Performers College graduate Laura-Rose Layden is making waves at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe with her powerful one-woman show Grey – a haunting exploration of Lady Jane Grey’s final days that bridges centuries to speak to modern audiences.
Laura-Rose, who graduated from Performers College Manchester (formerly ICTheatre) in 2023, has come a long way from being part of the very first cohort of the Contemporary Musical Theatre pathway. Her journey to Edinburgh Fringe wasn’t traditional – after struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and taking time away from theatre, she found her way back through what would become her breakthrough show.
“I saw the course advertised on Facebook and thought ‘it’s a sign’,” Laura-Rose recalls of her decision to join ICTheatre. “The pathways seemed more suited to people like me – it wasn’t just dance, singing, acting. You had projects instead, and my brain works better that way.”
“The seed for Grey was planted during her final year dissertation module, where students could create original theatre pieces. I decided to push myself and see what my limits were,” she explains. “The inspiration came from an unexpected source – watching women connect emotionally with Lady Jane Grey’s portrait in the National Gallery, crying as they looked at this Tudor queen from centuries past.”
A Modern Take on Historical Drama
Grey tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the ‘Nine Days Queen’, awaiting execution in the Tower of London in 1554. But this isn’t your typical historical drama. Laura-Rose has woven together poetic prose, physical theatre, and a soundtrack that blends musical theatre styles with modern electronic music influenced by artists like Thom Yorke and Radiohead.
“I wanted to create something that felt like it was between both worlds”, she explains. “Really, she’s a teenage girl in a room trying to get her voice heard – and that’s something audiences today can connect with.”
After taking time to address personal health challenges and getting her ADHD formally diagnosed, Laura-Rose returned to her passion project with renewed focus. “I finally got diagnosed and got my life sorted, and I was like, now is the time,” she reflects.
The ambitious production has caught the attention of industry professionals, earning Laura-Rose a prestigious £2,500 Keep it Fringe bursary – awarded to just 180 shows out of 850 applications. However, like many working-class artists, she’s discovered that even with funding, mounting a Fringe show presents significant financial challenges.
Community Collaboration
True to her collaborative spirit, Laura-Rose hasn’t gone it alone. She’s partnered with Manchester musician Scatterchild (AKA Jay Plent) to create the show’s electronic soundtrack and works closely with Zara Salim, who has helped elevate the project, transferring skills from her time in TV (Ackley Bridge) to the theatre world. “I wanted to collaborate with different mediums of art,” she says. “Jay had never been in the theatre world, but he’s become so invested in the project.”
To bridge the funding gap and bring her full team to Edinburgh, Laura-Rose is hosting a special fundraising event in Manchester on Wednesday 9th July, featuring live music, poetry, excerpts from Grey, and a set from Scatterchild. “I didn’t want it to just be ‘everyone give me money now’,” she explains. “I wanted to bring the community together and put on something for them as well.”
The Performers College Difference
Laura-Rose credits her time at Performers College with preparing her for this moment. “Theatre is such a neurodiverse space anyway – there were a lot of people in the same boat as me, even tutors,” she reflects on the support she received despite not having an official ADHD diagnosis at the time.
The project-based learning particularly suited her creative process, and she maintains strong connections with staff and her cohort. Recently, she returned to campus to get technical support from the team, highlighting the ongoing relationship between the college and its graduates.
Looking Ahead
Grey runs at Clover Studio at Greenside Theatre on the Royal Mile from 18th-23rd August, starting at 8:40pm each night. For Laura-Rose, this is just the beginning – she hopes to take the show on a UK tour and is looking towards future projects that blend her love of history, music, and collaborative theatre-making.
Her advice to current students dreaming of their own Edinburgh debut? “Don’t be afraid to collaborate and to say, ‘I can’t do something’. Support other people’s art and create a network. Manchester has so many opportunities – go to everything you can.”
Grey runs 18th-23rd August, 8:40pm at Greenside Theatre, Royal Mile. Tickets available via the Edinburgh Fringe website. Support Laura-Rose’s fundraising efforts at the Manchester event on 9th July or through her Ko-fi donations page.
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or you can Apply Now, or book an Open Day on our Events page.
