Sooz went to King’s College London to read Law & French Law. She has worked backstage since 2006, and in ticketing since 2014.

In January 2011, Sooz founded A Friend of a Friend Productions to create opportunities for writers and directors working in the West End to bring their work to the stage. Since then, AFOAF has continued to collaborate with artists from across theatreland, extending its reach to talented theatre-makers from around the world, whilst also delivering corporate services and workshops, as well as hands-on work experience for arts management/theatre students.

Selected technical credits include School of Rock (Gillian Lynne), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), Spamalot (Palace), The Lord of the Rings Musical, Oliver!, Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Hurly Burly Show (Garrick), Made in Daghenham, Kinky Boots (Adelphi), and Dirty Dancing (Aldwych).

She was production assistant and location manager on events for the British Red Cross, and the Mayor of London. Sooz has stage managed numerous Off West-End shows and events, including You Say Tomato! featuring London Gay Men’s Chorus and New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, and Union Chapel).

“In 2011 I was working as a stage electrician on Oliver at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I had fallen into a career in theatre during my Law degree, and suddenly found myself surrounded by creative people.

Anyone who has worked in the West End will tell you that the theatres are staffed by writers, directors, performers, designers, and every type of artist that you can think of – all striving towards the next interview or audition, all hoping to one day stop selling programmes, or moving set, and instead make a living off of their art.

It was with these people in mind, that A Friend of a Friend began to take shape; a platform for the stage hands and ushers of the West End to take centre stage and have people come and see their work.

Since then, I have had the good fortune to collaborate with inspirational creatives; most notably, Patrick Maubert who directed many of our shows, and with whom The Installation (2013) and Another Day (2014) were created.

It has become one of my greatest joys to find a previous cast member in a programme for a West End show, or to discover that one of our directors is AD. It is for these triumphs that AFOAF was created and continues to exist.”