Newcastle theatre hosts solo show from Coronation St. actress - fighting back against online trolls
Melissa Johns wrote the show Snatched after her intimate photos were stolen in a hacking incident
Last updated 21st Jun 2022
A coronation street actress, who's intimate photos were stolen in a hacking incident, says she's determined to fight body shaming, sexism and the taboo of sex and disability.
Melissa Johns - who played Imogen in Corrie, as well as Miss Scott in Grantchester and appeared in Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 - is bringing her new solo play to Newcastle's Northern Stage theatre tonight and tomorrow.
Melissa wrote SNATCHED as a response to the vicious online comments about her body and disability which surfaced after her private pictures were stolen and shared, and she tells us the show champions female sexuality, and hopes to break down the taboos around sex and disabilities:
"For me it was just about creating this space where - for this hour - people could come together - and usually it is...
"It's people who've been made to feel ashamed for whatever reason
"I first of all thought this might only be for people who do have a body difference, or a disability, or women - but I've had so many people come away from this show who aren't any of those things actually."
Melissa said she wanted to take ownership of her story by re-writing it in her own words as a ‘court case’ against body shaming within society and the media;
"What it's like navigating a world which always has to comment on the way that we look,
"When you have a disability or a body difference, you spend so much time making sure that everyone around you is okay with the way you look that no one ever asks you if you're okay with the way you look."
Melissa is also the co-founder and co-creative lead of disability lead organisation TripleC/ DANC and she has also won multiple awards for her work championing women and the disabled community.
Though based in Salford, Melissa tells us she's so excited to be bringing the show to Newcastle;
"I love Newcastle - my first professional acting job was in Newcastle!
"In 2012 I graduated drama school and suddenly I was going away from everyone I knew for 3 months to do a show.
"This just feels so lovely to be going back to this city where 21 year old me was just navigating this crazy world, and the crazy world of acting within it.
"To come back 10 years later at 31 - it's just such a privilege that I get to share my story."
The play - which has a live musician onstage - features an upbeat 90's/00's soundtrack too.
SNATCHED is on at Newcastle's Northern Stage theatre on the 21st and 22nd of June - you can find out more about the show and tickets here.
Both performances are BSL interpreted.