A new one-woman show set on a night out at a North East theatre is using dark humour and dancefloor escapism to explore what it means to care for a dying relative as a teenager.
Queen of the Empire, written and performed by Sasha Snowdon, is inspired by her own experience of becoming an 18-year-old carer for a terminally ill loved one, and is set in The Middlesbrough Empire.
Ms Snowdon said: "Looking after a loved one can be tough when you're struggling to cope yourself.
"After 2 years of being a carer, I lost one of my closest family members.
"I wrote this not only to help me in my ongoing grieving process, but also to help others that may be going through something similar."
The play, described as a "teenage tragicomedy," blends dark humour with themes of family, loss, and late‑night escapes under strobe lights.
It tells the story of Lizzie, a party-loving young woman whose family life is fractured by illness and addiction.
After self-producing Queen of the Empire at the Durham Fringe Festival, the show is now partnering with Turtle Hellion Productions for its Edinburgh Fringe run.
Turtle Hellion was founded by producer Jonas Feind following his graduation from the National Theatre’s 2026 Young Producers Programme.
The company focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly in the mental health, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities.
Queen of the Empire will be performed at the Assembly Rooms Theatre in Durham on July 29 and 30.
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The show starts at 5.30pm and runs for 50 minutes, with tickets priced at £11 (£8 concessions).
Content warnings include flashing lights, loud music, and mentions of alcohol addiction, cancer, death, and depression.
More information and tickets are available from durhamfringe.co.uk.
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