Katherine Parkinson's job as an artist's model inspired her debut play Sitting

Sit tight: Katherine Parkinson's debut play is at the Arcola Theatre
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Robert Dex @RobDexES17 April 2019

Humans star Katherine Parkinson says her debut play was partly inspired by her student job as an artist’s model.

Sitting, which is at Dalston’s Arcola Theatre until May 11, is a series of monologues by sitters as they pose for an unseen painter.

The actress, who has just finished the West End run of Olivier Award-winning comedy Home, I’m Darling, said: “I can remember when I used to sit for this poor ageing artist. Out of nerves and enthusiasm I used to talk a lot and there were big periods of silence, so I thought that was a good starting point.”

Parkinson wrote the play as part of a BBC Arts project which supported four creatives to write for the stage.

She said the approach left her feeling “endorsed”, adding: “What they have given me is encouragement because I think not everyone has the initiative or the confidence to say, ‘I’m going to write.’”

Sitting at the Arcola Theatre - in pictures

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