Helen

In 1989, while working as a chemist at the Mars chocolate factory, Helen Sharman responded to a radio advert that simply said, “Astronaut wanted, no experience necessary.” In 1991, she became the first Brit in space. She was 27.

30 years later this piece uses physical theatre and bold northern humour to tell the story of how an ordinary young woman from Sheffield rose to extraordinary heights.

‘Helen’ is a fictional work which brings to light the largely unknown story of Britain’s first Astronaut. It imagines the human sacrifices involved in such an extraordinary journey; a journey which ended in Helen Sharman accomplishing something most people could only dream of.

Commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre with support from Arts Council England, ‘Helen’ is a brand new piece from N2P, the award-winning London theatre company described as “unafraid to be challenging in both form… and content.” (Ought to be Clowns)