We catch up with new cast member Lauren Sophia Edmonds who plays the main character Nicky in CODE, to find out more about her as a young performer and how she has found the experience so far!
Hi Lauren! Thanks for joining us for an interview. First off, what’s your background?
So, this is my first ever professional show which is really exciting, but I’ve been doing theatre ever since I was really little. I think when I was five years old was when I started really getting into it. I’ve always loved theatre and movies and stuff like that. So this is sort of the beginning of, hopefully a career.
And you do parkour and ninja warrior too right?
Yeah I’ve always loved parkour. I’ve been a very active person my entire life, and then I started getting into it a lot more. I watched loads of YouTube videos of Storror and other people, then found some classes in Oxford.
And there’s a Ninja Warrior training centre in the town where I live, which I’m on the competitive squad for now. I really love it!
How did you get involved with Justice in Motion?
It was through my agent. I had an audition come through, and it actually seemed like a really, really cool show. I’ve had auditions before, but not like this – I was really excited for this one. So then I went to the audition and to be honest, it was quite interesting because all of the other roles were for adults. So it was a bit nerve wracking walking into a room full of experienced adults, I was like “oh, this is a bit iffy!”
But yeah, everyone was welcoming – I just felt like I fit in, which was really cool. And it was great to see everyone from all their different backgrounds, you could draw from other people’s experiences and see what everyone else could bring to it.
Well you got the role! How was it when we got into rehearsals?
It was a really interesting process to go through because obviously I’ve never done it before! So to be able to see how all of it works and see it all being put together was really cool. I loved building the whole show because I feel like there was already a good base for it. All of us coming together and creating this really beautiful piece.
How was it working with different disciplines like trials bike, parkour and skateboarding?
It was really fun actually! It was cool to see everyone else’s specialties and see them in their element.
I’ve grown up around super creative people who have all got their own skill, so I just felt sort of at home. But it did feel kind of chaotic at times! You have to figure out a way of working around each other. But yeah, it was really good to all work together and use all of our different skills to bring the show together.
How was it working alongside Esra?
It was really nice to have another young person there. We just hung out together a lot – he’s really funny! But yeah, every time I watched Esra, I was like “oh, that was really good!” And I think by watching each other – and being in competition abit – we really levelled up the whole performance. I think that was really good to have.
How was it getting into the character of Nicky – a vulnerable young person caught up in County Lines?
Getting into the character was a little bit difficult for me, to be honest, because I’ve never really been through any of that, but it was really interesting to talk about because it just clicked in my head that a lot of my friends have been through a lot of that. And some of them really are in that position. I think it has made me more aware of all the issues and how vulnerable people can be.
We did lots of research and watched the movie County Lines which was really interesting for me, to see from different points of view of how vulnerable the character could be.
How was life outside of the rehearsals?
Yeah, that was really good. I think I definitely preferred Newbury to Worthing because we were all in one living space, and eating together. It was super fun getting to know everyone, it brought us all closer. I think that really makes the piece better.
So then we went out on tour, how was it actually performing the show live in Newbury?
Yeah, I mean, it’s crazy. Like getting there in the morning and seeing everything being put together. And because it was in the town square, I wasn’t really sure how many people we were going to get. That’s when everyone started rushing in!
It was amazing to do it in front of a live audience and get all of the feedback. I think what’s been created is a really moving, powerful thing. And to see how much it’s actually affecting people is really, really cool to see.
What sort of feedback did you get?
There was one lady who said that before she would have just told off those kids who were sitting on the side of the road with their speakers and stuff. And now she’s seeing it from a different point of view, actually realising that they’re probably more vulnerable than they look, and to maybe give them a bit more sympathy. Because you don’t actually know what that kid’s going through behind the scenes. I think that’s really interesting that the show’s really making people see things from a different perspective.
What do you hope the show will achieve?
I really want a lot of my friends to see it. I think it would be really good for them to see because of the vulnerable backgrounds that I know a lot of them come from. I think it just gives people that foresight to see it’s not all glamorous and money and stuff – it’s a dangerous game to play.
I think the robbery scene is a really big part of it, because it’s set up. So even if people do end up getting groomed into a gang, they’ll have that in the back of their mind as a sort of shield, you know? Like hopefully get people to start realising “if I keep going down this path that is what can happen”. It’s a dangerous road to go down. I think it definitely could get a lot of people, especially young people, out of those situations.
I just want as many people to see it as possible because it’s a really, really good show.
We have a few shows coming up, including Greenbelt Festival – how are you feeling about that?
Excited. Honestly, every time I see something popping up on the whatsapp group I’m like “guys I’m not there though!!”
So it’s going to be really, really good to get back, I’m really excited. Every single day I’m playing the show around my head, trying to make sure I remember everything. I think it’ll be really cool.
Have you got one highlight from the experience so far?
That is a difficult question! I think getting to bond with the cast, honestly and all going through this big thing together, and really moving people. I think it’s really interesting to hear everyone’s different points of view, and I think we’re actually making a difference. I think that’s what the whole show is meant to be about, just making a difference in people’s lives. It’s really awesome.
What does the future hold outside of CODE?
I just want to get as much experience as I can. I just love it, being on set is so exciting! Just being able to tell a new story, whether it’s something really moving like CODE or something else.
At the moment I’m doing a piece called Grow Up – which is about growing up would you believe it! We’re getting to devise the whole theatre piece which is really, really awesome.
But I don’t know if theatre would be my main course that I want to go down. I want to do screen acting, I think that’s my passion. I’m on set today on a short film about self-harm and the recovery from it, and the steps that you can go through to help yourself be distracted from going down that horrible road yourself. I think it’s going to be called ‘The Birthday List’.
Watch this space! Lastly, do you have any advice for young people wanting to get into performing?
Don’t give up. Like, honestly, I had a few auditions and I wasn’t getting anywhere with it. Just getting up the confidence can be really difficult. And then there was a video that I watched saying that the average auditions that you go through before you actually get a job for a working actor is 64. And I think that really changed my perspective because I’d had about ten auditions. Like, that’s not a lot! I might not even have one role yet. So just don’t beat yourself up, as long as you tell yourself to keep going and believe in yourself – I think you can get anywhere. I’ve proven that to myself with this role.
I think it’s a transferable skill. You can use it anywhere. Get really deep self-belief and don’t let rejection put you off because it might just be you aren’t right for that specific role, you know? Maybe it’s just because of the colour of your hair or your height, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not a good actor.
