Interview with Sarah Milton, writer and performer of "Tumble Tuck"

Later this month, the female playwright festival Who Runs the World is taking over at the King’s Head. Sarah Milton’s one-woman show, Tumble Tuck, a piece about self worth, womanhood, and swimming, is headlining the festival, and so we caught up with Sarah to find out more.

How is preparing Tumble Tuck for the King’s Head going? Have you found it different to the previous runs?

Preparing for Tumble Tuck is going well. Rehearsals are going to be much shorter, but still very much just Tom Wright (director) and I in a room, exploring Daisy’s journey. Despite the fact that we both know her story so well now, there’s some new material this time to work through for The King’s Head run. We’ll also be performing on a thrust stage rather than end-on this time which is going to be really exciting to use for the show.

How has the show changed since it first went up a few years ago? How do you think your relationship to it has changed?

The show was presented as a twenty-minute extract in 2016 at The Wilderness Festival with the Old Vic New Voices; two years later it’s now an hour-long show. My relationship to it as a writer is much more relaxed and I think that’s thanks to an amazing audience response. In Edinburgh, mothers were bringing their teenage daughters to see it. From my perspective as the performer you could see them smirk at each other at the relatable parts and I’d watch their relationship grow slightly from the start to the finish of the show. It’s incredibly rewarding and I’m looking forward to seeing that again.

What is it about swimming that made you want to centre Tumble Tuck around it?

Swimming’s repetitive nature and the reliability of the back and forth travelling within the confines of a pool, is incredibly soothing – well, that was certainly my experience when I was struggling with my mental health – a severe panic disorder. The pool made me feel safe and Daisy’s experiencing similar feelings. She’s trying to translate that confidence she finds in water to confidence in her everyday life without the safety net of the pool.

How are you feeling about the Who Runs The World? Festival? Is there anything else you’re particularly excited to see?

I’m thrilled Tumble Tuck is the headline show for this all female festival. I’ve heard wonderful things about Baby Box produced by Sleepless Theatre Company (1-6 May during the festival). I’m also definitely looking forward to checking out NOF*CKSGIVEN which is being produced by Bruised Sky who made the astonishing Victim and Villain (8-12 May) We’ve got a fantastic Q&A lined-up between these shows with Tumble Tuck on 9 May as well.

Anything else you’d like us to know?

Tumble Tuck is on at the King’s Head Theatre from Tuesday 24th April – Saturday 12th May. Tickets are £11.00, and are available from the King’s Head website here.