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Wondered why everyone was talking about Polly Stenham and then I saw Vogue had re-published an article profiling her from 2018 when her play was on at the NT. I can see when so many in the industry are struggling (I've found it tough too) it seems tone deaf.
I haven't been in touch with her since 2013 when I wrote to her after seeing her play at the Court - No Quarter. I try to always write to or contact the author of a new play whenever I see one and Polly's three plays for the Court were no different.
She's not a friend of mine, or even an acquaintance but I must say when we corresponded about That Face, Tusk Tusk and No Quarter I found her humble and just trying to bumble along like most of the rest of us. I can't see any Court writers, who met her, piling on here.
I was aware she was very wealthy, but hadn't had the easiest childhood and I thought she was brave to write her first two plays. If you grow up with the privilege of immense wealth supporting you does that mean by default your writing is of less value and takes less courage?
There's no doubt the theatre is full of privileged white people and doesn't yet look like the world we all live in and share. Perhaps if Polly had done different things with her dad's money twitter's puritanical streak would view her more kindly. But she was just 19 when he died.
Fuck knows what I would have done if I'd inherited all those millions at 19. I almost certainly would not have written a play, let alone a very good play. Friends tell me she was loved at the Court and remembered fondly from being a member of the YWP where she wrote THAT FACE.
It's easy to hate on rich people, particularly rich privileged white people in the theatre, particularly at such a monumentally difficult time for the industry. I get it. I share much of the anger. But I'm pretty sure that Polly Stenham is one of the good people. Anyway...
