Writing
Shortlisted for Dartington Hall Poet in Residence 2022
Shortlisted for Riddler-in-residence at Exeter Cathedral 2022
Longlisted for Royal Court Playwriting Group 2021
Longlisted for VAULTFIVE 2021
Rust (co-writer, book and lyrics) - current
This original musical, based on Helena’s own experiences, follows 20-year-old Evie over a month in rehab following a mental health crisis. Candid, moving, and joyful, the musical explores her relationships with the other patients and staff. The audience joins them in the immensely difficult but inexpressibly worthwhile process of recovery. Rust played to sell-out audiences and five-star reviews at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.
The show was longlisted for the Stiles + Drewe/MTI Award 2021 and selected to be part of the inaugural Overture development scheme 2023.
Courtney Stapleton, Julian Ovenden, Mared Williams performing Rust at the Overture concert, The Other Palace, December 2023
Photo by Steve Gregson
★★★★★ - BroadwayBaby, Musical Theatre Review, The National Student, Derek Awards, The Tab, TCS
Winner of the Derek Awards Best Musical of the Fringe.
Shortlisted by Broadway World and Musical Theatre Review.
“The pace and balance of Helena Fox’s writing is close to flawless… Occasionally, there is a show that stands out on every single level. This is one.” - Musical Theatre Review
“This musical could follow in the footsteps of Tony Award Winner “Dear Evan Hansen”’- Fringe Review
Blue & Pip - 2022
Helena's play for the Edinburgh Fringe 2022, in partnership with theSpace. Blue & Pip explores endometriosis, the patriarchal health system, and the ebbing of the tides.
★★★★ "achingly real and authentic... Its conclusion... [is] simply wonderful." - Liam O'Dell
Astrid (co-writer, book and lyrics) - 2021
Helena is the co-writer (with Georgia Rawlins) of this new musical about the first baby born in space. With a score that blends modern musical theatre with folk influence, Astrid and the others travelling on the spaceship Mara grapple with life, friendship, and loss, discovering that, when it really matters, we risk everything to make it back to the only home we truly know: Earth. This show takes the most human of dilemmas - growing into yourself and knowing who you are - and places it in the most hostile of environments.
Astrid was longlisted for the Stiles + Drewe/MTI Award 2021.
Play and click 'f' to enlarge video
Photo by Maria Woodford
★★★★★ - Varsity, TCS
"A soaring success and a must-see" - TCS
Ignite Radio Project - 2020-1
Helena was commissioned to write a short radio drama about climate change, in partnership with The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and The Royal Society of Chemistry. She turned Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of The Little Mermaid on its head, and received mentorship from creatives including Barbara Kingsolver, Fehinti Balogun, Katie Bonna, and Kate Mcall.
Winner of a Bronze British Podcasting Award 2022
Journalism - 2017-present
Helena has written a number of articles about drag and mental health for publications including Blueprint Zine and Varsity. Click the images below for examples:
Performance
Mulan Rouge - 2022
Helena appeared in the drag/cabaret/burlesque theatre show at The Vaults as Private Dancer/Alternate General Lee.
Photo by Giulia Paratelli
Tectonic Plates - 2020-2
The stage is bare apart from a lone desk, a PowerPoint presentation, and a large, obnoxiously ticking clock. The lesson is about to start.
Discussion is rife about how children should ‘catch up’ from the time missed while schools have been closed. But what of school is worth catching up on?
Tectonic Plates debuted at The Chelsea Theatre in August 2021 to a standing ovation.
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Suspended in Gaffa - November 2019
Helena created, wrote, and performed this one-woman show which weaved together Gaelic myth and autobiography through music, movement, poetry, and prose.
★★★★ ‘Helena Fox’s one-woman show slides effortlessly from funny to heartbreaking to inspiring; one moment the audience laughs uproariously, only to fall into a hushed silence in the next… but Fox does not falter or tire throughout and maintains a mesmerising intensity… Even if Helena had not finished the show by getting the audience up out of their seats and dancing, I have no doubt that this show would have received a standing ovation.’ - TCS
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