The next interview in our stagey chat series is with Jess Edwards. Jess' debut play, Private View, is currently running at the Soho Theatre in London until 20th December.

Hi Jess - thanks so much for chatting to Stage to Page! Your debut play, Private View, has just opened at Soho Theatre. Can you tell us about the play?

Private View is a sexy, weird, queer two-hander which starts out as a Richard Curtis-style rom-com and ends as a terrible co-dependent nightmare, just like life! (Lol). Its explores a relationship between two women and seeks to complicate the usual narratives we see in this space. It also uses physics - specifically, entanglement theory - as a metaphor for co-dependent relationships.

What inspired you to write a play about queer women and the exploration of queer love in its 'messy' and 'sexy' entirety?

I've jokingly described Private View as a kind of anti-rom-com - and that's exactly what it is. I was curious about showing a relationship in all its messy imperfection. I think too often, popular culture feeds us myths of perfection where the happy ending is when the couple get together.

No spoilers - but I was interested in a hopeful ending that didn't fit the conventions of the rom- com, but rather showed the complexities of a relationship in its entirety.

I'm passionate about telling queer female stories because - even though there is better and better representation out there - what I like to call the 'gaytriachy' is still out in full force. When we see lesbians depicted, onscreen especially, they are sad or lonely or longing or boring or pining. I wanted to show queer women as they are in my own life - glamorous and weird and sexy and funny. Private View sets out to do this. It's been the greatest compliment when people say they recognise themselves, or relationships they've been in, in the show.

As a debut playwright, how does it feel to see your words brought to life on stage?

It's actually been really moving. This is an incredibly personal play. It is, of course, a work of fiction but I've naturally drawn on experiences I've had myself. To have it brought to life by such a talented team - largely of queer women - has been humbling. I am also a director and so it's been quite something to trust someone with my play.

I couldn't be more grateful to director Annie Kershaw, who has made the play better than I could have imagined. Also Sophie Visscher-Lubinizki and Zoe Novello from Speakerphone have been the most brilliant creative partners all along the way. They've pushed the play to be something extraordinary and given me the most amazing notes. The whole team have just been fantastic - but the four of us have been in it together the longest.

The first time I saw the play with an audience on 27th November I was so nervous - I could hardly watch! But I felt so proud of what we have achieved and the warm response from our gorgeous audiences has made it all feel so worthwhile.

My blog is called Stage to Page. But if you could turn any book, from page to stage, what would it be and why?

I'm actually in the midst of adapting a classic into a musical but I can't say more about that here sadly as it hasn't yet been announced! If I could do anything… what a good question. I'd love to have a crack at the later Philip Pullman series. The Northern Lights books were a huge influence on me as a child - some of the physics in Private View has some things in common with the physics in those books. And the National Theatre's adaptation had a strong effect on me as a teenager. I'd love to do the Book of Dust trilogy in a big, lush, vivid production.

And finally, why should people book tickets to see Private View?

Something I'm most proud of is that both queer and non-queer audiences alike have got something out of the show. So, if you have ever been in love and had your heart broken, I'd say it's worth you coming. I think there's room to feel surprised, provoked, even a little aroused! The show is almost sold out, which is incredible, but if you can snag a ticket you won't regret coming.

You can book tickets to Private View, here.

**photo credit: Ciara Robinson**