b'Lizzie Martin - Meynell 2019After leaving Ellesmere College Sixth Form in 2019, I wasRehearsals in a time of a pandemic meant an entirely invited to work for Jenny Sterlin, Actress and Creativedifferent process than previously experienced: sessions of Director of DoubleDeckerProductions, in New York City.spontaneous, synergetic physicality, in 2020, were replaced Living in America for the first time and mixing with awith more structured, director-led days of distanced run-current artistic circle was an unforgettable experience. Thethroughs. Still the play was created, the characters formed purpose for my trip abroad was to help Turlough McConellsfrom the pages of the script, fleshed out from countless production of Eugene ONeill: An Irish American Boyhoodhours of internal searching and company-led exercises. It come to fruition for the Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival,could well be a mystery for those not involved, as to how held across the many islands of the state. The opportunitiesthose rehearsals mutated into the final, fully developed show, offered to me during my time in the States are ones I shallyet everyone included in the production team will be aware not forget quickly, and I hope to build upon relationshipsof the time put in by the producers, stage managers, tech forged there after my degree at university.assistants, costume manager and more, that made it possible.In early 2020, there had been publicity for a new,The result was not what we had anticipated. We knew we contemporary drama to be performed at the Edinburghhad a 50-minute play that included an rendition of that Festival Fringe that summer. The play was to portray thedance from Pulp Fiction, a hypothetical, half-written script ordeal of a young woman, attempting to write a play withwith sections out of a gangster movie, and the increasingly her estranged childhood friend. Her strait-laced, pragmaticcomplicated, plutonic relationship between a young man and creative approach clashed with that of her friend Seanswoman; but we did not know that each night we would play holistic, psychedelic nature to the point of drastic actionto a full house, receive 5 star reviews, and for myself to be and conflict. This production was created for more matureshortlisted for an award (Best Individual Performance) on audiences. Not only would this production take place in themy debut is something I will never forget. worlds largest art festivalthe springboard for careers likeMy performance of the role of Lemon lead me to be that of Alan Rickman, Rowan Atkinson, and more recentlyscouted for a principle role in Bedlam Theatres Rose of Ella Hickson, but this show would take place in-person forEyam, adapted and directed by Benji Sumrie. Show dates a live audience. The thought of such an opportunity afterare 18th, 19th, 20th February at St. Augustines Church, lockdowns creative drought was enough to encourage meEdinburgh. to pursue it, regardless of the festivals daunting prominence. After a month-long process of auditions and call-backs, executive producer Lewis Forman called to inform me that I had been selected for the main role of Lemon, one ina cast of 5.EllesmereCollellesmerecollellesmere_college18'