What happens when two passionate young artists combine fierce storytelling, feminist purpose, and a love of theatre? You get Scripted by Her, a bold new production company founded by two ACA graduates—Erin Reedie and Emily Sinclair—that’s already making waves.
We sat down with Erin to talk about her inspiration, the journey from student to producer, and the debut show Dags, a heartfelt, hilarious coming-of-age story hitting the stage as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival.
With a creative team full of ACA alumni and our Head of Acting Adam Cook himself directing, this production is as much a celebration of community as it is of independent theatre-making.
Read on to hear how it all came together—and why Dags is a show you won’t want to miss!
ACA: Can you tell us more about Scripted by Her and what inspired its creation?
Erin: Women’s voices are so important in every part of culture and society. I became especially interested in how women’s stories are represented in media when I first learned about Charlotte Atkinson, Australia’s first children’s author, and the first woman in our legal history to win custody of her children in a landmark court case still studied in law schools today. Yet, she was buried in an unmarked grave.
That hit me hard. I helped campaign for a bronze statue of her, and in the process, learned that Australia has more statues of animals than it does of women. That lit a fire in me. I wanted to help amplify diverse women’s stories, especially the ones history tends to forget.
So Scripted by Her was born! We interview women, share their stories, and explore how they’re writing their own scripts. So many of us in our 20s feel a bit lost, and there’s something deeply feminine and powerful about growing through shared wisdom. Storytelling at its finest. We love producing shows that reflect that point of view.
Read more about Scripted by Her here.
ACA: Congrats on Dags, the debut show from Scripted by Her! What drew you to this particular play? How did your studies at ACA prepare you for this kind of theatre-making?
Erin: I love this play so much. I first read Dags in Year 11, and I remember being amazed. Here was a girl who imagined movies in her head, who had a thousand thoughts at once and felt like a total DAG… just like me! I’ve wanted to perform in this show since I was 17, and I’m so thrilled to be doing it now with my best friends and one of my favourite ACA tutors directing. It was also a monologue in this play that got me into ACA!
Debra Oswald’s writing is honest, hilarious, and captures the inner workings of a woman’s mind in a way I hadn’t seen before. She’s one of my favourite writers, from Offspring to her most recent novel 100 Years of Betty. It is such a joy to bring Dags to life.
Producing has been a dream, mostly because we have a brilliant cast, a supportive creative team, and an awesome script. ACA prepared me perfectly for this kind of independent theatre-making. We were trained to be resourceful, rigorous, and hardworking. One of our final assignments involved producing a show from scratch so this felt like a natural next step.
ACA: We heard there are some other ACA grads in the mix. What’s it been like collaborating with again?
Erin: Yes! Emily Sinclair, Stephanie Wilson, Mark Barry, and Estelle Halabi all in the cast, they’re so talented, generous, and fun. Rehearsals have been a total joy, and I will be heartbroken when it is all over.
And of course, Adam Cook is directing! It feels so special to be working with my ACA family again. I feel supported and encouraged every step of the way.
How did the collaboration with Adam Cook come about, and what’s it like working together professionally?
It came about because I just… asked! Adam was one of my favourite parts of studying at ACA. I knew he’d understand this story, and I was over the moon when he agreed to come on board. It’s been so much fun and a bit emotional too, performing my favourite play with my best friends and my all-time fave Adam Cook guiding the process. It’s a dream come true.
ACA: What can audiences expect from the show and why should they come see it?
Erin: Expect 80s throwbacks and a good belly laugh! Dags is hilarious and honest, you’ll follow Gillian as she grows into herself, navigating all the awkward and painful bits of teenage life. It’s only an hour long, and we’d LOVE your support. It’s a great night out! Read more here.
ACA: Anything else you’d like to share?
Erin: Just a huge thank you to the beautiful ACA community. I’m so lucky to have trained there. It changed my life in all the best ways.
Thank you, Erin! Click here to get tickets to DAGS, 4-7 September at Sydney Fringe.
