Sophie Woolley

The tour of my solo show, Augmented stopped halfway through in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Toby Bennett filmed what turned out to be the final performance at Salisbury Playhouse. Gateshead International Festival of Theatre (GIFT) streamed the film of Augmented on Saturday 2nd May. The Festival was wonderful, connecting people around the world and filling us artists and creatives with hope. The audience response online to the streaming of Augmented was wonderful, with people posting photos of scenes and lines as they watched.  Augmented got a five star review from A Younger Theatre reviewer, and the Guardian  review called the the show a “fascinating insight into communication and expectation, and makes you pay more attention to the noises of the everyday.”

A Younger Theatre reviewer wrote: “Woolley’s performance is emotionally intense but truthful. She shares a deep connection with her audience in the small space and forces them to confront their own prejudices against those who navigate the world differently.”

The streamed show had captions available and audio description at the click of a button and many audience members were glad they could watch from home – because not everyone has the energy or reseources to go to festivals. Is this the future for the performing arts?

“This production is clever. The simple but effective set from Laura Hopkins and Khadja Raza features a white split backdrop, onto which are projected colours, images and the creative captions expertly printing themselves onto the screen. Woolley uses minimal props, (a chair, a book, a hat) and the split backdrop is used as a telephone, a rainpipe, a piano. Josh Pharo’s captions go way beyond practical and become, at times, beautiful. The words dance across the backdrop like a shape poem and give emphasis to Woolley’s speech. ” (A Younger Theatre)

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The original R&D was funded in its development by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Arts Council England. Originally developed with Ovalhouse. Supported by the New Wolsey Theatre. Augmented is sponsored by Advanced Bionics.

I spoke to Isabel Flynn of the Guardian as part of her excellent article which also features leading theatre makers, Athena Stevens, Amit Sharma and Jenny Sealey. Read it here.

Find out more about my Augmented tour here. 

Hello! It’s been a while since I posted.  This post is about my launch of the Augmented crowdfunder yesterday.

I’ve created a show called Augmented, which tells all about going deaf (in adulthood) and having a cochlear implant. There was nothing in culture which reflected my experience, so I decided to make a show to share the complexity and build bridges between hearing and deaf culture.

Augmented is the inaugural show for my new company, Augmented Productions and produced by Told by an Idiot’s leading producer, Jenni Grainger. The show is in association with Told by an Idiot, a company with a history of touring innovative and provocative new work for the last 26 years.

It’s easy to find YouTube videos of deaf people being ‘switched on,’ but what happens to them after that? Do they become assimilated into ‘hearing culture’? Or are implants not that good?

Having been hearing, deaf and now ‘cyborg,’ I can see the world from three perspectives and I invite you to support my work in sharing my unique perspective.

Augmented is a moving and entertaining solo show, directed by Rachel Bagshaw (Associate Director at London’s Unicorn Theatre).  It features stunning creative captions by award winning Josh Pharo, and design by award-winning set and costume designer Laura Hopkins, with an amazing sound track by Adrienne Quartly.

Arts Council England is supporting the tour and their financial contribution has allowed me to secure some brilliant tour venues all over the country, however there are areas of the budget that still require funding, including: Financial support to stretch our marketing further to ensure the show is seen by everyone, including the scientific community, professionals working with deaf people and children, deaf and disabled people.

I also want to have accessible Q&A sessions after three of the shows on tour and there are additional costs for these which are outside of the production budget. These Q&A sessions are crucial because the show provokes many questions from deaf and hearing people, and provides a platform for sharing our stories, hopes and fears about the future for deaf and hearing society.

I would really love for the show to be seen in London and a well known venue has offered me space to showcase the production in London for three dates. We need additional financial support to make this a reality.


I’ve raised the financial backing from the Arts Council and also Advanced Bionics (who have given me £1000 in sponsorship, which is awesome).

I have just £3000 to go to reach my final target of being able to achieve all I would like to achieve. If you can invest any amount, I would be hugely grateful.  

The Augmented tour dates are, (London TBC):

5th/6th/7th March 2020 Manchester Royal Exchange

10th/11th March 2020  Birmingham Rep

13th/14th March 2020 Salisbury Playhouse

18th-21 March 2020 Plymouth Theatre Royal, Drum

25 March 2020 Cambridge Junction

As my Clore fellowship ends, I’m proud to announce that I’ve set up a new company called Augmented Productions (named after my forthcoming play, Augmented).

Augmented Productions is over the moon to be partnering with the amazing, brilliant and funny Told by an Idiot for a year-long associateship. Over the next year the two organisations will play together, and grow together, with Told by an Idiot offering Augmented Productions vital support in our inaugural year!  This is going to be SO GOOD.

“I am thrilled that Augmented Productions will be joining us as our first associate company. The brains behind Augmented is Sophie Woolley, a unique writer, performer, and experimenter, who was a crucial part of our project with the Barbican ‘Let Me Play The Lion Too’.Sophie will surprise and challenge us with her playful and provocative work, and it marks a new and exciting development in the journey of both organisations.” – Paul Hunter, Artistic Director Told by an Idiot

Augmented, the show, is supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Supported in its development by Unlimited, with funding from Arts Council England. Originally developed with Ovalhouse. Supported by the New Wolsey Theatre.

Logo designed by http://www.jamesmerry.co.uk/

I wrote an essay as part of the Bruntwood Prize series of essays on their Write a Play blog. It’s about getting over self-censorship.

I’m chuffed to be part of this new group of BBC Writersroom writers.

I wrote a Radio 4 comedy play, starring Doon Mackichan. It was featured on Pick of the Week on Radio 4 –  27 minutes into the show here.

The play is called Carbon Cleansing. Listen again on iPlayer until 10 September. 

The play is about trying to be green – deep green –  and it is also very funny, thanks to the fantastic actors.

It’s been a delight to be working with the Augmented team at Ovalhouse this week, getting ready for our first sharings! Here are some rehearsals images, with enormous thanks to Craig Fuller for the photos.

To book tickets, click here.