Exeter Phoenix Announces Eliza Fraser as an Associate Artist for 2024

Eliza Fraser is the latest artist to be joining the esteemed ranks of Exeter Phoenix’s associate artists. This marks her out as a South-West based creative on the rise.

Developing a bespoke package of support is a core part of the support Exeter Phoenix offers creatives working in theatre and performance in the South-West. This could include training, mentoring, access to rehearsal space, and special opportunities to perform or share their work with our audiences.

Having grown up in Devon and moved back in recent years, Eliza has thrown herself into Exeter Phoenix’s scratch nights and also presented a more developed work in progress piece Before Helping Others earlier this year. Eliza responded to the news by saying:

“Having written for many years without anything (other than jokes) hitting the stage, last year I brought 20 minutes of a new piece of writing to the Scratch Night at Exeter Phoenix, which in turn meant that in January, I performed a work-in-progress of my first full theatre piece. The response was lovely, especially for someone with next to no confidence in their writing ability- the most surprising response being that I was asked to become an associate artist!

Being asked is a huge boost of confidence, both for myself and in the work I’m creating. It means a lot for me to have support and belief in my work at this very early stage, especially as this is a first foray into creating something outside of my comfort zone.

Over the course of the year, I’m hoping to develop the piece with a view to it being taken to a couple of festivals and regional venues.

I’m also looking forward to building my relationship with the Phoenix, as well as other artists and creatives. Having moved back to Devon from Bristol during the pandemic, it’s been great to see how the arts scene has changed and developed since I grew up here”

Associate artists are chosen by Exeter Phoenix’s performance programmer, Katy Danbury who is always on the lookout for emerging talent.

“Following our May Scratch Night callout last year, Eliza approached Exeter Phoenix with a 20 minute monologue from a play she was working on titled ‘Before Helping Others’. Eliza’s gripping performance had me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t wait to hear more about the character and her journey. Later in the year she came back to us with a full script, which led to a highly impressive work-in-progress performance in January. Eliza’s writing and performance styles are highly engaging; fearless, raw, peppered with a disarming delivery of wit and pathos.

I am delighted to support Eliza during her transition from the world of stand-up comedy to theatre-making, and I cannot wait to see how her practice develops over the next year as an Associate Artist.

You can find out more about Eliza and her work at: @Minilyzer