By Izzy Frazer, Third Year English
“Definitely, definitely, definitely write [a play] and put it on. Now is the time for doing stuff that’s new.”
Emma set up her own theatre company Eightball Productions in March 2024, and since then she has kept the creative energy flowing in all directions.
“I wrote a play two-ish years ago. I wanted to do it, and take it to the [Edinburgh] Fringe [as well as performing it] in Bristol,” says Emma on what inspired her to found the production company. “I thought the best way was probably to try and do it independently.”
Though she was in second year when Eightball formally came into fruition, Emma said she had been thinking about starting her own company since her early days at university. “It wasn’t super easy, but it was really fun – setting up Eightball, being able to get people involved, and just feeling like you have all the creative control over what you’re doing.”

Flytrap is the play that sparked this creative journey for Emma. “It’s all about sex education in schools, and how basically it wasn’t very good for anyone,” she laughed. The play explores the long-term impacts of this on young people. “Everyone is sort of self-teaching through the internet and TikTok, there’s a disparity in knowledge, and it leaves open these differences.”
Though a comedy, Emma told the Epigram that the play aimed to convey how “it is okay for us not to know things, it’s okay for us to get things wrong.”
The response to Flytrap at The Fringe was incredibly positive, with Eightball selling out their week-long run. “At Uni, you are used to people [who] you know coming. I still haven’t got over how random people have seen the show, and they really liked it. I think people felt quite moved by it, quite seen and understood.”
The success of the Flytrap was no mean feat, especially given that the play relied solely on fundraising. “People are to up for fundraisers at uni. It’s stressful, I don’t want to undermine that, but we made a profit doing a Fringe show.”
As student artists, Emma said the team felt welcomed to the Fringe, gaining consistent support from their venue Greenside. “They are a really lovely, student-centred venue. They offered so much support, constantly checking in, and were so happy to promote us.”
“I really felt supported by other [students] as well. Sharing advice, going to see each other’s shows. It’s definitely tricky, as you get to the Fringe and you [feel like you] are one in a million shows – it’s bonkers.”

This said, Emma could not recommend other students putting on self-written shows enough – whether at the Fringe, or here in Bristol.
“It sounds simple, but just do it. Apply to do it through societies, or a showcase. I wish there was more information on how doable that is. There are so many theatres in Bristol with reasonable hire rates,” said Emma, recommending the Alma Tavern as an affordable student venue.
Talking about her process, Emma said a lot of her inspiration comes from going to see plays, and reading widely. “I’ve got a better sense now of what I like to write. I’m not great at [first deciding on] a setting and a narrative. I massively applaud people who do, I just can’t write like that.”
“I’m better at slightly more abstract [pieces], but I love seeing other people’s stuff, where I know I could never write it. It helps me understand what I can do.” Caryl Churchill is one of Emma’s biggest playwright inspirations, along with Alice Birch, Tim Crouch and Sarah Kayne.
“As a woman, I’m interested in writing stories about women. But, I also don’t think a play would be that interesting if it was just my own life and my own ideas,” Emma said, explaining how she frequently reaches out to multiple sources to inform her characters and narratives.

Emma is all about collaboration, not just between herself and other individuals but working with other companies. “I’m not a ‘this is me and I don’t work with anyone else’ kind of person.” This said, Emma noted the importance of having your own creative space as an artist that you can always come back to.
“Societies are amazing, but it can feel [disheartening] if you have been waiting for an opportunity and you don’t get it. I think it’s always difficult, but you can do things yourself. We should all encourage each other.”
Emma’s journey as a creative begun in the realm of acting, which is a passion she continues to foster. Most recently, she has acted in projects such as Fruitcake by production company Cherish the Orange, which has recently finished its run at the Alma.
However, Emma predominantly considers herself a writer. “Acting is not the be-all and end-all of being in theatre, other stuff is so interesting,” she said. “When you write, you can do it all the time, so it feels more consistent. I love writing my own stuff – it’s really freeing.”
Emma also enjoys writing poetry, and has curated an online space @emmawroteapoem to share her writing in this style. Her poetry has also been published by The Croft magazine, where she has enjoyed collaborating with student editors and contributors. “[at student publications] everyone is so kind and supports each other, creating together.”

“Before I came to Uni, I would never have imagined I would set up a company or have a poem published. Everyone is interested in each other’s stuff, so you feel like you have a base here. I think because Bristol is such a creative Uni, people really engage with each other’s work.”
“I’m just so grateful,” said Emma. “That’s so cliché, but it’s true.”
“I encourage everyone to write, even if you’ve only written a bit of a poem [before]. Just write it, show [friends], get to an open-mic night.”
In terms of upcoming projects, Emma is in the process of writing a play called Disconnect that will be put on by Eightball in May 2024. “It’s about online radicalisation in young people. I [had the idea to write it at] the time of the riots that happened in Bristol last summer. What pushes people to be like that and fall into these groups?”
“A lot of that was racially motivated. I don’t think I am at liberty to write about that kind of thing as I’m not a person of colour, but as a woman I thought ‘I can probably write about incels.’”
Disconnect will be coming to the Loco Klub on the 19th and 20th of May, so be sure to get your tickets in late April.