Humans star Katherine Parkinson says her debut play was partly inspired by her student job as an artist’s model.
Sitting, which is at Dalston’s Arcola Theatre until May 11, is a series of monologues by sitters as they pose for an unseen painter.
The actress, who has just finished the West End run of Olivier Award-winning comedy Home, I’m Darling, said: “I can remember when I used to sit for this poor ageing artist. Out of nerves and enthusiasm I used to talk a lot and there were big periods of silence, so I thought that was a good starting point.”
Parkinson wrote the play as part of a BBC Arts project which supported four creatives to write for the stage.
She said the approach left her feeling “endorsed”, adding: “What they have given me is encouragement because I think not everyone has the initiative or the confidence to say, ‘I’m going to write.’”
