Sophie Crawford, 22, has been involved in the National Youth Theatre for six years. She will be playing the eponymous lead in the NYT’s upcoming production of Pope Joan, an original play by Louise Brealey, based on the life of the legendary first and only female leader of the Catholic Church. Nathan FitzPatrick caught up with Sophie during rehearsals to chat about Pope Joan; the National Youth Theatre; and the ability of art to address real issues in the world.

Nathan: So first of all Sophie, how did you get involved with the National Youth Theatre?

Sophie: I saw a poster at school when I was 15 and secretly sent off my application. I didn't expect at all to get in. 

Nathan: What other NYT productions have you been involved in?

Sophie: I worked out that this is probably my eighth show with the NYT. I’ve performed at Soho Theatre in Out of Me; worked with Kneehigh on Fastburn; there was Living the Dream, which was an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that we performed in Shanghai at the 2010 World Expo; and I’ve done some outreach stuff as well with Domestic Violence Responses.

Nathan: Let’s talk about Pope Joan. It’s a striking story and she’s an incredible character, so how do you research someone like that?

Sophie: I watched a few documentaries about the legend but I think it’s been picked up a lot by conspiracy theorists, so I didn’t find those as helpful. I studied Early Medieval Literature at university and that’s been really handy. It gave me a sense of the time: our whole concept of morality and sanitation and gender politics is so totally removed from what was going on then. People just responded to things in different ways but also lived for such a short period of time, if you were a woman you’d likely be dead by twenty-five.

Nathan: Are there any other characters that you drew on, other characters you played or read?

Sophie: I don’t come from a Christian background so I don’t know much about preaching, but have you ever seen Kate Tempest, the poet? I totally drew on her because I think she’s the closest thing I’ve ever come to seeing, well, basically a hellfire preacher but without God. There’s so much joy in everything she speaks, that’s what I’ve drawn on a lot: her assurance and just how joyful she is.

Nathan: Do you find that characters affect you when you play them, like the confidence of Joan?

Sophie: It always happens actually: who you’re playing bleeding into what you’re doing in the rehearsal space. That’s been great, the cast are so nice and our director’s amazing so the atmosphere is very conducive to discussion.

Nathan: Why should people go and see Pope Joan?

Sophie: I guess, on a very surface level, you rarely see fifty monks in a room! I’d literally go for fifty monks. But also obviously because it’s still hugely relevant; a female Pope obviously still can’t happen now, and women still can’t be bishops in the Church of England. Just the question of women in high places, in power, is still a massive issue that this takes on. Why aren’t there more women in Parliament? When will there be another female Prime Minister? Hopefully it tackles it all in a personal way too.

Nathan: Pope Joan covers some possibly quite controversial topics, especially to perform in a church. It’s pretty incredible that this is happening.

Sophie: I think Lucy (Winkett, the Reverend of St. James’s) is absolutely great and I don’t think she’d allow it if she wasn’t confident in the play. It’s not gratuitous and the themes address real issues so I’m confident that it’s ok.

Nathan: You said that religion has not really been an influence in your life up until now?

Sophie: My family are Jewish, so I suppose from that I have an understanding of what it’s like to really enjoy the culture of a religion, but in terms of actually believing in God or a higher power? That’s something I don’t have, so it’s interesting to think about how I play Joan. I remember thinking when I was doing auditions, ‘Ok, I’m not religious but this person passionately believes in something, what do I passionately believe in?’ I thought about and I passionately believe in theatre and my desire to make art. So that’s how I’ve actually had to relate to it, not in a religious but an artistic way.

Nathan: I think a lot of people will have a feminist interpretation of Pope Joan.

Sophie: Yep.

Nathan: How important do you think feminism is today?

Sophie: Incredibly important. I think it’s so hilarious that people even question it…

Nathan: Yeah, I’m sorry I asked that question…

Sophie: No, it’s valid because people do, it blows my mind but it’s true. It’s valid because people still ask that, because huge amounts of gender-based violence is still happening, because there’s massive inequality in pay and also in the f****** theatre world, man, where are all the parts for women?!

Nathan: Do you think theatre can make a difference?

Sophie: I think theatre’s incredibly powerful. I think the only way you can ever get someone to understand an issue is to get them to really empathise with it, to make a personal connection. What theatre does is boil things down and condense them to the human reality and that’s why it makes a difference. Theatre brings issues home to people in a way that few other things can.

Nathan: Talking about theatre making a difference, what opportunities have you had through the NYT?

Sophie: I would never have performed or worked with any of the professionals that I have done. You meet incredible people who are serious about this, as a lifestyle. I one hundred percent wouldn’t be the person I am now without the NYT, I would be a totally different person, so it was pretty formative in that respect. Obviously I’ve been learning a huge amount; I count this as my training. I didn’t go to drama school, I went to university, so the NYT has taught me everything I really know about performing. It’s this place you can get a realistic understanding of theatre, you get shown what it’s practically like. You see that this is actually a way of life that you could potentially have, that you can do this. It’s incredible.

Nathan: What advice would you give to young actors auditioning now? I know that’s another huge question…

Sophie: Relate it back to yourself. Also, you’ve got to want it, actually it’s more than want, you’ve got to really need to do this. But enjoy it! People always say that but you have got to find the joy, it can’t be agony!

Pope Joan will premiere at St James’s Church, Piccadilly from the 31^st August to the 15^th September. Written by Louise Brealey (co-writer of the BBC’s The Charles Dickens Show and current star of hit BBC drama Sherlock) and directed by Paul Hart, it is an original commission by the National Youth Theatre.

Tickets from £12 here