry), The Dickens Girls (BYMT, New Wolsey Theatre), and So-Called Gen Z (Edinburgh Fringe). 

Tell us about the idea you’re exploring as part of the residency? Who are you working with?  What are your inspirations/influences?  
Rachel (book, lyrics), and Eden (music, lyrics) are working on their musical Pretty Poison with producer Tanya Truman. It tells the story of two Jewish immigrant girls in Renaissance Rome, who start a cosmetics-making business and get drawn into a world of high society and poison. Drawn from real historical figures and events, it has themes of female friendship, Jewish identity, beauty standards, and immigrant stories. We’re excited to be drafting the piece, fleshing out our research, and seeing how we could incorporate beauty workshops with Tanya’s skincare-making skills. Our influences include The Devil Wears Prada, Sweeney Todd, Rags, Waitress, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos. 

What’s the best bit of advice about the industry/being an artist you have received? 
Tanya: My best piece of industry advice is to be a nice person, and aim to work with people who you consider friends (or could imagine being friends with). I’m all about lifting people up, championing other artists, sharing opportunities / contacts. The industry is hard enough – we have to lean on each other, and if you’re working on a project with people where you don’t have a genuine friendship or relationship built, it can be really challenging.
Rachel: In terms of writing my favourite advice I’ve received is that most of an early draft is just scaffolding; it’s essential at the time but then it needs to fall away to reveal what’s beneath. 

What’s your favourite theatre show/gig in the past 12 months and why? 
Eden: I went to one of the concerts for London’s first-ever Classical Pride. An orchestra and soloists, all queer or drag performers, pure joy.

Rachel: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I saw both fringe productions in 2019 and 2023 before it came to the West End and it’s inspirational to see it find bigger audiences without losing its heart. 

What are you watching? 
Eden: I just finished watching Adolescence which is remarkably made and acted. Hacks is also a darkly hilarious sitcom.  

Rachel: I’ve been watching Ted Lasso before my Apple subscription runs out – pure joy and it’s made me almost want to understand the rules of football. 

What are you listening to?
Eden: A lot of Michael Giacchino’s beautiful movie scores. 

Rachel: Depends on the day? For writing this show it’s been all the influences mentioned above plus Anais Mitchell, Kacey Musgraves and Kate Rusby. 

What are you reading? 
Eden: I’m re-reading the Dublin Murder Squad series.  

Rachel: The Imposters by Tom Rachman, who wrote one of my absolute favourite books The Imperfectionists.