Sonia Hughes: Leeds residency

In June, Transform hosted artist Sonia Hughes for a week-long residency in Leeds to further develop her new project Lady Marmalade.

Music House Leeds and Opera North generously provided space for Sonia, her team and her group of local Leeds women to play instruments, talk, dance and eat together.

This is the next part of the process after 2024 when Transform hosted a residency with Sonia and supported her Leeds call out to form an Old Chicks Rock Band. Looking for old women and younger wild childs, trouble makers and shy ones, no musical experience was required.

In 2026 a new cohort were gathered to continue the collaboration.

As well as making music, across the week they thought about justice; there were costumes – sparkles, feather boas; and questions about grief, rage and desires. They asked where if anywhere, does justice appear?

About

Sonia Hughes is an artist, writer, director and performer based in the North of England. A long-standing collaborator with contemporary theatre makers Quarantine, she currently works in a duo with choreographer/artist Jo Fong. She’s worked with director Juliet Ellis, choreographer Jane Mason, and performance artist Mem Morrison. Sonia has been making art for over 25 years, starting in poetry, then contemporary theatre and now hovering where theatre, live art and installation collides.

Thanks also to Sonia’s collaborators: Nick Dupuy – Music; Jo Fong – movement; Sascha Gilmour – design; Colette Williams – cowbell; and Dee Rogers – bass.